2: Come On, Let’s Hurt Each Other
840 Words
Serena’s eyes flickered briefly before a playful smile took over. “That depends. If you count the month you didn’t come to see me, then it’s a hundred days. If not, then seventy-three.”
“You kept track that clearly?” Adrian looked down at her.
“How could I not? Every second with you is precious to me.” A flirtatious glint danced in her eyes.
“Is that so?” His tone remained indifferent.
Serena stood on tiptoe and kissed his chin. “So, you can’t just leave me alone in bed all the time.”
At her words, Adrian wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Softness met hardness as his hand slid under her nightgown. Serena’s breath hitched, and a low sigh escaped her lips.
“You’re right. How could I leave you alone?”
…
When Serena woke up again, the sun was already setting. The man was gone, and the only thing lingering in the air was the salty breeze from the ocean.
A note sat on the bedside table, its elegant handwriting unmistakable.
—I’m attending a banquet. If you’re hungry, ask Irene to prepare dinner for you.
Serena held the note between her fingers, recalling Adrian’s sudden question earlier. A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips.
“Eating alone in my room? How boring. Isn’t there a banquet?”
She had a pretty good idea of what Adrian meant by that note. And the idea of crashing the party was far too tempting to resist.
---
The cruise ship was massive, its grand ballroom spanning several hundred square meters. The dazzling crystal chandeliers overhead cast shimmering reflections, as brilliant as strings of priceless gemstone necklaces.
Serena entered in a strapless mini dress, her curves accentuated in all the right places. The moment she stepped into the hall, men’s eyes locked onto her, some subtly, others boldly moving closer. On a normal day, she might have indulged in a little fun. But tonight, she had only one target.
She made her way up to the second level, where the atmosphere was quieter. The soft melody of a piano guided her toward the balcony. Aside from a few waitstaff, there were no other guests here.
By the piano, a man and a woman sat, their hands moving in sync over the keys. The moonlight bathed them in an almost surreal glow, turning the scene into something out of a painting.
The man’s crisp white mandarin-collar shirt was the one she had helped him put on that morning. Over it, he wore a classic black jacket, the deep blue cufflinks on his sleeves gleaming under the light. The woman leaned intimately against him, her plunging neckline revealing an indecent amount of cleavage, one wrong move away from spilling out completely.
Serena’s eyes narrowed. As a woman, she knew exactly what that woman’s lingering glances meant. And as someone who had been with Adrian for a while, she also knew how much he hated people invading his space. If he was letting a woman get this close to him, there was only one possible explanation.
He wasn’t interested in her anymore.
She was still here, and he was already eager to replace her.
No wonder he hadn’t come to see her for a month.
The flicker of amusement in Serena’s eyes was quickly swallowed by anger. Just as she took a step forward, a familiar figure blocked her path.
“Miss Vaughn.”
Irene.
“Get out of my way! I’m still here, and these random women think they can throw themselves at Adrian?!” Even Serena had to admit her own acting was flawless.
“Miss Vaughn,” Irene said, unwavering. “You’re a smart woman. You should know there are certain things you shouldn’t do right now.”
Serena took a step back, looking as if she had just suffered a devastating blow. “I don’t believe it… Adrian wouldn’t just abandon me. It must be those women—taking advantage of my absence to seduce him!”
Irene’s tone remained indifferent. “Serena, have some dignity.”
“Move.”
Serena shoved Irene aside and strode forward.
Adrian noticed her immediately. His chiseled features remained impassive, but his eyes held an unmistakable chill—a silent warning.
Serena’s gaze darted around, quickly landing on a glass of red wine on the table. Without hesitation, she grabbed it and dumped it over the woman’s head.
The woman had been basking in Adrian’s presence when the cold liquid drenched her. She shrieked, her composure shattering in an instant. “Ahh! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
Serena ignored her entirely. Timing was everything. She threw herself into Adrian’s arms, her voice instantly turning sweet and pitiful.
“Adrian, are you upset that I didn’t come with you to the banquet? Well, I’m here now! So hurry and send these women away~”
Adrian didn’t push her away. His voice remained calm, almost gentle.
“Serena, we’re done.”
- Writer
