The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 174: Chapter 174
You are reading The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep, Chapter 174: Chapter 174. Read more chapters of The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep.
With a gentle tug, Keith pulled Serena into his arms.
"I'm really a little hurt. How about you make it up to me, Seri?" he said.
Alyssa got up from the sofa on the other side, quickly covering her eyes as she walked away. She did her best to pretend she wasn't there and didn't see a thing.
But her exit still left Keith and Serena exchanging awkward glances.
"Alyssa is still here," Serena said, her cheeks flushed.
Keith cleared his throat and said, "I've already ordered your dress. I didn't know if you'd say yes, but I prepared everything for you."
It was the same boutique as last time. As soon as they heard the dress was for Serena, they agreed right away.
Keith took Serena by the hand and led her into the room. The dress was hanging there, and even though the lights were off, the crystals on it still sparkled brilliantly in the night.
Serena hardly ever wore such eye-catching dresses, but when she tried it on, she was surprised by how perfectly it fit her.
Keith had pictured this moment in his mind before, but seeing Serena standing there in front of him, her soft curves highlighted by the gown, he was left utterly speechless.
Keith thought to himself, 'She looks absolutely gorgeous.'
Serena lowered her gaze, glancing over herself. She wondered if maybe the dress was a bit too much, so she bit her lip and asked, "Does it suit me?"
Keith realized that even though Serena always seemed strong, deep down, she was often insecure.
Probably because when she was with Victor, all she ever got was criticism.
"Yeah, you look absolutely beautiful. It's perfect on you," Keith said, meeting her eyes with complete sincerity. "I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you."
His gaze was so sincere that Serena felt a little shy under his eyes. She bit her lip and glanced at herself in the mirror.
She really did look beautiful. Serena thought she shouldn't sell herself short anymore. Otherwise, she'd just be letting Keith's thoughtfulness go to waste.
"Thank you, Keith. I really like it," Serena said.
The next day, since she already had plans for the evening, Serena actually got to leave work on time for once.
Lana stood at the door, teasing with a grin, "Mr. Brannon is really into you. At first, I thought he might be up to something, but honestly, I think you're a perfect match now."
Serena smiled, the soft glow of the sunset falling across her. She said, "I'm leaving."
Lana waved at Serena. "Hey, if you see Craig tonight, don't forget to get his autograph for me."
Lana was a big fan of Craig's work too, but not everyone could get into the party. Even Keith could only bring one date. Although Lana was a bit bummed, all she could do was watch Serena go.
"Of course, I will," Serena replied with a smile.
She turned and got into the car. She needed to go home first to change into her dress and do her makeup. It took them over an hour to get ready before they finally headed to the party.
There were already a bunch of reporters gathered outside the hotel, but since tonight's party was a private event, most of the media didn't have a chance to get inside. All they could do was wait outside for Craig to show up.
This was Craig's first time returning to the country in years, and no matter what, it was headline news worthy of the front page.
"Let's go," Keith said, his voice low and steady.
He noticed Serena tensing up under the barrage of flashing cameras, so he reached out his hand to her. Serena hesitated for just a second, then gladly slipped her hand into his.
The moment they stepped out of the car, a sea of cameras turned their way. Reporters surged forward, hoisting their equipment and jostling for the best shot.
Keith was a media magnet in his own right—self-made, head of the booming Brannon Creative Group, and, most importantly, ridiculously good-looking. No wonder he was always in the headlines.
And the woman by his side was just as familiar to the press—Serena, better known as the renowned designer Siren.
A reporter asked, "Mr. Brannon, why are you and Serena showing up together tonight?"
Another reporter asked, "Serena, is it true you left Brannon Creative Group to start your own studio? Are you here together to prove there's no bad blood between you two?"
The camera flashes were so bright that Serena could barely keep her eyes open, but she'd expected these pointed questions. Ever since she left Brannon Creative Group to launch her own studio, the rumor mill had been in overdrive.
Keith stepped in front of her, blocking some of the harsh lights, his gaze icy and intimidating. For a moment, the reporters didn't dare press any closer.
"Serena is still the design consultant at Brannon Creative Group," Keith said, his tone steady and direct. "Any talk of a rift is just baseless gossip."
Keith added, his tone unwavering, "Smart people don't buy into rumors, so let's not make things up out of thin air."
Without giving the reporters another glance, Keith led Serena straight into the hotel, leaving the media stuck outside the doors. Though they wanted to keep pressing for answers, they didn't get another shot.
Serena and Keith exchanged a glance, and suddenly, Serena broke into a smile.
"You were so cool when you shielded me just now," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
The atmosphere had been a bit serious, but Keith just looked a little helpless at her words. He knew she was deliberately trying to change the subject.
"Well, good thing I managed to keep you safe," he replied lightly.
Meanwhile, the guests nearby had all noticed what was happening outside. When they saw Serena and Keith exchange a smile, they couldn't help but wonder what was really going on between them.
To anyone watching, they just seemed like friends, but Keith had never acted this way with any other woman before.
The event was hosted by a bidding firm that had partnered with Brannon Creative Group. Noticing the commotion, the organizer, Pedro Golden, hurried over with an apologetic look.
He said, "I'm so sorry about the media outside, Mr. Brannon and Ms. Gray. We didn't manage them well, and it caused trouble for you."
Keith turned and nodded politely. "It's nothing, Mr. Golden. There's no need to apologize."
Pedro then turned to Serena, who still wore a gentle, easygoing smile, clearly not bothered at all by what had just happened.
Pedro said, "Mr. Arellano heard you were coming and specifically asked me to bring you to meet her. Do you have a moment now, Ms. Gray?"
'Mr. Arellano?' Serena thought, a bit puzzled.
She glanced at Keith, then asked, "You mean Mr. Craig Arellano? He's already here?"
"Yes, that's right. Mr. Craig Arellano arrived at the hotel early," Pedro replied. "Otherwise, those reporters outside would have made a scene. If you're ready, we can go upstairs to meet him now."
Serena felt deeply honored—a world-renowned designer like Craig had actually asked to meet her in person. She had always admired Craig's work, and to have this rare opportunity to interact with him was truly something special.
"Mr. Brannon is welcome to join us too," Pedro added.
Pedro was sharp. When he saw Serena immediately turn to look at Keith, he immediately understood the situation.
"I'm really a little hurt. How about you make it up to me, Seri?" he said.
Alyssa got up from the sofa on the other side, quickly covering her eyes as she walked away. She did her best to pretend she wasn't there and didn't see a thing.
But her exit still left Keith and Serena exchanging awkward glances.
"Alyssa is still here," Serena said, her cheeks flushed.
Keith cleared his throat and said, "I've already ordered your dress. I didn't know if you'd say yes, but I prepared everything for you."
It was the same boutique as last time. As soon as they heard the dress was for Serena, they agreed right away.
Keith took Serena by the hand and led her into the room. The dress was hanging there, and even though the lights were off, the crystals on it still sparkled brilliantly in the night.
Serena hardly ever wore such eye-catching dresses, but when she tried it on, she was surprised by how perfectly it fit her.
Keith had pictured this moment in his mind before, but seeing Serena standing there in front of him, her soft curves highlighted by the gown, he was left utterly speechless.
Keith thought to himself, 'She looks absolutely gorgeous.'
Serena lowered her gaze, glancing over herself. She wondered if maybe the dress was a bit too much, so she bit her lip and asked, "Does it suit me?"
Keith realized that even though Serena always seemed strong, deep down, she was often insecure.
Probably because when she was with Victor, all she ever got was criticism.
"Yeah, you look absolutely beautiful. It's perfect on you," Keith said, meeting her eyes with complete sincerity. "I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you."
His gaze was so sincere that Serena felt a little shy under his eyes. She bit her lip and glanced at herself in the mirror.
She really did look beautiful. Serena thought she shouldn't sell herself short anymore. Otherwise, she'd just be letting Keith's thoughtfulness go to waste.
"Thank you, Keith. I really like it," Serena said.
The next day, since she already had plans for the evening, Serena actually got to leave work on time for once.
Lana stood at the door, teasing with a grin, "Mr. Brannon is really into you. At first, I thought he might be up to something, but honestly, I think you're a perfect match now."
Serena smiled, the soft glow of the sunset falling across her. She said, "I'm leaving."
Lana waved at Serena. "Hey, if you see Craig tonight, don't forget to get his autograph for me."
Lana was a big fan of Craig's work too, but not everyone could get into the party. Even Keith could only bring one date. Although Lana was a bit bummed, all she could do was watch Serena go.
"Of course, I will," Serena replied with a smile.
She turned and got into the car. She needed to go home first to change into her dress and do her makeup. It took them over an hour to get ready before they finally headed to the party.
There were already a bunch of reporters gathered outside the hotel, but since tonight's party was a private event, most of the media didn't have a chance to get inside. All they could do was wait outside for Craig to show up.
This was Craig's first time returning to the country in years, and no matter what, it was headline news worthy of the front page.
"Let's go," Keith said, his voice low and steady.
He noticed Serena tensing up under the barrage of flashing cameras, so he reached out his hand to her. Serena hesitated for just a second, then gladly slipped her hand into his.
The moment they stepped out of the car, a sea of cameras turned their way. Reporters surged forward, hoisting their equipment and jostling for the best shot.
Keith was a media magnet in his own right—self-made, head of the booming Brannon Creative Group, and, most importantly, ridiculously good-looking. No wonder he was always in the headlines.
And the woman by his side was just as familiar to the press—Serena, better known as the renowned designer Siren.
A reporter asked, "Mr. Brannon, why are you and Serena showing up together tonight?"
Another reporter asked, "Serena, is it true you left Brannon Creative Group to start your own studio? Are you here together to prove there's no bad blood between you two?"
The camera flashes were so bright that Serena could barely keep her eyes open, but she'd expected these pointed questions. Ever since she left Brannon Creative Group to launch her own studio, the rumor mill had been in overdrive.
Keith stepped in front of her, blocking some of the harsh lights, his gaze icy and intimidating. For a moment, the reporters didn't dare press any closer.
"Serena is still the design consultant at Brannon Creative Group," Keith said, his tone steady and direct. "Any talk of a rift is just baseless gossip."
Keith added, his tone unwavering, "Smart people don't buy into rumors, so let's not make things up out of thin air."
Without giving the reporters another glance, Keith led Serena straight into the hotel, leaving the media stuck outside the doors. Though they wanted to keep pressing for answers, they didn't get another shot.
Serena and Keith exchanged a glance, and suddenly, Serena broke into a smile.
"You were so cool when you shielded me just now," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
The atmosphere had been a bit serious, but Keith just looked a little helpless at her words. He knew she was deliberately trying to change the subject.
"Well, good thing I managed to keep you safe," he replied lightly.
Meanwhile, the guests nearby had all noticed what was happening outside. When they saw Serena and Keith exchange a smile, they couldn't help but wonder what was really going on between them.
To anyone watching, they just seemed like friends, but Keith had never acted this way with any other woman before.
The event was hosted by a bidding firm that had partnered with Brannon Creative Group. Noticing the commotion, the organizer, Pedro Golden, hurried over with an apologetic look.
He said, "I'm so sorry about the media outside, Mr. Brannon and Ms. Gray. We didn't manage them well, and it caused trouble for you."
Keith turned and nodded politely. "It's nothing, Mr. Golden. There's no need to apologize."
Pedro then turned to Serena, who still wore a gentle, easygoing smile, clearly not bothered at all by what had just happened.
Pedro said, "Mr. Arellano heard you were coming and specifically asked me to bring you to meet her. Do you have a moment now, Ms. Gray?"
'Mr. Arellano?' Serena thought, a bit puzzled.
She glanced at Keith, then asked, "You mean Mr. Craig Arellano? He's already here?"
"Yes, that's right. Mr. Craig Arellano arrived at the hotel early," Pedro replied. "Otherwise, those reporters outside would have made a scene. If you're ready, we can go upstairs to meet him now."
Serena felt deeply honored—a world-renowned designer like Craig had actually asked to meet her in person. She had always admired Craig's work, and to have this rare opportunity to interact with him was truly something special.
"Mr. Brannon is welcome to join us too," Pedro added.
Pedro was sharp. When he saw Serena immediately turn to look at Keith, he immediately understood the situation.
End of The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep Chapter 174. Continue reading Chapter 175 or return to The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep book page.