Chapter 11 Commit to the Act

Serena stepped forward, picked up the liquor bottle from the table, and slowly poured it into an empty glass. Her movements were graceful and composed. Now that she had Harrison's powerful backing, wasn't it only fair to flex a little? "Mr. Hood, I came here tonight to sincerely apologize. I hope you'll give me a chance to let Linden Group participate in the development project in Southport." Her voice was calm, but every word carried weight. Jeremy understood the implication immediately, and his face turned deathly pale. "Mrs. Spencer, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He slid off the couch with a loud thud and dropped to his knees. "I was blind to not have recognized who I was dealing with... I had no idea you were Mr. Spencer's wife. Please, be merciful..." Serena paused in the middle of pouring the wine. Jeremy scrambled to grab the glass. His forehead and back were drenched in cold sweat, his voice trembling. "I promise—Linden Group will have no obstacles joining the Eastside project." With that, he downed the entire drink in one gulp. Serena looked down at him from above, smiling without saying a word. Seeing her expression, he steeled himself, grabbed the entire bottle, and poured the liquor straight into his mouth. "Mrs. Spencer, I apologize." Only after he drained the whole bottle did Serena finally speak, her voice laced with ice, "I'm not the type to be generous." Jeremy's heart sank. He darted a panicked glance around the room, only to see that he was surrounded by towering bodyguards with cold, imposing stares. Pierce's sharp gaze was even more unnerving as he stood behind Serena. "Mrs. Spencer, I'm really sorry." Desperate, Jeremy raised his hand and began slapping himself across the face, hoping to earn her forgiveness. "I was scum, a disgrace. What happened last night was entirely my fault. I should never have disrespected you..." He shouldn't have brought up what happened last night. The moment he did, a dark shadow loomed over Serena's heart. If she hadn't fought back by smashing that bottle over his head or escaped that private room, Jeremy would have destroyed her. Furthermore, she would've had no way out tonight if she hadn't met Harrison and gained his powerful protection. "If I hadn't brought bodyguards with me tonight or if I weren't Harrison's wife, what would you have done to me?" Serena clenched her fists, her rage barely restrained. "Just how many women have you done this to?" Jeremy's face turned ghastly, panic seeping into his every word. "No! I swear I'll never do it again! I swear it! Mrs. Spencer, please spare me just this once..." She let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with pure disgust. "People like you don't change." He slammed his forehead to the floor, pleading over and over, "Mrs. Spencer, please forgive me. I'm very sorry..." Just then, Pierce received a message. After reading it, he stepped forward and leaned in slightly. "Mrs. Spencer, it's getting late. You should head back. We'll take care of him." Serena nodded. Even as she left the room, Jeremy's cries for mercy echoed behind her. The moment the door shut, his voice was completely cut off. A faint, mocking smile tugged at her lips as a flash of sharpness flickered through her eyes. As she stepped out of Nightshade Bar, she saw a sleek black Cayenne idled at the entrance. The rear window rolled down slowly. Harrison's chiseled, striking face came into view. "Mr. Spencer?" His gaze swept over her, calm and unreadable. Then, in a clipped tone, he said, "Get in." Without hesitation, Serena took a few steps forward, opened the door, and slid into the back seat. Once settled, she couldn't contain her curiosity. "Mr. Spencer, what are you doing here?" "I just happened to pass by." His response was brief, carrying a hint of distance. Serena didn't mind. She murmured, almost to herself, "I thought you were looking for me." At her words, Harrison's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He cleared his throat and said in a measured voice, "Actually, there's something we need to discuss." She turned slightly toward him. "What is it?" "Since we're partners and my grandmother could show up unexpectedly, you'll need to move in with me." Hearing his request, she was stunned. Move in? That meant living together daily. "But I—" "If we're putting on a show, we must commit to it." Harrison's gaze locked onto hers. "Mrs. Spencer, are you planning to back out?" Her lips parted, but in the end, she didn't refuse. Instead, she relented, "I'll move in, but can it wait until tomorrow?" Harrison nodded slightly. "I'll send someone to pick you up from the Linden residence tomorrow." "Alright." "One more thing. In a few days, there'll be a family gathering. You'll attend it with me. That night, I'll formally announce our marriage." His tone paused slightly, and a trace of solemnity flashed through his eyes. "But the Spencer family is deeply intertwined with a complex network of people. You must be fully prepared and ensure no one sees through any flaws." Serena listened carefully, then nodded. "I understand."