Chapter 21

Serena pov

"Drive us to the restaurant." Commanding, as always—summoning and dismissing me at will. But I wasn't that Serena anymore. I wouldn't chase him. I refused calmly. "Tranquil Brook isn't far. You can easily take a car." His brow creased, impatience flashing. He reminded me pointedly, "Don't forget the car you drive belongs to the pack office. How it's used is my decision." The fight went out of me. Yes. The car was BlackwoodBusiness's. BlackwoodBusiness was Adrian's. It had nothing to do with me—even after ten years of giving everything for it, for him. I swallowed the bitterness and held out the keys. "Here. Take it back." I didn't want the job, didn't want him, didn't need the car. Everything he'd once given me piece by piece, he was now taking back the same way. My reaction was strangely calm. My flat expression made Adrian pause. These past days he'd felt I'd changed. But he couldn't pinpoint how. An inexplicable irritation and panic stirred—as if something vital was slipping away without his knowledge… I looked up at him. My reddened eyes cooled, turning into a dead sea. Word by word, distantly, I said, "Adrian, if there's anything else that's yours, I'll return it all at once." He lifted his gaze. His sharp, handsome features held no warmth. "What temper tantrum is this?" Cold rain spread its chill, but it couldn't touch the ice inside me. Even now, he thought I was just throwing a fit? "Then call it a tantrum." I didn't explain, didn't defend myself. When the heart goes cold, a wolf only retreats and lets go. Because I knew: voicing my grievances would only start an argument. And when that happens, old misunderstandings don't need clearing. A clean, permanent break is the best ending. I turned and walked straight into the rain, striding away. I had no more time to waste on Adrian. Ten years was enough. Early winter rain was biting, but I barely felt it. My thin figure soon vanished into the downpour. "What's wrong with Serena?" Elena seemed oblivious. Adrian lowered his eyes and said coolly, "No idea. Forget her. Let's eat." He removed his coat and held it over Elena's head. "It's not far—we'll run." Under his protection, Elena reached the car mostly dry. A little rain had touched her, but not much. "This rain is really cold today," she said, rubbing her arms. Adrian turned on the heat considerately. Once warmed, Elena chatted. "Serena seemed strange today. Is she really here because a family member is sick? It's almost too coincidental—oncology ward, of all places." She was testing his feelings about me. After all, I'd been with him ten years, even if he'd never acknowledged me publicly. Elena still had some caution—though she didn't see me as a threat. A grown wolf couldn't possibly have no she-wolves around him. She could accept whatever Adrian and I had been—but only before she arrived. His reaction was calm, almost indifferent. "Did she? I didn't notice." Hearing that, Elena smiled, reassured. … "Achoo!" Probably from the afternoon rain—by evening I felt heavy-headed and unsteady. Clear cold symptoms. Henry hadn't been exaggerating when he said my immune system was shot. My body now was so fragile it couldn't withstand a breeze. Afraid Mom would worry, I stayed in the hallway, sneezing one after another. But I couldn't stay away long. After buying medicine from the pharmacy and taking it, I returned to the ward. Illness had drained the color from Grace's face. She looked painfully thin. My heart ached beyond words. As far back as I could remember, it had been just Mom and me. I'd never met my father, never known who he was. As a pup, when classmates mocked me for being fatherless, I'd cried and begged Grace to tell me where he was. She'd only held me close, stroking my back. "Our Serena doesn't need a father. Serena has Mom—that's enough." To me, Grace was my entire sky. I would hold up that sky, no matter what. Before, and now. The next day was Friday. I didn't go to the pack office, didn't call in. My mind wasn't on work anymore. And since I'd decided to leave BlackwoodBusiness, I no longer cared about their rules. Grace's biopsy results came back. Thankfully, the tumor was benign. The news let me breathe a small sigh of relief. Leonard explained her condition: the underlying illnesses made surgery far riskier than average. The expert team might not take such a difficult case. My heart plunged again. I told him—even if the chance was slim, I'd try. Chloe nervously delivered files to Adrian's office. He didn't look up, but before she could escape he asked, "Where's Serena?" "She didn't come in today," Chloe answered truthfully. Adrian's brow furrowed, frost settling over his sharp features. Chloe nearly forgot to breathe. Fortunately, he said nothing more. Once out, she clutched her chest. Nearly scared to death by the living king of hell! She slipped into the bathroom and quietly called me. "Serena, why didn't you come to work today?" she whispered. I paused. "Did Adrian ask?" "He did, but didn't say anything else." Probably just casual, I figured. After all, he'd treated me like an all-purpose assistant for ten years. Sudden absence would take adjusting to. "I've got things these days—can't make it in," I told her. "Should I tell Adrian?" "No need." And no point. Since she was at work, Chloe couldn't talk long. We ended the call after a few words. I set the phone down and focused on preparing materials for the expert team. I had no time to wonder whether Adrian cared. I worked until deep into the night, finally finishing the case file. I rubbed my aching neck and checked the time. Past midnight. I'd been so absorbed, phone on silent. Only now did I notice messages. I opened them—and saw someone had add me in the pack office group chat. It was Adrian.