Chapter 4

Serena's fingers unconsciously traced over that line of handwriting, a glint flashing in her eyes.

Even fate was on her side.

To take down Wendy, she'd already researched Zayn and the Sinclair Group inside and out.

Writing a project guarantee agreement for Sinclair Group...

She masked the emotion in her eyes and her fingers began flying across the keyboard.

During lunch break, Justin made time to wait for Serena, hoping to invite her to lunch. But when noon rolled around, she was nowhere to be seen. Unable to wait any longer, he headed to the legal department.

Standing in the doorway, he spotted her immediately. She sat alone in the empty office, eyes fixed on the screen, fingers tapping away at the keyboard.

Focused. Determined.

His expression softened involuntarily. Still...

"First day on the job and you're working through lunch?" Justin walked over, his long fingers tapping lightly on her desk.

She jumped, startled. When she looked up and saw him, her face immediately brightened into a smile.

"Mr. Wright, my supervisor assigned this work. I have to give it my all. Otherwise, how could I face you?"

Serena's playful expression stirred something in his chest.

"You're a top law school graduate. I wouldn't misjudge that."

Justin's smile deepened, but his gaze fell on the documents on her desk. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Sinclair Group's project guarantee agreement. No matter how capable Serena was, she was still new. Who would assign her something like this?

Someone was trying to sabotage her.

His expression remained neutral as he asked casually, "Who's training you?"

"Ms. White."

Serena didn't hide anything, even smiling with a touch of innocence. "She said if I do well on this project, I'll have proven myself in the legal department."

Justin had his answer, though his face betrayed nothing.

"Working hard is important, and I believe in your abilities. But..." He paused, his smile widening. "You're not using overtime as an excuse to get out of buying me dinner, are you?"

"Of course not! That's my mistake!"

Serena was willing to work hard and let her work speak for itself, but she wouldn't let herself be ground down for nothing. Mission accomplished, she went to lunch with Justin.

...

After work, Serena had just returned to the villa when she received a message from Wendy saying she wouldn't be coming home tonight.

Did that mean Zayn wouldn't be back either?

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief. After eating something simple, she curled up on the sofa with her laptop and continued battling the guarantee agreement.

It wasn't until after ten that she finally yawned and headed to her room to shower.

When Zayn returned from his business dinner, he saw soft light glowing from the villa windows. A trace of warmth spread through his chest.

He'd grown up with the Sinclair family's harsh education. Warmth had been rare. Now, thinking someone was waiting for him, his steps quickened unconsciously.

But when he pushed open the door, the room was silent. Only the laptop glowing on the coffee table, surrounded by scattered materials.

He frowned, about to investigate, when a timid voice came from behind him.

"Mr. Sinclair, I'm sorry. I'll take my things back to my room right away."

That soft voice carried with it a trace of iris fragrance that spread through his senses. Before his brain could react, his body had already turned around instinctively.

Serena had changed into modest loungewear that only revealed her pale neck. Her damp hair fell over her shoulders, inexplicably stirring something in him.

How could this be?

His brow furrowed, annoyance flashing in his eyes. His voice turned cold and hard.

"Keeping the room tidy is basic. Didn't Wendy tell you that?"

"It's my mistake."

She kept her head lowered, looking frightened.

But inside, she was calculating. Wendy must have assumed Zayn wouldn't come home tonight, which was why she went out to meet her lover. How should she guide this situation now?

"Clean it up."

That icy voice interrupted her thoughts. She efficiently gathered her things.

As Serena walked past Zayn, his body visibly stiffened, his expression darkening. But she noticed none of it, hurrying back to her room with her belongings.

He stared at her retreating figure, eyes narrowing.

Had Zayn misread the situation? Maybe she had no intention of seducing him. Maybe that early morning scene had been an accident?

But his mind kept drifting to that morning light, those pale, slender legs, the dense red marks on her neck... His abdomen tightened suddenly. In a daze, the face writhing beneath him transformed into Serena's.

Zayn cursed under his breath, downed a bottle of cold water, and returned to his study with a dark expression.

But he seemed to have overestimated his self-control.

Ever since he'd had a taste, his restraint had been deteriorating day by day.

When he returned to the master bedroom and didn't find Wendy there, he frowned and called her.

At that moment, Wendy was leaning against her lover, her face changing color when she saw the incoming call.

"Wendy, what are you looking at?" The man lifted her chin, leaning down for a messy kiss.

"Don't touch me!"

She shoved the man away roughly. Without bothering to soothe him, she grabbed her phone and rushed out of the private room, speeding back to the villa.

"Zayn~"

Her delicate face wore a sweet smile as she hurried toward Zayn.

He reached out to pull her into his arms, but the heavy perfume mixed with alcohol hit him full force, extinguishing any trace of desire.

"Don't come home this late again."

Zayn's voice was cold, his handsome face expressionless. "I still have work to do. Get some rest."

As the master bedroom door closed, Wendy wanted to tear the whole room apart.

Even though he thought they'd slept together, he still wouldn't touch her. Was Serena really that good?

She was nothing but a pawn. Once she gave birth to the child...

In her room, Serena sneezed. She rubbed her nose, pulled on a cardigan, and continued wrestling with the guarantee agreement.

After fighting through the day and night, she finally placed the completed proposal on Isla's desk before the end of the workday.

"You finished it?"

Isla's expression seemed serious, but disdain lurked in her eyes.

Someone who got in through connections—what could she possibly produce...

Before her contemptuous thoughts could fully form, she was drawn in by the content of the guarantee agreement. Her expression shifted subtly.

"You wrote this?"

"Of course." Serena smiled confidently. "Since I'm in Wright Group's legal department, I do have basic professional competence."

The guarantee agreement had been sent back multiple times before. Saying this was a blatant slap in Isla's face.

Isla slammed the agreement on her desk. "If you're so confident, then take it to Sinclair Group yourself."

Serena's expression flickered slightly.

Isla snorted. "What's wrong? Got ahead of yourself? Young people should be more humble."

So what if it was well-written? Zayn was famously picky. This guarantee agreement would inevitably get sent back anyway.

She looked at Serena mockingly, already plotting how to kick this connected graduate out and get her cousin in instead.