บททั้งหมดของ The Heiress and the Four Brothers: บทที่ 81 - บทที่ 90

BECKThe day was bright, sky clear blue, and my heart was beating like my favorite song stuck on replay in my head. I wore my favorite denim jacket and waited in a living room.And when she finally showed up—with that soft smile and a midi dress that looked like it was painted straight from my dreams—I raised my hand high.“I’m driving today!” I called out, excited.Two pairs of eyes shot to me.Ace, who had been glued to his laptop, slowly lowered his glasses and stared like I’d just said I wanted to perform brain surgery on Sera with a plastic spoon. “You don’t have a license.”“I have my driving test next week,” I replied, still smiling.“Absolutely not,” he snapped. “I won’t let you take her on a date if your car still has a Student Driver sticker on it.”“That sticker is a badge of growth, Ace. Growth.”“Over my dead body.” Damon leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, like a bouncer keeping us from leaving. “Or yours. Whichever comes first.”Cal came in last, holding

BECKOur hands were getting reckless. My jacket slipped from her shoulders. My hand found her back. Her dress was thin. Too thin. God, I could feel every line of her spine, the dip of her waist.Then her lips trailed along my jaw, her body pressed to mine, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I lifted her—hands behind her thighs—and carried her to the couch, stumbling a little because my heart was pounding out of control.She laughed softly, her breath warm against my neck. Once I sat and pulled her onto my lap, she drew a slow breath, then slid the thin dress up over her head. I almost forgot how to breathe as the fabric rose and slipped off, framing her body in the dim, rain-damp studio light.There was something tight in my chest—like awe and fear tangled together. She was too beautiful. Too real. Too close.My hands smoothed over her waist, up her back, down again, like they couldn’t decide which part of her I wanted more.I shook my head a little, a soft, helpless protest. My forehead

SERAAlmost two hours.Two damn hours locked inside the library, eyes glued to Blackwood Group’s internal files and Gia’s notes. My head was buzzing from the frustration piling up day after day.Albert Coleman. That name kept crawling in my mind like a parasite.Damon was lounging sideways on the long sofa, one leg kicked up on the coffee table, twirling the pen I’d been using to scribble down drafts of the company’s action plan. He didn’t say much, just threw a few teasing remarks that made me snort. But his presence kept my sanity barely intact.Only this time, I needed more than just someone there. I needed direction. Solutions. And someone who could dissect legal matters.I stood up. “I’m heading to Ace’s room for a bit.”I stepped onto the marble floor of the upstairs corridor, then stared at Ace’s door, tightly shut. Taking a long breath, I knocked twice, softly.“Come in,” came the calm voice from inside.I pushed the door open slowly and found Ace standing with his back to me,

ACEThe steps still swayed to the fading beat after the music stopped. She gave a small smile, cheeks flushed just a bit, breath slow and steady. Her hand stayed in mine, and for the first time in a long while, this room felt warm.I knew she’d leave if I let her. Like she always did—keeping that distance that pissed me off but left me powerless. But tonight felt different. And for once, I didn’t want to keep everything so damn controlled.My hand slid down to catch her fingers hanging loose by her side. I squeezed gently. “Stay.” The word came out softer than I intended. But firm, no begging, no pressure. “Tonight, just stay.”Her eyes locked on mine, full of thought, full of history, full of wounds I was done pretending didn’t matter.I swallowed and stepped closer, just half an inch away. My hand brushed her cheek slowly. “This room wasn’t mine before you walked in. So if you’re gonna leave again, at least give it one night to remember what it feels like to matter.”She didn’t say

ACETo my son, on the year you are finally expected to win. ~VivienneOf course she’d write something like that. Subtle pressure wrapped up in neat handwriting. Classic.“It’s from my mom,” I said quietly. But I didn’t open the box. For some reason, there was this odd twist in my chest, a flicker of caution.Sera was still watching me, gentle but curious. “You’re not going to open it?”I shook my head. “Later.” Then I handed the package back to Jonas. “Can you bring it up to my room?”Jonas nodded and carried them upstairs.Sera tilted her head, probably about to ask more, but before she could, Grant showed up with that particular expression that usually means something urgent.“Happy birthday, Mr. Ace,” he said with a polite smile. “I do appreciate your joy today, but I need to speak with Miss Sera. It’s important.”I nodded. “Of course.”Sera brushed her hand lightly down my arm, whispering, “I’ll catch up with you later,” before slipping away with Grant.As she left, I noticed som