Serenity:Yes. I will meet you outside the office.

When she stepped out of the building, she rushed down the stairs only to halt at the very last step when she saw that it wasn’t just Willem’s black limousine waiting for her.

Instead of the chauffeur waiting to open the door for her, it was the Dutch billionaire himself standing next to his car, his handsome face expressionless even when people around them were already talking about him.

And they were laughing at him, she realized painfully. This was Athens’ business district, and everyone obviously recognized him – and knew that he had just been snubbed.He had to know this, too, Serenity thought feverishly. So why hadn’t he just chosen to wait for her inside his car?

Her legs trembled as she made her way to him.

“Good afternoon, Serenity.” His voice was beautiful, exactly the way she remembered it. But there was no trace of anger in it at all, no trace of accusation, and she had a sudden urge to weep.

Willem de Konigh was no idiot. He had to know she was taking her revenge. He had to. So why wasn’t he saying anything about it?

Swallowing, she said tremulously, “Good afternoon, Mr. de Konigh.” Her voice caught.

The billionaire heard it, and he sucked his breath in audibly.

“God, Sere.”Suddenly, he was taking hold of her hand, and she could only let him take command as he ushered her inside the car. The moment the door closed, the billionaire reached for her. She struggled then, but he was too strong, and she was...

She was weak.

She was always weak against this man, this Dutch billionaire she still loved even as she sought to destroy him.

The billionaire succeeded in pulling her to his lap, and his arms closed around her like a cage. It should have made her feel trapped, but it only made her feel like she was home, and the realization made her want to weep even more.

She felt the billionaire’s lips graze her forehead. “Sere.”

She shuddered at the sound of her pet name on his lips.

“It’s all right, Sere.” His arms tightened around her. “It’s completely all right.”

And she began to cry because she knew what he was saying, what he tried not to say directly, knowing that the actual words would hurt her more.

It was okay for her to take her revenge.

He tipped her chin up, telling her hoarsely, “We’ll take it one day at a time.”

She couldn’t answer, could only cry as both pain and guilt threatened to engulf her.

Just an act,she told herself even as she allowed the billionaire to pull her closer.

She curled up in his lap, and her eyes closed.

It’s all just an act.

Just an act.