17 Chapter 17

They had furniture and kitchen appliance shopping five days after that. The new house was already installed with every security and few big furniture had already been arranged inside. Serena, Charlotte, and Lorcan had already started tidying up their stuff in Charlotte's house. By the time one month had passed, they finally moved into the new house. To Serena's surprise, Hendrick bought her a brand new piano and had placed it in the drawing room.

"Hendrick, you don't have to do this," said Serena, running her hand on the black piano.

"My Christmas present got blown up in your old house, so I thought I could get you a better one, love," Hendrick whispered closely behind her.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the drawing room and she quickly walked away from him and went to open the door that connected to the library. She heard Hendrick sighed and he followed her. Luckily, her father was inside the library, arranging books with Lorcan. Charlotte entered inside carrying a tray full of cookies and a teapot with five mismatched mugs. They chat as they drink their tea and continue with the tidying and arranging after that. 

Lucas came with dinners and groceries to fill up the refrigerator on his way back from the office. They had dinner together, they received the news that uncle Antonio was transferred to another ward for recovery, the surgery was successful and Adrianna stayed in the hospital to look after her father. Lucia called her daughter once a day to check on her and always leave tons of the same advice of safety. 

"So when are you planning for your wedding?," asked Thomas.

"Early of June," both Lucas and Serena answered together.

They looked at each other and laughed.

"That's like in another five months..," Charlotte looked horrified.

"Don't worry, it's just a small ceremony, and that reminds me, will you be my maid of honor?," asked Serena.

Charlotte gasped.

"Are you kidding me? Of course I will?," Charlotte stared at her, "What kind of questions is that?,".

"Just in case, because Scott will be there, and I imagine you were going to take advantage of the wedding to snog him," said Serena casually, earning a pull on her hair by Charlotte and she yelped.

Hendrick was quiet and didn't interrupt a single thing. Sometimes, Serena noticed that his eyes were full with fury but he kept it under control. 

"I already booked a floor for the entire family and a ballroom in Radisson Blu," said Lucas, "So the Verdino can just check in when they arrive. My father from Sheffield and his wife will be arriving the day before the wedding. I don't know if my step brother will be coming, he's still serving in the army based in Syria,".

"Oh, well I hope he gets to come home for your wedding," said Thomas, "Hendrick, tell Hans to come too, alright?,".

Hendrick nodded and continued eating his pasta.

"We can go for dress shopping next month," said Charlotte, "What do you prefer? McQueen or Packham?,".

"I haven't decided yet, Charlotte," said Serena, "I'll just wear whatever looks good.. And you guys can wear anything you want, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable at our wedding,". 

"Imagine if women came in bikinis," Lorcan mumbled.

"In your dream, perv..," said Charlotte rolling her eyes.

Everyone laughed. After dinner, they all retired to their bedroom. Serena walked Lucas to the front door and they had a few make out sessions in his car before he went home. She walked back inside the house, locking the door, turning around and took a step back gasping.

"Goodness.. You nearly gave me a heart attack," said Serena as she clutched her chest. 

Hendrick leans against the wall of the hallway gazing at her. 

"I'm going back to New York tomorrow morning," said Hendrick quietly.

"Oh.. Ok then..," said Serena as she walked past him, "Have a good flight,".

Hendrick grabbed Serena's arm and pulled her to him. 

"Hendrick..," Serena looked at him warningly.

"Sshh.. Just let me hold you for once, love," Hendrick whispered.

He rested his forehead on hers, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her in that position for a few moments. Serena's hands were on his chest, her eyes stared down at her feet as she let Hendrick hold her like that.

"I'm going to miss you, love," Hendrick mumbled in her hair.

Serena frowned.

"You're not coming to the wedding?," asked Serena, looking at his eyes puzzled.

"I don't think I can watch the girl that I love in the arms of another man," said Hendrick, his hand caressing her cheek, "I thought that I can fight for it, that I can get what I want.. But I saw how happy you look with Lucas and I want you to be happy. May you live happily ever after, Serena Evans,".

Serena's eyes were glassy with tears as she smiled at Hendrick.

"Thank you, Hendrick.. And I hope that you finally found the girl that loves you like you love me," said Serena as she hugged Hendrick. 

Hendrick tilted her chin and slowly, he lowered his head and kissed her lips and for the first time in their life, Serena had let him. She opened her lips to let him deepen the kiss and after a few minutes, Hendrick pulled away from the kiss and rested his forehead against his temple. Serena slowly pulled herself from his hug and gave a final kiss on his cheek.

"Goodbye, Hendrick," she whispered.

Hendrick didn't look at her but as she walked towards her room, she gave him a final look and saw that he was wiping his eyes. 

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It's been nearly two months since Hendrick had gone back to New York. Serena had already gone for dress shopping with Charlotte and everything had gone to normal. Thomas had finally gone back to London a few days ago after leaving tons of advice to his daughter and making her promise to call her mother every day and she kept her promise. Charlotte had planned to throw a bachelorette party for her but she wasn't in a mood. After that night in the hallway with Hendrick, Serena felt disappointed with herself for breaking his heart even though she loves Lucas.

"Really? Are you sure you don't want any party?," asked Charlotte looking aghast.

"Nah.. I just want everything simple, Charlotte," said Serena as she looked at her designated wedding invitation, "I'll pick this purple one,".

"Purple and gold?," asked Charlotte, "Yeah.. It looks gorgeous.

She was just about to go to lunch with Charlotte and Lorcan when her phone vibrated. There was a message for her. When she opened it, it was from an unknown number: Hope you enjoy yourself in these last few days, miss Evans. Because I'm sure you won't have it for much longer. She frowned at the message and showed it to her best friends. Charlotte's eyes went wide and Lorcan looked pale.

"Can your sister trace the number, Lorcan?," asked Serena calmly.

"Yeah sure, just give me the number and I'll text it to her," said Lorcan as he took out his phone.

"Should I reply to it?," asked Serena.

"What are you going to say?," asked Charlotte.

Serena looked at her phone and started typing: Do I know you?. She waits for the reply and seconds later, her phone vibrates again and another text comes in from the same number: Let's just say you pissed us off by murdering one of our business partners. The three of them looked at each other after they read the message.

"Alright, screenshot that and give it to me so I can send it to Sasha," said Lorcan.

"Who do you think it is?," asked Charlotte.

"I don't know.. I mean I killed a few Russians in New York, and then Hong Long a few months ago," Serena replied thoughtfully, "Or could be neither, I mean the text said their business partner,".

"Maybe you should tell Stefano and Scott so they can look up to it," said Charlotte.

"Yeah.. I asked them to look up who were associated with Volki and Hong Long," Serena nodded as they walked inside the lift to go for lunch. 

She screenshot the text and send it to Lorcan, Scott, Stefano, and her father. Few minutes later, her father called and told her he would try to investigate and tell her to stay safe. Not long after her father hung up, Stefano made a video call.

"Stef?," Serena answered, opening her phone.

"Serena..," both Scott and Stefano's faces came into view.

"Ouch, mom.. Why did you smack my head?," asked Scott indignantly as he rubbed his head.

"You were shouting on the phone.. Hello, sweetheart..," Lucia's smiling face came.

"Hey mom, I don't know you're joining in," Serena chuckled.

"We're in the meeting room, the entire family is here," her mother replied.

"Hey cousin, is Lorcan there with you?," asked Adrianna as her face came behind Scott.

Both Charlotte and Serena looked at Lorcan who suddenly had turned red.

"Wow.. When did this happen?," Charlotte whispered.

"Err.. Yeah, he's here.. And so's Charlotte," Serena replied as she aimed the camera towards Charlotte.

"Hey babe.. Miss you.. Ouch, mom..," Scott wailed, "What was that?,".

"If you want to romancing your girlfriend just call her after this, not when we are in a serious emergency situation," Lucia glared at her son.

"Alright, alright.. I'm focusing," said Scott as he distanced himself a bit from his mother. 

Serena, Lorcan, and Charlotte had a hard time to keep their face straight as they watched Scott rubbing his head and looking scared at Lucia at the same time. 

"Firstly, are you alright? Are you safe? And where are you?," asked Lucia looking worried in the camera.

"We're fine, mom. We're in the restaurant right now for lunch," Serena replied.

"Oh thank God," said Lucia, "We were in a meeting when the boys showed us the text,".

"Yeah, we're actually wondering if Hong Long or Volki have any associates or business partners like in the text," said Serena.

"Well we know that Lynch and Volki are working together," said Stefano.

"What about Hong Long?," asked Serena.

"We're not sure yet," said Stefano, "But I have a feeling they have a partner,".

Serena nodded and when the waiter arrived with their lunch, they went silent for a while to let the waiter do their job. 

"You guys will come to the wedding, right?," asked Serena, "Lucas has already booked the whole floor,".

"Of course we're coming.. Your uncle Antonio worked very hard to stand back on his feet so he can watch his only niece walk the aisle," said Lucia, "Oh and Hans wants to talk to you,".

Hans' face came into view and he grinned inside the camera.

"Hey, Hans.. What's up," Serena greeted him cheerfully.

"Hi Serena, I actually want your permission to bring my girlfriend," said Hans smiling sheepishly.

"You have a girlfriend? Wow.. I didn't know that," said Serena, "Yes, you can so I can meet her,".

Hans high five Scott and whooping.

"Will Hendrick come too?," asked Serena looking at him.

At once they went quiet and looked at each other.

"What..," Serena started to panic, "Is he alright?,".

"Yeah, he's fine," said Hans, "It's just that, he decided to handle the family business in Munich so I don't know if he's coming or not,".

"Oh.. Ok then, I thought he got hurt or worse..," Serena trails off. 

"Nah.. He's fine, he can handle it," said Scott.

After a few more chats, Serena finally hung up and had her lunch. She went back to her office with Lorcan and Charlotte and continued with her work.