Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Two more years, Serenity thought, trying to rally herself. Daniel Raleigh’s will had been pretty specific and in keeping with his controlling personality. Serenity was to be awarded full access to her trust only if she continued to live with her stepmother until she was twenty-one. Otherwise, she was on her own until she turned thirty.
Two more years, just two more years, Serenity repeated to herself. But the more she thought about it, the more she was thinking maybe the money wasn’t worth it. Maybe she should just take the risk and leave. Not just her stepmother’s house but Netherlands. If she started fresh somewhere else, she might have an easier time forgetting the humiliating way she had thrown herself at a man who didn’t want her.
Serenity started chewing on her lip as she thought of all the what-ifs that could happen, and she was so lost in her thoughts that she was completely taken by surprise when the door to the dining room flew open and Shane came rushing in.
“He’s coming, Mother!” Shane’s voice was breathless with excitement.
“Who?” Melanie demanded as she jumped to her feet.
“Willem!”
Serenity froze.
“I invited him to dinner, and I was expecting we’d go out, but he told me he was in the mood for something home-cooked so I told him we could come here.” As if suddenly remembering there was someone else in the room, Shane swung around to face Serenity. “And you.” Warning sharpened her voice as she said, “I have no idea what made Willem fire you, but whatever it is – don’t you dare cause any trouble tonight. You better be on your best behavior or I’ll make your life hell.”
Chapter Three
“THANK YOU FOR LETTING me join you even at such short notice,” Willem murmured to his host while his bodyguards filed inside the dining room and did their best to blend with the beige walls. Security had ramped up since someone with a vendetta against the de Konigh family had attacked one of his cousins, and since it was by the order of the queen herself, even Willem was not excused.
His security team, however, appeared only to impress Shane’s mother, who tittered at the sight of them before gushing, “You know you’re always welcome here.”
“And of course,” Shane said breezily, “you know my dear half-sister Serenity.”
His arm still around Shane’s waist, Willem turned towards Serenity’s direction.
Ah.
The Serenity that stared at him was a paler and thinner version of the one he knew, but she was still as exquisitely beautiful as ever. Her salmon-colored sweater was a loose semi-crop, and he imagined that she only had to raise her arms a little to bare her undoubtedly flat tummy and tiny waist.
Her denim shorts were no better. They were just as loose and androgynously styled, and while it should have made Serenity look mannish, the knee-length shorts had just ended up making her legs look longer and shapelier.
His body stirred in awareness even as his jaw clenched hard at the thought of Serenity dressed like this outside her home. Did she want to attract attention now? Was that who she had become after leaving his employ?
Forcing his gaze back to her face, he managed a nod, saying curtly, “Serenity.”
“Sir.” Her tone was bland, her face expressionless, and anger simmered inside him even though Willem had no fucking idea who he was angry with. Was he furious with Serenity, for daring to look like she had moved on, or with himself, for realizing that a nineteen year old seemed to be better at coping with their—-
With their what, Willem asked himself savagely. Goddammit, he was acting like he hadn’t yet recovered from a painful breakup when he had been the one to push her away.
“Are you okay, darling?” Shane touched his arm in puzzlement.
Serenity’s heart lurched as she watched the billionaire place a comforting hand on top of her sister’s.
“I’m sorry,” she heard Willem murmur. His voice was polite but warm. A tone, she realized dully, he had never used with her. Humiliation burned her cheeks at the thought. She must have been crazy, must have been so delusional, to think that Willem de Konigh actually loved her back.
And it was as if the billionaire was unconsciously driven to prove this as well.
It started when Willem claimed the seat next to Serenity, which caused her feelings to seesaw between elation and shock, until she heard the billionaire explain charmingly, “Because I’d like to see your beautiful face when we talk.”
Shane had blushed and laughed, but she had nonetheless taken the seat across Willem, which then forced Melanie to sit in isolation at the head of the table, with only Serenity on one side and an empty chair on the other.
Throughout dinner, Willem kept the conversation going, exerting all effort to dazzle Shane and Melanie as he alternately flirted with one and charmed the other. Serenity, he paid only the barest of attention, and by doing so he had unknowingly convinced the other women that Serenity’s resignation was indeed a sham.