Collisionity, Pandora.
Rhys sat with a serious expression in the corner of the restaurant, discussing business with his client. The elegant restaurant atmosphere was filled with the clinking of glasses and slow conversations between tables. Rhys spoke confidently, explaining a business strategy that would yield maximum profit. His client, a man in a black suit, listened attentively.
"I'm confident this investment will bring remarkable results for your company," Rhys said, ensuring each word sounded convincing. Once the conversation concluded, Rhys shook hands with his client, assuring her that this move was the right decision. They then parted ways to attend to their respective matters.
As Rhys and his client separated in front of the restaurant, Rhys' focus suddenly shifted as his two eyes accidentally caught sight of a woman who seemed familiar. Rhys fell silent, his eyes fixed on her. He continued to observe the woman, who kept moving away from where he stood. Due to Rhys' growing curiosity, he quickly decided to follow her. Rhys chose to pursue the woman without informing anyone.
Continuing to walk, Rhys tried to maintain a distance that wouldn't attract attention but remained close enough to confirm the woman's identity. Once he felt certain, Rhys approached her. His hand reached out, grabbing the woman's hand and pulling her, causing her to turn and fall into his embrace. Rhys held her tightly. His eyes began to well up, and he unconsciously cried while embracing her. "Serena... I finally found you. I've missed you so much. Where have you been all this time? Why did you suddenly disappear and leave me?"
Serena remained silent, frozen in place. Her mind was still processing the sudden turn of events. She was genuinely shocked by Rhys' unexpected appearance. What made it even more surprising was how he immediately embraced her so tightly. Rhys released his hug, gazing at Serena, who remained silent without responding. His eyes were not mistaken. The woman now before him was indeed Serena—the woman he had searched for relentlessly for five long years, nearly going mad because her presence seemed impossible to find.
Since that fateful night, Rhys has woken up without Serena, and when he tried to contact her, Serena's phone number was inactive. Rhys panicked, desperately searching for her, even going as far as asking all his subordinates to trace Serena. However, the woman seemed completely untraceable. Serena vanished without a trace.
Rhys wiped away tears as he touched Serena's face. "Never leave me again. I can't live without you, Serena... I can't."
Serena's heart ached as she had to witness Rhys crying before her like this. Despite five years passing, Serena couldn't deny that she still loved Rhys and harbored the same feelings. Unfortunately, she had to discard those emotions and distance herself from Rhys. Serena couldn't continue to be with him.
She pushed Rhys away, freeing herself from his embrace. Her actions startled Rhys, and he now looked at Serena with questioning eyes. Rhys couldn't comprehend why Serena was behaving this way. "W-what's wrong, Serena? Why are you pulling away?"
"Sorry, Rhys, but our relationship is over." Serena tried to maintain a firm expression. She couldn't appear to be vulnerable or yielding in front of Rhys.
"W-what do you mean? Why are you saying that?"
Serena fell silent for a moment, trying to strengthen her resolve. "As I said, our relationship is over, and we don't need to meet again. Please don't look for me, and let's pretend we never crossed paths."
"How can you say that? Do you have any idea how long I've been searching for you? Since you disappeared that day, I've looked everywhere and tried to reach you, and I nearly went insane because I couldn't find you. I can't live without you, Serena. Please don't leave me again, I beg you..." Rhys tightly gripped both of Serena's hands, looking at her with hope. Serena diverted her gaze elsewhere, pushing Rhys' hands away until his grip loosened.
"You know, since that night, I realized that we live in different worlds, and we shouldn't be in a relationship because it would only make us suffer."
"What are you saying? Don't ever speak like that. You're the only woman I love in this world, Serena. Only you."
"Enough! This is the last time we meet. Never look for me again, and it's better if you focus on your own life. We should be living in our own worlds." Serena turned around, ready to walk away. However, Rhys immediately stopped her by hugging Serena from behind so tightly that it almost took her breath away.
"I ain't lettin' you go. I don't want to lose you again. You mean everything to me, Serena, and I can't live without you. So I'm beginning with you, don't leave me. Stay with me!"
"Let me go!" Serena rebelled, trying to break free, but her efforts failed as Rhys held her too strongly.
"I ain't lettin' you go. You also owe me an explanation, Serena. Where have you been all this time? Where have you been hiding? And what's the real reason you left me?"
"I don't need to explain anything to you because our relationship is over." Serena continued to resist.
"No! Our relationship never ended. Not once did we say the word 'breakup' between us."
"Rhys, let me go and let me leave!"
"I ain't going to let—"
Thwack!
Without any warning, a man suddenly appeared, separating them and striking Rhys in the face, causing him to stumble to the ground. Rhys and Serena were both taken aback by his sudden appearance. When Serena turned to look at him, it turned out to be Hugh, who now stared at Rhys with clenched fists. "Hugh..."
Serena approached, trying to calm him. On the other hand, Rhys winced as he rubbed the painful part of his face. He looked up at Hugh with an irritated expression. "Who are you? How dare you—"
"I should be the one asking that. Why did you dare touch my wife?" Hugh cut him off. Rhys, hearing his words, stood up. His face couldn't hide the surprise.
"What did you say?" Rhys seemed unbelieving of Hugh's statement. He fell silent, alternating his gaze between Hugh and Serena. He truly didn't understand the situation.
"She's my wife." Hugh affirmed his statement. Rhys remained silent, trying to process each word. His mind felt blank upon hearing it, and his heart shattered. Rhys felt as if his heart had been stabbed with a thousand knives.
"Serena..." Rhys looked towards Serena, seeking an explanation. Instead of explaining, Serena was too busy trying to calm down Hugh, who appeared furious.
"Hugh..."
"Is he the one who's been trying to hurt you all this time?" Hugh muttered, glancing at Serena through the corner of his eye.
"No, please, calm down and listen to me."
"How can I be calm when I see you—"
Hugh's sentence was cut off when Serena suddenly kissed him on the lips. This action surprised both Hugh and Rhys with what she had just done. Serena kissed Hugh to calm him down, as it was the only way she could divert Hugh's attention and make Rhys hate her. Serena believed that if Rhys hated her, he could forget and let go. Rhys, witnessing the scene, felt truly hurt. The woman he loved, for whom he had been searching for so long, suddenly appeared and kissed another man right in front of him. Rhys felt as if his world had crumbled at that moment.
Serena broke their kiss, looking closely at Hugh. "Please calm down. Don't be angry, because I don't want to see you angry. It scares me..."
Serena hugged Hugh tightly. Hugh finally calmed down. He returned Serena's embrace and tried to contain his anger. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I just want to protect you..."
"I'm fine. He's not the one who's been chasing me all this time."
Rhys felt his chest tighten as he witnessed the scene. Tears streamed down his face incessantly. Unable to bear the sight, Rhys turned his attention away. "Things have changed, Rhys. I'm married now, and as I said, our relationship is over. So please stop looking for me and don't disrupt my life."
Serena walked away, holding Hugh's hand, heading towards where their car was parked. Rhys remained silent, staring at Serena with tear-streaked eyes. He felt utterly shattered to see the woman with another man, especially when she appeared so happy with Hugh.
"Why are you doing this to me, Serena? What's your reason for doing this to me?"
*
"Are you really okay?" Hugh asked, making sure.
"I'm truly fine."
"Who's that guy, and why do you seem uncomfortable with him?"
"Let's discuss that later. It's better if we go home. By the way, where's Shawn?"
"He fell asleep in the car. Initially, I didn't want to leave him, but you took too long. Worried something might happen to you, I went out to check, and it turns out you were with that guy."
"Sorry for keeping you waiting." Serena and Hugh then walked towards the car. Once they reached the spot where their car was parked, Serena and Hugh left the area.
Several days had passed since Serena accepted an offer from her client, and since then, they had moved to Pandora to settle until Serena's job was done. Meanwhile, Shawn also had to switch schools. Hugh took care of everything, as he said, Serena only found out when everything was ready. They finally moved to Pandora, as planned. Upon arriving in Pandora, Hugh had prepared a place for them to live.
Serena really did not understand why Hugh was always so good at things. He had even unknowingly prepared a place for them to live, and the house was fully equipped with everything they needed. There were so many questions that arose in Serena's mind about Hugh's true figure. Serena was actually curious about what her husband did for a living, why he had so much money, and why he was always so vigilant. Serena also wanted to know what her husband's background was, what his past was, and what his life was like before they met. But Serena really didn't have the right to ask because that had been her agreement since they started this whole thing.
Since Hugh promised to protect her from those who were chasing her, he made a deal and asked Serena not to inquire about his past, background, or job. That's why Serena never wanted to ask, even though she was genuinely curious about who Hugh really was and what he was hiding from her.
"He's my ex-boyfriend," Serena said, breaking the silence. Hugh, upon hearing this, glanced briefly at Serena, who was looking down with a gloomy face, then refocused on driving.
"Ex-boyfriend?" Hugh repeated it with a curious expression. "Is he the one you talked about?"
Serena nodded. "Yes, he's Shawn's biological father."
***