Serena walked out of the Kingston Group headquarters with hurried steps, the cool afternoon breeze brushing against her face.
Only when the revolving glass doors closed behind her did she finally stop.
She inhaled deeply, pressing a trembling hand against her chest.
"What is happening to my life?" she whispered.
Yesterday, she had lost the man she thought she would marry.
Last night, she had shared the most vulnerable moments of her life with a stranger.
This morning, she had discovered that stranger was Adrian Kingston—the CEO of Kingston Group.
And just minutes ago…
He had asked her to become his wife.
A contract wife.
She let out a humorless laugh.
"If someone told me this yesterday, I would've called them crazy."
Her phone vibrated.
Dad.
Relief washed over her as she answered.
"Dad."
"Serena, where are you?"
His voice sounded unusually tired.
"I'm… leaving an interview."
"Come home after you're done. We need to talk."
Something in his tone made her stomach tighten.
"Is everything okay?"
There was a long pause.
"We'll talk when you get here."
The line went dead.
Kingston Group.
Executive Floor.
Adrian stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
His hands rested casually in his pockets.
Behind him, Ethan Brooks entered quietly.
"You asked to see me, sir."
Without turning around, Adrian spoke.
"What do you know about Serena Vale?"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"The interview candidate?"
"Yes."
"I'll begin a background check immediately."
Adrian nodded.
"No rumors."
"No assumptions."
"I want facts."
"Understood."
Ethan hesitated.
"If I may ask…"
Adrian turned to face him.
"Why her?"
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Adrian answered.
"She refused me."
Ethan blinked.
"…Refused you?"
"I offered her something most people would accept without thinking."
"And she walked away."
A faint smile touched Adrian's lips before disappearing just as quickly.
"That tells me more about her character than any résumé ever could."
Ethan had worked beside Adrian for nearly a decade.
He had never heard him speak about an interview candidate this way.
"I'll have the report by this evening."
"Good."
As Ethan reached the door, Adrian spoke again.
"One more thing."
"Sir?"
"Keep this confidential."
Ethan nodded.
"Of course."
Serena arrived home just before sunset.
The Vale residence looked as elegant as ever from the outside.
Inside…
The atmosphere felt anything but peaceful.
Her father sat in the living room, rubbing his temples.
Linda, her stepmother, sat across from him with folded arms.
Vanessa lounged comfortably on the sofa, scrolling through her phone as if nothing in the world could trouble her.
The moment Serena entered, Linda looked up.
"So you've finally decided to come home."
Serena ignored the remark.
She looked at her father.
"You wanted to see me?"
Harold sighed heavily.
"Sit down."
She obeyed.
For a few moments, no one spoke.
Then Harold slid a folder across the coffee table.
"I need you to look at this."
Serena opened it.
Her expression slowly changed.
Several company projects had been suspended.
Bank notices.
Outstanding loans.
Cash flow reports.
"What happened?" she asked quietly.
Harold leaned back, looking older than she had ever seen him.
"We lost two major investors."
Linda clicked her tongue.
"Your father trusts people too easily."
Harold ignored the comment.
"If we don't secure another investment soon…"
He paused.
"…the company may not survive."
Serena looked at him in disbelief.
"You never told me."
"I didn't want you to worry."
She closed the folder gently.
"There has to be another solution."
"I'm trying."
His tired smile broke her heart.
"I'm trying everything."
Vanessa finally looked up from her phone.
"Maybe it's time we accepted reality."
Serena frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Vanessa shrugged.
"Some people are meant to succeed."
She looked directly at Serena.
"And some people aren't."
"Vanessa," Harold warned.
"What? I'm just being honest."
Serena stood.
"I didn't come home to argue."
She picked up the folder.
"I'll see if there's anything I can do."
Harold reached for her hand.
"I'm sorry."
She smiled gently.
"For what?"
"For making you carry burdens that were never yours."
Tears threatened to form in Serena's eyes.
She squeezed his hand.
"We're family."
"We'll find a way."
Across the city…
Adrian sat alone in his office.
A file rested on his desk.
SERENA VALE
He opened it.
Top of her graduating class.
Excellent employment history.
No disciplinary records.
Volunteer work.
Recommendations praising her honesty.
He continued reading until one line caught his attention.
Resigned from previous position to care for her father during his illness.
Adrian leaned back slowly.
"So that's who you are…"
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
Ethan entered carrying another document.
"The board meeting has been rescheduled."
"And your grandfather asked to see you."
Adrian closed Serena's file.
"I'll be there shortly."
As Ethan turned to leave, Adrian looked once more at the name on the folder.
Serena Vale.
She had refused wealth.
She had refused power.
She had refused him.
For reasons he couldn't quite explain…
He admired that.
Outside the office windows, dark clouds gathered once again over the city.
Neither Adrian nor Serena knew it yet…
But fate was already arranging another meeting.
And next time…
Walking away would be far more difficult.