Serena POVI followed Leopold's steps to the beach, watching every bold move he made. He looked so confident in his white beach shirt and shorts, while I was content to wear a knee-length summer dress and white sandals.I purposely avoided a bikini, not wanting to show my growing baby bump. I don't feel confident with my changing body, especially in front of Leopold.When we arrived at the beach, the smell of fresh seawater greeted us. I felt like I was experiencing déjà vu. It reminded me of my first meeting with Leopold at Larvotto Beach in Monaco.I was just a woman who had just broken up with my fucking ex. Leopold's presence and touch made me forget all about Jason.It all started with one intimate night. It continued to be nights of passion after fate brought us together, until I finally found out that I was pregnant.We walked along the seashore, listening to the soothing sound of the waves. I looked at Leopold, who seemed so calm and peaceful among this natural beauty.I wonde
Serena POV I was still silent when Leopold drove me home to California after an exhausting day at the San Francisco hotel. The view out the car window felt like fog drifting through my mind, and I could only stare out blankly. I was surprised when his luxury car didn't turn onto the road leading to the penthouse, instead gliding quietly through the busy city streets.We arrived at a house with a large courtyard filled with colorful flower gardens. A small fountain flowed with a soothing gurgle in the center of the garden. A beautifully curved pathway led to the terrace. And a small fishpond glistened in the evening sun, reflecting the fading orange sky.“What is this, sir?” I asked in a stammering voice. I was stunned by Leopold's surprise. My eyes wandered, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened.Leopold smiled gently, his eyes looking at me with warmth. “This is for you, Serena. A gift from my heart for you.”I was transfixed, unable to believe what I was seein
Leopold POVIn the stillness of the night that had become incarnate, I lay on my bed with my eyes still wide open. The air seemed to lead me into a dreamland, but before falling asleep, I let my mind wander to the happiness that surrounded me. Serena is the light in the darkness of my life. Her presence brightens my dark life. Every time I open my eyes, the world becomes more colorful.At times like this, I was compelled to express my gratitude to God for this priceless gift.Looking at her serene face as she slept, I felt like a winner in the lottery of life. However, underneath that happiness, there was anxiety that hasn't faded to this day.Every night, I chose to go to bed last. Not because I was seeking pleasure in solitude, but to ensure Serena could sleep peacefully beside me. Serena was my weakness. Losing Serena was my biggest nightmare. My vow to myself was to make that moment the last painful experience.I tried to be fair to Serena and Amanda. Every move I made and every
Leopold POVMy little heartfelt heavy leaving Serena home alone, especially with our baby. However, my responsibilities as CEO did not allow me to take time off or work from home today.As I opened the kitchen door, a gust of fresh morning air greeted me. I took a deep breath, feeling the breeze brush against my face. I walked towards the front door of the house with light steps while checking the work documents in my briefcase.“Sir, don't forget to bring an umbrella. The weather can change suddenly,” Serena said gently as she put the dirty plate in the sink.I smiled and nodded, tapping my fingers on the table before grabbing the umbrella from the shelf by the door. “I'll remember, babe,” I replied as I turned to her. “You'll be fine at home, right?”Serena nodded as she walked over to me. “Of course. I'll take a short rest after cleaning the kitchen. Don't worry about me.”I leaned closer, kissing her forehead softly. “I love you,” I whispered.Serena smiled, her eyes shining with
Serena POVTime continued to pass quickly, and now I was three months pregnant. Daily, I'm busy with household chores, taking parenting classes, and occasionally designing fashion. The good news is that I am now the full guardian of Dickypuss, the grumpy black cat who used to live in the rented house with my friends. As for my two best friends, Eloise and Renesmee, they were fine. However, they have now chosen to live independently. The reason is unknown to me, as Renesmee refuses to share if I ask about Eloise. And my friendship with Eloise seemed to have ended.I felt sad. Behind Eloise's attitude that hurt my feelings, there were many wonderful memories of her. We had lived together for more than five years. I would rather not blame Eloise completely, because I had also made mistakes. If there is a chance to mend our friendship, I would be happy to do so.A thousand good things don't disappear just because of one mistake. We were both humans, with sins and mistakes that we had com
Serena POV Silence stretched between us, only the rustling of plates and the soft sounds of songs from the restaurant's speakers trying to break the ice at our table.Renesmee was still looking intently at Eloise, as if trying to find an answer from that gaze. Meanwhile, Eloise was silent, trapped in her own world created on her phone screen.“I'm finishing it here and today, because I no longer want to deal with anything that involves Eloise,” Renesmee said firmly, her voice piercing the air with disconcerting certainty.I could feel the tremor of firmness in her intonation, as if she had prepared her plan well in advance.I looked at Eloise, attempting to catch a speck of emotion behind her rigid facial expression. My hand touched her arm, trying to grab her attention from the virtual world that was sucking her in. “What about you, Eloise?” I whispered softly, as if feeling the darkness that enveloped her mind.Eloise looked up, her eyes still glued to her phone screen, though the
Serena POVThe heat of the setting sun left an orange color on the western horizon, creating a dazzling silhouette of Leopold before me. But, even though he was there, a darkness filled my mind, filled with worries about Eloise that hovered in the back of my mind.Leopold gently touched my flowing hair, giving me goosebumps from his warm touch. However, underneath his gentleness, there was anxiety shackling my heart.“Babe, is something bothering you?” his voice hissed, easing the chaos in my mind.I looked up at him, searching for answers in his warm eyes. Our arms embraced each other, and I buried my head in his chest, feeling the calm beat of his heart. “I'm still thinking about Eloise. You know how close we were. It's painful to recall all the wonderful memories we created together.”“Can a loyal friend hurt her friend?” asked Leopold in a soft voice, but his words pierced my heart. “No,” I replied softly, letting the silence envelop us.For some people, it might be easy to sugge
Serena POV I sat on a comfortable garden chair, looking out over the rose garden in front of me. The air seemed to be guiding me to bring all the courage I had. Here I was, in the garden of my father's house, with my heart pounding. I had considered everything carefully beforehand, and now I needed to ask for his blessing.“Dad, I'm sorry I came without telling you first,” I said, trying to compose myself.He turned to me with a serious expression, his eyes staring intently at me. I knew he was going to ask me the gist of what I wanted to talk about. That's how my father was—always straight to the point.“What do you want to talk about, Serena?” He asked, his voice sounding stiff, as if reflecting how difficult it was for him to express emotions.I swallowed, trying to organize the words properly in my mind before speaking them. I wanted my father to understand; I wanted him to support me.“I've come to talk about Leopold,” I said slowly, trying to construct my sentences carefully s