{Serena's P.O.V}
I recalled that day Mia had come to me, her eyes wide with concern.
She had told me Gabriel was once again involved with his secretary and had offered to become his new secretary to keep an eye on him for me. I felt a bit strange; how did she know about this? Had she been watching Gabriel all along ?
I voiced my suspicions, and she immediately clung to my arm, pouting, "I just care about you." I pushed my doubts down, burying them deep. After all, she was Liam's girlfriend; perhaps I was just being overly suspicious.
I knew Gabriel had always had a bit of interest in Mia, but I didn't think Mia, having someone as remarkable as Liam, would ever fall for Gabriel. Nor did I believe Gabriel would truly go after his Beta's girlfriend, not when so many women were already vying for his attention. Whether it was his looks, his power, or his surface-level charm, these women always believed they could tame the rogue, despite being proven wrong every time.
Should I have warned Mia? Told her that Gabriel was arrogant and saw women merely as playthings?
The thought almost made me laugh—a hellish joke.
Any advice I gave would have only made her think I was worried she'd fall for my charming Alpha husband, when in truth, I cared far more about her than I ever did about Gabriel.
So, I simply looked at her deeply, almost making her uncomfortable with my gaze, then curved my lips into an enigmatic smile.
"Of course, you are my best sister. If I can't trust you, who can I trust? Keep a good watch on him for me."
Perhaps at that time I already knew where this would lead, but it didn't matter. I didn't love Gabriel. I was just waiting for the day when their actions would give me leverage.
But when this day finally arrived, the realization still hit me like a punch to the gut, the sweet and supportive facade Mia had maintained now exposed as a lie.
I didn't know how much of our past closeness was genuine and how much was a ploy to get closer to Gabriel. As we both know, hindsight is influenced by our present circumstances. Those once-sweet memories now seemed to crumble before my eyes.
Their movements quickened, the woman gasping louder, her cries becoming more urgent. His breathing deepened, the telltale signs of his approaching climax. I knew his body too well, the timing of his pleasure like a clockwork mechanism. In a few moments, they would be done.
I couldn't help but indulge in a moment of dark humor. Gabriel, our gallant and dashing Alpha, so absorbed in his escapades that he hadn't noticed my arrival. Hardly befitting a powerful Alpha.
I wondered if my sudden knock might scare him so badly he'd be impotent for life. The thought was amusing,wasn't it?
Without a hint of emotion, I knocked on the doorframe. The sharp sound was like a bomb going off, sharp and jarring. The couple froze, turning to face me with expressions of shock and horror. Mia scrambled to cover herself, her face flushing crimson, while Gabriel's eyes widened, guilt and fear flickering across his face.
For a moment, there was only the sound of their frantic breathing. Then, he found his voice. "What... what are you doing here?" His voice was hoarse, panicked. The woman beside him looked equally terrified, clutching the sheet to her chest, her eyes darting between me and the door.
I met his gaze, holding it steady. "I live here, remember?" My voice was cool, almost detached. Inside, I savored the irony of the situation. Gabriel, caught like a deer in headlights, was now at my mercy. "But don't worry, I'll wait until you're finished." I glanced at the woman, giving her a polite, almost kind smile. "Take your time."
"Serena, I—" Gabriel started, but I silenced him with a raised hand. My voice was cold, barely containing the fury beneath. Inside, I had to admit, their panicked expressions had genuinely amused me. I was almost worried my feigned anger might falter, but no matter—I was in control then, and nothing would derail my plans.
"No need for explanations, Gabriel. Just finish up. I'll wait outside."
The room fell into an awkward silence, broken only by the rustling of sheets as they tried to cover themselves. I turned away, walking back down the hallway, my footsteps measured and deliberate. Reaching the living room, I sat down on the couch, my hands folded neatly in my lap, staring at the blank TV screen.
My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, yet on the surface, I felt eerily calm. The reality of my situation was settling in, but it wasn't the betrayal that hurt the most. It was the realization of how hollow our relationship had always been. He had never truly known me, just as I had never truly loved him.
As I sat there, waiting for Gabriel to emerge , I knew that this was just the beginning. The facade we had both maintained was about to crumble, and the truth of our relationship—or lack thereof—would finally come to light. The question was, what would we do with that truth? And more importantly, what did it mean for my future?
I was deep in thought, considering how best to deal with Gabriel next, when I looked up and saw Liam standing there, looking utterly lost.
It was almost unsettling to see my usually composed beta in such a state. Liam, who was nearly invincible when handling pack affairs, was now clearly out of his depth. He approached hesitantly, his hand reaching out as if to offer solace, then retracting it, unsure of how to proceed. His earnest attempt to find a way to comfort me despite his own discomfort was genuinely touching. I couldn't understand why he seemed more focused on comforting me rather than grieving his own betrayal. After all, I didn't love Gabriel, but Mia was truly his girlfriend.
"Serena, are you okay?" he finally asked, his voice gentle and filled with concern.
I gave him a small, reassuring smile, finding his awkwardness oddly endearing. "I'm fine, Liam. Really." His genuine concern was almost touching, and I couldn't help but feel a bit of warmth for his well-meaning, if somewhat clumsy, attempt to comfort me. So I decided to lighten the mood with a harmless joke.
"Looks like we're in the same boat now.Misery loves company,isn't it?"
He froze for a moment, then managed a smile that looked more painful than comforting.