His Innocent Sera novel Chapter 28

"Everyone thinks we are in a relationship, yet I haven't even stepped foot in his room," Gloria whined in frustration, feeling she was losing the game. To marry him and become Mrs. Serrano was her ultimate dream. Nate wasn't just a handsome face, he was the heir of the Serrano legacy. And she wanted to be his queen. The time was slipping through her fingers though. Soon, they'll graduate and scatter. She had to make him hers before it gets too late.

"Nothing you missed. His room makes a prison cell look like a five-star hotel. No color, no aesthetic," Gigi drawled out. Even though they were twins, they barely ever saw eye to eye.

Gloria's lips curved into a sly smile.

"Well, I can change that. You've seen my room, right?" Gloria quipped. Gigi rolled her eyes at her excitement. She could never understand why every girl was so head over heels for his brother. He, literally, was the most annoying creature to dwell on earth.

"I don't think he would appreciate his walls colored in pink with unicorns flying across them," Gigi remarked in a bored tone.

"Gigi," Gloria reached out, whining and grasped her hand. Pouting, she added, "you know how much I like him. Just help me get closer to your brother. I'll be the best sister-in-law in the whole world, I promise."

Gigi exhaled a sigh.

"Nate isn't like any other guy, Glo. If you can't handle his fire, then trust me, his indifference is better than his attention. He is either all in or nothing," Gigi coached her. They were twins, even though they drove each other up the wall, Gigi knew him better than anyone.

"I know. Just help me, okay," Glo insisted, eager to gain his attention. Gigi nodded, not sure if her best friend even understood her words.

.......

I can help you

She opened her eyes to find herself in a class. The teacher's voice droned on, but it failed to drown out Giovanni's words, which kept replaying in her head. Regardless of how tempting his offer was, she knew better than to take the risk. He called her fear an illusion but only she knew what a maniac Nate was. She wasn't scared for herself as much as she was scared for her family. She knew freedom would mean sacrificing her family. He would come for them to exact revenge if she fled and it was a risk she wasn't willing to take. Her family was her everything and so there was no escaping him.

After finishing classes, she came out of the building to head for her house when Gloria stopped her.

"Hey, you. Stop," her cold voice cut through the air, making her stop. She turned to see Gloria approaching, her heels clicking against the pavement. Her one sculpted brow arched in judgment as she gave her a slow, deliberate once over. Sera waited, not sure why she called her. They barely spoke— especially not at school.

Coming to a halt in front of her, Gloria crossed her arms over her chest while gazing down at her with an air of superiority.

"It seems they fit you just fine. Mom was worried they wouldn't," Gloria remarked, examining her cloth. Sera lit up a little after getting the compliment. She rarely ever received a compliment.

"Yeah," Sera agreed with a warm smile, glancing down at her washed out jeans and top. "Thank you. They are all very pretty," Sera added sincerely, looking up to meet her gaze. Her mom had given her those clothes, mentioning they once belonged to Gloria. Even though they were her hands-me-down, she didn't mind wearing them, after all, Gloria was her elder sister.

Gloria smirked as if she had found something amusing in her statement.

"Oh yeah," Gloria remarked, smirking before adding, "I'll convey your thanks to Regina, my handmaid. Those are her old rags. She had donated them to my mother’s charity box for the homeless, but, looks like, Mom found a better use for them." Sera's smile slipped upon hearing that.

Gloria’s gaze swept over her once more in open judgement, "But I must say, even though they are practically trash, they still outshine what you usually wear."

Her words felt like a sting of a needle against her bare skin. But like always, she couldn't give her a befitting comeback that she should have. She just stood like a statue as Gloria walked away after belittling her.