PopularNovelChapter 253 Serena lay motionless on the bed, her face ghastly pale, as if the life had been drained out of her.
Aaron felt as though a giant fist had gripped his heart, squeezing tight. He rushed to her side and reached out, desperate for any sign of life.
A faint breath brushed against his palm. The crushing weight in his chest loosened for a heartbeat-only to clench again, even tighter than before.
He didn't pause to think. Instinct took over. In one swift movement, he bent down, scooped Serena into his arms, and hurried toward the door.
Their neighbor, startled by the sight of Serena's waxen face in Aaron's arms, gasped and quickly stepped aside to let them pass.
*** Grayson Group Headquarters.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Mr. Grayson, the hotel for Mr. Weatherly has been arranged," Finn reported crisply.
Determined to avoid any more mishaps, Finn had spent three days searching for a location that was both discreet and secure.
As soon as the arrangements were in place, he hurried back to deliver the news.
William Grayson looked up, pushing aside the papers on his desk. "Are you absolutely certain nothing can go wrong?" "Yes, sir. The hotel is one of our own properties, reserved exclusively for Grayson family members. There's no way anyone from outside can get in-not even Aaron, no matter how resourceful he is." William gave a slight nod, but his striking eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.
He tapped his long fingers against the desk, the rhythmic sound echoing softly through the office.
"Finn." "Yes, sir?" "Tellwhy do you think Aaron is doing all this?" Finn hesitated, caught off guard by the question. He shook his head honestly. "I'm not sure, sir." He paused, then continued under William's encouraging gaze, "But... something about this whole situation feels staged." "Staged?" William's brows knitted together.
"Yes. Think about that ridiculous sweater..." Finn trailed off as William's expression soured.
"If Miss Sullivan knitted it herself, why would someone wear it so openly? It's like waving a flag t of her face, practically announcing that Mr. Vance sent them.
William's tapping slowed, his fingers stilling for a moment as he mulled it over.
"If it wasn't Aaron, then who?" he asked quietly.
Finn shook his head again. "Honestly, sir, I don't know much about Miss. Sullivan. I wouldn't want to speculate. But with Penelope's status, there's no way she could've brought Nestor Leighton intothis on her own." In other words, there had to be someone else pulling the strings.
William withdrew his hand, glancing at the notepad on his desk. Today's date was circled in red. Serena's show was set to air today.
Which meant he had an excuse to see her-and to ask about the questions Finn had raised.
*** Hospital.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSerena stared up at the ceiling, her eyes unfocused. It was a long moment before her vision finally sharpened and anchored on something real.
"You're awake?" The cool, low timbre beside her was unmistakable.
She didn't need to look to know it was Aaron. Still, she turned her head, confirming it was indeed him.
Once she did, a strange sense of detachment washed over her.
Ever since Penelope's visit, Serena had been tormented by nightmares every night. She couldn't bear to close her eyes, but even then, the horrors would bleed into her waking hours. At first, it was only the image of her father lying in a hospital bed.
Then, it was blood-so much blood-her father trapped in a car, his body mangled and broken...
Eventually, the nightmares crept into daylight. Even if she blinked for just a second, she'd see her father's face-bloody, eyes brimming with anguish and accusation. Reality and nightmare blurred together. She could hardly tell them apart anymore.
All she remembered was the agony, the desperate wish to follow hem father into oblivion-until, suddenly, she heard Aaron's voice.
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