His Innocent Sera

"You want to marry?" Ara asked, utterly stunned. Nate gave a silent nod. At a loss, she glanced at Killian, hoping for some anchor, but he looked just as surprised as her.

Inhaling a sigh, she shifted her attention to her eldest.

"Don't you think you're too young for marriage?" Ara asked, her tone soft but laced with concern. Nate looked up at her.

"Age doesn't matter, Mom, not when we're sure it's the right thing for us. I know she is the one for me. She has this calmness in her, Mom, and so much compassion.. I've never met someone like her before. She brings peace and purpose to my life. She inspires me to be a better person..." he paused, reaching for Ara's hand, his fingers lacing gently with hers as his expression softened into an earnest plea as, "Mom, You always say we should follow our hearts.....my heart leads straight to her."

Ara could only gape at him, trying to process the philosophical lines her son had just delivered. Ara groped for the right words.

"You love her?" Ara asked a moment later, staring intently into his eyes.

"I do. I love her," Nate replied, his eyes held no doubt, his confession loaded with certainty.

"You love her or you want to possess her?" Killian interrupted. Nate turned to meet his dad's sharp gaze. Killian was not convinced and completely unfazed by Nate's poetic monologue.

"I love her. And she loves me too," Nate answered, holding his gaze with unwavering conviction. Killian's eyes narrowed, doubts still lingering in them. He refused to believe Nate was in love. At his age, love is like candy, handed out to every pretty girl who smiles their way. He could swear all he wants that he was following his heart, but in reality, he was just following his cock.

"It's a phase. You'll get over it," Killian responded dismissively. A hint of frustration clouded Nate's countenance at his conclusion.

"It's not a phase, Dad. I am certain of my feelings. I've loved her for years, and she loves me too," he countered. Killian lifted a brow. The new piece of information was intriguing.

"She loves you?" Ara asked, both confused and intrigued.

"Yes. We hid it as long as we can," he answered, keeping his face solemn. Ara took a moment to ponder over it.

"Is she even 18? I don't thin..'

"She turned 18 a few days back," Nate cut in, a hint of hope flickering in his eyes.

Ara's expression eased into motherly concern as she coached, "Honey, I understand your feelings. But marriage isn't some game you play until you get bored. It's a lifetime commitment. It's a serious, lasting promise." She added, "Maybe, wait for a few years more?"

A hint of disapproval flickered across his countenance.

"But why wait when we know this is what we want? I wish to honor our relationship, Mom. I want to do right by her," he said.

"Enough," Killian cut in, "...there will be no marriage. Your only priority right now is your training," Killian commanded, having had enough of Nate's childish tantrums. His command was followed by a stretch of silence. Nate's jaw tightened, the muscles ticking ever so slightly as he withdrew his hands from her lap and dropped them to his sides. His fingers curled into clenching fists. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to manipulate them, but he had no choice now. If doing wrong meant she would be his, then so be it.

"She deserves better than being mistreated in her own home. I want to marry her now because I want to get her out of the family who doesn't care about her

existence," he explained. Ara frowned just like he had expected.noveldrama

"They don't care about her existence?" she asked, perplexed.

"She is adopted..

more like she

was imposed on them by Gloria's father. She is his illegitimate child, Nate revealed, watching as

his mother's face. It was low of him to play this piece of information to his advantage, but he had no remorse. He was willing to stoop even lower, do the worst possible thing only to get her. No force-no morality or fear of God-was strong enough to stop him now.

sympathy slowly bloom as net

"Oohh," Ara responded. She asked if Sera knew about it, to which Nate disclosed

she was still oblivious to the truth and it was Gloria who revealed it to Gigi.

"Her life is hell there. I need to get her out, and this is the only way," Nate persisted.

"I'll talk to Franklin," Killian said.

"Like that's going to change anything. They don't like her. She is just a burden for them, nothing more. Besides, I am afraid, he'll vent his frustration on her if you touch the topic. I don't want her to know about this," Nate answered. The couple was still not able to wrap their minds around the fact that his son was in love; that too with Sera -the girl so quiet it was easy to miss her entirely in a crowded room.

Ara liked Sera. The girl possessed a good nature and had a kind heart. In all honesty, no one would be happier than her if his son ended up marrying her. Nate couldn't have chosen better. But her happiness or his choice didn't matter here. The only happiness that mattered was Sera's.

"I'm going to marry her anyway. I just want to do it with your blessing, not behind your back," Nate said.

Ara glanced at Killian before heaving a sigh.

"We'll have to talk to Sera first," she replied, still a bit unsure. Killian rose to his feet and walked away.

Ara got up and followed Killian out. As soon as they left, Nate's mouth curved into a sly smirk.

Sera hadn't left her house since the trip. The gruesome sight of Nate plunging the knife into Giovanni's body kept haunting her. She was shaken to the point that even the mere sight of a knife was enough to send panic shooting through her. How easily he snuffed a life that wasn't his to take. Nate had crossed all limits of humanity. He was diabolical, the lowest of low. She hated him with every core of her being. He hadn't messaged or called her after dropping her home, and she was grateful for that. She didn't want him to contact her ever again.

Hovering on the edge of slumberness, a sudden knock on her door, scared the shit out of her. She bolted upright; her alarmed eyes waited for the door to open. Mr. Diaz opened the door, causing a wave of relief to wash over her. She ached to race into his arms and tell him everything, to confess how Nate was tormenting her, how she felt like she was drowning. She moved by instinct but resisted. She doubted he would like it. He had never hugged her.

"Serranos have invited us over for dinner. Get ready, we are going in 10," Franklin told her. At the mention of their name, a sharp, electric jolt of dread shot through

her, her stomach coiling tight.

"I..I don't want to go," Sera replied.

"They've asked for all of us. Get ready in 10," Franklin commanded before closing

the door.

She couldn't help but feel anxiety constricting her throat. Serranos had never invited them for dinner like this before. Why now?