Game Over No Second Chances

It was the first time Eric had seen Hugh so quick to drop everything—all for the answer to something so trivial. He raised a brow, visibly surprised.noveldrama

The maid said, "Mrs. Larson said she's having trouble sleeping in a new bed. She heard you'd be working late tonight, so she asked me to bring you some warm milk. Also, she asked me to pass along a message."

A thoughtful glass of warm milk... That was totally Serena's style.

Hugh arched an eyebrow, motioning for the maid to set it down. "What's the message?"

"She said... if you stay with her tonight, maybe she could fall asleep."

Hugh's fingers froze on the edge of his desk. Was Serena asking him to spend the night with her?

Eric chuckled and tossed two more files in Hugh's direction.

"Looks like seeing Sarah and Cole all lovey-dovey got her jealous, huh? Still, we've got business to handle."

"She's not the jealous type," Hugh replied coldly.

Eric scoffed. "Come on. Every woman gets jealous. I heard Serena and Sarah have been going at it lately. Now, Sarah's even using her pregnancy to move into the Larson residence.

"Serena's finally back at the Larson residence, and you're buried in work. What do you think she's gonna feel? Maybe she thinks you can't even measure up to Cole —and you're embarrassing her in front of us."

"I didn't realize you had such a taste for gossip, Eric. Or that the Larson family's reputation could be earned by... sleeping your way into it." Serena's light voice drifted in from the doorway.

She stood there in a snow-white nightgown, her hair loosely tied to the side, a few strands spilling over her chest.

Her smile wasn't quite a smile as she looked into the room and remarked, "It seems one bed really can't fit two people, huh? And here you are, Eric, whispering behind people's backs, just like Melissa. Looks like I walked in at the wrong time."

Eric's face darkened instantly. He shot Hugh a glare that said, "Control your eavesdropping wife."

But Hugh said nothing. His eyes stayed locked on Serena.

Their gazes held until she stepped fully into the room. Her sleeve brushed the table as she leaned forward, one hand resting lightly on the surface.

She looked up at Hugh, her gaze tracing the faint shadows beneath his eyes. With a gentle, teasing tone, she said, "I can't sleep without you. As for Eric's mess? He's more than capable of cleaning it up himself."

Then, she reached out and tugged lightly at his sleeve. It was bold-but not too much.

Hugh met her gaze, and beneath his shirt, the veins along his arms and neck bulged.

Was she really asking him to stay?

ét

Before either of them could speak, Eric's cold voice cut in. "Whether can handle things or not isn't for you to say. Can't you see Hugh and I are working?

"Just because your sister can order the maids around doesn't mean you've earned a place in the Larson family's business. Sarah's carrying the first Larson great-grandchild. And you, Serena? You don't have that kind of luck."

Eric had always hated women meddling in business.

And Hugh-his younger brother-still had to treat him, his elder brother, with respect. So, who was Serena to come in here with that attitude?

He was proud of being the eldest son, and he wasn't about to be outdone by Serena.

Serena's eyes turned cold. She had cared for Calvin, supported Hugh, and stayed by his side through everything. That was her duty as his ally.

But respecting a man who had created a mess and left Hugh to clean it up in the middle of the night? That wasn't her job.

She opened her mouth, ready to fire back. But Hugh gently caught her hand and stood up.

"You're right, Eric. Serena doesn't have Sarah's kind of luck. That's exactly why, as her husband, I need to take better care of her."

He paused, letting that sink in. "As

for this mess, you can handle it yourself. After all, you've just

welcomed a daughter-in-law into the family. Soon, you'll have three

generations under one roof.

"You should take on more responsibility. Earn a bit more too, so you can support

that big household. I won't fight you for work."

And with that, in the stunned silence that followed, Hugh gently wrapped an arm around Serena's waist.

His cold tone dropped to a low, husky whisper. "I'll go to bed with you."