Serena walked into the living room with a towel on her shoulder. She just finished washing her hair and was going upstairs quietly when Liam looked up from where he was sitting.
"Serena," he called.
She stopped. "Yes?"
"Are you doing anything this morning?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No."
"Good," he said. "You'll follow me to the office."
Serena's eyes widened. "But... I don't have any good clothes."
"There's a bag on your bed. I told the housekeeper to get some for you," Liam replied.
Serena didn't say anything. She went upstairs quickly. When she entered the room, she saw a beautiful shopping bag on the bed. She opened it slowly. There were soft, nice clothes inside. Simple but classy dresses, shoes, and a hairbrush. She touched them like she was dreaming.
"Is this really for me?" she whispered.
She took a quick shower, got dressed, and came down wearing a cream-colored gown. It fit her body well but wasn't too tight. When Liam saw her, he just stared for a moment and then cleared his throat.
"Let's go," he said.
***
The ride to the office was quiet. Serena sat beside him, her hands on her lap. She was nervous.
"Thank you," she said after some time.
"For what?"
"For the clothes," she replied softly.
"You're my wife now," he said, eyes still on the road. "You should look like it."
Serena turned her face to the window. His words made her chest warm, but she didn't want to think too much.
They got to the company. The workers greeted Liam with so much respect. Serena followed him quietly. Everyone kept looking at her, whispering. Some smiled politely.
"She's beautiful."
"Is that the new wife?"
"She looks so young."
Liam didn't say anything. He walked fast into his office and sat down. Serena sat on a smaller chair near the window. She looked around. The office was big and cold, full of glass and shiny things.
After a while, Liam's secretary knocked and entered.
"Sir, your father called again. He said he's waiting for your reply about the board meeting."
Liam's face changed. "Tell him I'm not ready for any meeting."
The woman nodded and left.
Serena looked at him. "You don't want to go to your family meeting?"
Liam sighed. "I've been avoiding him."
"Why?" Serena asked.
Liam looked at her for a moment. "Because he wants me to do what I don't want. He wants me to focus on the family business. That's not my dream."
Serena nodded. "But maybe he just wants you to be responsible."
Liam smiled sadly. "I am responsible. But not the way he wants. Last time we argued about it, I left the house for many months. That was when Vanessa… never mind."
He stopped himself.
Serena lowered her eyes. She didn't want to talk about Vanessa. She hated the way Liam's eyes changed whenever her name came up.
Just then, Liam stood up. "I have a meeting. I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere."
Serena nodded.
***
She stepped out of the office later to get fresh air. There was a small garden beside the building, and she sat there quietly, enjoying the cool breeze.
Then she heard a voice.
"Well, well. So you're the famous Serena."
She turned sharply.
Leo.
Liam's younger brother.
He wore a white shirt and dark trousers. His face carried a proud smile.
"I saw you in the company and thought I should greet my new sister-in-law," he said, sitting beside her without asking.
Serena forced a smile. "Thank you."
Leo looked around. "Nice place, right? All this will soon be mine."
Serena blinked. "What do you mean?"
He laughed. "You're smart. You know what I mean. I want the company. But Liam doesn't care about it. He's lazy, distracted… always chasing girls."
"That's not true," Serena said quietly.
Leo raised his eyebrow. "You're defending him now? Do you think he loves you? He doesn't. I've known my brother all my life. You're just someone our mother forced into his life."
Serena looked away.
Leo leaned closer. "And you… you're nothing special. Just a girl trying to survive."
Serena stood. "I don't like this kind of talk."
Leo stood too. "You better start liking it. Because if Liam doesn't start behaving, I'll inform Dad that he's ignoring the business. I've been in London, Serena. But I'm back now. And I'm watching everything."
Serena walked away quickly. Her heart was beating fast.
***
Later that night, Liam and Serena were eating dinner. His mother was not home yet. The house was quiet.
"Did you enjoy your day?" he asked.
"It was okay," she said without looking at him.
He ate slowly. "You seem disturbed."
"I just don't like the way your brother talks," she said.
Liam looked up sharply. "You saw Leo?"
She nodded. "He came to the office. He talked to me."
"What did he say?"
Serena looked at him. "Nothing good."
Liam dropped his fork. "That boy is trouble. Always looking for what does not belong to him."
"Why is he like that?"
Liam stood up and walked to the window. "Because he wants to prove he's better than me. He wants the company. And he thinks I'm weak."
Serena looked at him. "Are you?"
Liam turned to her. "I used to be strong. Until Vanessa."
She said nothing.
"I gave her everything," he said. "My time, my heart, my life. And she cheated on me with a singer. A celebrity who didn't even care about her."
"I'm sorry," Serena whispered.
Liam looked at her for a moment. "I don't want to talk about her again."
He left the room.
Serena sat alone, thinking deeply.
She had married into a family full of fights and secrets.
Leo was angry and jealous.
Liam was hurt and lost.
And she… she was just trying to survive.
But deep down, something was changing.
She didn't know if it was good or bad.
But it was coming.