The Alpha Who Never Loved Me (Serena and Kieran) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Kieran

€

+8 Bonus

Trevor wasn’t finished.

“Jenna told me Serena cut herself.” His words brought my memory to that night. She had pressed the knife against her skin and I could tell that there was no trace of me in her eyes. She was doing it because she wanted to.

But I couldn’t understand why.

“And you didn’t flinch.” He continued.

I rubbed my forehead. A headache was building behind my left eye.

My sister really didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.

“You’ve been calling Serena dramatic,” Trevor went on. “Reckless and spoiled. But she’s not the same woman you married, Kieran. She’s better, she is not the princess you keep treating her as.”

I thought about that longer than I should have. 11:19

< Chapter 29

Trevor wasn’t wrong. Serena had changed since our wedding. She’d grown quieter and more patient. She gave more than she took and expected nothing in return.

But she was still stubborn and still very impulsive. I didn’t believe she would ever change that.

I went back to Sophie’s room and saw she was already

awake.

The housekeeper stood by the window, straightening a vase of flowers she’d brought from the house. I stopped in the doorway.

“Write down your account details.”

She turned, confusion pulling at her face. “Sir?”

“I’ll transfer three months’ salary. You’re done.”

Her mouth opened. “What did I do wrong? I’ve been loyal

to-”

“This isn’t a discussion.” I walked past her to the chair beside Sophie’s bed. “Leave your details with reception. Don’t come back.”

11:19

< Chapter 29

She begged then looked at Sophie for help, then at me,

then back at Sophie. Nobody gave her a second chance. She gathered her bag and left.

The room went quiet.

Sophie spoke first. “Mrs. Thawthorne made a scene today.” She was staring at the ceiling, her voice thin. “She told people that you and I were married.” She turned her head toward me. “Would you at least let me explain things to her? If she understood the truth-”

“No.”

“But she works in this hospital. If she sees you here taking care of me, she’ll lose it again.” Sophie pressed her lips together. “Maybe you should stop coming and hire a caregiver instead.”

I didn’t respond to that.

“I owe you an apology,” I said. “For Jenna, for my wife and for the damage to your house. I’ll have it repaired and I’ll talk to my sister.”

Sophie nodded smiling sweetly.

11:19

+8 Bonus

< Chapter 29

“And Sophie.” I waited until she met my eyes. “Don’t go near my wife again. Not for a conversation or for any reason. Don’t stand in the same room as my wife.”

Her lips parted. “I was only trying to apologize.”

“It’s off the table.”

She searched my face for a long moment, then dropped her gaze. “Okay.”

This was the right move. As long as the two of them stayed apart, things would settle. Serena was proud and wouldn’t start trouble without provocation, and Sophie was quiet enough to avoid giving her any. If they never crossed paths again, this would blow over.

I finished at the hospital and drove home.

The house was dark when I pulled in. It was around nine in the evening but there were no lights in any window.

I took the stairs fast and pushed open the bedroom door.

The bed was empty.

4/9

11:19

Cora snarled. I checked the bathroom, the study, the

+8 Bonus

< Chapter 29

kitchen, but there was no figure of my wife anywhere. Then I turned the handle on the guest room.

It didn’t budge. It was locked from the inside.

My hand dropped from the knob. I leaned my back against the wall beside the door and sat on the floor.

She was here, she didn’t leave me. She’d just locked me

out.

I pulled a cigarette from my pocket, lit it, and smoked in the hallway with my head tipped back against the wall, listening to the silence on the other side of that door.

When I finished, I fished the spare key from my pocket and let myself in.

Serena was asleep. Curled on her side, knees drawn up, one hand tucked under her cheek. Her hair fanned across

the pillow and her breathing was slow.

I picked her up. She didn’t stir. Her body folded against mine on instinct, her face pressing into my neck the way she used to do before.

5/9

/ 11:19

I carried her back to our room and set her down on her

+8 Bonus

< Chapter 29

side of the bed.

Then I reached into my jacket and pulled out the case.

The bracelet was a diamond chain with sapphire crystals set into every third link. I’d seen it in a private collection two weeks ago and made the call the same night.

The night she cut herself, this was where I’d gone. Not to Sophie but to a jeweler on the other side of the city who’d

had this at the auction.

I clasped it around her wrist.

She didn’t wake.

I stood above her for a long time after that. Watching her breathe. Watching the sapphires against her skin. Then I went to the bathroom, ran the water, and let the day wash off me.

Serena

I woke up wrapped in him.

Hisarm was heavy across my waist, his chest pressed

11:19

against my back, his breath warm against my hair. Aina

+8 Bonus

< Chapter 29

was purring, content and lazy, nuzzling against Cora through the bond like nothing was wrong.

I pulled myself free and grabbed my phone from the nightstand.

It was Thursday but he was still home. He probably stayed up late taking care of Sophie and came back when he was done playing nurse.

I was setting my phone down when my eyes fell on something.

A bracelet.

Diamonds and sapphire crystals, delicate and stunning. I recognized it. I’d been flipping through a jewelry magazine yesterday during my break, and this piece had been on the feature page. It was a limited edition and apparently, it was already sold.

I hadn’t expected Kieran to be the buyer.

I reached for the clasp to take it off.

A hand shot out from behind me and closed around

wrist.

my:19

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify