In the end, Conrad gave in. He changed out of his pajamas and into a crisp suit, driving his black Cayenne to the Beryl family estate.
When Serena saw him, she nearly shrieked with joy. Suppressing her delight, she pinched her thigh hard, and tears instantly welled in her eyes. With a mournful expression, she grabbed his sleeve. "Conrad, I was so scared."
She even flinched, as if the beast from her dream had followed her into the waking world. "Please don't go, okay?"
Conrad held her, his heart heavy with a complicated mix of emotions. He used to think he loved Serena, but after learning she had faked her own death, his feelings had soured into a sense of responsibility and obligation.
"Okay," he said softly.
"Conrad, I knew you were the best," Serena said, her tears giving way to a smile.
"You sleep. I'll watch over you," Conrad offered, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling out his phone to kill time.
Not wanting to push her luck, Serena obediently lay down. But a moment after closing her eyes, she shot up with a scream.
The sudden noise startled Conrad, who quickly put his phone away. "What's wrong, Serena?"
"I'm scared," she whimpered, her lips trembling and her face pale as if she'd seen a ghost.
Sighing, Conrad leaned forward and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her hair. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here," he murmured.
As dawn broke, painting the sky in soft hues, Serena quietly watched the man sleeping beside her. He was handsome even in sleep, his posture elegant and his features perfectly sculpted.
She took out her phone, snapped a picture of his face, and sent it to Annika.
***

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