Page 64

Book Three



















Chapter One

SIX MONTHS LATER

“He’s busy right now, but he told me we can meet up in Milan.”

The words came from Shane, her elegant drawl drifting from the hallway and into the living room, where nineteen-year-old Serenity was. Through the open door, Serenity saw her half-sister pout in front of the mirror even while on the phone. It was as if the model in Shane never rested, and every second had to be spent posing.

“I’ve got a one-night gig there. Oh, you know, the usual. They just want me to make an appearance in the newly opened club, and that’s it.Yes,totally, I agree – my value’s gone up since someone let the cat out of the bag about me and Willem marrying.”

At the mention of Willem’s name, Serenity’s fingers tightened around the edges of her book.

From the hallway, she heard Shane let out a laugh. “Oh, my goodness, you don’t know either? I thought it was an open secret.”

Serenity lowered her head.An open secret,she thought numbly. Whoever Shane was talking to, she definitely wasn’t alone in thinking that nothing serious had been going on between Willem and Shane Raleigh.

Serenity had thought the same thing, untilthat night.

From her room, Shane smiled in vicious satisfaction as she caught the flash of pain on her sister’s face through the mirror.I hope she dies in misery,Shane thought. Even now, she couldn’t see what had attracted the Dutch billionaire to Serenity. The girl was like a paler version of herself, in every way. She was a total bore, with nothing to say to anyone. How could Willem de Konigh want someone like her?

Perhaps it was her innocence, Shane thought. Even she couldn’t deny how her sister was the very picture of propriety. Maybe it was the novelty of enjoying a girl’s virginity. The thought made Shane mentally shrug. Well, there was no doubt Willem had already deflowered Serenity. She had been awake the whole time Serenity had cried out for the billionaire to wait, cried out for Willem not to leave.

Shane’s lip curled.Pathetic.It just showed how little Serenity understood men. True love was wasted on sought-after billionaires like Willem de Konigh. It was all about sexual conquests and asset protection, and Serenity was a fool to believe she would get someone like Willem de Konigh to fall for her just because he was the one to tear her hymen with his cock.

Pathetic,Shane thought again.Pathetic little idiot. I hope you stay miserable forever.

****

ROUTINES AND REGIMEShad always made Serenity feel normal. Since she was a child, she had become accustomed to strictly adhering to a fixed timetable for her day, and in the years that followed her father’s death, she had found herself drawing comfort from the repetitive patterns that shaped her days in the institution. Precise mealtimes, medication every six hours, and meetings with the counselor every Friday – everything had a place and time, and Serenity had liked it that way because it allowed hernotto think.

When she had first left Willem’s employ, it had been the same. Routines had also come to her rescue, with most of her days spent in the library and cycling around town.

But it was different now.

She had tried so very hard to create her own timetable, to find things that would occupy her mind and get her heart to start beating again. But nothing worked. The memories didn’t care about the time or place. She could be enjoying breakfast alone in the dining room. She could be in the car, listening to another one of Melanie’s scathing reprimands. She could be shopping for clothes in a nearby boutique. There was just no telling when and where it would happen.