The next morning, Serena woke with an unfamiliar feeling.
Someone was watching her.
She opened her eyes slowly.
Sunlight poured through the curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the room. Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
She shook off the strange feeling and got ready for breakfast.
As she stepped into the hallway, Margaret greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Mrs. Kingston."
"Good morning, Margaret."
"Mr. Kingston has already left for the office. He asked me to remind you about your self-defense lesson this afternoon."
Serena sighed with a smile.
"He actually arranged it."
Margaret chuckled.
"When Mr. Kingston makes up his mind, no one changes it."
Serena couldn't argue with that.
Meanwhile…
Inside the executive boardroom of Kingston Group.
The atmosphere was icy.
Directors sat around the long mahogany table while Adrian reviewed the quarterly reports.
His presentation ended with a single sentence.
"The meeting is adjourned."
Before anyone could leave, Adrian's cousin, Damian Kingston, spoke.
"I have an objection."
The room fell silent.
Damian leaned back confidently.
"Your recent decisions have become… emotional."
Several directors exchanged uneasy glances.
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"Continue."
Damian smirked.
"You've missed meetings."
"You've changed your schedule."
"And according to the media, you're more interested in your wife than the company."
The room became even quieter.
Everyone knew Damian wanted Adrian's position.
This wasn't concern.
It was an attack.
Adrian folded his hands on the table.
"If you're questioning my leadership, present evidence."
Damian slid a folder across the table.
"Photos."
One director opened it.
Inside were several pictures.
Adrian leaving an important meeting.
Adrian picking Serena up from the charity center.
Adrian looking at Serena instead of the cameras.
Every photo had been taken secretly.
Adrian recognized them immediately.
Someone had been following them.
Damian smiled.
"A CEO distracted by his personal life is a liability."
Another director frowned.
"Where did these come from?"
Damian shrugged.
"They were delivered anonymously."
Adrian closed the folder.
His voice remained calm.
"Are we discussing company performance…"
"…or my marriage?"
No one answered.
"Our profits have increased."
"Our stock value has risen."
"We secured two international acquisitions this quarter."
He looked directly at Damian.
"Can you point to a single business decision that harmed Kingston Group?"
Damian's smile faded.
"No."
"Then this discussion is over."
One of the senior directors nodded.
"I agree."
Another added,
"Mr. Kingston's personal life is irrelevant unless it affects company performance."
Within seconds…
Damian's attempt collapsed.
He clenched his jaw.
Adrian stood.
"If there are no further questions…"
He buttoned his suit jacket.
"…I have work to do."
He walked out without another glance.
Behind him, Damian crushed the edge of the folder in frustration.
Outside the boardroom…
Adrian handed the photographs to Ethan, his head of security.
"I want the photographer identified."
Ethan looked through the pictures.
"These weren't taken by amateurs."
"I know."
"They knew our movements."
Adrian's eyes darkened.
"Which means someone inside the family gave them information."
"For how long?"
"I intend to find out."
That afternoon…
Serena arrived at the private training studio Adrian had arranged.
The instructor introduced himself.
"My name is Marcus."
He looked to be in his early forties.
Calm.
Disciplined.
"Mr. Kingston only gave me one instruction."
Serena smiled.
"What was it?"
Marcus answered without hesitation.
"Teach her how to walk away safely."
She blinked.
"I expected him to say, 'Teach her to defeat everyone.'"
Marcus smiled faintly.
"He said winning isn't always fighting."
That sounded exactly like Adrian.
The training began.
Within minutes…
Serena found herself flat on the mat.
Marcus extended a hand.
"Again."
She accepted it.
Another throw.
Another fall.
Again.
Again.
Again.
By the end of the session, she was exhausted.
Marcus handed her a bottle of water.
"You learn quickly."
"I've had plenty of practice getting knocked down."
He smiled.
"The important part is getting back up."
Serena nodded thoughtfully.
"I've always done that."
As she left the studio, she noticed a black sedan parked across the street.
Its windows were tinted.
The engine was running.
She paused.
The car remained still.
A strange uneasiness settled over her.
When she reached her own vehicle, the sedan pulled away.
Slowly.
Almost as if it had been waiting for her.
That evening…
Adrian returned home later than usual.
He found Serena sitting in the library with an ice pack on her shoulder.
He frowned.
"What happened?"
She laughed softly.
"Your instructor happened."
He walked closer.
"You're injured."
"It's just a bruise."
He looked at the dark mark on her shoulder.
Without thinking, he reached out and gently touched the edge of the bruise.
"Does this hurt?"
His fingertips were warm.
The touch was brief.
Gentle.
Careful.
Serena looked up at him.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them moved.
For a heartbeat…
The world outside disappeared.
Then Adrian slowly withdrew his hand.
"I'll tell Marcus to be more careful."
Serena smiled.
"If you do that, he'll blame me."
A faint smile tugged at Adrian's lips.
"So be it."
It lasted only a second.
But Serena saw it.
A real smile.
Not polite.
Not forced.
Real.
Before she could say anything—
Ethan entered the library.
His expression was unusually serious.
"Sir…"
Adrian turned.
"What is it?"
"We identified the photographer."
"And?"
Ethan hesitated.
"He wasn't working alone."
The room grew still.
"He was hired through an intermediary."
"Who?"
Ethan took a slow breath.
"The payment came from an account linked to…"
He glanced briefly at Serena before finishing.
"…someone inside the Kingston family."
Adrian's expression hardened instantly.
"Who?"
Ethan handed him a file.
Adrian opened it.
His eyes narrowed.
For the first time in years…
Pure anger flashed across his face.
Serena couldn't see the name.
But she knew one thing.
The real battle had just begun.