The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 32

**Chapter 32: An Attack?**

Serena stirred from her restless slumber, her heart heavy with the weight of recent events. The world felt suffocating, as if each breath was a laborious task.

Eating had become a chore, and even in her dreams, she was haunted by the horrific image of Alice’s car plummeting from the bridge, an image that felt all too real.

Yet amidst the turmoil, there was a flicker of hope—her pregnancy. It was the only thing anchoring her to the present, a small life growing inside her that demanded care and attention.

As she reached for her phone, she noticed the time: eight o’clock in the morning. A few messages from Lena Hartley caught her eye, and she read through them with a mix of anxiety and gratitude:

[Serena, you should just stay at Alice’s apartment and rest. Take care of yourself. I know you are pregnant, and we don’t intend to tell Nathan. It’s between you and him. But he doesn’t seem so bad. He seems to really care about you. I wish you could patch things up.]

[Bernard and I are headed to Riverbend Point to get updates. We heard that Nathaniel’s assistant had left to return to Velmon, so we are hoping to supervise the search in Gavin’s place.]

Her fingers trembled as she typed a response: [Please, take care, Aunt.]

The aroma wafting from the kitchen confirmed Nathaniel’s presence. He was cooking, and the rich smell of bacon and pancakes filled the air, stirring a mix of emotions within her.

Nathaniel… cooking? The very thought baffled her. Was it sympathy for the Hartleys that drove him to this? Or was it guilt that pushed him to take on such domestic tasks? Serena knew she would never find the answers, for the truth was, she was too afraid to ask.

After a quick shower, she dressed and stepped into the living room, where she immediately caught the sound of Gavin’s voice.

It seemed he had arrived while she was busy preparing herself.

“Sir, the authorities managed to retrieve Miss Hartley’s dashcam, and thankfully, it was unharmed. The camera was waterproof,” Gavin informed Nathaniel, his tone serious. “If you look closely, it appears the car approaching her was deliberately aiming for her. The driver didn’t slow down upon realizing they were in the same lane. In fact, he accelerated.”

“This could very well be… an attack against Alice,” Gavin concluded, his words hanging ominously in the air.

Serena felt a sharp gasp escape her lips as the implication of Gavin’s words sank in. Nathaniel echoed her shock, “An attack? Who would want to harm Alice? I need to ask Serena; she might have some insight.”

Panic gripped her. Memories of the confrontation with the laboratory supervisor at Grand Mercy Hospital flooded her mind. What if this incident was somehow connected to her quest for a paternity test?

Before she could spiral further into her thoughts, Gavin interrupted, “Sir, your mom has been trying to reach you. What should I tell her?”

“Just say I had a sudden business trip. I texted her about it,” Nathaniel replied, a hint of frustration in his voice. “Tell her I’ll be home in a couple of hours.”

“Understood, Sir,” Gavin responded, his tone professional.

As footsteps echoed in the hallway, Serena made her way toward the kitchen, where she unexpectedly crossed paths with Gavin.

He offered her a faint smile. “Miss Kline, you look a bit better today. I hope you managed to get some rest.”

“I’ve had better nights, but thank you, Gavin,” she replied, unable to muster a smile in return.

“I’m truly sorry, Miss Kline. Please know we are doing everything in our power to locate Alice,” he assured her before leaving.

Determined, Serena sought out Nathaniel. The moment their eyes locked, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, reminding her of simpler times when they would share moments like this—Nathaniel cooking while she watched him, lost in thought.

Her heart tightened, but she inhaled deeply, trying to calm the storm within.

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