Chapter 174
Serena Wants Nathan.
“What time is it?” Celine asked. Worry etched across her face as she checked her phone. “Why haven’t we heard anything from them p>
They were still in Melvin’s hospital suite, waiting for news.
Hearing his wife, Sterling checked his phone. He was stunned to see a message sitting in his inbox for an hour. It was from Silas.
[The kidnapper wants Vanessa Holt free. Nathan won’t be negotiating, and I agree p>
Other than that, there was no other message. They did not know what was going on, and Nathaniel had clearly said it was best to keep the details of their operation a secret for now.
‘The fewer people who know, the better p>
The words Nathaniel had said rang in his head.
“Silas texted,” Sterling revealed.
“What is it? What’s the update from Silas?” Melvin asked.
Sterling felt guilty for keeping things from his brother, but he decided to give the details only partially. Besides, he didn’t have enough information to begin with.
“The kidnapper made demands, but Nathaniel won’t negotiate p>
“What?!” Melvin erupted. “What gives him the right? Who is he to decide for our family? We should negotiate for Serena p>
At that point, Celine looked confused.
But before Sterling could explain things to his wife, the door to Melvin’s hospital suite opened.
Silas walked in, panting. He looked like he had cried. However, a smile formed on his face. “We have Serena p>
“What?” Celine asked. “Silas, tell me this is true p>
“We have Serena,” Silas repeated. This time, a tear rolled down his cheek. “Nathan and I found her, Mom p>
“Thank God!” Celine broke down in tears while hugging Silas. “Thank God for Nathan p>
“Yes,” Silas admitted. “Nathan was a big help. We wouldn’t have found Serena without him p>
It was at that point that Sterling finally cried. He had tried to be strong for his wife and the family as a whole. Hearing that it was finally over, he let his guard down.
“Thank God for Nathan.” Sterling wiped the tears from his eyes and asked, “My daughter where is she p>
“She’s at the ER. We wanted to have her fully checked just to be sure. She’s in and out of it, though,” Silas revealed. “She’s too exhausted, but she’s safe and with Nathan p>
“Wait. Wait,” Melvin called out. Confusion was written all over his face. “You found Serena p>
“Yes, Uncle,” Silas confirmed.
“How?” Melvin asked.
It was strange, the way he asked it — like it was the most impossible thing in the world. Sterling felt gravely offended.
“Oh, I don’t mean to sound like I’m unhappy. I was just… surprised,” Melvin gestured with his hands. “How efficient is this… Nathaniel p>
Silas opened his mouth. Sterling noticed his son second-guessing. Then he said casually. The military used every resource – traffic light cameras, intel. There was apparently intelligence about a possible kidnapping p>
“We got lucky,” Silas added, turning to Sterling. “That intel led us to the men responsible for Serena’s kidnapping p>
“I want to see Serena,” Celine tugged on Silas’s arm.
“You should go and see her then,” Melvin said. He looked as if he was feeling dizzy as he massaged his temples. “I’m feeling tired. I’d better get some rest myself p>
“Silas, tell Serena I’m so happy she was found. Tell her I’m sorry. I failed her as an uncle,” Melvin said.
Silas simply nodded. “Take your rest, Uncle. You and Serena can talk later p>
The reunion with Serena afterward was completely emotional.
To Sterling, it felt like finding Serena
it
all over again after she had gone missing at her life. In the ER, Sterling and Celine hugged her and kissed her cheeks. As parents, they refused to let her go, even when she wa needed for an X-ray:
fallen
Serena had fallen from two floors. Although a chair and a beam had saved her from falling all the way to the ground, the impact might have affected her hip, her back, orber pelvis, so she had to undergoa few tests.
In between Serena’s laboratory tests, Sterling and Celine had also learned that Victor was the mastermind. They were shocked, of course, angered, and even to the point of wanting to take justice into their own hands.
However, Victor could wait. Right now, they were all there for Serena. They have also agreed to keep the investigation results only within themselves.
Nathaniel had insisted on this.
Sterling, Celine, and Silas stayed with Serena, and Nathaniel? He was just as stubborn. He refused to leave her side.
Nathaniel had secured two family suites on the hospital’s executive floor so everyone could stay nearby. Each suite had one additional bed for a companion and two wide sofas for the rest to take turns resting.
When all the tests had been completed, Serena finally had her bath. She changed into a hospital gown and climbed into bed.
It was already one in the morning. Everyone was exhausted. Celine was completely drained.
Sterling wanted to watch over his daughter, but after only a few minutes of rest, he noticed that Serena kept jerking as she lay there.
Every few minutes, her body would twitch suddenly. Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet. Then she would turn abruptly, her breathing quick and uneven, as if she were trying to escape something in her sleep.
Once, she gasped and clutched at her chest.
“Nathan she murmured faintly.
“Serena, Dad’s here,” Sterling said as he approached her, holding her hand.
A tear rolled down Serena’s face.
“Dad, can Nathan stay with me, please?” she asked.
He wanted to say no, but how could he?
Sterling nodded. “Okay. Your mom is probably having a hard time sleeping without
me, anyway p>
He opened the door to the living room of the suite and found Nathaniel standing
there, his hands tucked in his pockets.
It was as if Nathaniel knew Serena would want him.
“Go on,” Sterling said dryly. “Behave. She just survived a kidnapping p>
“Sir,” Nathaniel met his gaze. “I’ve always been behaved p>