The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Mr. and Mrs. Vander?

Mr. and Mrs. Vander?

“We should just let him sleep,” Serena said.

She and Silas had been trying to wake Sebastian, but the young boy only groaned and hugged his dinosaur in bed. He was even drooling in his sleep.

“You’re right,” Silas hissed. “He’s completely out of it.”

“But,” he added, “I’m hungry, and I already made dinner reservations.’

Silas turned to Leslie. “Order room service for yourself, Milo, and Clark. Get some chicken nuggets for Sebastian too, in case he wakes up.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Vander,” Leslie answered, lowering her head.

Serena shook her head. “He’s going to be mad.”

“His fault for dozing off,” Silas said, chuckling.

After that, Serena, Silas, and Alisa made their way back to the lift. They were having dinner without Sebastian.

Once at the lobby, Alisa suddenly tugged on Serena’s hand. She turned toward the hotel entrance and pointed at something… or someone. 1

When Serena looked, she saw only people passing by.

Then, for a split second, she thought she saw a figure that looked like Nathaniel Thorne.

Her heart immediately galloped, and her face paled.

But just as quickly as the thought came, the figure disappeared.

‘What am I thinking? I could be wrong,’ she muttered. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Ali, what were you trying to point at?”

Ali didn’t answer. She remained silent, her eyes sad as she searched the lobby.

“Let’s have dinner, Ali,” Serena urged. She gently pulled Alisa’s hand, but noticed that her daughter continued to look around. ‘What has gotten into Ali?’

Serena wished her daughter could be more expressive, but Alisa was… different.

They made it to the hotel’s main restaurant and settled in.

***

Nathaniel ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, struggling to catch his breath as he frantically searched outside the hotel entrance. He and Gavin had looked everywhere, but he still couldn’t find her.

“Serena, where are you?” he muttered.

It was already dark. More than half an hour had passed since Gavin last saw Serena. After searching for her for more than four years, was he going to lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

He returned to the hotel and asked the front desk, “Miss, have you seen a woman with long, wavy, light brown hair, very fair skin, and an angelic face?”

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“Sir, there are many beautiful women here tonight. Can you be more specific?” the front desk attendant replied.

Nathaniel was about to show her a picture of Serena when Gavin rushed up, panting.

“Sir.” Gavin pointed behind him.

Gavin took a deep breath and tried again. “I”

“Mr. Thorne, I-”

“Restaurant.”

“…another man.”

“Will you speak properly!” Nathaniel snapped, unable to keep his composure.

Gavin shook himself and finally said, “Miss Kline is having dinner at the main restaurant. She’s intimately close. with another man… and a child.”

Nathaniel’s gaze darkened. He was ready to march toward the restaurant when Gavin stopped him. “Sir, be prepared. Miss Kline isn’t dining with just any man.”

Nathaniel’s brows knit together.

“What do you mean?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“Miss Kline is with the CEO of VanderMed Technologies, Mr. Silas Vander,” Gavin revealed.

The news landed like a blow.

Nathaniel stood rooted in place, his body slow to respond even as his mind screamed at him to move.

Seconds later, he forced his legs to walk.

Through the glass walls of the main restaurant, he saw her.

Serena.

It truly was her.

After years of searching, she was finally right there, within his reach.

The last time he had seen her, she looked worn down.

But the woman before him left him momentarily unsteady.

Serena was smiling.

It was the kind of smile he had longed to see again.

She looked confident as she spoke to the man beside her. Her eyes gleamed with life, and her skin was radiant.

The realization struck him all at once… Serena had… flourished without him.

“Sir, I’m sure of it. I rechecked VanderMed Technologies’ profile,” Gavin said beside him, holding out his phone. “That man with Miss Kline is indeed Silas Vander.”

Nathaniel gulped. He had already seen Silas Vander in photos, so he was also certain this was the man next to

Serena.

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Then his gaze shifted to the little girl seated between them.

It hit him.

That girl was Ali, the same little girl he had just connected with.

His chest constricted painfully.

‘No wonder Ali looked so much like Serena. She could be… her daughter.

With that man? Silas Vander? His hands balled into fists. ‘No. Please, no. God, no.’

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