by Marian Tee
It was Shane.
The billionaire had known the moment the girl he loved entered the room, and like all the other single men, had watched her come forward with bated breath. He was filled with pride and love at the sight of her, and his fingers tightened involuntarily around the handles of the package he held in one hand.
She was so damn beautiful, and even now he could not completely believe that she had taken him back. No words had been exchanged, but it was unnecessary. He loved her, and for that reason he had known. The moment she had wrapped her arms around him, he had known.
And it should have been perfect from then. It should have been a happily ever after from that moment until he saw the stricken look on her face and his blood ran cold. He followed her gaze, and he whitened.
Shane.
He had no fucking idea why she was here and how she knew about his schedule, but at this point it didn’t matter.
What mattered was getting Serenity to listen to him.
The billionaire tried to make his way to her as fast as he could, but when he saw Serenity pick up her skirt and whirl away, he swore under his breath and simply shoved away the people who insisted on blocking his path.
Reaching the stairs, he took the steps several at a time, uncaring of the looks he attracted, which were both scandalized and snooping. She had gone past the main doors and was running down the hallway when he reached the top of the stairs, and he called out her name desperately.
“Serenity!”
Everyone looked at him but the girl who owned his heart.
“Serenity!”
He ran after her, and it was as if she knew he was close because she, too, seemed to have picked up speed.
“Serenity—”
She disappeared around a corner.
He followed her, just in time to see her bump into Acheron Simonides.
Goddamn it to hell, Willem thought numbly as he slowed down. It had to be him. It just had to be. He watched the Greek billionaire place a hand at the small of her back and had the monstrous urge to launch himself at the other man and beat him into a bloody pulp.
The Greek billionaire bent his head, murmuring in a low voice to Serenity, before slowly curving an arm around her waist. As Willem neared them, the two faced him, presenting a united front even though it was only Serenity’s Greek boss who met his gaze head on.
Fuck you, Acheron Simonides, Willem thought even as jealousy threatened to cripple his heart.
He came to a stop in front of them, and he said quietly, “Sere.”
He watched her shudder at the sound of his pet name for her, but she didn’t look up.
“Look at me, Sere.” This time, he spoke in a command.
And just when he thought she would no longer obey him, Serenity slowly raised her head. The sight of her glassy gaze kicked him in the guts, and swallowing, he said hoarsely, “I’m sorry.” He had to apologize, even if he had no fucking idea what her sister was doing at the same ball. He had to apologize because no matter how much he wanted to turn back time and date only one Raleigh sister – date the only one who was meant to own his heart – he could not.
He could only love her, for as long as he existed, and hope that it was enough.
Serenity saw the pain etched so deeply in the billionaire’s face and wondered if it was true. She was left dazed and reeling by the wrenching agony that struck her at the sight of her sister, and now she no longer knew what to believe.
What if it was just the same thing all over again?
What if it was all an elaborate prank?
The first time she had given the billionaire her heart, he had accepted her resignation and allowed her to walk out of his life.
The first time she had given the billionaire her body, he had gone to her sister and walked away even when she had begged him to stay.
How did one know what was true?
“Sere.”
She wanted to weep at how her heart strained at the sound of his voice. Even now, when he might still be acting, her body sang at his presence, and her whole world continued to revolve around him.
She whispered brokenly, “I’m so tired.”
Willem sucked his breath in at the sound of defeat clinging to her voice. For one terrifying moment, panic ate at him as he considered a life without Serenity by his side. What if she never believed him? What if too much had happened for Serenity to ever trust and love him—
No.
Shoving all thoughts of doubts and self-pity away, the billionaire focused his attention on the girl he loved. “Listen to me, my love.” He didn’t give a damn about the crowd growing around them, guests who had foregone registering and proceeding to the fundraising ball in order to enjoy the spectacle of having two European billionaires possibly fight over a nineteen-year-old girl.
“I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not true. I love you, you see, and you love me, and that’s why I only have to take one look at you to know what’s wrong.” Something flickered in her gaze, and he told himself that was a good sign. “I have no idea why your sister is here. My best bet is she knows my schedule well enough to know the right people to ask, and because most people assume she’s still part of my life, they were rather free in giving her information.” He paused, a muscle ticking in his jaw at the way the Greek billionaire’s arm remained around his woman’s waist. Swallowing past his rage, he continued evenly, “The point is, I never invited her, and I do not ever plan to make her a part of my life. She’s the past, Sere. You are my present and my future.”
But Serenity only looked at him, and when she actually started to lean towards her Greek boss, Willem gritted out, “Don’t.”
She jerked at the snap in his voice, but he didn’t apologize for it. He knew she felt tired and weak, but goddammit, how long did she think he could last, seeing her in another man’s arms?
“You have to choose to trust me sometime, engel—”
“Don’t call me that!” Her tone was violent.
“Why not?” he charged back just as violently. “Because your bitch of a sister fed you lies about the two of us?” He shook his head in impotent frustration and rage. “She lied, Serenity. By now, you should know and understand as well as I do that your sister’s a pathological liar. I can prove it to you, but before I can do that, you need to trust me. You need to choose to love me again or there’s not—”
“Don’t let him pressure you,” Acheron interrupted coldly. This time, he had no ulterior motive, no intention to seduce his intern into falling into his bed. This time, he only had to look at Serenity to know that only someone so in love could be this hurt. Even so, he would not simply stand back and do nothing. He wanted Serenity to know that she had a choice, and that she could leave this place with him and with her pride intact.
Willem’s blue eyes glittered as he gazed at the Greek billionaire. “Fuck off.”
“Not when I see you think you can actually get away with fucking two sisters by using pretty words.”
The two billionaires would have been at each other’s throats if Serenity had not cried out for them to stop.
They froze, their heads snapping towards her, but she forced herself to keep her gaze on Acheron, only on Acheron. “Thank you for your help,” she whispered.
Willem heard himself ask, “What are you saying, Sere?” He had to ask, even though the way she spoke, the way she couldn’t even goddamn look at him, already told him the answer.
Still not looking at him, Serenity said shakily, “That I choose him.”
She was about to take a step towards Acheron when Willem was suddenly blocking her way, and she gasped when she found herself staring straight into eyes filled with as much pain as hers was.
She tried looking away, but the billionaire didn’t let her, his hands capturing her face as he demanded hoarsely, “Think about what you’re saying, dammit.”
“I am thinking about it,” she whispered. “I’m thinking I’m so tired of competing, of worrying—”
“But there’s no need for any of those!”
She trembled at the way Willem actually shouted the words out. This was not like him. This was not him at all, and she didn’t want him to be like this because of her. “Willem—”
“No!”
She furiously blinked back tears at the way the billionaire was looking at her. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say that, dammit. Don’t say it like—”
“I don’t think I have to,” she said brokenly. “Because you already know what I want to say, don’t you?”
He whitened. “Don’t do this, Serenity.” His voice turned desperate. “I told you I love you, didn’t I? That I’ve changed? You just have to—”
She looked at him.
And the words died in his throat.
“You’ll never trust me, will you?” the billionaire said dully.
“No.” It was a lie. “I won’t e-ever trust you a-again.” But in truth, it was herself she couldn’t ever trust again.
She thought it was over.
She thought he would leave.
But he did not.
Instead, he shattered her heart anew when she saw him take a deep breath and then dig into the package he held in his hand.
A small, silver box—
Her breath caught. “No, Willem, please.” Her voice came out a strangled sob.
But the billionaire still opened the box.
The people around them gasped, and the sound made her jump in shock, reminding her that they were far from alone. So many people around them, and Willem had to know about them, too. He had to know they would see him propose, had to know she would have to turn him down.
“Please, Willem.” She begged him with her words, with her gaze. Because even if she could no longer trust herself to be with him, it did not mean she had stopped loving him. “Please don’t do this.”
“Then say yes,” he said rawly. He took the ring out of the box, and she bit back a sob as he sank down on one knee. “I love you, Serenity Raleigh. I didn’t know this until it was too late, but I have loved you since you were fourteen years old, and I will love you for the rest of my life.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth to keep the sobs back.
“Will you marry me?”
She whispered, “No.”
Willem drew his breath in. “Change your mind.”
She bit her lip hard. “No.”
“I love you, Serenity. Marry me.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “No.”
When she opened her eyes, he was walking away, and it was like seeing the rest of her life fade into oblivion.
She began to cry, her tears ravaging her body in silence.
Do you see, Serenity?
It was all an act.
That’s how much you mean to him.
But even to Serenity’s own ears, the words sounded empty and unconvincing.
She watched the Dutch billionaire continue walking away, and it was as if her life, beginning at fourteen, replayed itself in her mind.
“It was nice meeting you, sir,” her fourteen-year-old self had told him gravely.
“The pleasure was mine,” a 28-year-old Willem de Konigh had told her with equal graveness.
“Sir,” she had told the billionaire upon meeting him at the library.
“Willem,” the billionaire had countered, and it was just one of the countless arguments they would have over the years on how she should address him.
“Keep in touch, engel.” It was the billionaire, promising her without so many words that he would be there for her.
“I will. Willem.” And at fifteen years old, she had entrusted herself to him, like she had never trusted anyone again since her father had killed himself.
“Will you promise me something,” the billionaire had asked her. “If you ever choose to leave me, don’t just…go away. Let me know. I won’t ever stop you, but just…tell me.”
Her head jerked up at the last memory.
And suddenly, it was clear to her.
She had refused his proposal and he had asked her again and again, but he would not ask her forever because he loved her. He loved her just as he had said he did, loved her since she was fourteen and would love her forever.
He loved her so much it was just like he had promised when she was sixteen.
If she chose to leave, he would not stop her.
Because he loved her, enough to let her choose where she was happy.
She began to run after him, as fast as she could even though she knew she was straining her muscles. She wanted to cry out to him, but she bit her lip hard, telling her that she would not use pity to force him to come back for her.
The crowd parted as she hurried forward, silent and watching, none of them seemingly willing to intrude. It was as if everyone understood that this was a battle she alone had to fight.
She was halfway to reaching him when her injured leg finally gave out, and she fell to the floor in a loud thud. Suddenly, what seemed like a short distance stretched endlessly before her, but she forced herself to get up.
The billionaire had turned into a corner, and this time the crowd was denser, civilians jostling for a chance to catch a glimpse of their favorite local celebrities. They did not seem to recognize the billionaire, which allowed him to move swiftly. They were just as indifferent to Serenity’s plight, forcing her to suffer people pushing her in all directions and stepping heavily on her toes.
But still she forced herself to move, ignoring the pain that raped her body, from her leg and all the way up to her spine. She went after him, crying and begging God in her mind to let her reach him.
Please God, please…
Oh, how she would beg for him to stay with her forever!
She just needed this one last chance for Willem to come back so she could tell him she understood everything now.
Please God…
Please…
Please…
But it was as if she had been too cruel in her desire for vengeance.
No matter what she did, he was only getting further away and away.
In the distance, she saw the billionaire waylaid by an acquaintance, and hope flared anew. She was going to catch him now, Serenity thought feverishly. She forced her leg to work double time, and ill-used muscles and tendons began to strain, stretch—
She was just about to reach him, her fingers almost grazing the billionaire’s back—
Someone shoved her from behind, and she fell.
For the last time.
This time, her leg had completely given out, the strength of her pain telling her she could permanently cripple herself if she tried moving too fast again.
This time, she sobbed, quietly, desolately, knowing that she had gambled and…lost.
He had hurt her, and she had hurt him back.
It should not have been that way, but the billionaire had allowed it to happen.
It should have been enough, but she had wanted more.
And now he was lost to her—
“Sere?”
Her head shot up.
It was Willem.
He was crouched down in front of her, his face ashen as he stared at her. His bodyguards, including her favorites Mr. Smit and Mr. Molen, circled them to ensure their privacy.
“W-Willem?” For one second, she wondered deliriously if she was still dreaming. She reached for his face, and when he caught her hand to bring it to his lips, she began to sob. “Willem.” She sobbed his name over and over, and even when he pulled her into his arms, she could not stop.
“I’m sorry, Willem. I’m sorry. I was so scared of being hurt again.” She was babbling, unable to stem the panic inside her, which told her he would disappear if she didn’t explain. “I wanted revenge even when I shouldn’t. I wanted to hurt you the way you hurt me. I wanted you—”
The billionaire kissed her.
“It’s okay, engel,” he whispered against her lips.
When he pulled away, h
is eyes were suspiciously bright.
Her heart shattered one last time, and her voice cracked as she whispered, “I love you, Willem.”
He answered by offering her a ring, and at her nod, he slipped it on her finger. He took out the shoes, and she nodded even as she cried. He took off her shoes and replaced it with his. And before she knew what he was doing, he had already bent down to place a kiss on each of her feet.
I love you, my beautiful ice princess.
My Sere.
My engel.
Epilogue
Three months later
Everyone in the castle wanted to kill Shane Raleigh – or at least everyone except the two who should have hated her the most.
It was the last day of the TV documentary that covered Willem de Konigh’s engagement to Serenity Raleigh, the nineteen-year-old American girl who was formerly known as Willem Jr. but was now being referred to by the media and the masses as Mrs. Willem, even when the actual date of the wedding was set after she graduated from college.
To say that people were shocked when Serenity’s older sister had been invited to be a part of the documentary was an understatement, but since it had been Willem’s decision, no one who had any say in the matter wasted their time arguing.
Anyone acquainted with the Dutch billionaire knew that the only person who had power over him was his beloved fiancée.
And so the crew did their best to get along with the Dutch model. They pretended to listen to her stories, pretended to believe everything she said even when her words bordered on the ridiculous. It was as if Shane had only accepted the invitation to prove that she was not the loser, and financially, she did have something to brag about. As soon as the engagement between Willem and Serenity had been announced, Shane had held her own press conference to proudly show off her twenty-carat diamond engagement ring to an Arab sheikh. The fact that her own billionaire fiancé happened to be twice Willem’s age, Shane chose to gloss over in every interview.
The night before the documentary started filming, Willem had invited the entire cast and crew for a private dinner at the castle. He presided at the head of the table, Serenity in his arms, a lovely vision in pink.
