Chapter 265

Serena's POV

I was driving back when my phone rang. Howard Harrington's name flashed on the screen, making my heart skip a beat. The last time he had summoned me to the Harrington mansion still haunted my memories.

"Serena Sinclair." His stern voice came through the speaker, each syllable weighted with authority.

"Mr. Harrington." I kept my voice respectful, steady, despite the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface.

"Come to the mansion. I'm waiting." The line went dead before I could respond.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white. The decision to go wasn't really a choice - Milo and Stella were there, and I needed to bring them home. Besides, with everything Lucas had done, surely Howard wouldn't completely disregard his grandson's wishes by doing anything drastic. What's done was done; we could only move forward now.

The autumn evening cast long shadows across the mansion's manicured grounds as I pulled up to the entrance. Following the housekeeper through the familiar corridors, I couldn't shake the feeling that the entire place felt colder, emptier since Lucas's accident. The usual warmth that permeated these halls, largely due to the children's presence, seemed to have vanished, leaving behind an almost palpable tension.

Howard's study, with its dark wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, had always intimidated me. Now, standing before his massive desk, that feeling only intensified.

"Mr. Harrington," I greeted him first, determined to maintain some control over the situation.

He studied me for what felt like an eternity, his weathered face unreadable. The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken accusations and regrets. I could see the conflict in his eyes - the struggle between his role as the family patriarch and his love for his grandson.

Finally, he released a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of years. "In all these years," he began, his voice unusually quiet, "Lucas has never defied me. Not once. From the day his parents died, he's been the perfect grandson - responsible, obedient, everything I could have asked for."

I remained silent, understanding the pain behind his words. How do you respond when someone tells you that you're the reason their perfect world has crumbled?

"I knew he had feelings for you," Howard continued, his gaze boring into mine. "But I never imagined... never thought he would go this far." His voice cracked slightly on the last words, revealing a vulnerability I'd never seen in him before.

"I considered revenge, you know." The sudden shift in his tone made me tense. "Even now, with everything that's happened, I have enough influence to make your life very difficult." His eyes glittered dangerously. "But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Yet this anger, this disappointment - it sits here." He tapped his chest. "Making it impossible for me to accept you!"

I met his gaze steadily. "I'm sorry," I said softly, meaning it. Though many events had been beyond my control, from his perspective, I was the catalyst for everything that had gone wrong.

"Before Lucas went away, he asked me to entrust Milo and Stella to your care." Howard brushed aside my apology as if it were irrelevant. "You probably remember our original arrangement - Lucas would marry Rachel, and you would get custody of the children."

My breath caught in my throat. I could see where this was heading.

"Obviously, that marriage didn't happen." His voice turned cold. "When we made our deal, we never specified what would happen if the marriage fell through because of outside interference. But the fact remains - you were involved in its failure. Therefore, I have no intention of honoring our agreement about the children."

I felt my heart rate accelerate, but forced myself to remain outwardly calm. The thought of losing Milo and Stella, especially now when they needed stability more than ever, was unbearable.

"They need consistency right now," I said carefully, choosing my words with precision. "With Lucas temporarily away, uprooting them from their routine would be traumatic."

Howard's expression hardened. "Don't presume to tell me what's best for my great-grandchildren, Ms. Sinclair. They are Harringtons. They belong here, with their family."

"They are with family when they're with me," I countered, surprising myself with the firmness in my voice. "I'm not trying to take them away from you, Mr. Harrington. I'm trying to give them the stability they deserve while Lucas absent."

The mention of Lucas's condition seemed to age Howard instantly. He slumped slightly in his chair, the facade of the powerful patriarch cracking just enough to reveal the worried grandfather beneath.

"You really love them, don't you?" he asked quietly, studying my face with new intensity.

"More than I ever thought possible," I admitted, letting my guard down for the first time since entering the room. "They're not a bargaining chip to me, Mr. Harrington. They're children who need love and support, especially now."

"Without Lucas, our family only has Milo and Stella left." his voice was measured.

The meaning was clear - Howard intended to make Milo and Stella the heirs to replace Lucas, just as Lucas had once replaced his father. I opened my mouth but swallowed the words that threatened to emerge. At this moment, I found it impossible to voice my intention to take Milo and Stella away, even though this had been Lucas's arrangement.

"Could I still visit them regularly, like before?" I finally compromised.

Looking at Howard before me, I couldn't help but reflect on how few people remained by his side. Lucas's parents had passed away years ago, Jace Gillard was between life and death after a terrible accident, and Lucas was awaiting sentencing. Only Clara remained with him now, along with her daughter Maeve. Clara had secretly divorced Grant Yates, who had already left the Harrington family behind.

Who could have imagined that the once-illustrious Harrington family, such a grand dynasty, would suddenly become so fractured?

After I spoke, Howard remained silent for what felt like an eternity. A bitter disappointment welled up inside me. Truthfully, regardless of whether I had the capability, my conscience and moral compass wouldn't allow me to simply take Milo and Stella away. Yet they were my children - I couldn't pretend they didn't exist, nor could I bear the thought of not seeing them for extended periods.

"Take them," Howard suddenly said.