CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: YOUTHFUL AFFECTION, UNRESTRAINED TENDERNESS

The girl looked at her own hands in surprise, her ten fingers flying, as melodious piano music flowed from her fingertips.

"Daddy, I really did it!"

The little girl’s voice was full of joy.

"Mm." The man nodded with a smile, then looked up at the woman who stood by the grand piano, resting her cheek on one hand, smiling as she watched the father and daughter.

The woman had a beautiful face, wearing a fiery red dress, her exquisite long curls lazily draping over her snow-white shoulders, making her look full of allure.

The man patted the little girl’s shoulder, then walked toward the woman.

With his left hand behind his waist, body leaning forward at a 45-degree angle, the man extended his right hand, palm down, toward the woman, making an inviting gesture to dance.

"Miss, may I have this dance?"

"Sure." The woman placed her hand in the man’s palm with a bright smile.

The piano played melodiously, as the shirted man held the woman’s waist and danced gracefully.

The red dress twirled, everything seeming to freeze in this moment.

The little girl played the piano happily, pressing each key with utmost seriousness.

As another breeze blew, she looked up at the curtain swayed by the wind.

Through the window, she saw a little boy in a light beige British-style Polo shirt on the balcony of a nearby villa, gazing over here from afar.

Beneath his fine hair fringe were dark eyes.

Calm and unwavering, yet sharp as a blade.

Time flew swiftly as Serena’s gaze aligned the young boy’s familiar face with that of the grown-up Julian Lawson.

Mature, reserved, with a hidden sharpness.

"Beep beep beep..."

In the hospital room, Serena suddenly opened her eyes wide.

A wave of dizziness hit her, the white ceiling seemingly spinning around.

She felt a pang of nausea.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, her temples throbbed with a dull pain.

Serena lay on the hospital bed, feeling as if she were lying on the deck of a ship tossing in the waves.

Scenes from her recent dream replayed in her mind.

The dancing of her parents years ago, Julian’s dark eyes, appearing again and again before her.

Tears silently streamed down from the corners of Serena’s eyes, unsure if it was from physical discomfort or the past.

"... Was it really you who hit the person, you’re eager to shirk responsibility!"

"Bianca, don’t go too far!"

Accompanied by a burst of quarreling, Serena slightly frowned.

She recognized the voices of Bianca and Julian.

Were they arguing?

Did something happen?

Serena struggled to sit up, the dizziness not alleviated.

She propped herself up and glanced at the sign next to her.

It was a concussion.

Serena touched the bandage on her forehead, recalling the previous collision.

Then, she instinctively touched her belly.

There was still a faint pain.

Is the baby... still there?

She didn’t know.

"...Will you fight me over her?"

The argument outside the hospital room grew more intense.

Bianca screamed something.

It sounded like she was being bullied!

Serena struggled to get up, put on flat slippers, and slowly walked out, holding onto the wall.

Then she saw the three people standing not far from the entrance to the emergency escape.

Julian Lawson, Bianca Lynch, and Vera Hansen.

Julian was still wearing the outfit from the morning, while Vera had changed into a light beige Chanel ensemble.

They were entangled with Bianca, who was in a white coat, not sure what they were doing.

Afraid Bianca would suffer, Serena immediately spoke: "What are you doing!"

"Serena!" Bianca was the first to react, coming over right away to support her.

Julian held Vera, standing still with a frown, surveying her up and down, his gaze finally landing on the bandage on her forehead.

"What happened?" Serena asked.

Before Bianca could explain, Julian coldly spoke up from the side.

He looked at Serena, his voice full of extreme sarcasm: "It seems you’re fine."

Looking pale with a small bandage on her head, Julian’s anger within surged uncontrollably.

So, was it just a show she and Bianca staged together?

Pretending it was an accident to forcibly make him leave Vera and come here?

Recalling the phone call in the car earlier, and Vera’s guilt-ridden, worried, almost vomiting demeanor, Julian’s anger intensified.

No wonder Bianca dared not let him see Serena earlier.

He simply shouldn’t have believed Bianca’s nonsense!

The veins on his neck bulged with anger as Julian withdrew his gaze.

His urgency and worry had turned into a joke!

Serena didn’t understand; she had just awakened, the dizziness from the concussion made her nausea rise in waves.

Bianca was already scolding angrily: "Nothing? Didn’t you see the injury on Serena’s head? Consider what I just said, will you!"

Vera asked back bluntly: "Just that one small piece of bandage?"

"Vera!" Bianca was even more furious.

Vera stood upright, indignantly saying: "Making dozens of calls to Julian while he was driving, even scolding him through Bianca’s phone, ordering him to come, all for this little injury?"

"Do you know how many cars are on the elevated road, how dangerous it is for Julian? Bianca, your self-righteous tone made me think Serena was about to die!"

"Serena, Bianca, even though I’m not long for this world, I won’t watch you bully Julian!"

Vera’s voice and words were both strong, standing firmly as she appeared from behind Julian, her body slightly trembling, yet she seemed very resolute.

Like a female warrior strongly protecting her man.

Julian said nothing, only looking coldly at Serena, his dark eyes filled with obvious impatience and loathing.

"You’re spouting nonsense! Vera, I’m fighting you today!" Bianca could no longer hold back and rushed forward to tear at Vera’s mouth.

Vera didn’t dodge, she just prepared to brawl with Bianca.

Julian reached out to stop them, and Serena, not knowing what was happening, quickly went to hold Bianca back, afraid she would suffer.

Outside the emergency escape, the scene was chaotic.

The center of the conflict was Bianca and Vera, with Bianca driven to madness by anger while Vera feigned high spirits, but with a glance cornering at Serena’s direction.

Both of them were heavy-handed.

"Vera, how dare you pinch me!"

"Slap!"

"Ah! Bianca, you actually hit my face!"

Serena and Julian, on the side, tried to dissuade, the four of them entangled into a mass, unable to distinguish whose hands were whose.

The battle moved from the emergency escape to the corridor, filled with Vera and Bianca’s shrieks.

Suddenly, a fierce glint appeared in Vera’s eyes.

Then, while using her head to fiercely butt against Bianca, she pretended to inadvertently push Julian’s hand with her body.

The next moment, Serena, who was still holding onto Bianca, felt a strong force at her waist.

She suddenly realized that she had been standing at the back, but now she was by the stairs.

Her child was still in her womb, here were stairs, if she fell...

No!

Everything happened in an instant, Serena’s waist exerted force, reaching out for the handrail, trying to stabilize herself.