Chapter 33


    “Serene…” Justin’s voice was raspy. His eyes took in the features of her face, then lingered on her lips.


    He inhaled sharply, trying to control his emotions.


    She looked up to meet his gaze. She felt the burning warmth in his eyes. Her eyes darted to his lips


    and she could not help but lick her mouth as she remembered how his lips tasted.


    Her tongue’s movement did not escape him. He lost thest ounce of control he had left just by


    watching her reaction. His hand lifted her chin, and his head dipped to capture her mouth once more.


    He gently bit her lip before his tongue traced her lower lips, then met with hers.


    Their kiss which started with soft gentle pecks slowly increased in intensity and passion. Serene felt her


    knees slowing losing their strength. She clung on to Justin to hold herself up. He trailed his kisses from


    her mouth to her neck. Sniffing, nibbling and licking everything in his wake. He gave her earlobe a


    gentle bite, sending shivers down her spine. Serene moaned sexily to his ears, driving him crazy.


    “Shen!” Serene felt like a bucket of ice cold water poured down her back when she heard a familiar


    voice call her name. She snapped back her head to look at the source of the voice, then pushed Justin


    away and attempted to tidy her appearance.


    “M… Mary…” she stammered. Her eyes wandered everywhere except on Mary’s piercing stares. Mary


    stared at her with unreadable eyes. Her eyes focused on the loose lock of hair on her face and her


    slightly swollen lips.


    “Aunt is looking for you,” she said ndly, and looked her straight in the eyes. She did not speak the


    words, but her eyesmanded her to just leave.


    Serene bowed her head and said an inaudible excuse to Justin before peeling herself from his hold and


    walked away.


    Mary crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Justin squarely. He did not move, neither did he


    avert his eyes from Mary’s pointed stares.


    “I don’t know what you’re ying at. But Serene has been through a lot in the past, and  frankly, you are


    nothing but trouble.” She blurted out her eyes surveyed Justin from the top of his head to down to his


    feet.


    “I understand your concern, Mary. But Serene is an adult who can make up her own choices.” He


    looked at her squarely and put his hands in his pocket. The woman in front of her looked so formidable.


    “That’s what I’m afraid of. I can’t exactly trust Serene’s choices, can I?”


    “You’re her friend, I don’t think I need to tell you  she is a smart person --”


    “and she’s also very gullible, especially when she’s vulnerable, just like now,” she cut him off. “What


    exactly do you want from her, Justin?” she challenged, her sharp eyes pierced through his.


    “Like what I told her, I like Serene, and I wanted to pursue her.”


    “Like her?” Mary cannot help but let out a sarcastic sneer. “If you really liked her, you’d think about


    what’s good for her. Have you not considered howplex the situation you are putting her? You are


    her ex’s brother-inw, for crying out loud!” Mary could not control her voice anymore. She looked at


    Justin with uncontrolled contempt.


    “I know that. I know that things between us are crazy and messed up. But I can’t change it, can I?” He


    ran his fingers through his hair in irritation.


    “I wish  I knew her first, so this fucked up situation would not have happened, but that’s just wishful


    thinking on my part. I can’t do anything about it.”


    “So I epted that situation, but I cannot deny myself and Serene a shot at being happy just because


    of what happened in the past.”


    “I am not a bad person. The only thing I did wrong was not correct her misunderstanding of my


    rtionship with Bryan quick enough.”


    “Mary, I love Serene and I want nothing but to make her happy.”


    “Are you sure you’re not just buttering her up to help your brother? I know what those two want from


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    her.” Mary lifted her chin to challenge him.


    Justin let out a deep breath before answering her. “I did not know of their ns. Had I known, I would


    have been first to protest. Again, I waste.”


    “Mary, all the odds were against me, I know. But that does not matter. I love Serene and I am serious


    about her. I have no ulterior motives, nor hidden intentions. I just want to love her and make her happy.”


    Justin met Mary’s powerful gaze. He has closed a hundred business deals and talked to hundred


    different difficult clients, but somehow they do not measure up to Mary’s protection over Serene.


    “Serene’s been through a lot. I’ve seen her break and her lose it. I don’t want to see her in such a state


    ever again. It’s hard to say that I trust you, neither do I believe what you just said. But I will trust Serene


    and pray really hard that she makes the right choice this time around.”


    “And if she ever chooses you, all I ask is for you to be honest with her and cherish her.” Mary looked


    him straight in the eyes, as if assessing his intentions, then without waiting for his response, turned


    away and left.


    She left Justin staring in the direction she and Serene took.