CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 258: BECOMING HER SUPPORT

Each night for several days had been like this.

Many things had happened during these days, like the concert tickets were hard to get, and the new products of Hawthorne Group launched, but this time Serena wasn’t beside him.

Vera Hansen hasn’t had much activity recently; no one knows what she’s up to.

The few people from the three main players have also rarely appeared these days, except Julian Lawson was seen once, but he was in a wheelchair, seemingly having injured his leg.

Everyone wants to know what really happened, but this time the matter is particularly secretive, no matter who is asked or how the paparazzi try to sneak a snapshot, they haven’t caught anything.

No one knows what the truth is.

Serena has been home recuperating.

These days, she’s been communicating with various parties through online meetings.

With Shayla Randall’s treatment and Serena’s own cooperation, she is gradually getting better every day.

However, every night, she would wake up startled, again and again.

Day and night, she seems to be trapped in two worlds.

Though conscious, she seems to be stuck.

And this predicament, only she can walk out of it.

Thankfully, Silas Hawthorne is always by her side.

Giving her strength again and again.

That night, Serena woke up startled once more.

Instinctively, she tightened her right hand, but in the next moment, unlike usual, there was no response.

In an instant, she started to panic.

He wasn’t there.

At that moment, she couldn’t tell whether she was awake or still trapped in another looping dream.

Her heart thumped; even with the night light on, she still felt enveloped in darkness.

"Serena."

Silas Hawthorne, who had just gone to the bathroom, quickly came over.

"I’m here," he said, explaining, "I just went to the bathroom, sorry."

Then he once again held her hand.

At the moment he held her hand, her panic slowly dissipated.

She looked at Silas beside her, who remained seated in the chair he usually sat in at night.

The nights of companionship caused his eyes to become bloodshot.

His gaze toward her was filled with concern.

He held her hand with warmth and dryness, giving her a sense of security.

Confirming she is at Hawthorne Manor, in reality, safe.

He seems to have become her heart’s anchor to differentiate between reality and dream.

Serena then realized how she had unknowingly relied so much on him.

"Serena?" Silas looked at her, a bit worried.

He often communicates with Shayla Randall and the family doctor.

Serena’s scratches are mainly superficial, so scabs have formed over the past few days, gradually healing. Only the wrist injury is deeper and may take longer; other than that, she’s in decent health.

The main concerns were issues identified during communication with Shayla Randall.

The dreams are a reflection of Serena’s entrapment, which she needs to truly overcome.

But now, figuring out how to truly overcome it still needs thought.

"Are you okay?" Silas held her face, asking worriedly, "Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Serena shook her head, reached out, and gently touched Silas’s face.

"You’ve become quite haggard," Serena said softly.

Silas held her hand, smiled lightly, indicating it was nothing.

"If you’re really worried, let the caretakers or maids watch over me," Serena suggested.

But Silas still shook his head.

Failing to find out that Julian Lawson took her away in time, not retrieving her immediately, allowing her to get hurt, he already felt regret.

He wasn’t willing to let go of her hand during her most vulnerable times.

Silas looked at Serena.

Actually, the incident that day was not just her psychological wound or her nightmare; it was his as well.

Regret, self-blame.

It was all about to crush him.

Exiled to the sea in his teens, he witnessed and experienced too much; expanding influence over the seas was not easy, he’d often seen life and death.

Countless died before him; even he himself almost died.

After going through all that, he thought he would be unfazed, yet this time, he was still afraid.

Not afraid of Julian Lawson having a relationship with her; in the apartment that day, he was more heartbroken for her.

She had been with Julian Lawson for seven years; they even had a child before. He knew full well what happened between them, he was jealous of it all.

He’s afraid she might destroy herself, afraid she might vanish from this world.

He can’t imagine if that happened.

If it did actually happen... he didn’t know what he would become.

Perhaps crazier than Julian Lawson.

Silas held Serena’s hand tightly; his eyes slightly red, voice hoarse and humble: "Give me a chance, let me stay by your side, okay?"

Serena’s heart fluttered gently.

She could feel his emotions.

Understand his intentions.

In the dim lamp light, he seemed drastically different from the always strategizing Silas Hawthorne in the day.

Now, he looked humble and dejected, with a trace of almost imperceptible gloom.

Like a kind of sick, calm madness.

Serena looked at him, seemingly seeing another side of him.

Finally, she said, "Okay."

Then, she shifted inward.

The room Silas prepared for her was spacious, the bed comfortable.

Serena made space on one side of the bed, looking at him.

She didn’t say anything, but Silas understood her meaning.

This was the space she saved for him.

He looked at her with surprise.

Serena lowered her eyes slightly, without speaking.

Just held his hand tighter.

The other side of the bed sunk slightly as Silas lay down.

Still holding her hand tightly.

He tucked her in, tidied her fallen hair, and smiled at her.

"Sleep," he said softly.

Serena nodded, slowly falling asleep.

But soon, she woke up startled again.

Silas gently patted her back, softly comforting her.

Seeing her not resisting, he hesitated briefly, then reached over and embraced her waist.

Serena’s body stiffened slightly, she looked up at him.

"It’s me, Silas Hawthorne," he said.

Only then did Serena slowly relax.

Seeing her not resisting much, Silas applied a bit of force with his hands, pulling her into his arms.

Feeling her body’s stiffness, he gently patted her back, patiently soothing.

Gradually, Serena relaxed again.

Then he watched her lean into his embrace, slowly fall asleep.

The night lamp’s dim light elongated their cuddling shadows, projecting onto the wall.

Looking warm.

Silas watched her sleep peacefully in his arms, his heart soothed, and he gently closed his eyes.