All Chapters of The Hidden Heiress: A Sweet Taste of Revenge: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

"Mommy!""Caelen?"The hurried sound of tiny footsteps made the figure who had been observing Serena and William suddenly turn around. Dark sunglasses covered part of his face, but the gaze behind them was sharp and piercing.Caelen froze. The gray-eyed boy looked up, spellbound by the thin smile that felt like... a subtle threat."Where are Caelric and Caelia, sweetheart? Why are you alone?" Serena’s voice echoed from afar.The man quickly walked away without a sound. In an instant, Caelen felt the air around him grow colder. He clenched his little fists, trying to hold back the sudden discomfort stabbing at his chest."Why are you just standing here, sweetheart?" Serena finally reached him.Caelen didn’t answer. His eyes continued searching for the man in the hat and sunglasses who had vanished like a ghost. Somehow he felt a strange familiarity with that man, but couldn’t recognize him at all."Mommy... What if we just go home now?" he whispered hesitantly. Caelen wrapped his arms

"You..."Serena’s breath caught, stolen by the weight of William’s gaze. That sharp, unblinking stare locked her in place as their faces hovered dangerously close. Their noses were mere centimeters apart, his breath brushing against her lips like a warning.Burning, caged anger radiated off his body like a storm on the edge of breaking. Her heart raced wildly.William had guessed exactly what she was going through. But why? Why now, of all times? When she had no choice and no strength to fight back.This was no longer the William she knew. The change in him was unsettling, sharper, darker, and full of contradictions she couldn’t explain."I would never let my children suffer for this!" Serena breathed out, her voice trembling but determined.William’s low laugh was humorless and dark. He leaned in, his lips nearly brushing her cheek. "Funny… because I can’t help thinking you would!""You—""Ssh!"The soft whisper against her skin sent shivers streaming down Serena's spine. His presenc

A single image that shattered her world.One of her father’s most trusted men stood in the picture, clearly captured speaking to a street vendor near the triplets’ school. Serena recognized the man instantly.And the vendor... her stomach twisted violently. It was the same man Caelric had pointed out. The same vendor Serena’s own people suspected of being connected to Caelia’s “accident.”Serena’s throat closed, her breath trapped painfully in her chest. Her father? Her father had sent someone to speak to that man?No. No, this can’t be real. He wouldn’t... He couldn’t... Her hands trembled so hard the phone nearly slipped. "This is impossible!" she choked out, her voice breaking.Horror and disbelief clashed inside her chest as a cold, devastating realization sank like ice into her veins. With shaking fingers, Serena immediately called William. She pressed the phone to her ear, pacing frantically, waiting and hoping he would answer."Come on, William. Pick up!" she whispered, panic

Our children...Those words instantly sent a tremor through Serena’s chest. Her lips stayed tightly shut, but her mind wasn’t nearly as still. Too many things were buried inside her. And William, realizing that, cleared his throat softly before continuing."Like it or not, I’ve come to think of them as my own children," he said without the slightest hesitation. "You can deny it if you want, but that’s truly how I feel."Serena had no idea how to respond. All she could do was turn her gaze away, to the view outside William’s office window. Quietly, her fingers clenched the end of her blouse. Silence stretched until William spoke again."I’m holding a press conference tonight," he said, softer this time. Almost pleading. "I hope you’ll stand with me. Right now, you’re the only one I can rely on."Serena drew in a long breath. Slowly, she looked back at him. It was the first time she had ever seen William swallow his pride and ask for help. It was exactly what she used to dream of, yet n

Serena stepped forward, rain gliding down her skin like silver.Every thug who had been circling William turned toward her. Some of them let out low laughs, unable to believe a woman was daring to challenge them with nothing but her eyes."You think you can handle us?" one of them taunted.Serena’s lips curled into a slow, fearless smile. "I don’t waste time talking. Come closer! Try me!"William’s heart skipped when she said it like that, calm, confident, almost sensual in her defiance. Even bleeding, even shaking, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Something in the way she moved, the way she held her chin high, made the air thicken with a tension that had nothing to do with fear.She fought like fire.A plank swung. A kick landed. Her body twisted with a controlled grace that made even the thugs hesitate. And through the chaos, William noticed every inch of her. Wet hair against her cheeks, the way her chest rose with each breath, how her movements flowed like dangerous poetry."Cau