After that day, Serena truly stopped appearing before me. I no longer thought about revenge either. Dominic and Serena — let them be.
I chose a day to visit Clearwater Temple. My mother's ashes were kept there. I worried that after I was gone, no one would come to light incense for her, so I came to retrieve the urn.
Just as I took it out, heavy rain began to pour outside. Then I heard a voice that made me uncomfortable.
"Serena, the abbot's sandalwood prayer beads aren't given out easily. Maybe we should just forget it. Even if the master said you'll have bad luck this year, just being careful should be enough. Besides, if you want to get them for me, you'd have to kowtow up all ninety-nine steps without stopping in between. It's really not worth it."
Dominic held Serena's hand, his expression full of concern, but his eyes clearly sparkled with anticipation.
Serena's gaze was gentle yet resolute. "As long as I can protect you for the rest of your life, I can pay any price."
With that, she immediately knelt and began kowtowing. She had only bowed up a few steps when she looked up and saw me with my ice-cold gaze, my face completely expressionless. Serena felt inexplicably uneasy, but still greeted me with a blank face and a respectful bow.
"First young master."
I acted as though I didn't see her, didn't even ask why she was here, and continued walking down as if she were nothing but air. As we brushed past each other, Serena's heart clenched uncomfortably, and she tightly clenched her fists with restraint. She gritted her teeth and continued her devout kowtowing.
Dominic smiled provocatively and blocked my path. "Julian, do you see? Whether it's your things or the people around you, as long as I want them, I can take them all."
I half-lidded my eyes and smiled faintly. "Then I should thank you. Otherwise I'd be worrying about how to dispose of all this garbage. Luckily, you love picking up the things I don't want."
Dominic's innocent smile immediately twisted. He suddenly reached out and snatched the box from my hands, throwing it straight down the steps.
"You and your cheap excuse of a mother are both equally disgusting. Everyone hates you both. Why don't you just die? You should have died with her."
My face went pale with shock, and despite standing on the steep, narrow steps, I desperately lunged after it. I was still a step too late. The ashes scattered everywhere. I lost my balance and tumbled down as well.
My whole body felt like my bones were being crushed. I rolled down dozens of steps before finally stopping. My head slammed hard against a nearby stone. Blood stained my vision red.
Dominic walked over to me triumphantly, looking down at me from above. If Serena had just turned around, she would have seen him. Dominic, who usually looked like an angel, now had a twisted expression on his face as he trampled on my mother's scattered ashes.
I grabbed the hem of Dominic's pants, my voice furious. "Dominic Langford, you'd better pray you never fall into my hands."
Dominic blinked, then maliciously raised his foot and stomped down hard on my hand. I couldn't help but tremble all over, screaming in agony.
Serena's kowtowing figure paused for a moment. She had clearly heard my agonized screams, but she still didn't turn around. Because if she wanted to sincerely pray for Dominic's blessings, this ritual couldn't be interrupted.
In the end, nothing came of this incident. All Dominic had to do was make his eyes red with tears, and the whole world would believe him. To prevent me from going crazy and hurting him, my father even arranged for Dominic to live elsewhere. Serena went with him.
But encounters were still unavoidable. Among the wealthy elite of the capital, the annual yacht party was something everyone attended. My father brought me along while threatening me.
"Julian, I'm warning you. Don't cause any trouble. You have a nine o'clock flight tonight to Harbor City. Once you land, I'll transfer the shares to you. This is just a meal. You're leaving soon anyway. I just want you to behave."
I answered with rare patience. "Fine. Tonight I do plan to behave. But once those shares are mine, I make no promises."
The moment we arrived at the party, Serena immediately positioned herself in front of the pitiful, pitiful Dominic.
My body was still wounded, but I maintained my proudest posture. I swirled the red wine in my hand, my lips curving into a mocking smile. "Changed masters so quickly. Looks like from now on, when you're with Dominic, you'll definitely be devoted. Body and soul?"
Serena thought I was unhappy, deliberately being sarcastic, and paid it no mind. She simply replied politely, "The first young master flatters me. I am your bodyguard. I can only be devoted to you alone."
I laughed coldly out loud and walked away. I was still limping slightly. Serena was about to follow, but Dominic tugged at her sleeve, saying shakily, "Serena, I'm so scared today. I'm afraid he'll get angry. Can you stay with me?"
Serena immediately nodded in agreement. But for some reason, my arrogant and defiant yet battered and frail figure kept appearing in her mind.
I leaned against the railing, enjoying the sea breeze, counting down the time until I could leave. Three more hours.
Behind me came that detestable voice of Dominic's again. "Brother, you really are shameless and black-hearted. Even after all this, you're still trying to hang on."
Seeing Dominic had come alone, I instinctively turned to leave. Dominic was faster, grabbing my wrist, smiling innocently yet cruelly. "Since you don't want to leave, how about I give you a send-off?"
I was already injured, no match for Dominic at all. Before I could call for help, hatred flashed through Dominic's eyes, and he pulled me overboard into the sea.
Serena arrived just in time to witness this. Without hesitation, she dove into the ocean.
Dominic had been calm at first, but seeing Serena arrive, he immediately panicked and cried out, "Serena, save me! I can't swim!"
But he was clearly still floating with his head above water. I was the one who truly couldn't swim, already having choked on several mouthfuls of seawater.
I watched with open eyes as Serena swam quickly toward us, pulled Dominic into her arms, and then turned to swim away. Survival instinct made me stammer out a plea for help. "I can't swim."
Serena didn't even glance at me and said coldly, "First young master, you must have forgotten. Three years ago, you made me teach you to swim. Stop pretending."
With that, she swam away with Dominic.
The freezing seawater mixed with the fear of death engulfed me. But I had forgotten all my memories of Serena. How could I possibly remember her teaching me to swim?
After choking on countless mouthfuls of seawater, feeling like I couldn't hold on any longer, about to close my eyes, I was pulled up by a pair of slender hands. In my hazy consciousness, an unfamiliar but pleasant female voice kept urging me, "Julian, don't fall asleep. Please don't fall asleep. Don't be afraid. I'll take you to Harbor City."
The moment she climbed onto the yacht, Dominic slowly regained consciousness in her arms. The commotion attracted the attention of many. Seeing more and more wealthy guests gathering around, Dominic instinctively pushed Serena away and hurried to his feet. Gone was any trace of his drowning weakness.
Serena was momentarily stunned, but didn't think much of it. Her hands hanging at her sides were still trembling, not from the cold, but from an inexplicable worry.
I had told her I couldn't swim. How could that be? My swimming technique had been personally taught by her over those three years, on par with professional athletes. Even if I fell into the ocean, I shouldn't have been drowning. Besides, when she surfaced, she had seen the rescue team going down.
Dominic noticed Serena's dazed expression and assumed his rejection just now had hurt her feelings, growing somewhat impatient. "Serena, I'm not feeling well. Let's go back first."
Serena looked at the pitch-black sea churning beneath the yacht, the unease in her heart growing stronger.