Late at night.
Without realizing it, Serena's eyelids slowly closed. Come to think of it, today had been truly exhausting—not just physically, but emotionally as well.
Her worries about Adrian, her beloved stepson, had ended in sharp disappointment and a sadness too deep to describe. On top of that, the tense moment she had with Ren, her lover, followed soon after. Today had completely drained all her energy.
Ren, sitting near Serena, watched her tired face. When he saw her fall asleep, her breathing becoming even and calm, he sighed in relief. He'd been worried at first, afraid she wouldn't be able to sleep in this new place. Serena had once told him she had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings. But seeing her sleep so peacefully, Ren finally felt at ease.
Carefully, Ren leaned in and lifted Serena in his arms. Her petite body felt light, yet full of meaning.
When he reached the guest room, he paused for a few seconds in front of the door, then changed direction and carried her to his own room.
"She'll sleep better in my bed,"
he murmured softly.
Once in his room, Ren gently laid Serena down on the large bed. He pulled the blanket over her, making sure she was warm and comfortable before sitting down at the edge of the bed. His gaze fell on the mattress, which suddenly felt far too spacious. He squinted slightly, as if a realization had just hit him.
"Now that I think about it… this bed is too big for just the two of us,"
he whispered with a frown "Maybe I should get a single bed instead."
He nodded to himself, feeling satisfied with the brilliant idea. If the bed were smaller, there'd be no space between them when they slept together.
Ren liked that kind of closeness.
He leaned in, kissed Serena's forehead gently, then stared at her slightly swollen lips—the remnants of their heated kiss the night before.
His body stirred just at the memory. Letting out a heavy, audible sigh, he stood up while muttering to himself,
"Cold shower… again."
---
Morning.
Sunlight slowly slipped through the curtains, warming the chilly morning air. Ren was the first to open his eyes. He had always been an early riser. With light movements, he got up, went to the bathroom, then got ready to make breakfast.
But before that, he reached for his work phone and dialed Rendy, his secretary. The call lasted around 45 minutes—discussing a few important matters.
After hanging up, Ren was about to head to the kitchen but suddenly stopped. He remembered something, then typed quickly on another work phone. A moment later, a woman's voice answered on the other end.
"Sir."
"Tell me everything Serena did since yesterday at her place,"
Ren ordered, his tone cold and firm.
"Yesterday morning, Madam was acting normal. But suddenly, she asked about the Young Master, who hasn't come home in a week."
"Does Serena know why Adrian hasn't come home?"
Ren asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, Sir. But earlier, Madam asked me what had happened while she was away. I only told her that Mr. Shine stopped by to see the Young Master."
Ren fell silent. Just as he suspected—the ones who broke Serena's heart were the Shine family.
"And then?"
he asked, his tone growing colder.
"After that, Madam went out to deliver clothes for the Young Master. A few hours later, she called me and asked for all of the Young Master's belongings to be packed and sent to an address she provided."
Ren closed his eyes, trying to calm the fury bubbling in his chest. He knew exactly who was behind Serena's tears: Adrian .
Susi—the chef at Serena's house—was actually Ren's plant, someone he had stationed there to watch over things closely. Serena still didn't know, and Ren had no intention of telling her.
But now, after hearing how Adrian had made her cry, Ren would not hold back anymore.
Back then, he hadn't been able to do much. Andre—Serena's husband—had threatened and pressured him into powerlessness. But now? He had money, influence, and a wide-reaching network.
Now, Ren could protect Serena.
---
In Ren's Room.
Serena's phone rang loudly, waking her up. Eyes still closed, her hand fumbled around until she found the phone and answered it without checking the caller ID.
"Hello,"
she greeted hoarsely, her voice thick with sleep.
"Um… Serena?"
came a hesitant voice.
"Yes?"
"You didn't forget we had a meeting today, right? To talk about your book getting published?"
Serena froze, trying to process the information. A few seconds later, she sat up straight, suddenly wide awake.
"Riri!" she gasped.
"Yup, it's me," Riri replied cheerfully.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry! I completely forgot!" Serena felt incredibly guilty. Yesterday's events had drained her mind to the point she forgot about this important appointment.
She glanced at the wall clock—half past ten! They were supposed to meet at nine-thirty.
"Where are you now?"
Serena asked, panicked.
Ren entered the room and smiled instantly when he saw Serena was awake. He walked over and kissed her lips lightly, greeting her, "Morning."
Seeing Ren in such cozy, casual clothes gave Serena an idea.
"Ri, how about we change the meeting location? Let's do it here instead."
"Sure! Send me the address, I'm on my way!"
Riri answered enthusiastically.
After sending the address, Serena turned to Ren with a sharp look.
"What?"
Ren asked, puzzled by her annoyed expression.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" she pouted.
Ren chuckled softly and pinched her cheek affectionately.
"I just wanted you to get proper rest after everything yesterday,"
he answered gently, his eyes full of care.
Serena nodded, touched. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Breakfast is ready," Ren said.
"Okay. But I'm taking a shower first."
"Go ahead. I also bought some new clothes for you this morning. They're in the closet. Pick anything you like."
Serena's smile , then rushed into the bathroom.
While brushing her teeth, she finally realized she had slept in Ren's room. From all the toiletries—everything belonged to him.
"No wonder I slept so well,"
she murmured with a small smile.
---
After showering, Serena stood still, staring at the closet. Ren had said he bought a few clothes, but the truth was, two full racks were filled. Even underwear—bras and panties—fit her perfectly.
Serena was speechless.
She finally picked a sleeveless white knit top paired with high-waisted brown pants. Her hair was styled in a neat bun, and she wore light makeup, since she was only going to have a discussion with Riri.
When she came downstairs, she saw Ren setting the dining table. Her steps were light, and as Ren turned to her, his eyes instantly lit up.
Seeing Serena in clothes he had picked made Ren very happy.
Serena smiled and hugged him tightly. After the warm embrace, Ren kissed her lips gently. The kiss deepened gradually. Since last night, they seemed unable to stop kissing each other.
Serena responded eagerly. Ren welcomed her with passion, his tongue finding hers and sucking on it intensely, making Serena let out a quiet moan, her body turning limp in his arms.
Ren held her tightly, keeping her petite frame from collapsing. Serena clung to his neck. Their breathing became heavier as their lips finally parted. Their eyes burned with the same hunger.
Ren lowered his head, kissing her neck and leaving a love mark.
"Ah…"
Serena gasped softly, surprised by how sensitive her neck was.
Ren smiled, satisfied, gazing at Serena—now looking irresistibly alluring with flushed cheeks and half-lidded eyes. He kissed her lips again with unrestrained desire, as if unwilling to waste even a second of their time together.
---