Chapter 8
2479 Words
Serena's POV
I woke up with Nate's arm still around me. The throw blanket was tangled between us on the couch. Morning light filtered through the big windows. Soft and ordinary. Like it didn't know the world had cracked open overnight. My head rested on his chest. His heartbeat was steady under my ear. For a second I let myself stay there. Breathing him in. . Something that was just him. Then the memories hit. Dad's face. Diana's smile. The theft. The text. I sat up fast.
Nate stirred. His eyes opened. He looked rumpled and real. Not the sharp billionaire from the office. "Morning," he murmured. His voice was rough with sleep. His hand found mine right away. "You okay?"
I shook my head. "Last night feels like a bad dream. Did Diana really—"
My phone buzzed on the table. Then Nate's. Both at once. He grabbed his first. Frowning at the screen. I picked up mine and the headlines screamed back at me. From a news alert.
Calloway Heir's Fiancée Tied to Old Financial Scandal – Father Accused of Embezzlement.
My stomach dropped. "It's out there. Everyone's going to see this. My dad… Nate, what if this hurts him physically? The stress—"
He pulled me back down against him. Before I could spiral. His arms wrapped tight. One hand rubbing my back in slow circles. "Hey. Breathe. I saw the email last night. I didn't want to wake you. Marcus is already on damage control. Lawyers are drafting statements. It's not the end."
I pressed my face into his shirt. Letting the tears come for a minute. "It feels like it. Dad took that money for Mom. He's not some criminal. And now I'm the gold-digger fiancée. Who brought shame to your perfect empire. How are we supposed to pretend this is real? When the whole city thinks I'm using you?"
Nate shifted so we were facing each other on the couch. His dark eyes were serious. But soft in a way that made my chest ache. "We're not pretending anymore, Serena. Not after last night. That kiss. Holding you while you slept… that was real. I don't care what the blogs say. I care about you. And your dad."
I searched his face. He meant it. I could see it. In the way he watched me. Like I was something worth protecting. "You're still here. After everything. Most guys would've cut losses by now."
"I'm not most guys." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek. "I waited ten years. A scandal isn't scaring me off. We'll fix this. Together."
We got up and made coffee in the kitchen. Simple things. Him pouring mugs. Me finding cream in the huge fridge. It felt domestic. Almost normal. Even with the phones blowing up. Nate ignored most calls. But he answered Marcus.
"Yeah… No comment yet. Buy us time," he said. Then he hung up. He turned to me. "Marcus thinks Diana leaked just enough. To pressure the will executor. But we have options."
I sipped the coffee. Hands wrapped around the warm mug. "Like what? I can't just hide here forever. I need to see Dad. He must be freaking out."
Nate nodded. "We'll go together after breakfast. But first… talk to me. No holding back. How are you really feeling? About all of it? Your dad's secret. Us."
I set the mug down. I leaned against the counter. "Scared. Angry at him for not telling me. Guilty because part of me wonders if I would've done the same. For him. And with you…" I looked down at my chipped nails. "I'm falling hard, Nate. Last night when you said you're already there, it terrified me. What if this blows up? And you regret choosing the girl with all this baggage?"
He set his coffee aside. He stepped close. Caging me gently against the counter. Not trapping. Just close enough that I felt his warmth. "No regrets. You're not baggage. You're the reason I'm finally feeling something. After years of going through the motions. The debt, the will, even Diana showing up… it brought you to me. I'd do it all again."
His words wrapped around me. Like the blanket from last night. I reached up and kissed him first this time. It started soft. Grateful. Then it deepened. When his hands slid to my waist. He tasted like coffee and promises. When we pulled back, both a little breathless, I rested my forehead on his.
"I believe you," I whispered. "Let's fight for this. For us."
We ate quick toast and eggs. He made them. Which surprised me again. We talked more while we dressed. I borrowed a simple sweater and jeans from the closet. The stylist stocked it. Nate stayed in a button-down. Sleeves rolled. Looking ready for war. In the car down to my apartment building, he held my hand the whole way.
Dad opened the door looking exhausted. Eyes red. "Serena. Nate." He didn't sound angry anymore. Just tired. "Come in."
We sat in the small living room. It felt even smaller now. Dad stared at his hands. "I never wanted you to know. The money… it started small. Your mom was so sick. I thought I could pay it back before anyone noticed. Then she died and I just… stopped trying. The guilt made me sick last year. Doctor said stress triggered the collapse."
I moved to sit beside him. Taking his hand. "Dad, I wish you'd told me. We could've faced it. But I get why you didn't. I love you. That doesn't change."
Nate spoke quietly from his chair. "Mr. Voss, my team can help bury this quietly. Compensation to the old accounts if needed. Diana won't win."
Dad looked at him for a long moment. "You really love my daughter? This isn't just the contract?"
Nate met his eyes. "I do. She saved me once. Now I get to save her right back. And you."
Something eased in Dad's shoulders. He nodded. "Then fight smart. For her."
We stayed a couple hours. Talking real things. Dad even smiled once. When Nate joked about my terrible cooking. It felt like the start of something. Family, maybe. When we left, Nate kissed my temple in the hallway.
"See? We're handling it."
Back at the penthouse, Grace had updates. Some damage control was working. But as we stepped inside, Nate's phone rang. He answered on speaker.
"Mr. Calloway, it's Dr. Fitch. Robert Voss's doctor. I just had a visit from Diana. She's threatening to release more files. Unless… well, she wants a meeting with Serena. Alone. Today. Says it involves family history. Going back decades. Something about your mothers knowing each other."
My blood went cold. Nate's hand tightened on mine.
"Family history?" I repeated.
Dr. Fitch sounded nervous. "She mentioned a letter. From before you were born. I think it's big, Miss Voss. Bigger than the money."
Nate pulled me close. But I could feel his tension. "We're not doing alone. Tell her we'll both be there."
The doctor hesitated. "She was very clear. Serena only. Or everything explodes."
I looked up at Nate. Heart pounding. Decades-old secrets. Our mothers. This wasn't just about Dad anymore.
"I'll go," I said quietly. "But Nate… what if this changes everything Chapter 9
Serena's POV
I woke up with Nate's arm still around me. The throw blanket was tangled between us on the couch. Morning light filtered through the big windows. Soft and ordinary. Like it didn't know the world had cracked open overnight. My head rested on his chest. His heartbeat was steady under my ear. For a second I let myself stay there. Breathing him in. . Something that was just him. Then the memories hit. Dad's face. Diana's smile. The theft. The text. I sat up fast.
Nate stirred. His eyes opened. He looked rumpled and real. Not the sharp billionaire from the office. "Morning," he murmured. His voice was rough with sleep. His hand found mine right away. "You okay?"
I shook my head. "Last night feels like a bad dream. Did Diana really—"
My phone buzzed on the table. Then Nate's. Both at once. He grabbed his first. Frowning at the screen. I picked up mine and the headlines screamed back at me. From a news alert.
Calloway Heir's Fiancée Tied to Old Financial Scandal – Father Accused of Embezzlement.
My stomach dropped. "It's out there. Everyone's going to see this. My dad… Nate, what if this hurts him physically? The stress—"
He pulled me back down against him. Before I could spiral. His arms wrapped tight. One hand rubbing my back in slow circles. "Hey. Breathe. I saw the email last night. I didn't want to wake you. Marcus is already on damage control. Lawyers are drafting statements. It's not the end."
I pressed my face into his shirt. Letting the tears come for a minute. "It feels like it. Dad took that money for Mom. He's not some criminal. And now I'm the gold-digger fiancée. Who brought shame to your perfect empire. How are we supposed to pretend this is real? When the whole city thinks I'm using you?"
Nate shifted so we were facing each other on the couch. His dark eyes were serious. But soft in a way that made my chest ache. "We're not pretending anymore, Serena. Not after last night. That kiss. Holding you while you slept… that was real. I don't care what the blogs say. I care about you. And your dad."
I searched his face. He meant it. I could see it. In the way he watched me. Like I was something worth protecting. "You're still here. After everything. Most guys would've cut losses by now."
"I'm not most guys." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek. "I waited ten years. A scandal isn't scaring me off. We'll fix this. Together."
We got up and made coffee in the kitchen. Simple things. Him pouring mugs. Me finding cream in the huge fridge. It felt domestic. Almost normal. Even with the phones blowing up. Nate ignored most calls. But he answered Marcus.
"Yeah… No comment yet. Buy us time," he said. Then he hung up. He turned to me. "Marcus thinks Diana leaked just enough. To pressure the will executor. But we have options."
I sipped the coffee. Hands wrapped around the warm mug. "Like what? I can't just hide here forever. I need to see Dad. He must be freaking out."
Nate nodded. "We'll go together after breakfast. But first… talk to me. No holding back. How are you really feeling? About all of it? Your dad's secret. Us."
I set the mug down. I leaned against the counter. "Scared. Angry at him for not telling me. Guilty because part of me wonders if I would've done the same. For him. And with you…" I looked down at my chipped nails. "I'm falling hard, Nate. Last night when you said you're already there, it terrified me. What if this blows up? And you regret choosing the girl with all this baggage?"
He set his coffee aside. He stepped close. Caging me gently against the counter. Not trapping. Just close enough that I felt his warmth. "No regrets. You're not baggage. You're the reason I'm finally feeling something. After years of going through the motions. The debt, the will, even Diana showing up… it brought you to me. I'd do it all again."
His words wrapped around me. Like the blanket from last night. I reached up and kissed him first this time. It started soft. Grateful. Then it deepened. When his hands slid to my waist. He tasted like coffee and promises. When we pulled back, both a little breathless, I rested my forehead on his.
"I believe you," I whispered. "Let's fight for this. For us."
We ate quick toast and eggs. He made them. Which surprised me again. We talked more while we dressed. I borrowed a simple sweater and jeans from the closet. The stylist stocked it. Nate stayed in a button-down. Sleeves rolled. Looking ready for war. In the car down to my apartment building, he held my hand the whole way.
Dad opened the door looking exhausted. Eyes red. "Serena. Nate." He didn't sound angry anymore. Just tired. "Come in."
We sat in the small living room. It felt even smaller now. Dad stared at his hands. "I never wanted you to know. The money… it started small. Your mom was so sick. I thought I could pay it back before anyone noticed. Then she died and I just… stopped trying. The guilt made me sick last year. Doctor said stress triggered the collapse."
I moved to sit beside him. Taking his hand. "Dad, I wish you'd told me. We could've faced it. But I get why you didn't. I love you. That doesn't change."
Nate spoke quietly from his chair. "Mr. Voss, my team can help bury this quietly. Compensation to the old accounts if needed. Diana won't win."
Dad looked at him for a long moment. "You really love my daughter? This isn't just the contract?"
Nate met his eyes. "I do. She saved me once. Now I get to save her right back. And you."
Something eased in Dad's shoulders. He nodded. "Then fight smart. For her."
We stayed a couple hours. Talking real things. Dad even smiled once. When Nate joked about my terrible cooking. It felt like the start of something. Family, maybe. When we left, Nate kissed my temple in the hallway.
"See? We're handling it."
Back at the penthouse, Grace had updates. Some damage control was working. But as we stepped inside, Nate's phone rang. He answered on speaker.
"Mr. Calloway, it's Dr. Fitch. Robert Voss's doctor. I just had a visit from Diana. She's threatening to release more files. Unless… well, she wants a meeting with Serena. Alone. Today. Says it involves family history. Going back decades. Something about your mothers knowing each other."
My blood went cold. Nate's hand tightened on mine.
"Family history?" I repeated.
Dr. Fitch sounded nervous. "She mentioned a letter. From before you were born. I think it's big, Miss Voss. Bigger than the money."
Nate pulled me close. But I could feel his tension. "We're not doing alone. Tell her we'll both be there."
The doctor hesitated. "She was very clear. Serena only. Or everything explodes."
I looked up at Nate. Heart pounding. Decades-old secrets. Our mothers. This wasn't just about Dad anymore.
"I'll go," I said quietly. "But Nate… what if this changes everything between us?"
He cupped my face. Eyes fierce. "It won't. Nothing will."
us?"
He cupped my face. Eyes fierce. "It won't. Nothing will."
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