Chapter 3

"Approach her most genuinely by touching her human side. I feel she's a woman done with worldly matters, seeking nothing but peace," explained Aster.

Leopold focused on writing in his notes, then looked up at Aster, waiting for further explanation, but she was already engrossed with the computer in front of her.

"Aster! It's still one thing, and I'm waiting for the 'things' you mentioned earlier," teased Leopold, concerned that his assistant's memories might start deteriorating due to age.

Aster just looked at him with a glance. "No, I think that's enough," she closed, leaving Leopold gaping in disbelief.

"Well, okay, I'm sure I can figure it out with your very detailed explanation; it's obvious, Crystal!" he mocked, holding the notes in front of Aster's face.

"Good, there's an orphanage at the end of the street you can visit if needed," Aster randomly suggested.

"Okay... Then what should I do with that information from you?" asked Leopold, trying to find a connection from Aster's given clues.

The old woman shrugged, "What do you think? You're the boss, right? Do you want us to reverse roles? If you're not competent, shall I take action?" challenged Aster, her eyebrows raised and lowered.

"Hmph! Who'd hire a woman—" Leopold's words were cut off, along with his wide-open gesture, when he saw Aster's threatening gaze if he finished his sentence.

"Ahem! I'll look for breakfast outside, maybe until noon…" excused Leopold, standing from his seat and heading to his meticulously tidy and dark-green-themed room.

He pulled out a set of the company's delivery uniform and a similarly logoed cap in his walk-in closet, swapping his work shoes for sneakers for easier walking. He retrieved an old backpack from the farthest part of his wardrobe.

The backpack was worn out in many places but clean, holding remnants from his past when he used to move from one place to another because of eviction. He brushed aside those painful memories and put on his backpack.

He went straight to the basement from his private elevator, where a line of luxury cars awaited, mostly his. However, he continued towards the farther parking area where his scooter was parked.

He found it covered in dusty plastic, lined up with employees' scooters. He covered his nose and mouth with one hand while using the other to remove the cover, revealing his clean scooter.

As he started it, he checked the fuel gauge, smiling as it was packed. Then, he rode the scooter towards Seraphim Hospital, the Addam family-owned hospital.

*** 

"Hello, good afternoon, doctor…" greeted a cheerful voice that sounded a bit forced, making Serena look up, ready to respond, but stopping abruptly as she saw who it was. 

Instantly, a sharp pain pierced through her, tearing at her heart. 

She saw her ex-husband with his complete family, the family she used to dream about together, except now it was a reality for him alone, while she was forced to bury it deep within.

The betrayal by Zake during their marriage had created a massive void in her heart, replacing the love she once had for him. Right at the time when she was fighting to recover from early-stage ovarian cancer, clutching the lab results that declared her need for ovarian removal, her husband arrived with news of his mistress's pregnancy.

"I'm genuinely happy for you, Zake. I'm sure you'll be a great father," Serena said then, choosing to hold her wounds instead. 

She realised she couldn't be selfish and drag Zake into her issues. She didn't want to rob Zake of his happiness. He needed an heir of his bloodline to carry on the family legacy.

"The alimony amount will be discussed with my lawyer," Zake added as if the information he had given wasn't painful enough. He had to emphasise further the reality of how quickly he was moving on as if their five-year marriage meant nothing.

Once again, Serena blamed herself for her inability to provide what Zake wanted, feeling she had no right to demand anything.

"I need to give that child a complete family, Serena; I hope you understand," Zake said.

With resilience, she agreed to Zake's words and immediately started packing. 

A year had passed since that painful day. She had been slowly healing her wounds and chose to redirect her focus to children who needed her attention. They became the light and shadow in her life.

Until a warning letter from Zake's lawyer last week disrupted the peace, she had just started feeling after struggling to reconcile with things beyond her control.

In that letter, the lawyer prohibited Serena from donating the alimony money from Zake, deeming that the children "did not deserve" to benefit from his hard-earned money. It was supposed to be for Serena alone.

Serena crumpled the letter and threw it in the trash; she didn't want her day ruined by Zake's baseless threats.

Now, seeing that man arrive emotionlessly before her with his child and now wife, Serena was sure she had never known this side of Zake. It was as if all the pain he had inflicted on her life was never enough; he had the audacity to pour vinegar on her wounds again.

'But who am I to judge? He even betrayed me when we were married,' Serena concluded.

She pushed aside her feelings; she had to act professionally. Besides, the innocent child they were bringing along was not at fault.

"Hello, is there anything I can help with?" Serena asked with a broad smile, choosing to look at Adrian in his stroller, the four-month-old baby she adored, rather than at his parents.

"Oh, I just wanted to get him vaccinated. You know, our regular paediatrician from the famous hospital is currently at a seminar or something; I'm sure it's not that important. But anyway, I guess I have to settle for less, and here I am," Rita explained, boasting about her situation to Serena.

Unfortunately, immune to Rita's scathing sarcasm, Serena remains utterly unfazed. She examined Adrian just like any other patient.

After ensuring Adrian was healthy, Serena notified the parents that she would administer the vaccination. The baby didn't cry; instead, he giggled while looking at Serena, making her smile just as widely, welcoming Adrian's little hand reaching out to hers.

Rita cleared her throat when she noticed her husband's gaze fixed on Serena with an unreadable expression. She had come here purposely with Zake, using the same excuse, though her initial intention was to provoke Serena.

"Ahem, does it affect a child's development if the parents have intercourse every day?" Rita suddenly asked.

Before Serena could respond, the woman continued, "You know, Zake is super thirsty; he's impatient if it comes to 'that'. I understand that the child's needs are important, but what about the husband, right, Doctor?"

Due to his new wife's bluntness, Serena glanced at Zake's crimson face.

"Well, I believe if you can accommodate your baby's needs when he requires assistance, then it's okay. I think the child's needs can still be delegated to someone else, unlike your husband's, isn't that right?" Serena replied, still appearing undisturbed.

Rita's eyes sparkled with joy, feeling her bait had worked. "You're absolutely right, Doctor. As a good wife, I should prioritise my husband's needs first."

No one knew what story Zake had told his new wife that made her think Serena hadn't fulfilled her duties properly in the past. Well, at least Zake now had an ideal wife to support him.

Serena chose to see it from that perspective only. She didn't want to be a petty woman cursing her ex's happiness; instead, she was happy that Zake was living the life he had dreamt of.

Serena made sure once again that there was nothing else regarding Adrian. She emphasised Adrian's name so Rita would understand the questions were only about her child.

"No, Doctor, this is enough," Rita replied with a forced, cheerful voice. She clutched her expensive designer purse and pulled Adrian's stroller. At the door, she paused, realising her husband hadn't moved from his seat.

"Zake, come on, let's go; it's time for Adrian to sleep," Rita coaxed.

"Go ahead first; wait for me in the car," Zake ordered coldly. The woman appeared displeased but didn't argue, stomping away angrily before slamming Serena's door behind her.

Serena didn't flinch at Rita's behaviour at all. She also didn't pay much attention to Zake, the man now shifting his seat to face her directly.

"Is there anything I can assist you with, Mr. Zake?" Serena asked professionally.

"How are you?" he asked suddenly, almost causing Serena's defences to crumble. 

The attention Zake used to give her seemed to echo back. Every cell in her body was so familiar with that greeting. But then she remembered her status, and Zake wasn't the same anymore. She fought back the sudden dopamine rush.

"As you can see, I'm fine," Serena replied.

Zake despised Serena's unwavering attitude. He could never make this woman submit to him, not then and certainly not now. She donated it all, especially with what she did with the alimony money he gave her. His only reason to keep Serena in his grasp was quickly brushed off by her as if it meant nothing. This woman had always been unreadable to him.

"Have you considered my offer?" he asked again.

Serena appeared to ponder. She knew what Zake meant; the message he sent offering her to become his mistress was an insult beyond words.

"…So I can still take care of you, nurse you if anything bad happens…" the message echoed in her mind.

Back then, feeling disgusted, Serena immediately deleted it, feeling Zake was insulting her.

"No, thank you for your offer, Mr. Zake, but I'm not interested. I wish you and your family a life filled with happiness. Good evening," Serena said, clearly displaying her displeasure at Zake's boundary violations at her workplace.

Zake, who had never faced rejection before, couldn't digest Serena's words. He refused to believe the words of the woman in front of him who didn't heed his commands.

"Don't be stubborn, Serena, come back to me," he ordered forcefully.

Serena knew Zake's nature too well. She then stood up and opened the door wide for him. With a gesture, she asked Zake to leave.

Zake immediately rose from his seat, stepped closer to Serena and glared at her. 

"Let's see what you can do without my power and money, Serena. I'll make sure you come begging for the offer you rejected without consideration. You've forgotten who you're dealing with." His hot breath touched Serena's face, but she stood tall, unshaken.

*Tap*

*Tap*

A slight tap on Zake's shoulder from behind made him turn, feeling someone was being disrespectful by daring to touch him. Even his closest acquaintances never acted so casually towards him.

His anger escalated when he saw who did it: a delivery courier, a low-level, hardworking employee, completely lacking in attitude!

"Apologies, sir. Your wife sent a message that she's waiting for you outside," Leopold said with an innocent, broad smile.