The love we keep

I’m sorry

As the sunrise crept over Los Angeles, Serena's alarm rang, piercing the morning calm. She smirked as she stood up and rubbed her eyes gently, trying to shake off the slumber. But her peaceful morning was short-lived, as her room door burst open wildly.

Serena's eyes widened in surprise as she stood up to face her brother, Jack, whose expression twisted in a mixture of anger and hatred. He had always blamed Serena for their parents' death, and the resentment had been simmering for years.

"I thought you were dead!" Jack exclaimed, his voice dripping with malice.

Serena's smile faltered, replaced by a cautious tone. "Good morning, sorry I woke up late."

But before she could finish, a slap landed on her face, sending shockwaves through her body. Serena cried out softly, clutching her cheek in pain.

Jack's anger boiled over. "My kids are late for school because of you, and you're telling me good morning? Huh?" He grabbed her hair, his grip tightening as he glared at her. "Look at me! My wife is pregnant, and I don't want her to stress herself. You should be watching over Anna and Kaleb!"

Serena nodded meekly, trying to placate her brother. "Okay."

But the encounter left her reeling. This had been her reality for years – a never-ending cycle of torment and blame. Serena felt trapped, with no escape from her brother's wrath.

Sometimes, Serena felt like fleeing and never coming back, or simply ending it all. The thought sent a fresh wave of tears streaming down her face as she watched Jack's figure disappear. She stood up, went to the bathroom to freshen up, and began preparing for work. At the same time, she needed to prepare lunch for Jack's family. She knew she was at fault for sleeping late.

Serena slipped into her casual gown, accentuating her curves. As a young woman with a stunning figure, she looked captivating in any dress. She walked out of her room, quickly made lunch, and served it to the family. Grabbing her bag, she headed out of the house.

At her workplace, Serena's culinary skills shone as a talented chef. Ma Ruth greeted her warmly, "My dear, you're here! Welcome."

Serena smiled apologetically, "Yes, ma, sorry I'm late. My bad!"

Ma Ruth's expression softened, "No worries, dear. I heard the Wayland's son is returning today."

Serena's eyes widened in surprise, "Huh?"

Ma Ruth nodded, "Yes, Serena."

Serena's response was barely above a whisper, "Wow."

Ma Ruth smiled, "So, let's create something delicious." She gently pulled Serena toward the kitchen.

Despite her talent, Serena didn't find joy in her former workplace. However, the moment she stepped into the Wayland's mansion, her heart skipped a beat, she always felt like it’s her own home. A few hours passed, and Serena became completely absorbed in her work.

Serena and Ma Ruth were in the midst of a discussion when a beep from the gate interrupted them. Serena swiftly stood up, her eyes wide with excitement. "They're here."

Having worked at the mansion for six months, Serena had never met the Wayland son. Her curiosity was piqued.

Outside, a sleek sports car came to a stop, and a long, elegant foot clad in a black shoe stepped out. The housekeepers stood at attention, welcoming their guest. "Welcome, sir!"

Jacob looked around, his eyes scanning the familiar yet changed surroundings. It had been seven years since his last visit. He smirked, his expression a mix of nostalgia and amusement.

As he walked toward the doorway, Serena rushed past him, her haste almost knocking him off balance.

Unaware of the commotion she had just caused, Serena's mind was preoccupied with the frantic call she had received from Jack just minutes earlier.

"Hello?" Serena had answered, her voice cautious.

Jack's angry voice boomed through the line. "You left the stove on! Now Anna's been burned."

Serena froze, her heart racing. "I didn't, I couldn't be that careless. I promise you, I turned it off."

Jack's response was laced with urgency. "We're at Kid's Care Hospital. You need to come here right now!"

Without hesitation, Serena grabbed her bag and rushed out of the mansion, not looking back. Ma Ruth, who had overheard the conversation, understood that something was amiss.

Serena sped down the driveway, her mind consumed by worry. In her haste, she collided with Jacob, who was entering the mansion.

Jacob's reflexes kicked in, and he grabbed Serena's arm, steadying her. "Watch where you're going!" he exclaimed.

Serena didn't look up, her eyes fixed on the ground. "I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

She then loosened his grip as she walked out. Serena held on to the hospital as she finally got there. Jack saw her coming towards them. Serena saw Stella crying, her heart beating fast. She thought, "How is Anna? Is her case critical?"

Just then, Jack said, "If anything happens to Anna, I won't spare you. You want to kill my daughter just the way you killed our parents? Huh? Answer me."

Serena shivered as she said, "I swear, I didn't leave the stove on. It was off when I served you and the kids lunch. So, how was it on suddenly when I wasn't even at home?"

Stella, on the other side, eyed her with malice. Stella was a pretty face covered with a mask. She knew she had turned on the stove so Jack would blame Serena for it. She had never liked Serena once and couldn't stand her. She couldn't wait for the day when Serena would be kicked out of their house!

Stella stood up as she dragged Serena's hair. "Then who turned it on? Kaleb? Jack? Or me?"

Serena groaned in pain as she tried to push her away, but she remembered Stella was heavily pregnant.

Just then, Stella fell to the ground as she cried out. Serena knew drama was about to unfold.

Just then, Jack said, "Serena, please get out of here. I don't want to see your shadow. You've done enough."

Serena said, "How is Anna? I want to see her."

Jack grabbed her neck as he said, "Anna is in a critical condition because of you. I promise you, if anything happens to her, I won't spare you. I will kill you myself."

He let her go, and Serena fell to the ground. Serena held her neck as she tried to grasp for air. Tears fell from her eyes as she finally got herself up and stood up to leave the hospital.

It was 7 pm, and Jacob headed downstairs to have dinner with his father, who had just arrived. They exchanged warm hugs, expressing how much they had missed each other. Ma Ruth smiled and served them dinner, which filled the room with a savory aroma.

Jacob thanked Ma Ruth, and his father asked, "Where's Serena?"

Ma Ruth replied, "She received an urgent call from her brother and had to leave."

Jacob's curiosity was piqued. "Was it that lady?" he asked, though he knew nothing about her. Yet, his heart skipped a beat at the mention of her name.

His father smiled. "You've met her?"

Jacob shook his head. "I didn't see her face."

Mr. Smith spoke highly of Serena. "She's a wonderful and respectful young girl, amazing. I think you two would make a great pair."

Jacob looked away, surprised by his father's words. What was he saying? He wanted Jacob to be with a mysterious woman he had never met?

Despite his reservations, Jacob's heart beat faster at the thought of Serena. He took a bite of his meal, savoring the flavors. "Wow, Ma Ruth, this is delicious!"

Mr. Smith smiled. "Serena made it, didn't she, Ma Ruth?"

Ma Ruth nodded, smiling. Jacob's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, she's an incredible cook!"

Just then, Jacob's phone rang. It was his friend Paul. He answered the call, engaging in a conversation.

Meanwhile, Serena was in a taxi, heading to her desired destination. She got out of the taxi and walked slowly toward the water's edge, where a bar was located. Though she didn't drink alcohol, she found solace in the peaceful atmosphere.

Her legs touched the soft sand as she reflected on her tumultuous life. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. Sitting on the sand, she whispered, her voice shaking, "Why is my life like this? I'm not happy, I'm not happy at all."

The freezing cold water waves touched her feet, but she didn't notice, lost in her sorrow.