The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 48

**Chapter 48: Serena Vander I**

Serena Vander.

Rexam Grand Hotel.

“You know, you remind me so much of your mother,” Sterling said, his voice thick with emotion. He reached across the table, passing the butter to Serena, reminiscing, “Celine always had a soft spot for her bread and butter.”

Serena felt a rush of joy, her heart swelling as she looked around the table at her father, her mother, and her brother. It was a sight she had longed for, a reunion that felt almost surreal.

“Like mother, like daughter,” Celine chimed in, her smile brightening the room.

Then she turned her gaze to Serena’s brother, Silas. “And you, you carry that same charm as your father.”

Xavier chuckled, “Oh, the boss can be a bit indifferent at times,” he quipped, and laughter bubbled up around the table, lightening the atmosphere.

After the DNA results had confirmed their suspicions, they gathered for dinner, a meal filled with Serena’s favorite dishes. It was not just a meal; it was a celebration of newfound connections and the unveiling of a past that had been shrouded in mystery.

As she savored each bite, it became clear to her—she was indeed a Vander. The traits she shared with Celine and even Silas were undeniable.

Reflecting on her life, she realized she had always possessed a youthful appearance that set her apart from Roselind and Victor.

She observed the stark contrast between her parents and Victor. Her parents were grounded, with a sense of integrity that Victor seemed to lack. He was a man obsessed with wealth, yet devoid of the dignity and restraint that defined her family.

It was a comforting realization, yet it felt painfully overdue.

“Your real name is still Serena, but now you are a Vander. Serena Vander,” Celine said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We wanted it to resonate with mine while still honoring your father’s initials.”

Initially, a smile graced Serena’s lips, but the thought of Victor quickly darkened her expression. “How cruel of Victor to keep my name unchanged,” she murmured, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Celine and Sterling exchanged a worried glance before her father spoke up, his tone serious. “Serena, we don’t know every detail of Victor’s life, but I can tell you this: twenty-four years ago, we crossed paths with him at a business summit—the Biotech Innovation Expo. You and Silas were just a little over a year old when you were taken from us.”

Around the round table, everyone leaned in, captivated by the unfolding story.

“That Expo lasted an entire month,” Sterling explained, his brow furrowing in concentration. “There were preliminary rounds, screenings, presentations… all leading up to the final showcase.” He paused, lost in thought. “I remember Victor distinctly. He didn’t even have a company back then, yet he and his small team presented a drug concept that was polished and compelling.”

“Yes, but after Victor claimed victory, a group of university researchers accused him of pilfering their formula,” Celine added, her voice laced with concern.

“But those rumors vanished,” Sterling murmured, a shadow flickering in his green eyes.

Serena exhaled sharply, a bitter taste in her mouth. “He probably did steal it. Just like he stole Neal Collins’s drug formula. I wouldn’t be surprised if he silenced those researchers too.”

Xavier shook his head, visibly stunned. The tension in the room was palpable, and no one dared to touch their plates.

Silence enveloped them like a heavy shroud. Then, something shifted in Sterling. His posture straightened, and his expression hardened.

“And now,” he said, his voice low and intense, “everything finally makes sense.”

“Victor orchestrated your kidnapping,” Sterling continued, his voice trembling with a barely contained fury. “We were leading the summit, the favorites to win. But when you were taken—when we lost you—we withdrew. Victor won by default. If memory serves me right, that victory provided him with the investment he needed to launch his company.”

Chapter 48: Serena Vander II

Sterling’s voice grew rough around the edges. Serena could sense the difficulty they faced in recounting the past. “You have no idea how hard we fought to find you. We hired private investigators, coordinated with the police and the NBI. We offered substantial rewards, scoured every hospital, every orphanage, every province. We turned our lives upside down searching for you.”

Celine added softly, “We still don’t know where the system failed… or how someone managed to slip through the cracks.”

“The more public our search became,” Sterling continued, “the more false leads we received—hundreds, even thousands over time. It became impossible to sift through the truth. In the end… we had to search privately.”

“Honestly,” Celine whispered, “there were moments we almost lost hope. It was your brother who kept submitting DNA for matching… every chance he got.”

Silas placed a reassuring hand on Serena’s shoulder. “Now that we know you lived with the Klines all this time, I promise you—we will pursue justice. Real justice.”

“I want that. I truly do.” Serena felt her chest tighten, heat rising in her throat. “But what more can we do to him? He’s already facing life in prison, plus a civil case. There are two more criminal charges pending against him. Nathaniel ensured he would rot there.”

Sterling rested his hand firmly on the table. “Prison isn’t the end of this, Serena. Your kidnapping wasn’t orchestrated by one man alone. Victor had accomplices, and until we uncover every individual involved, justice remains incomplete.”

Celine reached out, taking Serena’s hand in hers. “But before any of that… you are our priority. You and the babies.”

A hopeful smile broke through Serena’s tears. “The first step is for you to move in with us. What do you say, Serena?”

As Celine’s warm touch enveloped her hand, a kind of warmth Serena had never experienced with Roselind Kline, a tear rolled down her cheek. “Yes, I’d love that.”

She quickly wiped her face, glancing at Xavier. “But I—I haven’t packed.”