All Chapters of The Day I Stopped Loving My Alpha: Chapter 21 - Chapter 29

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 slip

Serena pov I had no idea what Adrian had decided. My entire focus was on the expert team. As closing time neared and they still hadn't appeared, I tracked down Leonard for news. He'd just come off surgery and looked surprised. "You didn't know? Grant went straight to the airport to pick them up. They won't be coming to the hospital today." I caught something in his expression and pressed, "Did Grant go alone?" Leonard sighed. "Of course not. They invited me too, but I had a surgery and couldn't get away." I knew top-tier medical resources were fiercely competed for. I couldn't let up for a second. I asked Leonard where the group had gone. After checking with the colleague who'd gone to greet them, he learned they were dining at Prosperity Restaurant. I hailed a cab and raced there. Evening rush hour in Jendris Pack was brutal. I kept checking the time as half an hour stretched into forty minutes, then fifty. I couldn't sit still any longer. I paid early, got out, rented a shared elec

Serena pov I asked casually, "What happened?" "That Elena—she vetoed every single project you'd lined up! Not one left!" Chloe was clearly hiding in the bathroom to vent, keeping her voice low. I paused. "All of them?" "Yes, all of them! Including the AI and gaming projects you were most excited about." Chloe sounded exhausted by it all. I frowned. "What did Adrian say?" "Adrian said nothing." My mind went blank for a second, but I quickly pieced it together. Adrian knew perfectly well which projects were worth investing in. He stayed silent simply because Elena was the one vetoing them. He was building her authority, making sure everyone in the pack office respected and submitted to her. As always, shielding and supporting Elena. "Do you think Adrian's been cursed or something? How is everything up to Elena now?" Chloe had nowhere else to unload her frustration but on me. "Simple. He's solidifying her position," I said. I'd already seen through it. Even if he announced he was handin

Serena pov"What's wrong?" Elena looked up just in time to catch the odd expression on Adrian's face and asked with concern. Adrian casually pulled the letter out and tossed it in a drawer. "Nothing. I'm done—let's eat." "Okay." Elena was thrilled at the thought of dinner with him. … I arrived at the arrivals gate right on time. Jack spotted me the moment he emerged. "You actually came to pick me up." His mood brightened. I smiled. "I said I would. I don't break promises." "That's more like it." Jack bantered with me as we left the airport. I'd booked a restaurant in advance. After picking him up, we drove straight there. We arrived right at peak dinner hour—the place was busy. Once seated, I introduced Jack to the house specialties. He was pleased, but during the meal he noticed I only ate mild dishes. He couldn't help asking, "Didn't you used to love spicy food?" I explained, "My stomach's been bad these past couple years. The healer said no spice. To heal it, I stick to bland." "No

Serena pov"Adrian, I'm so scared." He'd barely reached Helen's room when Elena threw herself into his arms, eyes red, trembling. "My mom just coughed up blood." He'd rushed over after her frantic call. Healers and nurses had arrived first and were examining Helen. Adrian held Elena, calming her. When the healer finished, he reassured them both. "Nothing to worry about. It wasn't true hemoptysis—just some blood in phlegm from ruptured capillaries during intense coughing. Minor issue—the body will heal itself." Elena exhaled in relief. After the healer left, she looked at Adrian sheepishly. "I panicked. I was terrified. You were the only one I could think of, so I called. I didn't interrupt your rest, did I?" "No. You can relax now." She smiled again, nodding vigorously. "Yes." "I'm glad you came." William arrived soon after. Once Elena explained, he relaxed too. "You've gone to a lot of trouble these past days," he told Adrian. "Elena's been exhausted caring for her mother. I'll take