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He followed her, just in time to see her bump into Acheron Simonides.

Goddamn it to hell, Willem thought numbly as he slowed down. It had to be him. It just had to be. He watched the Greek billionaire place a hand at the small of her back and had the monstrous urge to launch himself at the other man and beat him into a bloody pulp.

The Greek billionaire bent his head, murmuring in a low voice to Serenity, before slowly curving an arm around her waist. As Willem neared them, the two faced him, presenting a united front even though it was only Serenity’s Greek boss who met his gaze head on.

Fuck you, Acheron Simonides,Willem thought even as jealousy threatened to cripple his heart.

He came to a stop in front of them, and he said quietly, “Sere.”

He watched her shudder at the sound of his pet name for her, but she didn’t look up.

“Look at me, Sere.” This time, he spoke in a command.

And just when he thought she would no longer obey him, Serenity slowly raised her head. The sight of her glassy gaze kicked him in the guts, and swallowing, he said hoarsely, “I’m sorry.” He had to apologize, even if he had no fucking idea what her sister was doing at the same ball. He had to apologize because no matter how much he wanted to turn back time and date only one Raleigh sister – date the only one who was meant to own his heart – he could not.

He could only love her, for as long as he existed, and hope that it was enough.

Serenity saw the pain etched so deeply in the billionaire’s face and wondered if it was true. She was left dazed and reeling by the wrenching agony that struck her at the sight of her sister, and now she no longer knew what to believe.

What if it was just the same thing all over again?

What if it was all an elaborate prank?

The first time she had given the billionaire her heart, he had accepted her resignation and allowed her to walk out of his life.

The first time she had given the billionaire her body, he had gone to her sister and walked away even when she had begged him to stay.

How did one know what was true?

“Sere.”

She wanted to weep at how her heart strained at the sound of his voice. Even now, when he might still be acting, her body sang at his presence, and her whole world continued to revolve around him.

She whispered brokenly, “I’m so tired.”

Willem sucked his breath in at the sound of defeat clinging to her voice. For one terrifying moment, panic ate at him as he considered a life without Serenity by his side. What if she never believed him? What if too much had happened for Serenity to ever trust and love him—-

No.

Shoving all thoughts of doubts and self-pity away, the billionaire focused his attention on the girl he loved. “Listen to me, my love.” He didn’t give a damn about the crowd growing around them, guests who had foregone registering and proceeding to the fundraising ball in order to enjoy the spectacle of having two European billionaires possibly fight over a nineteen-year-old girl.

“I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not true. I love you, you see, and you love me, and that’s why I only have to take one look at you to know what’s wrong.” Something flickered in her gaze, and he told himself that was a good sign. “I have no idea why your sister is here. My best bet is she knows my schedule well enough to know the right people to ask, and because most people assume she’s still part of my life, they were rather free in giving her information.” He paused, a muscle ticking in his jaw at the way the Greek billionaire’s arm remained around his woman’s waist. Swallowing past his rage, he continued evenly, “The point is, I never invited her, and I do not ever plan to make her a part of my life. She’s the past, Sere. You are my present and my future.”

But Serenity only looked at him, and when she actually started to lean towards her Greek boss, Willem gritted out, “Don’t.”

She jerked at the snap in his voice, but he didn’t apologize for it. He knew she felt tired and weak, but goddammit, how long did she think he could last, seeing her in another man’s arms?

“You have to choose to trust me sometime,engel—-”

“Don’t call me that!” Her tone was violent.

“Why not?” he charged back just as violently. “Because your bitch of a sister fed you lies about the two of us?” He shook his head in impotent frustration and rage. “She lied,Serenity. By now, you should know and understand as well as I do that your sister’s a pathological liar. I can prove it to you, but before I can do that, youneedto trust me. You need to choose to love me again or there’s not—-”

“Don’t let him pressure you,” Acheron interrupted coldly. This time, he had no ulterior motive, no intention to seduce his intern into falling into his bed. This time, he only had to look at Serenity to know that only someone so in love could be this hurt. Even so, he would not simply stand back and do nothing. He wanted Serenity to know that she had a choice, and that she could leave this place with him and with her pride intact.

Willem’s blue eyes glittered as he gazed at the Greek billionaire. “Fuck off.”

“Not when I see you think you can actually get away with fucking two sisters by using pretty words.”