by Marian Tee
Willow: Wow. You could have just said you’re still heartbroken.
Her fingers froze over the screen at Willow’s reply, and Serenity wondered gloomily why her only friend had to be someone as tactless as the former Willow Somerset, now Mrs. Manolis since she married one of the most powerful Greek billionaires in the world.
But rude or not, Willow was right.
It had been six days since the last time she had seen the Dutch billionaire. Six long days, made more dreadful by the way she couldn’t stop herself from waiting for his text or call, which came at the most unpredictable times.
Monday, he had only sent her a text at nine in the morning, when it had become obvious she wasn’t bowing to his orders. Tuesday, he had called and sent her a message just as she was getting to bed and had given up on hearing from him again. Wednesday, she woke up to his message. Thursday, he had left her a voice call while she was in the shower – a fifteen-second message that she had listened to about fifty times now.
But last night, there had been no message, no voice call, no anything.
It left her torn between confusion and relief, love and despair.
Serenity: I’m okay.
If she said it enough times, maybe it would come true.
Willow: If you’re okay, then why can’t you make yourself talk to him? You need closure. You both do.
Serenity: Only people in love need closure.
She winced as soon as she hit Send. Way to go, Serenity. You are officially Little Miss Bitter.
Willow: You’re saying he doesn’t love you?
Serenity: He never did.
Just typing the words hurt, and she had to bite her lip hard to stop it from trembling. To distract herself, she stared blindly at the picturesque scenery outside the expansive windows of ODA. This side of the building faced the port, which afforded them tranquil views of sailboats traversing the city’s dark blue waters.
These days, most of her time was spent in the library, with Serenity finding it a safe haven from Melanie’s constant harping about money as well as Shane’s continuous gushing about Willem and how she was absolutely sure he’d propose to her in the future.
The first night following the billionaire’s visit, Shane had shared with them her rosy visions of the future. It had made Serenity want to puke, with the way Shane kept saying his name. Willem, Willem, Willem. It had made Serenity want to alternately cover her ears and scream. Willem was hers. She had wanted so much to tell her sister that.
But she didn’t.
Because it wasn’t true.
Even so, the urge hadn’t gone away, and Serenity had eventually found herself escaping to the library, staying there until its doors closed for the day. After, she would cycle up and down the canals, pedaling until she was bone tired, and going home only when she was no longer able to keep her eyelids open.
It was a good strategy to avoid speaking with either Melanie or Shane, but it had not worked at all in keeping Willem out of the picture.
Wherever she went, she saw Willem.
Whatever she did, she thought of Willem.
And no matter how much she prayed, she felt Willem – inside her, owning half of her heart.
Willow: I’m here for you, okay? I know I’m not good at comforting, but you should know that I’m the last person to judge you, with what you’re going through right now.
The message made Serenity press her fingers to her eyes, the need to confide making her want to cry. But how could she burden Willow with the truth when even she knew what was right?
Shane had met Willem de Konigh first, had slept with him, and knew him in ways that Serenity didn’t.
She, Serenity, was the third party here – not Shane.
****
“I don’t understand why we have to bring Serenity with us,” Melanie muttered as she and her daughter walked past the black lacquered doors held open by a pair of uniformed men, Serenity trailing behind them quietly.
A mysterious smile played on Shane’s lips. “I promise, Mother, I have my reasons, and they’re reasons you’ll love.” Curling an arm around Melanie’s, she led her mother into the room reserved for the VIP guests of the House of Ivy, which was touted as one of Amsterdam’s best high-end fashion boutiques.
Melanie’s eyes widened imperceptibly when she realized where they were heading. “You know I can’t afford this,” she hissed under her breath. While her services as a party stylist was very much in demand by Dutch society, the fees she earned could in no way pay for a House of Ivy original. Vogue had recently featured the fashion house, and Melanie had been stunned to find the new label was charging five-digit prices for a single piece.
But her daughter only patted her hand. “That won’t be a problem, darling, because...” She paused for effect as the tinted, motion-sensored glass doors in front of them slid open, revealing a tall, blond man waiting for them, immaculately dressed in a charcoal gray suit and hand-sewn Italian leather shoes.
Melanie released a tinkling laugh. “Oh, it’s Willem again.” She shot her daughter a look of approval before moving forward to exchange air kisses with the billionaire. Oh, to have this deliciously rich man as a son-in-law, she thought dreamily. Her problems would be solved forever!
Serenity felt faint, unable to fathom how she had found herself once again in the billionaire’s company. Dazedly, she tried to recall what Shane’s exact words had been. The entire family had been invited to a private fashion event, and they all had to attend because she didn’t want to be bothered to make up excuses about Serenity’s absence.
Was that true, she wondered dizzily. But if it wasn’t, why would Shane lie?
Even as her thoughts continued to run wild, Serenity fought to stay calm and keep her gaze on the black-and-white patterns of the boutique’s velvet-flocked wallpaper. It was ornate and elegant at the same time, and she tried to distract herself, counting the swirls in her mind as Melanie and Shane exchanged pleasantries with the billionaire.
But only a few seconds had passed before she heard her sister calling her name, and Serenity knew she had no choice.
Stepping forward, she took a deep breath and slowly raised her gaze to meet Willem’s—
An image – a memory – flashed in her mind.
Willem cupping her face...
Willem’s mouth lowering to hers...
Willem’s tongue thrusting in and out of her mouth...
Her cheeks flamed in color, just as the billionaire smiled politely at her, murmuring, “It’s nice to see you again, Serenity.” But the way his blue eyes gleamed mockingly at her told Serenity that he knew exactly what she was feeling right now.
Melanie frowned at her. “You look feverish. Please tell me you’re not coming down with the flu or something.”
Serenity shook her head. “No, ma—” She caught Melanie’s look of warning and hastily corrected herself, “Melanie.” Her stepmother, without ever saying a word, had always made it clear that she expected Serenity to maintain the pretense of their family being close-knit in front of others.
She looked back at Willem just in time to see her sister claim his hand. Shane’s eyes were bright, and her cheeks were flushed with pleasure as she told them in a ringing voice, “I have an announcement to make.”
Chapter Five
“Congratulations.” Serenity’s voice was stilted as she forced the word out, and she only said it because she did not want Willem to think she was bitter or heartbroken. Even if both were true.
“Thank you.” The billionaire’s voice was pleasant, and just the sound of it seemed to mock the tense silence that otherwise reigned in the boutique’s private lounge, where the two of them sat apart on the same chesterfield sofa. “Although I must say, I am curious.”
“Oh?” She sensed Willem turning to face her and couldn’t stop wringing her hands on her lap. If only she was more confrontational, she thought helplessly. If only the thought of getting into a fight didn’t make her hyperventilate, she would have said
no to Shane’s demand and stayed at home. If she had done that, then she wouldn’t be here now, feeling like she was about to faint any second from the pain she was experiencing.
Willem was going to marry her sister.
It was the end of her world.
It was the beginning for Shane and Melanie, both of whom had ecstatically allowed themselves to be swept away by the boutique’s senior sales consultants for an unlimited shopping spree, courtesy of her sister’s new fiancé.
Propping an elbow on the armrest so he could watch Serenity at leisure, Willem murmured, “What are you congratulating me for?”
As expected, the question had her head snapping towards him, incredulity in her blue gaze. “Excuse me?”
He shrugged. “You heard me. What are you congratulating me for?” One brow arched elegantly as he inquired, “Did you perhaps think I proposed marriage to your sister?”
Serenity’s jaw dropped. It was not a usual reaction for her, but right now she was beyond caring about what was poised or graceful. She could only whisper, “You’re not?”
Willem answered simply, “No.”
“I don’t understand,” Serenity said blankly. She was blinking at him in bemusement, long lashes like silken gold fans on her porcelain skin. Even the mere sight of it was seductive and tantalizing, Willem thought grimly.
Schooling his expression into an unreadable mask, he told her casually, “Your sister didn’t mention marriage either, did she?”
“I know, but she said your relationship’s moved to the next level—”
“It has. It just doesn’t have to be marriage.”
“But she also said you want us at Contini, so the royal family could decide if we’re suitable—”
“I lied.”
In a second, she realized what had just happened – what he had done – and Serenity didn’t even think.
She slapped him. “You bastard!” He had set things up, the jerk. He had known what she would think and he had still gone through with his stupid, painful trick!
His head snapping to the side, Willem gingerly touched his jaw as he slowly looked back at Serenity.
“Why would you let me think that?”
“Think what?” he challenged. When she only answered him with silence, he said it for her. “That I’m going to marry someone else?”
A cry escaped her, and even though anger still seethed inside him, Willem was unable to remain immune to the sound of Serenity’s pain.
Glancing at his bodyguards, he jerked his head towards the door and they immediately went out. Having been briefed earlier about their most important duty, they would remain outside the lobby and only come back to alert him of Shane or Melanie’s return.
When they were alone, he said under his breath, “I’m sorry.”
But pain still shadowed her eyes, and seeing her so frail and pale because of him, Willem was forced to accept the truth.
She was unable to live without him, and he was unable to live without her knowing she needed him.
But it did not mean they loved each other.
He only had to convince her that, and everything would be fine again.
“Sere.” He saw her blink rapidly, as if just hearing him use his special name for her was enough to bring her to tears. Sucking his breath in, he said tautly, “You know what kind of person I am. You know I’ve never explained myself to anyone but for you...I’ll try. Just once, just this time, because I don’t want you to keep hurting.” His jaw clenched. “I can’t bear to see you in pain.”
Serenity swallowed. “I’m l-listening.” It was all she could say, when in truth what she really wanted to tell the billionaire was that it was the same for her. Seeing him hurt pained her, too.
But then his lips twisted, and it was as if he had heard her all the same, as if he knew her so well that he was able to read her mind.
And because she knew him just as well – knew his heart even without ever having enjoyed his touch – Serenity was also able to read the meaning behind the movement of his lips.
I know, engel, the smile said. I know, but it’s not what I want from you.
She badly wanted to cry at that point, and when he started to speak, when he started telling her the truth that she had never wanted to know, there was no way to stop the tears from falling.
“My father started beating me when I was seven.”
The tears fell fast and hard.
She could not – she just could not – imagine someone as beautiful as Willem de Konigh being beaten. He was the rock the entire de Konigh clan depended on, had even stood as her guardian and the one man who had been able to keep her from drowning in guilt.
“He wasn’t furious with me, and it wasn’t the kind of beating that could have killed me.” The billionaire’s broad shoulders moved in a casual shrug. “I could have borne it until I was eighteen, except as I got older, I realized he wouldn’t be content with me. When I saw him about to wake Nic from his sleep to beat him up, I knew then I had to take action.” He looked at Serenity with emotionless eyes. “So I did. I found a way to call my grandmother and let her know what was happening.”
“But she didn’t take you away?” Serenity whispered.
“I didn’t ask her to, and I didn’t let her offer. If people knew about my father’s abuse – or my mother’s innumerable affairs – it would have affected the royal family and given the opposition leverage against the queen.” He paused then, after a moment’s hesitation, reached out to wipe the tears away from her cheeks. “It wasn’t that bad, Sere.”
She broke down.
The moment he touched her, the moment she heard him use the same comforting voice she had grown up hearing, Serenity’s defenses completely crumbled and without a thought of who might see her, she threw herself in Willem’s arms.
He dragged her to his lap, and his arms caged her just as her own arms went around his neck and tightened.
She hid her wet face against his neck and sobbed. She cried for the child that he had been, cried for the Dutch billionaire who had saved her, cried for Willem, the man she had been in love with since forever.
Tightening her arms around his neck, she whispered fiercely, “I’m sorry.”
It was like hearing a lamb wanting to protect a lion, and a soft, hoarse laugh escaped the billionaire. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he murmured, “It’s the past, engel.” But it was as if using the enderarment only served to open the floodgates, and he could feel her frail body shaking harder at the strength of her sobs.
“I c-can’t b-bear it, t-thinking that you h-had to l-live with your f-father when he could have b-beaten—”
He shook his head. “It wasn’t that bad,” he said quietly. But the way she kept sobbing told him that she didn’t believe him. Leaning away, he tipped her chin up, forcing Serenity to look at him so she could see the truth in his eyes. “Even though I was just eleven years old, the queen took the necessary steps so that I would have power and authority in our family – more than what my father possessed. With that, he was no longer able to hurt me or my siblings.”
Carefully pushing back the wet strands of hair clinging to the sides of her face, he placed his lips on her forehead, and as he felt her close her eyes, he whispered the other half of the truth to his angel.
“That day, I learned how to be strong. But I had to lose my heart in exchange.”
Serenity jerked in his arms, but he tightened his hold on her, not letting her escape.
“When you kissed me that first day, I knew you believed you love me.” She started to protest, but he didn’t let her, biting out, “Listen to me first, engel.” Slowly, he leaned back so their eyes could meet again. “It doesn’t matter if you really love me or not. The one thing you have to understand now is that I do not love you back.” He saw Serenity blanch, but he didn’t let it stop him. “That day you kissed me, you looked like you had been hit by a bolt of lightning. You looked at me like the sun rose and set—”
“Stop it,” S
erenity whispered shakily.
“The point is,” he said tensely, “Everything you felt...it didn’t happen to me—”
A broken cry spilled past her lips.
“And I thank God for it,” he finished harshly. “Because I don’t ever want to love you.” Now that he had started, he knew he would not stop until he had gotten it all out of his system.
And after that—
After that, it was up to Serenity to decide whether she still wanted him in her life or not.
“Even to this day, engel, my parents continue to profess their love for each other. And it happened to them, just like how you think it happened to you – a bolt of lightning, Cupid’s arrow, whatever bullshit terms other people have come up for it. It is love for my parents, but I despise them for it. I hate them for using love as an excuse to destroy each other and...hurt their own children.”
Sucking his breath in, he slowly cupped her face, and his gaze capturing hers, he told her quietly, “I don’t love you, and for me, Sere, that’s a good thing. I would never allow you to stay in my life if I did. But I don’t. And that’s why I’m asking you back.”
He waited for her to say something.
But instead of an answer, he heard someone knock on the door before his bodyguard entered the lounge and told them that Shane and Melanie were on their way back.
Chapter Six
“Oh my God, you look so bored, darling. I’m so sorry for being such a selfish bitch and leaving you to babysit.”
Serenity watched numbly as her half-sister rained kisses all over the billionaire’s face. When Shane also tried nibbling on his lips, she averted her face immediately, and because she did, she completely missed the way Willem’s icy stare had Shane quickly drawing back.