The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83 Seven Words in One Hour

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Chapter 83: Seven Words In One Hour

Seven Words In One Hour.

Serena wanted to bathe and sleep for a while. She meant to let Leslie watch over Ali, but as she helped her daughter unpack the bags of treats, her chest tightened.

Inside was a whole wheat sourdough loaf and a pack of her favorite French butter.

Her simple… guilty pleasure.

Serena gasped. When her smile betrayed her, she frowned again.

Nathaniel knew her too well.

She was a sucker for expensive butter and toast. Even if she had the same brand back in Rexam, she couldn’t help wanting to eat it. So she quickly toasted a few slices of bread and spread butter over them.

The family suite they were in was fully equipped with kitchen appliances.

The creamy, salty, and nutty flavor of that cold butter against her warm toast made her moan.

And smile.

As for the kids, Nathaniel had gotten them dried fruits and nuts. There were also chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and puff pastry sticks.

Alisa immediately went for the pastry sticks. They were flaky, crunchy, and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.

Serena turned to her daughter as she ate. Ali was smiling too. She asked, “Do you like the snacks my friend gave you?”

Alisa turned to her and nodded. “Yes. Yummy!”

It was honestly bizarre. Alisa rarely talked, even within the family. It usually took her longer to build that kind of trust and speak to anyone, but with Nathaniel, it seemed to come easily.

The memory of Alisa and Nathaniel embracing made Serena feel regretful, and relieved at the same time. She thought that if someone could help her with Alisa’s condition, she would willingly embrace it.

Because it was never easy to raise a child with autism.

When Alisa was two years old, she hadn’t uttered a single word. Her development compared to Sebastian’s had been very different. That was what prompted Serena to have Ali evaluated by developmental doctor.

Alisa’s difficulties were not with understanding, but with expression. She processed the world carefully, sometimes too carefully, and speaking took more effort than thinking. Social cues sensory input, and even routine changes demanded regulation. Yet cognitively, Alisa was sharp. The doctors had assurd Serena that Alisa was on the mild end of the spectrum, and with continued therapy, she would thrive.

But after nearly a year of treatment, Alisa’s progress had been gradual rather than dramatic,

Serena found herself wondering whether Nathaniel’s presence, that of a real father, could make a difference. Not as a miracle cure, but as another stabilizing factor in Alisa’s development, one hat no treatment plan could fully replace, 1

“Mommy, what… name?” Ali asked.

It took Serena a moment to realize that her daughter was asking about Nathaniel. She smiled and answered, “Nathan. His name is Nathan.”

Alisa smiled. Her hazel eyes sparkled, as if carving the name into or memory. “Na Na – Nate?”

A tear welled in Serena’s eyes. That was seven words in one hour sace she met Nathaniel today.

“Yeah.” Serena sniffed the tears away. “Nate will do.”

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Chapter 83 Seven Words in One Hour

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At Bianca’s mansion.

Bianca was surprised that Vanessa had come to report to her about Serena.

This was not… the Vanessa she knew.

The Vanessa Bianca had come to know was patient and understanding. But her accusations today appeared to her as a desperate outburst, poorly disguised as concern.

“You don’t need to worry about Nathan and me anymore, Vanessa Bianca said. Nathaniel had already texted her about his encounter with Vanessa at the Astoria Hotel. She already knew about the lies Vanessa said to Serena. Thus, she was being careful. “I have come to accept that Serena is truly the woman my son loves.”

Bianca hesitated over whether to tell Vanessa the truth about Serena. But for one, she was afraid of hurting Vanessa’s feelings. She thought it best to leave things as they were.

“I’m sorry my son never saw you romantically, Vanessa,” Bianca continued. “I truly had wished you would win his heart, but some things are never meant to be. I hope you find someone more suited to you.”

“And it was probably my fault that you tried to separate Nathaniel and Serena,” Bianca added. “Yes, Nathan already informed me about your meeting today. I may have encouraged you in the past, but now, I want nothing more than my son’s happiness.”

“Vanessa, what you did was wrong. Nathan told me he terminated your contract. Again, I’m sorry for that.” She took out a calling card and offered it to Vanessa. “This is a friend’s contact. She’s the general manager of Beau Cosmetics. I’ve recommended you as their brand ambassador. Call her. She’ll give you the job as a favor to me.”

“No,” Vanessa said sharply. “That’s not what I want. Bianca, I want Nathan!”

“Bianca, Serena is Victor’s daughter!” Vanessa blurted out.

“It no longer matters to me,” Bianca replied calmly. “And, she isnt Victor’s daughter. We already know this.”

The shock on Vanessa’s face was unmistakable. Her poise crumbled. Her lips trembled. “I bet she’s making that up.”

“And at this point, it truly doesn’t matter to me anymore,” Bianca said. “My son’s happiness comes first. Please, Vanessa, let this go. You don’t want to make an enemy of my son. You know how he is. If you continue down this path, even I won’t be able to protect you… because I have fully decided to support my son.”

Bianca watched as Vanessa retreated bitterly from the gates. She had no way of knowing that one day, she would come looking for Vanessa herself, for reasons she still connected to Victor Kline.

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