< Sera’s Story 1
Sera’s Story 1
“I’m here to file for an immigrant visa,” said Sera Stone. She handed all the information she had prepared to the immigration officer.
The officer stamped the documents efficiently, then handed Sera a receipt.“Ma’am, your paperwork will be processed in fifteen days. Please wait patiently.”
Sera nodded, turning to leave. She heard the officers whispering behind her.
“Am I seeing things? Mrs. Stone? Why is she immigrating? She had a big fight with Mr. Stone?”
“A fight and then she decided to emigrate?! Everyone knows how much her husband loves her. What could possibly make her leave?”
“You tell me! Five years ago, their wedding was the talk of the town- even I heard about it. Three years ago, Mrs. Stone had a terrible car accident, and Mr. Stone gave her all the blood he could, against the odds. Last year, she just disappeared for an hour, and he had the entire media searching for her globally.
really leaving? Mr. Stone is SO going to lose it…”
Is she
There was a bitter, mocking smile on Sera’s lips.
Everyone knew how much Julian adored her.
The CEO of Stone Industries, Julian Stone, was a legend: decisive and aggressive in business, cold and aloof in his private life. Women were warned to stay at least ten feet away from him.
Things changed when he met Sear at a charity gala. He fell in love with her at first sight and started pursuing her with lavish gifts–mansions, sports cars, jewelry, and so on. He’d even lit up the sky with fireworks for three nights straight to proclaim his love. Once, she mentioned a certain discontinued type of chocolate, and he drove through a blizzard, across three states, to get her that. When he was back with the chocolate, he was soaked through.
It was the day her parents died in a car accident that she decided to be with him.
At that time, he was in Montana, closing a billion–dollar deal. Hearing what had happened to her parents, he dropped everything and flown back. When he arrived, he was disheveled and red–eyed, but he held her close, whispering, “Sera, baby, you still have me. I’ll always be here for you.”
Her heart melted. He must be the one.
But three months ago, he broke her heart by cheating on her with his best friend’s younger sister, Chloe, who was staying at their house. Evidence of their affair littered their mansion–the sofa, the kitchen counter, the bed…everywhere. Julian thought he was hiding it well, but secrets rarely stayed buried.
The discovery had been a gut–wrenching wave of pain. Finally, she accepted the brutal truth and decided to leave. The Stone family had a long history of military service, which meant no Stone could leave the country, including Julian. If she left the country, he’d never find her.
She tucked the documents away, hailed a cab, and headed back to their mansion.
The scent of heather hit her as she walked through the front door.
Julian and Chloe, who were hanging decorations on the wall, turned. Julian froze, then a warm smile spread across his face. He took her hand. “Sweetheart, why don’t you bundle up? You’ll catch a chill. I thought you were out with your friends, and I was trying to get you a surprise!” A surprise?
Sera looked at him, her gaze lingering on the hickeys on his neck. Her eyelashes fluttered as she fought back the tears. Chloe giggled, stepping forward.“Sera, Julian cares about you so much! It’s for the anniversary of your first meeting…” She paused for dramatic effect, gesturing to a mountain of gifts.“Look at all these presents!”
Sera scanned the presents, landing her eyes on a soaked stain on the sofa.
The heather scent and this… it all made sense.
Love?
Julian’s love apparently involved having wild sex on the sofa with Chloe, leaving a trace as a testament to their affair, while simultaneously dirtied the presents for her.
A searing pain ripped through Sera.
Julian didn’t notice her distress. He fastened a diamond necklace around her neck, his voice dripping with honeyed affection. “Happy anniversary, my love. I’ve also arranged a romantic dinner.”
Sera trembled. “I don’t feel well. I… I can’t eat.” Every second spent with him was agony. She’d made it clear from the start that she had zero tolerance for infidelity. Why would he betray her after she finally fell in love with him?
Julian panicked. He summoned a phalanx of doctors and dispatched his assistant to buy every tonic and supplement known to man. Then, he
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< Sera’s Story 1
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personally made her a glass of warm milk and attempted to coax her to sleep.
Finally, after hours of efforts, he succeeded. But Sera woke up thirsty in the middle of the night. As she opened her bedroom door, she froze.
The door to the guest room stood ajar, revealing Julian and Chloe entwined in bed, bathed in moonlight. “That necklace is worth millions, and I’ve always wanted it. But you gave it to Sera without a second thought,” Chloe pouted, still clinging to Julian.
Julian frowned, sitting up and lighting
a cigarette.“Chloe, know your place. I only love Sera.”
“Our relationship must be a secret. If she finds out, we’re done.”
Chloe’s face paled. She hugged him, whimpering, “I know you love Sera, but I love you too.
too. I’m just a little jealous.” Julian didn’t answer. He took out another necklace–identical to Sera’s, but a different color–from his drawer.
“Poor girl. I got you one too,
but you can only wear it in secret. If she finds out, it’s over.” Chloe’s eyes lit up. She held the necklace against her neck.
“Thank you, Julian! I knew you still cared about me! You’re really scared of Sera leaving you, aren’t you?” Without hesitation, he nodded. Then he pulled her back down, starting another round of sex. The bed shook under their movements, Chloe’s moans echoing in the night. Sera, watching from the hallway, wept silently, staring at their wedding photo on the wall. Fifteen days, Julian. Only fifteen days left.
