Throughout the meal, Christan was unusually lively-he constantly engaged in conversation and made Serena laugh several times.
He had always hated social dinners.
Whenever he could skip one, he would. And when he couldn't, he usually sat there stone-faced.
But Grandpa Bryan, with his experience, immediately noticed his grandson's odd behavior.
After dinner, he excused himself, saying he was tired, and left early, giving Christan and Serena some private time.
Serena had drunk a bit and was now slightly tipsy.
Christan walked over, took hold of her wheelchair, and wheeled her to the window.
Outside, moonlight spilled across the treetops in a silver glow.
Looking at the glistening leaves, he asked in a deep voice, "What exactly is your relationship with Xavier?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "Why are you suddenly asking that?"
"I just want to know... If you and he aren't officially together yet... I..."
He hesitated.
Serena looked up curiously. "You what? Want to fight for your sister Celia and get me away from Xavier?"
"No." He shook his head and chuckled self-mockingly. "I... I want to pursue you."
"Huh?!" Thinking the alcohol had muddled her hearing, Serena instinctively looked up and stared at him.
Christan's lips curled into a self-mocking smile. "You must think this is strange, right?"
Serena didn't reply, but her silence was an answer.
"Not just you-I think it's strange too! For the first time in my life, I've realized what it feels like to like someone. When I see you, I can't help wanting to be closer. When I don't see you, I keep thinking about you for no reason. And when I saw you with Xavier, I felt this uncontrollable sadness and anger."
"But... didn't you always hate me?"
"I did, in the beginning," Christan said, sticking his hands into his pockets and tilting his head slightly as he looked out the window.
His profile, elegant and refined, paired with his tall figure, was like a living painting of grace and poise.
"Back then, when my sister confessed to Xavier and he didn't respond at all, I looked into it and found out the person in his heart was you. I won't lie-I felt hostility toward you. But I don't know when it changed. That hostility slowly turned into a strange, unfamiliar emotion."
Serena lowered her head and said softly, "I've never thought there was anything special about me. You have so many admirers, why would you..."
"Maybe it started that first time I met you-when you called the police to arrest me," he said. "That day, I thought, this girl's got guts! Most women can't wait to throw themselves at me, but you wouldn't even spare me a glance. You really left an impression."
"Then later, by a twist of fate, at my villa, you painted your face black. I didn't know the 'Miss Knowles' I was supposed to meet was you. When we spoke by the river, a thought suddenly popped into my head: 'Her last name is Knowles. If only she were Serena...'"
"..."
Christan went on talking slowly and steadily.
Serena didn't respond much-she just sat and listened quietly.
After a long while, he finally stopped and turned to look at her, his gaze as calm and gentle as the moonlight outside.
"I finally said everything I wanted to tell you. I feel much lighter now."
Serena felt a mix of emotions. All this time, she had thought Christan hated her. She never imagined that beneath that 'hatred' was something so deep.
After a pause, carefully choosing her words, she softly said, "I... I'm sorry..."
Christan seemed unsurprised. "You don't need to apologize. Before I told you any of this, I already prepared myself for rejection. I never expected you to accept my feelings. After all, Xavier is such an outstanding man, and he's loved you for so much longer and knows you so well. If I were you, I'd choose him too."
"Maybe it's because I realized the girl Grandpa wanted to introduce to me was actually you, and I just thought-why not give it a shot? Regardless of your answer, I didn't want to have regrets."
Serena nodded and looked up at him.
Her gaze was sincere. "Christan, thank you for liking me. Honestly, I never found you annoying. On the contrary, you're very charming. But... I already have Xavier by my side."
"Oh..." He nodded, then asked, as if casually, though with a last glimmer of hope, "Do you really love him? Or... are you just staying because you don't want to disappoint his love?"
That question... Serena had never truly thought about it.
She furrowed her brows and smile, then answered with certainty, "I love him. I'm sure of it."
"Maybe... I started loving him a long, long time ago. But I was rebellious back then, and insecure. I always thought someone as dazzling as him could never really love someone like me. To avoid getting hurt, I convinced myself that his closeness and protection were burdens, and I kept trying to push him away."
"It wasn't until I went through that relationship with Clint that I realized-I'd mistaken love for friendship, and wasted so many years that should've belonged to him and me."
"Life is short. I've already let a third of it slip away. I don't want to waste any more time. I just want to be with him, no matter what."
***