Chapter 5
Adrian burst in like a madman, still wearing the same suit he'd had on for his proposal the night before. His tie was crooked, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night, and all traces of his usual refined demeanor were gone.
When he saw the glaring marriage certificate in Serena's hand, he froze, as if struck by lightning.
"You really went through with it?" Adrian's voice was rough, full of disbelief and despair. "Serena, you actually gave yourself to a devil like Lucas just to spite me? Do you even know how many people he's killed? Do you have any idea how filthy his hands are?"
Serena calmly slipped the marriage certificate into her bag, then turned around, her face so composed it was as if she were staring at a corpse.
"Adrian, you say Mr. Reed's hands are dirty?" Serena let out a soft laugh, her hatred etched deep in her eyes.
"But I think Mr. Reed only kills those who deserve it. And you, Mr. Kelsen... your heart is the dirtiest thing in this world."
In her previous life, as he stood outside the operating room, watching her and their child grow colder and colder, his hands weren't just dirty. They were stained with his own child's blood.
"You don't get it! Bella is..." Adrian blurted out, instinctively trying to defend himself.
"She's your savior, so I should just step aside for her, right?" Serena cut him off, her words sharp and deliberate. "Fine, then spend the rest of your life with your precious savior. Mr. Kelsen, from now on, you'd better mind your words and actions when you see me."
She hooked her arm around Lucas's, nestling against him, looking utterly dependent.
Lucas stiffened for a split second, then wrapped his arm around her, holding her close like he never wanted to let her go, as if she was a part of him.
Lucas turned to Adrian, his lips barely parted as he spoke, every word cutting straight to the bone.
"Mr. Kelsen, since we're married now, whenever you see Serena, make sure you address her as... Mrs. Reed."
"In your dreams!" Adrian's eyes blazed with fury, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles popped. "Lucas, Serena loves me. She spent four years with me.! You're just picking up my leftovers!"
"Leftovers?" Lucas spat.
Lucas was surrounded by a deadly rage. He strode forward, his right hand locking around Adrian's throat, hoisting him off his feet like he weighed nothing.
"Adrian, watch your mouth. Say that word again, and I'll turn the Kelsen Group's headquarters into your grave," Lucas growled.
The murderous intent in Lucas's eyes was unmistakable. Adrian struggled desperately, his face shifting from pale to purple. On the edge of death, he caught a glimpse of a deep, terrifying affection in Lucas's gaze that sent chills down his spine.
Lucas truly cared about Serena.
Lucas's possessiveness was on a whole other level, way beyond anything Adrian could have ever imagined. The intensity of it sent chills down his spine.
"Get out of my sight," Lucas said coldly, tossing Adrian aside like he was nothing but garbage.
With Serena on his arm, Lucas strode toward the waiting cars, not even bothering to look back.
The convoy rolled out, dust swirling and blurring Adrian's vision. He slumped onto the pavement, staring at his phone as Bella's messages kept popping up, but all he felt was a gaping emptiness inside.
It was as if the most important thing in his life had just been ripped away, dying right before his eyes.
*****
Inside the Rolls-Royce, Serena leaned back in her seat, eyes closed, taking a breather.
"Now that you're Mrs. Reed, you'll be moving into Reed Manor," Lucas said, his voice possessive as he idly turned the ring on his finger. "From now on, you're not allowed to handle any of the Kent family's dirty business yourself anymore."
Serena opened her eyes and looked at him. "Mr. Reed, do you think I'm too fragile, or that I'll show mercy?"
"I'm just worried you'll get your hands dirty," Lucas said, his hand locking around the back of her neck as he pulled her in, their breaths mingling. "Leave the dirty work to me. This kind of thing is what I'm good at."
Serena stared at him, their faces almost touching. "Mr. Reed, why did you really marry me? Don't try to tell me it was just to get back at Adrian. I won't buy that."
Lucas's grip tightened just a bit, a deep restraint flickering in his eyes.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Serena, if you knew I'd been waiting ten years for this day, would you still ask why?"
Serena was stunned.
Ten years?
Memories from her past life flooded her mind, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall ever having any connection with this aloof man ten years ago.
Just as she was about to ask more, Lucas released her and gazed out the window.
"Let's head back to Reed Manor. Tonight, I'll take you to meet those who are just waiting to watch you make a fool of yourself," he said.
Serena stared at his profile, her grip tightening around the marriage certificate in her hand.
She told to herself that if Lucas really protected her, she'd stick with him through all the madness.
Night fell, and the city lights came alive.
Reed Manor, that century-old mansion at the heart of Cloudmere City, felt more oppressive than ever. The tension in the air was thicker than usual.
Serena stepped out of the car, staring up at the ancient, imposing building. Memories from her past life rushed in. Stories about Reed Manor were bloodshed, icy cruelty, and a place strictly off-limits.