Chapter 142
Always Beautiful.
At the Vander estate.
“Guys, Mommy is going on a trip with your dad. I can’t bring you, but I promise I won’t take long. As soon as I return, we can go on a long holiday,” Serena smiled, hoping the “bribe” would convince the twins. After all, they were clingy children.
“But we wanna go,” Sebastian said.
Then Alisa ran to Nathaniel and hugged him tightly. She started to cry.
“Family should stay together,” Sebastian said. “I’ll get Dino now p>
“No,” Nathaniel and Serena said at the same time.
“Dino can’t go,” Nathaniel said. He laughed and urged the kids to hold his hand.
Nathaniel pulled the kids into his embrace, leveled with them, and whispered something into their ears.
“Really, Daddy? Okay, I agree,” Sebastian said eagerly.
Alisa looked at Serena with a gleam in her eyes.
“What did you tell them?” Sterling asked. He had been standing in the living room, listening as Nathaniel and Serena said goodbye.
Serena had the same question. She frowned as she turned to Nathaniel.
“I promised them something I will stop at nothing to give,” Nathaniel calmly
answered. “I will never break that promise p>
The twins stared at Sterling and nodded at the same time, their smiles and eyes full of hope.
“What did you promise them?” Serena asked.
“We can’t tell you, Mommy,” Sebastian said. “It might get jinxed p>
Alisa nodded.
Nathaniel coughed into his fist. “We really should go, Mr. Vander. We don’t want to arrive late in Velmon. I promise to take care of Serena p>
He glanced at Serena’s mother and said, “Celine p>
Only Silas was missing. He was working late at the office.
“Dad, I decided not to take Milo with me. I’d rather he drive the kids to their playgroup. Nathan has enough security,” Serena said.
Nathaniel confirmed it. “I’ve asked Norman to provide a military escort to Velmon p>
“That’s comforting.” Sterling nodded. He hesitated, then said to Serena, “Call me as soon as you land. If anything is amiss, we’ll come immediately p>
“Okay, Dad,” Serena said.
When Serena and Nathaniel stepped out of the driveway, Alice arrived. Landon guided her toward Serena.
“Take care, okay?” Alice ran her fingers through her hair and said. “I wish I could come p>
Serena hugged Alice. When she pulled away, she said, “Just focus on your treatment. Xavier took you today, right p>
“I want you here, safe,” Serena said. “And you don’t have to worry about me. I’m sure Nathan has covered the security detail. I’ll be fine p>
Alice shot Nathaniel a warning look. “Nathan, if anything happens to my friend, you’ll never get your second chance p>
Among the group, Celine was the most amused.
Serena ended up scolding her friend.
“Nothing will happen to Serena,” Nathaniel said. “I’d die before that ever happens p>
Serena smacked him on the arm. “Don’t say things like that p>
“What’s wrong with what I said?” Nathaniel hissed.
“Nothing,” Serena replied, then said her final goodbyes to her parents and to Alice.
They left for the airport with Gavin accompanying them. Four soldiers also flew with them to Velmon.
While in the air, Serena began checking the news in Velmon City. The private jet had satellite Wi-Fi. The headlines read:
[Holt Allegations Spark Protests Outside Thorne Neurological Sciences Institute]
[Activists Decry ‘Political Witch Hunt’ Against Holt Family]
[Was Loyalty Abandoned? Holt Supporters Question Nathaniel’s Actions]
[Is Justice Personal? Scrutiny Grows Over Institute CEO’s Role]
“Are they out of their minds?” Serena muttered, checking her laptop. “Have they forgotten what Victor did p>
“It’s a coordinated smear campaign,” Nathaniel answered.
Gavin, who had been listening, added, “We believe the ralliers are being paid p>
“And as for the public,” Nathaniel said, “sometimes they only know what they hear and see, so they believe it easily p>
“Well.” Serena opened a new window. “Two can play this game p>
“What are you planning to do?” Nathaniel asked.
“The problem is, the general public has little knowledge about the case, even after the initial headlines broke,” Serena explained. “The media seems to have forgotten your last threat, Mr. Thorne p>
“These are newer media outlets,” Nathaniel said. “Those who attended the celebration party for Kline BioSolutions aren’t part of this smear campaign. They know better p>
“I see,” Serena replied. “Anyway, here’s my plan p>
Serena turned her laptop toward
Nathaniel. “I can build a
public-facing site and compile all the
court filings related to the case Everything is already part of the public record. As long as we’re republishing verified documents and citing original sources, we’re not crossing any legal lines p>
Gavin blinked. “You can build a website p>
Nathaniel glanced at him. “Serena took a medical course in college to gain Victor’s
approval, but her real interest was information systems and Al solutions p>
“I took online certifications while working for my brother and raising the twins, Serena shared. “I studied web deployment, data structuring, basic cybersecurity, and applied Al. I’ve kept myself current. That’s how we were able to develop the Al Body Scanner p>
“Wow!” Gavin exclaimed. “Clearly, Miss Vander, there’s more to you than meets the
eye p>
Serena fell silent for a moment. Eventually, she said, “It was… Victor. If he hadn’t taken me, I would have been very different p>
“I wouldn’t have grown with insecurities and inhibitions,” Serena added. She hated
recounting the past.
Nathaniel closed the gap between
them and reached for her hand, his
thumb brushing lightly against her knuckles. “Victor took a lot from you. But he didn’t take what mattered. You’re still kind You keep standing, no matter the predicament you’re resilient, and the mother of my
stan
children p>
“You are beautiful, inside and out,” he continued quietly. “You’ve always been to
me p>
Of course, Serena appreciated his words. In fact, she blushed a little.
For a moment, the world narrowed.
Their eyes stayed locked, as if time itself had decided to pause out of courtesy.
Serena became acutely aware of how close Nathaniel was: the warmth of his hand, of the way his thumb had stopped moving, as if he were afraid to break the moment.
She leaned in without realizing it, just enough to see the faint tension in his jaw, the restraint in his beautiful blue-gray eyes.
It didn’t help that Nathaniel always looked unfairly handsome.
And then-
“Ahem p>
Gavin cleared his throat pointedly. “Should I… go to the bathroom and give you two some privacy p>
Nathaniel turned to his assistant with an icy glare. “Lock yourself in the bathroom.
NOW p>