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Serene’s POV
The living room glowed with the soft warmth of afternoon light filtering through sheer curtains, casting delicate patterns across the hardwood floor.
I was standing at the kitchen counter, my casual outfit—a breezy white top and a knee-length skirt—clinging lightly to my frame as I sliced oranges for Nicholas’s juice.
The sharp tang of citrus filled the air, mingling with the faint knot of unease in my chest. Guests were coming, but who? Were they some important men?
The question gnawed at me, each unanswered possibility tightening the coil of my nerves. What If they hurt me? What if they found out about Julian and Valencia and were coming to tell Nicholas about me?
I sighed, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, my fingers trembling ever so slightly.
“Se
