The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 143: Chapter 143

Though Alyssa had always seemed fond of her, Serena worried the shift in their relationship might be too much for a child to accept.
But Alyssa nodded immediately, her arms tightening around Serena with renewed strength, as if trying to prove through action just how much she wanted Serena to become her mother.
"But—" Serena's mind raced with concerns, but then she caught sight of Alyssa's bright eyes fixed on her, sparkling with anticipation, as if expecting her to say yes any second now.
From that moment on, they would truly become a legitimate family.
Most of Serena's concerns stemmed from the harsh reality—she couldn't even bear to imagine what people might think if they discovered her relationship with Keith.
But now, looking into Alyssa's eyes, Serena suddenly realized she'd trapped herself in a vicious cycle. This was her own life, and she didn't need to care about other people's opinions.
"Thank you, Alyssa. I think I've figured it out." Serena felt she didn't need more time, at least not now. She would follow her heart.
She pushed open the door to find Keith looking in her direction. He obviously knew she'd been standing outside the hospital room the entire time, never leaving.
"Keith," she called out.
"Yeah, I'm here," Keith replied.
Serena couldn't help but smile, shaking her head as sunlight caught in her eyes, making them sparkle even on this ordinary day.
"I said yes. Let's try this together—I want to know what it feels like to be loved."
Keith froze, the words not quite sinking in.
It wasn't until Alyssa's sweet voice called out "Mommy!" that Keith snapped back to reality. Disbelief washed over his face as he fought the urge to leap from the hospital bed and pull Serena into his arms.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Keith muttered.
Serena stepped closer, seeing her reflection in Keith's usually guarded eyes. She lowered her head and wrapped her arms around his neck, her touch gentle yet undeniably intimate.
She said, "You're not dreaming. This is real. I don't know when it happened, but I can't imagine my world without you anymore. Keith, I like you too."
Keith stared at her for a long moment before letting out a bitter laugh and returning her embrace.
"I swear Alyssa has more charm than I do. I confess my feelings, and you need time to think, but she acts cute around you, and you cave immediately."
Serena wanted to protest that it wasn't like that, but a sudden, clumsy kiss swallowed her words.
Her eyes flashed with momentary bewilderment, though she soon found herself too distracted to think about anything else.
Alyssa peeked through her fingers, pretending to cover her eyes.
That evening, Serena told Kristy about her and Keith getting together.
"I knew you two would end up together eventually, but I didn't expect it to happen so fast!" Kristy already knew about the car accident so she couldn't help but worry.
She added, "Are you sure about this, or is it just because he saved you and you're feeling dependent on him right now?"
Though Kristy thought Keith was excellent and perfect for Serena, she knew feelings couldn't be forced.
"I'm sure. I think I finally understand my own heart," Serena replied. She rarely made impulsive decisions, so hearing such a definitive answer put Kristy at ease.
Kristy said, "Looks like Hayland is a magical place—you two take one trip there and suddenly you're official."
Serena sighed, "Getting into a car accident counts as good news now?"
The police came by that afternoon to understand the situation, and Keith handed them all the tax evasion evidence. It was already posted online, causing quite the uproar.
Tax evasion was already a serious crime, but now they'd resorted to hiring assassins to cover their tracks. This extreme criminal behavior hadn't surfaced in years, so the public outcry was completely understandable.
"You all need to be extra careful during this time," Kristy said, clearly thinking along the same lines. "I'm worried these people might decide to go down fighting."
Keith had already hired bodyguards to watch over them, and the police were keeping closer tabs on the situation. It was the best protection they could manage under the circumstances.
After all, their enemies lurked in the shadows while they remained exposed.
Once Serena finished explaining everything, Kristy felt considerably more at ease. "Good. Since you're both taking precautions, let's hope Hansen Group doesn't do anything stupid."
After recovering at Hayland for a while, Keith had to return to handle pressing company matters, so he was discharged fairly quickly.
Serena also overcame her awkwardness and moved back to their original home. However, she needed to set some ground rules before officially returning to work.
She said, "We're in a supervisor-subordinate relationship now, and office romances can create problems for other people. So until our relationship is stable, it's better if we don't make it public."
Serena had been thinking about this for several days before making her decision.
Keith looked displeased, but his deep eyes remained fixed on Serena. Whatever she said, he would go along with it.
He sighed, "Fine. We'll wait until you're ready to go public."
Now that she was his, these formalities didn't matter as much anymore.
"So we still need to arrive and leave work separately." Serena's expression grew more serious as she thought about this. "And if you throw another tantrum, I'll—"
Seeing her eyebrows knit together in a frown, Keith found her utterly adorable. He leaned closer, looking down into Serena's eyes. "You'll what?"
His breath fell against her ear as he spoke, making Serena feel ticklish. She instinctively tried to pull away, but he quickly caught her waist. "Where are you going?"
Serena felt a bit embarrassed. Even though they'd been together for several days, she still couldn't quickly adjust to this new dynamic between them. She hurried to find an excuse. "Alyssa's still here!"
Serena turned her head to look for Alyssa, only to discover she'd already slipped back to her room.
Alyssa thought, 'I don't want to be a third wheel!'
"Now then, what's your excuse?" Keith's voice carried a teasing note that sent a shiver down Serena's spine, her knees going weak.
She leaned against Keith completely, letting him support her weight.
Keith could see she was genuinely nervous rather than resistant, and his smile deepened as he gently kissed her forehead.
"Don't be afraid. I'll respect you." Keith released her, his voice returning to normal. "Go get cleaned up. I'll cook dinner—it's been ages since you've tasted my cooking. Let's see if I've gotten rusty."