Chapter 1033
Serena looked up, meeting Julian’s deep yet profoundly warm gaze.
She offered a soft, graceful smile. “Alright. If I need your help, I definitely won’t hesitate to ask p>
Lunch was a lively affair.
Catherine constantly piled food onto the kids’ plates, acting as if she wanted to empty the entire table into their bowls.
Lydia ate until her mouth was greasy.
Caleb’s glasses completely fogged up.
Jasper kept his head down, shoveling food into his mouth.
Vanessa looked slightly overwhelmed but deeply touched by Catherine’s relentless hospitality.
Even Old Mr. Lancaster was allowed a rare couple of sips of wine, repeatedly praising all of them throughout the meal.
The atmosphere was incredibly warm and joyful.
Nicholas, meanwhile, meticulously picked the bones out of Serena’s fish and peeled her shrimp.
While occasionally sneaking a touch under the table to mess with her.
Serena shot him a sidelong glance.
Seeing the man’s dangerously gorgeous face lit up with a wildly captivating smile.
She didn’t say a word, simply letting him covertly hook his fingers around hers under the table.
The meal dragged on happily for over an hour.
Caleb and the team stayed a bit longer to chat.
Before Serena finally had a driver take the four of them back to the safehouse to rest.
Ever since the match ended.
Serena had arranged for all four of them to stay at one of Nicholas’s private estates.
The security there was impenetrable.
With heavily armed guards on rotating twenty-four-hour shifts.
If the Doyle family wanted to pull any more stunts, they wouldn’t find it easy.
The four of them understood the gravity of their situation and didn’t try to decline.
After the chaotic morning.
They truly were drained.
From realizing Lydia was missing, to the high-stakes match, to right now.
Their emotions had been stretched to the absolute limit, and the sudden relaxation left them exhausted.
It had completely drained them of their energy.
After sending the four of them off, Serena coaxed Nicholas like he was a giant, clingy golden retriever.
And finally managed to send him away too.
She let out a lazy yawn and headed upstairs to her room to rest.
But as she reached her door.
Her footsteps slightly faltered.
Someone was in her room.
And the presence was remarkably familiar.
Serena’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint chuckle escaped her lips.
She reached out, pushed the door open, and walked in.
As the door swung open.
Serena saw a figure slumped theatrically on the floor in the center of her room.
Dressed in a fiery red, skin-tight leather outfit that perfectly accentuated her stunning curves.
Her wavy hair fell carelessly over her shoulders.
Her face was fiercely alluring, brimming with an untamed, explosive wildness.
She stayed slumped there, holding up a bright red whip.
When she saw Serena.
The woman lifted her head.
With her untamed, exotic features and the slight upward tilt of her eyes, she possessed an effortless, dangerous allure.
But the moment she opened her mouth p>
“Demon, I messed up p>
She wailed dramatically, dragging out her syllables as she
fake-sobbed. “I was wrong. I’m guilty i didn’t keep those vicious bastards in check and someone slipped through the cracks. They actually managed to kidnap Lydia
Brooks right under my nose p>
“I almost ruined your entire plan p>
“I’m here to accept my punishment. Whip me! Whip me hard p>
Whining pitifully, Black Jack shifted her feet and offered the whip up toward Serena. “See? I even brought
my own torture device. I’m ready fo face the music.
ket
“I already sent that entire squad back to The Revenant Crucible to be completely broken down and rebuilt. I swear, a rookie mistake like this will never happen again p>
“Demon, my Sovereign, if you’re still mad, just take it out on me p>
Saying this, Black Jack squeezed her eyes shut tightly.
Looking completely ready to embrace death.
Serena: p>