<div> Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Peace Shattered
 Serena leaned closer to Maya and whispered not quietly enough, "You see it too, right?"
 Maya blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "See what?"
 Serena’s grin widened seeing her lose her composure.
 Alexander set his fork down, observing them all with mild amusement. "Is there something I’ve missed?"
 "No," Miles answered cheerfully. "But we’re about to enjoy watching Cody miss it."
 Cody groaned. "Grandpa."
 Elias laughed softly. "Relax. No one’s accusing you of anything." He paused, then added, "Yet."
 Maya let out a small breath, shaking her head. "You all tease too much."
 Cody looked at her then, as their gazes met for the umpteenth time.
 Their eyes held for a moment longer than necessary.
 Just long enough for everyone at the table to notice.
 Breakfast continued, but something had shifted.
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 </div> And none of them could pretend otherwise.
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 Breakfast ended with Cody being teased throughout. Maya joined in at some point, which caused him to be low-key fed up.
 Currently, Serena was in the study with Miles as she sat opposite him.
 "You know," Miles started, his eyes nostalgic. "I always thought that it’d take time before I finally got to hear you call me Grandfather. It feels surreal."
 Serena smiled, but didn’t say anything.
 "Ever since Gina left the house, there’s this void in me which I couldn’t fill." He looked up at the ceiling, exhaling tiredly. "But after I found out that I had a granddaughter, Gina’s daughter, that void seems to have been filled up."
 Serena’s expression softened. "I’m glad that I was able to fill the void in your life, Grandpa." She then smiled sweetly which made Miles nod, feeling satisfied.
 "Tell me, what do you think about that punk Alexander?" Miles asked, his tone serious and not nostalgic now.
 Serena replied without hesitation. "I like him. Our meeting was nothing short of an encounter. But being with him has brought me so much happiness that I can’t even begin to mention them."
 Miles looked at Serena whose eyes reflected the happiness within and his tense shoulders relaxed.
 "I guess it’s fate." He murmured despondently.
 Serena knit her brows as she asked carefully. "What do you mean by that, Grandpa?"
 Miles laughed quietly. "It’s nothing serious. Actually, Elias and I wanted our kids to get married to each other. That is Thomas and Regina." He paused, his lips tilting into a careful smile.
 "That sparked the beginning of the rebellion. That was one of the reasons your mother ran away. But fortunately, she gave birth to you and Thomas had Alexander. Both of you can be together. Delay is never denial."
 Serena was taken aback. She never knew that there was such a backstory. Did Alexander knew about it as well? She asked herself, but she dismissed the thought instantly. If he knew, he’d have informed her.
 "Serena," Miles said, snapping her attention to him. "I want you to stay in this house... for my sake. Please."
 His old eyes were filled with pleading, and Serena couldn’t bear to disappoint him so she nodded in agreement.
 "Fine. But," she paused, and Miles’s ears perked. "Under one condition."
 Miles immediately sat up as he asked. "What condition is that?"
 "I’d continue to rub my mom’s bakery. That was her handwork and I’d not let it be in ruins."
 "Is that all?" Miles asked and Serena nodded. "Then it’s settled. Besides, I know how much Regina had always wanted to start a bakery. There’s no way I’d stop you from completing your mother’s, my daughter’s dream."
 Serena’s eyes sparkled with delight. It seems Miles was not like the other rich men who looked down on various jobs.
 "Thank you, Grandfather." She thanked him genuinely. "You’re the best."
 Miles grinned widely.
 When Serena stepped out of the study, her eyes were bright as though she had just won a lottery.
 She bumped into Alexander in the corridor, and it seemed like he had been waiting for her. He was leaning on the wall, his arms folded across his chest.
 "You scared me." She exclaimed, placing a hand on her chest to calm her racing heart.
 "You spent quite a while in your Grandfather’s office." He commented.
 Serena’s eyes narrowed as she looked at him. "Is that jealousy I sense in your countenance?"
 Alexander’s brows furrowed. "Why do you think I’m jealous?" He asked.
 "Because it’s written all over your face. And besides, I’ve known you for quite a while." Serena replied with a cheeky smile.
 Alexander touched his nose. "You really do know me." He remarked, then added, "but I can’t be blamed. We didn’t even spend the night together. I haven’t spent quality time with you in like what... a few hours?"
 Serena’s brows shot up. She didn’t expect that the feared Alexander Blackwood would have such a childish side to him.
 "You are jealous of my grandfather." She pointed out..
 "What do you expect?" He groaned. "You spend more time with him instead of me." He complained.
 Serena bit her lips seeing him this way. "I guess this is the wrong time to tell you about the latest development."
 His ears perked up as he looked at her as he asked, "what might that be?"
 She hesitated for a while before she answered. "I agreed to live here for a while."
 Alexander froze as he stared at her without saying anything for a while.
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 </div> Serena couldn’t handle his silence, so she shook him slightly while saying with a pleading tone,. "Say something."
 Alexander took a deep breath. "If that’s what will make you happy, then fine. But you have to spend the weekend with me. It’s a must."
 Serena’s eyes brightened as she nodded. "You have my word."
 Then she looked around. "Where are the rest? The house is silent."
 "Grandpa has returned home. Cody gave Maya a ride." He explained.
 "And you?"
 Alexander poked her forehead as he answered. "Waiting for you, of course."
 Serena chuckled. "You’re lovely."
 "You are the only one with this privilege." He laughed softly as he led her outside.
 Miles watched them from the stairs, and a smile appeared on his wrinkly face. He was satisfied.
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 The drive started quietly.
 The city slipped past them in a blur of morning light and slow traffic, Serena seated comfortably beside Alexander, hands folded in her lap as she watched the familiar streets draw closer to her mother’s bakery.
 "You’re unusually quiet," Alexander noted, one hand steady on the wheel.
 Serena smiled faintly. "Just thinking. It feels strange. Like nothing changed and everything did at the same time."
 He hummed in response, eyes focused ahead. "That place meant a lot to her."
 "It still does," Serena replied softly. "To me."
 He was about to respond when his jaw tightened... slightly. So subtle she would’ve missed it if she didn’t know him.
 The two black sedan cars behind them had been there too long.
 Alexander checked the rearview mirror again, then the side mirror. It was the same distance, the same car and the same turn.
 Serena noticed the shift in the air before she noticed anything else. "Alexander?"
 "We’re being followed," he said calmly, voice even, as if commenting on the weather.
 Her breath caught in her throat. "Are you sure?"
 "Yes."
 He made a smooth turn onto a less crowded street. The sedan followed.
 He made another turn. The sedan still followed.
 Serena’s fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt, heart thudding, but she didn’t panic. She trusted him completely even as fear crept in like a slow tide.
 Alexander’s mind was already ten steps ahead.
 He sped up slightly, weaving between two cars with practiced ease. The sedan accelerated.
 "Hold on," he instructed quietly.
 She followed his instructions without any hesitation.
 He took a sharp right into a narrow street, tires skidding just enough to make Serena’s pulse spike. The sedan followed a little bit too aggressively.
 "They’re not backing off," Serena murmured, voice filled with worry but controlled.
 "No," he agreed. "Which means they want us to notice."
 Alexander swerved onto the main road again, traffic thicker now. He maneuvered through with precision, but the sedan cut through recklessly, horn blaring while drawing attention.
 Serena pressed her palm against the dashboard, knuckles white. "Alexander..."
 "I’ve got you," he said without hesitation.
 Then it happened.
 From the intersection ahead, a truck ran the light.
 Alexander saw it half a second too late.
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 </div> He turned the wheel sharply, tires screaming in protest. The impact came from the side. Metal crashed against metal, glass shattered, and the world spun violently out of control.
 Serena screamed as the car lurched, her body thrown forward before the seatbelt snapped her back. The sound was deafening.
 The car slammed into a barrier and came to a jolting stop.
 A thick, ringing silence followed.
 "Serena!" Alexander’s voice cut through first, strained but urgent. "Serena, look at me."
 She blinked, disoriented, chest heaving. "I—I’m here."
 Blood trickled down her temple, but fortunately she was conscious.
 Alexander exhaled sharply in relief, already unbuckling himself despite the pain shooting through his shoulder. He reached for her face, his shaky hands were just enough to betray him.
 "You’re safe," he said, more to himself than to her. "You’re safe."
 Sirens wailed in the distance.
 Behind them, far down the road, the black sedan was gone.
 And whatever peace they had this morning had shattered completely.</div>
 

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Chapter 104: Peace Shattered

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Peace Shattered Serena leaned closer to Maya and whispered not quietly enough, "You see it too, right?" Maya blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "See what?" Serena’s grin widened seeing her lose her composure. Alexander set his fork down, observing them all with mild amusement. "Is there something I’ve missed?" "No," Miles answered cheerfully. "But we’re about to enjoy watching Cody miss it." Cody groaned. "Grandpa." Elias laughed softly. "Relax. No one’s accusing...

One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood

Chapter 104: Peace Shattered

One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood - Chapter 104: Peace Shattered