Chapter 6
Chapter 6 The Smiles They Wore
When I was still dealing with things in my office, a message came from Demon: It's Dr. Reed's birthday today. She invited us to come.
Dr. Reed? How long were they planning to hide things from me?
Okay, I will come: I replied briefly.
Another message appeared: I am coming to pick you up.
I sighed and sent another message: Okay.
By the time I reached Dr. Reed’s residence, the birthday dinner had already begun.
Damon walked beside me, one hand resting lightly against my back. To anyone watching, we looked like the perfect married couple.
I knew better.
Dr. Reed greeted me at the entrance with a warm smile and took both my hands.
“Serena, you’ve become so thin. Are you taking care of yourself?”
“I’m fine, Mo… aunty.”
Her smile widened. “You can call me mother. You’re like my own daughter.”
For years, Dr. Reed had treated me like a person she could control. She had asked about children and urged me to put the family first.
Now, those questions had stopped.
At first, I had thought she had finally accepted my choices.
Now I understood.
Damon had already given her a hidden grandson and Catharine was carrying twins.
She no longer needed anything from me.
“Happy birthday,” I said, handing her the gift.
“Thank you, dear. You’ve always been such a good girl.”
Good girl?
For twelve years, I had heard those words and mistaken them for affection.
Tonight, they sounded like chains.
“I’ll try to remain one,” I replied.
She laughed, unaware of what I meant.
During dinner, I sat beside Damon. He served me food, asked whether I wanted more wine, and occasionally touched my hand beneath the table.
I played along. I smiled when he smiled. I thanked him when he served me. I behaved exactly like the trusting wife they believed I still was.
Vivianne arrived later and greeted me warmly, “Serena, you’re finally here.”
“I wouldn’t miss Dr. Reed’s birthday.”
They laughed together as though nothing had happened.
As though Damon hadn’t betrayed me. As though they hadn’t known. As though I were still the woman who trusted every word they said.
I wondered how easily people could smile while destroying someone else’s life.
After dinner, everyone moved into the sitting room.
I excused myself after a while, “I need some fresh air.”
Dr. Reed immediately looked concerned. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“A little tired.”
“Don’t stay outside too long.”
I nodded and stepped onto the balcony. The cold air touched my face.
Then I heard voices from the other side of the door.
It was Dr. Reed.
I stopped.
“Don’t worry,” she said quietly.
I remained perfectly still.
“Serena still suspects nothing.” Her voice felt like a whisper.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
“She trusts Damon completely. As long as she continues believing everything is fine, we have nothing to worry about.”
My breathing slowed.
So they had been watching me, waiting for me to keep trusting Damon, waiting for me to remain useful.
A faint smile touched my lips. Unfortunately for them, the woman they were talking about no longer existed.
I stepped away before they could notice me.
When I returned inside, I picked up my purse.
“Leaving already?” Vivianne asked.
“I’m tired.”
Dr. Reed smiled. “Rest well, dear.”
“I will.”
Damon walked toward me. “I’ll take you home.”
“No need.”
He looked surprised.
“I can manage.” I smiled politely and walked past him.
No one noticed the difference. That was exactly what I wanted. They still believed I was obedient. They still believed I knew nothing.
Let them.
The next morning, I returned to the office before anyone else arrived.
My new company was already taking shape.
I had planned its structure, secured the legal groundwork, and begun preparing the finances.
I had spent twelve years helping Damon build the empire he believed belonged to him.
Now I needed to decide who would leave with me.
The core team was the backbone of the company. They knew the clients, operations, and systems better than anyone.
If they stayed, Damon could survive. If they left, his empire would become an empty shell.
I called the first person into my office.
He sat across from me.
“I want to ask you something.”
“Of course, Serena.”
“If I leave this company and build something new, will you come with me?”
He stared at me for a moment.
Then he nodded, “Yes.”
The first agreed. He didn’t ask about money or his position. He simply said he trusted my judgment.
The second hesitated, “I need two days to think.”
“That’s fair.”
The third smiled before I had even finished explaining, “I’ve been waiting for you to come back. I always knew you were the one holding this place together.”
My throat tightened.
The fourth didn’t hesitate either, “Wherever you’re going, I’m coming.”
The fifth listened quietly before giving me his answer, “Yes. I’ll follow you.”
By the end of the week, five names were on my list.
Only one remained undecided.
I stared at the paper on my desk.
Five out of six.
It was more than enough for me.
Because I finally understood something. An empire wasn’t the building. It wasn’t the title.
It wasn’t even the money. It was the people who gave it life and five of those people had chosen me.
I looked through the glass walls at the company my father had built. Those walls now looked like the beginning of its collapse.
For years, I had believed protecting Damon meant protecting the company.
I had been wrong. I had been protecting something that had never truly belonged to him.
Now I was taking it back for good.
My phone vibrated. A message from Evan appeared: Five?
I replied: Five.
His response came almost immediately: Then we’re ready.
I looked at the list again.
Damon still had the office. He still had the title.
He still had the illusion of control.
But the people who mattered were already walking away.
A quiet smile finally touched my lips.
At Dr. Reed’s birthday dinner, they had smiled because they thought I was still their obedient Luna.
They had no idea that while they were smiling, I was taking their empire apart from within and by the time they realized the truth, there would be nothing left for them to save.