“Nothing more,” Vanessa said, her voice smooth and dismissive. “Goodbye, Serena.”
As Serena stepped out of the hotel, an inexplicable heaviness settled in her chest, Her entire body felt numb, as if the weight of the world had pressed down upon her. Perhaps was because she had shed so many tears over the past weeks that now, they refused to come. Instead, she clenched her fists and drove around town for nearly two hours, letting the anger and despair swirl within her.
When she finally returned to Alice’s apartment, the reality of her situation toomed over her. Her interview at Oakridge University was scheduled for the day after her divorce from Nathaniel was finalized. With a sense of purpose, she began packing her things and preparing her research proposal, knowing it was a crucial part of the final interview.
Around nine that evening, just as she intended to settle down for the night, her phone rang unexpectedly.
It was Nathaniel.
With a mix of hesitation and dread, she answered.
“Serena, about earlier… I didn’t get a chance to ask for details about Alice,” Nathaniel’s voice came through, steady but laced with concern. “There’s still no sign of her, but the search and rescue team is continuing their efforts. The authorities are looking for any potential motives.”
For a moment, silence enveloped them, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air. Serena recalled Vanessa’s words and felt a pang of guilt. She couldn’t bring herself t tell him about the paternity test. “Who would want to hurt Alice? She’s one of the kindest people I know,” she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Okay,” Nathaniel said. “I’ll pass that along to the authorities.”
A heavy silence enveloped the conversation. Nathaniel didn’t say goodbye; he lingered on the line, as if waiting for her to say something more. “Serena, regarding the divorce… maybe we should postpone it for a while,” he suggested, his tone shifting to one of concern. “You’re going through a lot.” “No,” Serena interjected firmly. “It’s best that we get this over with.”
“I’ll see you at the courthouse in two days,” she said flatly, her heart feeling as if it were encased in ice. “I appreciate your help in searching for Alice, Nathan, but it’s time we end this.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“I have never been more sure in my life,” Serena replied resolutely. “Goodbye, Nathan.”
Two days passed in a blur.
At last, the moment arrived for Serena and Nathaniel to obtain their divorce certificate.
Standing face to face in the courthouse, Nathaniel’s expression was a mixture of concern and hope. “Are you absolutely certain you don’t want to delay this?” he asked again, his voice low.
Serena met his gaze, taking in the familiar features of the man she had shared her life with for the past four years. Each line of his face was etched in her memory, every angle painfully familiar. She opened her mouth to speak, her heart racing. “Nathan “
And just like that, the weight of their shared past hung in the air, waiting to be addressed.
“Wani waless of my circumstance, nothing changes between us. So why delay the inevitable?” Serena’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion as she fixed her gaze on him, her eyes like empty vessels. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Nathaniel could see the toll that the day had taken on her. The weight of her heartbreak from Ale had shattered her spirit, but this moment felt different. Serena’s eyes, once vibrant with life, now seemed to lack any glimmer of hope or joy. It was as if a heavy fog had settled over her, dulling her essence. He felt a pang in his chest; it was unsettling to witness her so distant, her mind and soul seemingly adrift in an ocean of despair.
The atmosphere around them felt thick with unspoken words, and Nathaniel couldn’t shake the feeling that they were both trapped in a moment that stretched beyond time. It was the silence that unnerved him the most, the absence of the laughter and lightness that had once filled their lives.
The clerk’s voice broke through the heavy silence, “If we don’t get our certificates now, we will have to wait another month. You don’t want that, and I don’t want that either.”
Serena’s shoulders slumped, and she swallowed hard, her gaze dropping to the floor. When she finally looked up, there was a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “Just promise me you will continue to look for Alice,” she implored, her voice barely above a whisper.
Nathaniel felt the weight of her request pressing down on him, and it took every ounce of strength he had to nod in agreement. Together, they made their way to the desk, the distance between them filled with a tension that was almost palpable. “We would like to finalize our divorce and get the marriage certificate,” he stated, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
As they waited, they sat side by side, both lost in their thoughts. Serena’s gaze drifted into the distance, her expression vacant. She didn’t look at him or anything around her; she seemed to be staring into an abyss, a place where he couldn’t reach her.
She pulled her coat tightly around herself, as if trying to shield her fragile self from the harshness of the world. Her movements were slow, deliberate, almost robotic, and Nathaniel felt a chill run down his spine. It frightened him more than he cared to admit.
“Do you feel cold?” he asked gently, leaning in closer, desperate to break the spell of silence that surrounded them.
Serena nodded, her expression still blank.
“Maybe you’re getting sick,” he suggested, instinctively reaching out to feel her forehead and then her neck. But she remained unresponsive, her eyes glassy and distant.
With a soft touch, she pulled his hand away. “I’m fine. I just feel a little cold,” she replied, her voice lacking conviction.
The silence returned, wrapping around them like a heavy blanket, pressing down on Nathaniel with an ache he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge.
“Mr. Nathaniel Thome? Your divorce certificates are ready,” the clerk announced, breaking the tension in the air.
Both Serena and Nathaniel stood up simultaneously, their movements synchronized as if they were two marionettes controlled by the same invisible strings. They approached the counter, receiving the documents that would forever change their lives.
As they studied the certificates,
Nathaniel felt a wave of finality wash over him. It’s all good,” Serena said, her voice flat. She was the first to sign the acknowledgment fo her pen gliding across the paperike a ghost. Then, without a word she turned away, her back to him, and walked out into the hallway.
“Wait. Serena, wait!” he called out, rushing to catch up with her. “Serena.”
She turned, her expression as lifeless as before. “What?”
“Take care of yourself, Serena,” he urged, his voice cracking slightly, betraying the calm facade he desperately tried to maintain. “And it’s not like we won’t see each other again. I’ll update you when we find Alice.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting a world of pain. “Or Gavin can update me,” she replied, her tone detached.
For a moment, she paused, looking at him one last time, and the weight of her gaze felt like a farewell. “Goodbye, Nathan.”
.n
As she walked away, the ache in Nathaniel’s chest deepened, a familiar yet unbearable sensation. They had exchanged goodbyes countless times before, but this one felt different. It left a heaviness that he couldn’t quite articulate, a sorrow that would only reveal itself in the days to come.
After obtaining her divorce
UT
certificate, Serena headed straight to the Hartleys’ villa, her heart heavy with the weight of her recent decision. She found Lena, Alice’s mother, anxiously waiting fornews.
Mr. Hartley and his son, Landon, were still at Riverbend Point, desperately asking around if anyone had seen Alice.
So far, every lead had turned cold.
Over lunch, the two women sat together, the air thick with unspoken worries. It was during this meal that Serena finally mustered the strength to share the news of her divorce. “I finalized things with Nathaniel,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s a shame,” Lena responded, her brow furrowing with concern. “I really thought you and Nathan were so much in love.”
Serena felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her as she considered the past. “It was all a lie. He and Vanessa Holt are getting married,” she said, bitterness creeping into her tone.
“Are they?” Lena asked, surprise etched across her face.
Alice’s mother bore a striking resemblance to her daughter, with her dark hair and fair complexion. She shook her head, disappointment flooding her features. “I guess things on the surface don’t always mean what we think they do. But, Serena, will Nathan continue to help us find Alice?”
Serena’s heart sank at the thought of Nathaniel moving on while she remained trapped in this cycle of loss. The uncertainty of their future loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she could only hope that the bonds forged in the past would not fray completely in the face of their new realities.
Serena nodded slowly, her heart heavy yet hopeful. “He promised he would. I truly believe he is sincere about that part.” Her voice was tinged with a mixture of uncertainty and longing, as if she were grasping at the wisps of a dream that might slip away.
“Aunt, the police are asking if Alice has had any troubles lately. They’re investigating the possibility of foul play,” Lena said, her tone serious and laced with concern. “Nathan mentioned you hadn’t noticed anything unusual, but I distinctly remember Alice was suspended from work-“
“Aunt, I’m so sorry,” Serena interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just that I couldn’t bring myself to tell Nathan.”
Lena’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Serena took a deep breath, her heart racing as she prepared to reveal the truth. “The truth is, Alice and I were exploring the possibility that I might not actually be Victor’s daughter. I submitted samples for a paternity test at Grand Mercy Hospital, but when the results came back, they confirmed that I am indeed Victor’s daughter,” she explained, her voice trembling as she recounted the events. “The laboratory supervisor disposed of the sample so hastily that we were convinced something was off. We argued with him, fearing that the results had been tampered with.”
“I’m so sorry, Aunt. I truly am,” Serena said, her voice thick with regret. “I might have put Alice in a precarious position.”
Lena remained silent, her gaze fixed on Serena, who had lowered her eyes to her trembling hands. After a moment, Lena reached out and gently rubbed her back, offering comfort. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, child. Who’s to say that the supervisor’s actions weren’t just carelessness? That doesn’t automatically imply foul play.”
“And even if you could prove you’re not Victor’s daughter, why would anyone want to harm Alice because of that?” Lena asked softly, her voice soothing yet probing. “What does Victor stand to gain from revealing that you’re not his daughter? Besides, isn’t it true that all of Victor’s accomplices are locked away with him?”
Before Serena could gather her thoughts to respond, Lena’s phone rang, shattering the moment of introspection.
Serena observed as Lena’s expression shifted from resolute determination to a profound sense of defeat. The call ended, and Lena turned to her, a mixture of dread and disbelief etched on her face. “Brandon just called. They identified the man who crashed into Alice’s car. He left a pub just moments before the accident, and multiple witnesses claim he was likely driving under the influence.”
The weight of the revelation sank in, and Lena broke down in tears, her voice breaking with anguish. “How could he be so reckless? Because of his irresponsibility, three lives are now irrevocably altered, including his own.”
The grim reality was that two bodies had been discovered at the crash site. One day on the bridge, while the other was submerged in the water but neither belonged to Alice reir DNA did not match, and there was no identification linking them to her.
The news lifted a heavy burden from Serena’s shoulders, a glimmer of relief coursing through her. It seemed that the accident might not be connected to the DNA testing after all.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.