Chapter 3

I rushed back to the villa halfway up Shaw Manor, opening the door to find my mother-in-law sitting primly.

Beside her, the postpartum caregiver held a baby.

"Come here, Eames, let Grandma hold you," my mother-in-law said gently as she took the child in her arms.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me.

"Serenity, come quick and see the baby."

"His name is Eames. Alec chose it before he lost his memory."

I walked in stiffly, catching sight of the child I had once longed for.

He was beautiful, his features strikingly similar to Alec's.

If Alec hadn't lost his memory, he'd surely be overjoyed.

But Alec had forgotten everything.

I stood there numbly, feeling like an outsider.

Just then, my mother-in-law held the baby out to me.

"Serenity, look how handsome Eames is. How could you bear to let him grow up without a mother?"

"If you just hang in there a little longer, Alec will recover his memories."

"Then you'll be the perfect, happy family again."

My mother-in-law finished with a smile.

I froze completely.

A perfect, happy family?

My parents were both dead. Can I still have a perfect, happy life?

I took a few steps back, no longer looking at the child, and asked directly.

"Mom, where's Counselor Harrington?"

My mother-in-law handed the baby to the nanny, then took my hand and sat me down.

"Serenity, please sit down and have some tea."

"Counselor Harrington is on his way."

I reached out to take the tea from my mother-in-law and gently sipped it.

My mother-in-law smiled and gently pat my back.

"Serenity, you know I've always wanted you as my daughter-in-law."

"I don't want Alec to have anything to do with that homewrecker anymore."

"Please forgive me this one time. I'm doing this for your own good..."

I frowned, wanting to ask my mother-in-law what she meant.

But suddenly I felt dizzy and lightheaded.

"Mom... what did you put in the tea?"

I fought against the drowsiness, biting my lip until it bleeds, but still passed out.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a large bed.

Rubbing my aching head, I fumbled to sit up.

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Alec stumbled in, his face flushed.

"It's so hot..."

He walked in, loosening his tie.

As the black tie came undone, I saw the kiss marks on his exposed chest.

These were traces left from his passionate encounter with Scarlett in my parents' morgue.

My stomach churned, and I got up to walk in the opposite direction.

But he abruptly grabbed me from behind.

"Serenity..."

My name slipped from his lips.

My body froze, forgetting to react.

Once upon a time, Alec used to call my name so tenderly.

Again and again.

But that was all in the past now.

I struggled in his embrace, my heart aching so much I could barely breathe.

"Alec, let go of me!"

But he only held on tighter.

Until I stomped hard on his foot.

Alec cried out in pain, stepping back and releasing me.

I turned, ready to run for the door.

But he lunged forward and pinned me down again.

This time, he let out a mocking laugh.

"Serenity, I really underestimated you, didn't I?"

"You actually teamed up with my mom to trick me?"

As he spoke, he gripped my chin, inching closer.

His hot breath tickled my ear.

His voice was as cold as winter.

"I feel sick just touching you, and you think I'd want to sleep with you?"

"Serenity, you're truly pathetic!"

Alec's words were like piercing needles.

One after another.

They stabbed my heart until it was unrecognizable, leaving it a bloody mess.

But he still wasn't satisfied, and pulled out his phone from his suit pants.

"Number Two, bring the mansion's security guards to my bedroom."

"I want you to perform... a live-action Japanese adult film."