Chapter 54


    He started the car and drove out of the parking without giving her an answer and kept his eyes on the


    road. His hands gripped the steering wheel, the veins on his arms became more prominent.


    Serene kept looking at him. He’s obviously ignoring her. She let out a sigh and leaned her head on the


    window.


    They were already at Magnolia Crescent when she opened her eyes. Justin had already gotten out of


    the car and was going in the door. Shaking her head in disbelief, she unbuckled her


    seatbelt and got out of the car to follow him inside. This is the first time he did not open the car door for


    her.


    He immediately locked himself in his study. Serene let out a deep sigh when she did not see him in


    their bedroom. In the past, she''s been able to easily coax him when he felt jealous. However,


    this time around, he not only felt jealous but also felt insecure because of her impending return to


    Coast City. She had already promised him that she’ll move to Hyacinth Bay after a month, but he still


    did not feel assured.


    Feeling dejected, she went to her studio. Justin had this room decorated as a studio and library for her


    when she asked him to buy her some art supplies. However, from the time he had the room built, she


    had not yet picked up a brush to draw. She simply went here to read.


    Today was an exception. She felt so forlorn and wanted to vent out her energies. She picked up a


    canvass and ced it on the easel andbined her colors.


    When her brush touched the canvass, she got teleported to a world that only she existed. Her hands


    moved on their own, putting pigment in the brush and stroking the canvass. She did not know how long


    she had been painting but she felt exhausted after shepleted her work, so she curled on the giant


    bean bag and fell asleep.


    By the time Justin has finished his conference call and other paperwork, it’s already nine in the


    evening. He rolled his neck to ease tension then got up. He had already calmed down and was now in


    a better state of mind to talk things out with Serene.


    She’s right. He had been narrow-minded. His jealousy overpowered his judgement. He felt guilty that


    he assumed the worst of her when he saw her and Alex in the conference room and did not even


    bother listening to her exnation.


    His eyes searched the master’s bedroom as soon as he entered it. The bed was untouched, and the


    room was devoid of her presence save for her bag on top of the coffee table.


    He went downstairs to look for her. She’s not watching TV in the living room, neither is she in the


    kitchen. He felt a slight panic in his heart. Did he go too far with the cold treatment that she left him?


    His heart pounded in his ribcage.


    He went back upstairs, ready to get his car keys when he passed by her studio. He turned the


    doorknob open and saw her curled up on the bean bag sound asleep. The painted canvas caught his


    attention and walked towards it.


    She painted a couple holding each other as they looked at the setting sun on the horizon. An invisible


    hand gripped his heart at the sight of the painting. He recalled the time they watched the sunset


    together at Coast City.


    “I hope we could spend more moments like this. When we’re old and grey, I wish you’d still hold me this


    way and watch the sunset with me.”


    He smiled at the recollection. Yes, he wanted nothing else in his life but to spend his days with her.


    Holding each other’s hands while watching the sunset in their old age was a future he looked forward


    to.


    He scooped her out from the beanbag and carried her back to their room. Her clothes were filled with


    paint stains, so were her hands even her face. He carefully cleaned her up and changed her clothes to


    her pajamas then joined her on the bed.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    He held her close to him, afraid that he’d lose her. Serenepleted him and he could not imagine a


    life without her. He recalled her painting and could not help but smile as he imagined them old and grey


    but still deeply in love with each other.


    Time moved quickly for Serene. In a blink of an eye, she’s already handing off her project to the person


    who will be Rain International’s ount Manager. This meant that she no longer had to work with


    Arthur and his team because she had prepared all they needed to roll out the software to their


    employees.


    Justin did not bring up the topic about her imminent return to Coast City anymore. They simply lived


    one day at a time, enjoying each other’spany. When his time permits, they would go out on movie


    dates, a luxury that Justin has not done in a long time. However, what Serene enjoyed the most were


    their quiet moments — their intimate meals at home, enjoying a TV show together, or their simple chats


    about anything.


    Any outsider would judge their lives as boring. They have unconsciously built their own routine around


    their individual schedules. However, for Serene, these routines were rituals that tied them together. No


    one in the world knew the sequence of Justin’s life but her, and that gave her a certain sense of pride.


    Today, unlike the previous days, Justin came home early. She has not started preparing their dinner yet


    and was still in her studio, randomly sketching when Justin’s embrace startled her.


    “You’re early,” Serene said, turning to look up at him. She set her sketchbook and pencil aside to focus


    on him. Justin’s lips stretched into a smile when he saw her sketchbook. She had been sketching him


    from memory.


    “Yup. We’re going somewhere tonight.”


    “Where?”


    “Home. It’s my parents’ anniversary and they’ve thrown a small party.”


    Serene’s eyes widened at his exnation. Her palms turned cold and mmy, and her throat felt dry.


    As a former employee of Rain International, she knew of Nick Rain. He’s stern but fair to his people.


    She looked up at him as a leader. But other than this, the Rain patriarch remained an enigma for her.


    It’s one thing to meet him in a corporate setting, but to attend his anniversary party as his son’s


    girlfriend is another. She felt her heart wanted to jump out of her chest and leave her.


    Sensing her panic, Justin took one of her icy hands and kissed it. “Don’t fret, OK? I’m sure they’d love


    you.”


    His words convinced her erratic heart to calm down. She followed him out of the studio and down to


    their living room. Her brows furrowed when she saw racks of clothes filled the room.


    “We don’t have enough time to drop by a studio, so I asked them to bring the clothes here. Pick what


    you like,” he exined, then signaled a youngdy toe closer.


    Serene had some exposure to the fashion industry, thanks to Mary. The girl whom he just motioned to


    “Hi, Shen,” she smiled as she approached her, pecking on her cheeks. “Justin Rain, huh?” she teased,


    elbowing her, which made Serene blush.


    “Nikki, it’s been a while.”


    Justin frowned at their exchange, slightly taken aback that they knew each other but then it’s almost no


    surprise, Serene used to model and her best friend, Mary is in the fashion industry. They must have


    known each other either through her previous engagements or through Mary, he surmised.


    He sat on the couch and watched Nikki help Serene pick a dress. He specifically selected this


    uing designer for her sophisticated aesthetics.


    Nikki picked up a midnight blue, mid-thigh bodycon dress. It’s simple yet ssy. However, it exposed


    Serene’s shapely legs, not to mention it clung to her tightly, which he did not like.


    As if sensing his displeasure, Nikki returned the dress to the rack and picked a little ck dress. The


    dress’ hem fell just above the knee and the cut exposed little skin. It had a low neckline but only


    showed the right amount of cleavage. Although it followed her body’s contour, it’s tastefully done,


    gaining Justin’s nod of approval.


    After the dress was decided, a team of makeup artists and hairstylists worked their magic on her.


    While she sat for her hair and makeup, Justin went upstairs to change. The event was just an informal


    dinner with family and friends, there was no need for him to dress up formally. He picked a long-


    sleeved button-down shirt paired with his dark pants. He fixed his hair and, in a few minutes, went


    downstairs.


    Serene had also justpleted being dressed and made up. Justin stopped in his tracks at the sight of


    her. He knew that she’s beautiful, but she still took his breath away.


    Although she’s demurely dressed, she still gave a sexy vibe. He wanted to just call his parents and give


    ame excuse for missing their party so he can lock himself with Serene and bask in her beauty.


    But this is his parents’ anniversary, and he wanted them to meet Serene. He squashed his selfish


    thoughts and walked towards her. After thanking everyone who assisted her, they went out of the vi


    and hopped into his car.


    The Rain mansion was at the outskirts of Hyacinth Bay. It’s almost an hour and a half drive so Justin


    opted to have a driver take them there than drive on his own.


    Inside the car, Serene could not help but chew on her bottom lip to ease her nervousness.


    “Leave some for me, Kitty, ” Justin teased as he watched her.


    “What if they don’t like me?”


    “What’s not to like, Babe?”


    “A lot. What if they learn that Bry and I were exes?”


    “They know.”


    “They do?!?”


    Serene felt bile climb up her throat and would like to throw up. She looked at Justin and would like him


    to turn around and bring her back to Magnolia Crescent.


    “Rx, Kitty. You’d be fine,” he assured her. He brought her closer to him and kissed the top of her


    head.


    Serene closed her eyes to calm herself. However, the more she thought about it, the more scared she


    became. What were his parents’ impressions of her, knowing her involvement with Bryan? Will they


    give her a hard time? She wanted to just pass out or better yet die at that moment.