CHAPTER 2 - An Unexpected Guest

A few days later, Serena was at the Collins family mansion for a family dinner.

That evening, the Collins residence seemed busier than usual. The lights lining the driveway were brightly lit. Her father typically only turned them on when welcoming important guests.

The first thing Serena noticed was the row of luxury cars neatly parked in front of the main entrance.

"Did someone important come over? Probably Father's business associates," she murmured.

As soon as the grand doors opened, Claudia, her stepmother, greeted her with a smile that felt painfully fake. It was so unnatural that Serena almost frowned.

"Serena, dear. You're finally home. Your father has been waiting for you," Claudia said gently, as if she were a loving mother.

Serena paused for a moment.

She almost wanted to laugh. Claudia rarely, if ever, greeted her like that.

Normally, the woman only spoke to her when necessary, often in a haughty tone that made Serena reluctant to respond.

"Yes, Mother," Serena replied briefly, trying to hide the suspicion lingering in her mind as she stepped inside.

In the living room, her father, Richard Collins, was engaged in a serious conversation with a man. Serena frowned when her gaze met the man's sharp eyes.

He had a commanding posture, a masculine face with a strong jawline, and a black suit that fit him perfectly. There was an aura of authority about him, along with a coldness that was impossible to ignore.

"Serena, come here," Richard called.

Serena walked over. Her father patted her shoulder proudly before introducing her.

"This is Steave Alexander Whitmore. He's my new business partner."

The moment Serena got a closer look at his face, her heartbeat quickened.

It was the man she had nearly run into in the hallway outside Ethan's apartment.

"Serena, Steave is also Ethan's uncle, your fiancé's uncle," her father continued.

Serena blinked.

Of course.

Whitmore.

The name immediately connected him to Ethan.

Swallowing hard, Serena tried to hide her surprise.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Steave said. His voice was deep, steady, and calm.

Serena nodded politely.

"You too."

She tried to appear normal, though an uncomfortable feeling had begun creeping into her chest. This man's presence was completely unexpected, and her father had never mentioned him beforehand.

After a while, the family dinner ended with very little conversation. The long dining table, which had been filled with expensive dishes ranging from steak and cream soup to wine, had been cleared.

Richard soon retreated to his study to discuss unfinished business details. Claudia followed shortly after.

Meanwhile, Marissa was absorbed in her phone, busy texting someone.

Earlier, Serena had noticed the way Marissa flirted with Steave.

However, Steave had shown little interest.

As a result, Marissa seemed irritated.

Feeling suffocated by the atmosphere in the house, Serena decided to step outside. She walked into the side garden in search of fresh air.

Settling onto a bench, she wrapped her arms around herself and savored a brief moment of peace.

She let out a long breath and stared blankly at the night sky.

This house was certainly grand, but it had always felt foreign to her.

She had never truly felt at ease here.

"Something is bothering you, Miss?"

Serena jumped at the deep baritone voice near her ear. She quickly turned and found Steave sitting on a bench not far away. She had no idea how long he had been there.

The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled up, revealing the muscles in his forearms. A freshly lit cigarette rested between his lips.

Serena immediately apologized to her father's important guest.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know you were here," she said. "I won't disturb you."

She was about to turn away when his voice stopped her once again.

"No need."

Steave stood.

"This is your home. Why should you be the one leaving?" he said as he walked toward her.

More precisely, he walked past her as though he were about to leave.

Then suddenly, as if remembering something, Steave turned around and approached her again.

"If you ever need help, you can come to me," he said unexpectedly as he handed her a business card.

With a thousand questions running through her mind, Serena raised her hand and accepted it.

"Why?" she asked.

Without giving any answer, Steave simply walked away, leaving Serena's question hanging in the air.