CHAPTER 267: CHAPTER 267: SHE’S EXHAUSTED

Aeston.

Bianca Lynch hung up the phone.

She had been worried about Ethan Lynch being impulsive in Cygnus, so she hadn’t said anything, but now...

Bianca Lynch sighed deeply, feeling a bit anxious.

After thinking it over, she found a number and sent a message.

...

On the other side, Hawthorne Manor.

It was already 10 PM.

Silas Hawthorne hurried over as soon as he heard the commotion in the room.

Serena Sterling lay with her eyes open, staring at the pale ceiling.

She had had another nightmare.

This left her feeling powerless.

She didn’t understand.

Over the years, she had always tried to live her life.

Even though there were numerous obstacles and many difficulties, she never thought of giving up and instead sought ways to resolve them.

She had clearly done a lot of things, but the situation was not as she had hoped.

She had tried multiple times to struggle out of this state, but now...

It was like the nightmares that found her every night.

Uncontrollable, impossible to escape.

Is she doomed to live like this for the rest of her life?

Or will she never get better again?

She was truly exhausted.

"Serena." Her hand was held; she turned her head to see Silas Hawthorne under the dim night lamp.

She didn’t speak, just looked at him.

She wanted to smile at him and tell him she was okay, that she would be fine.

But she didn’t even have the energy to lie now.

Only silence remained.

She was too tired.

She no longer had the strength to bear it all.

Silas Hawthorne suddenly felt a wave of fear.

Although she wasn’t losing her mind as before, nor reacting as strongly as when nightmares woke her up, it gave him a sense of despair.

It was as if her soul might disappear the next instant, leaving only this numb shell.

No matter how hard he gripped her hand, he couldn’t hold on to her.

"Serena."

Silas Hawthorne called Serena Sterling’s name again, but she still didn’t respond, only looked at him, her eyes empty under her long lashes.

She seemed to be looking at him, yet not.

Fear nearly swallowed him whole.

The bed slightly sank; Serena was embraced by Silas Hawthorne.

He held her tightly, as if afraid of losing something.

She could hear his heartbeat, pounding.

"Don’t leave me." His voice carried a note of barely suppressed weeping.

But she didn’t know how to reply.

After a long while, she finally spoke: "I’m here."

But those two words were clearly useless.

If what remained by his side was only her body, what was the point?

Silas Hawthorne cupped her face, looking at her.

"Serena, I’m scared," he said, "I always feel like you’ll disappear in the next moment."

Serena reached out her hand, gently stroking his face.

He held her hand: "It’s not your fault; don’t punish yourself for others’ mistakes."

Silas Hawthorne’s heart ached as if twisted by a knife.

He said, "Serena, I can’t live without you, and Seraphina can’t live without you either."

He wanted to give her something to hold on to, a source of strength.

At least for this moment, to keep her here.

"Serena?" he called her name once more.

"I’m here," she answered softly.

But his eyes reddened.

Her lips felt soft; Serena initiated a kiss, seemingly wanting to show him she was here through her actions.

Silas Hawthorne’s body trembled slightly.

He held her face, deepening the kiss.

Serena didn’t resist.

She let him kiss her.

His kisses moved from her lips to her neck, her collarbone, burying his head in her chest.

Serena didn’t push him away; she merely gazed at the ceiling calmly, her body reacting with slight tremors.

If he wanted it, she would give it to him.

That’s what she thought.

Nothing mattered anymore.

Silas Hawthorne held Serena’s waist, unbuttoning her pajama top, kissing the scars on her skin.

Breathing hot.

She didn’t resist; she agreed.

Silas Hawthorne thought so.

His heart was joyous, desire rising.

He wanted her, had wanted her for years, truly wanted!

But when he lifted his head, he saw her staring blankly at the ceiling.

No passion, just calm.

Like a ragdoll, being manipulated.

In just an instant, it was like a bucket of cold water pouring over him, bringing him back to reality.

His heart ached as if torn apart.

Silas Hawthorne forcibly suppressed his desire, arranging her clothes.

Serena watched his actions, softly saying: "Not continuing?"

But he simply held her close.

"Don’t you want me?" Her voice was somewhat muffled.

Silas Hawthorne kissed her forehead, looked at her with sorrow.

"When you truly want to." He said.

"Julian is a vile man."

"But Serena, there are still many people in this world who like you, who love you."

He said, gently caressing her face.

"Cry if you want, don’t hold back." He said softly, "We’re lovers, family; by my side, you don’t have to put on a brave face."

Serena felt a slight ache in her nose, and at that moment, she seemed to have some sense of reality.

Serena didn’t speak, just buried her head in his embrace.

He gently patted her back, comforting her, watching her fall asleep in his arms.

Watching Serena’s sleeping profile, Silas Hawthorne gently kissed her face.

He carefully laid her down and then went to the bathroom for a cold shower.

When he came out, Silas Hawthorne took out his phone and saw the message Bianca Lynch had sent him.

He learned everything.

Thinking, he called Ethan Lynch.

There was no answer.

After thinking for a bit, Silas Hawthorne sent Ethan Lynch a message.

Then Silas Hawthorne called Shayla Randall and informed her about Serena Sterling’s current situation.

Thinking of Julian, Silas Hawthorne’s heart filled with hatred.

The plan needed to move forward!

After handling everything, Silas Hawthorne returned to Serena Sterling’s side, lay down beside her, and embraced her.

...

On the other side.

Vera Hansen’s place.

She walked into the room again and took out a secret phone.

"Beep beep..."

She pressed the call button.

After a while, someone picked up.

"What is it?" a voice came through.

"I’ve been feeling uneasy lately." Vera Hansen said, having just been restrained those days; coming out, it felt like the world had flipped upside down.

"What’s going on?" the voice asked.

"I’m not sure now." Vera Hansen kept recalling, then said, "Are all the previous traces cleaned up? No one will know it was me who had you crash Serena’s child, right?"

"If they knew, they would’ve known earlier." The voice replied, "There’s no need to wait until now."

Only then did Vera Hansen feel somewhat reassured, nodding.

"And now..." she continued asking about some matters.

But what Vera Hansen didn’t notice was that when she walked into the room, the caregiver had quietly slipped out.

While Vera Hansen made the call, the caregiver silently pressed their ear to the gap under the door, trying to catch anything.