Chapter 293

Serena's POV

His words hung in the air between us, heavy with implication. As long as I'm alive. The unspoken alternative made my blood run cold.

"If I die," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of his words, "and by some miracle Milo survives, I want you to take him and Stella and live a good life. That's all I ask."

I shook my head frantically, tears burning behind my eyes. This couldn't be happening. After everything we'd been through, after finally finding each other, I couldn't bear the thought of losing him now.

"We'll all make it," I insisted, though the words sounded hollow even to my own ears. "You, me, Milo, Stella. All of us together."

A sad smile touched his lips. "And if we don't?" he pressed. "If it comes down to it, promise me you'll take care of our children. Promise me you'll live your life. You can even remarry if you want."

He tried to inject a note of humor into his voice. "Just don't bring him to my grave. That would be too much."

His attempt at lightness broke something inside me. The tears I'd been fighting to hold back spilled over, hot tracks down my cheeks that I couldn't stop.

"Okay," I finally whispered, the single word feeling like it was torn from my soul.

In the deepest part of my heart, I made my own choice. If it came down to it - if only Lucas or Milo could survive - I would choose our son. It was a thought so painful I could barely acknowledge it.

The car slowed as we approached our destination. We stopped about two hundred meters from the building, not wanting to alert Rachel to our presence, but not being overly cautious either.

It was exactly midnight. We had one hour until Rachel's deadline.

Driver turned off the engine, and the sudden silence was deafening. I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage as Lucas helped me out of the vehicle. Two of his security emerged from a second vehicle, their expressions grim and professional.

"Stay close to the car," Lucas instructed, his voice gentle. "If anything happens, Ethan will get you to safety immediately."

He didn't wait for my response before turning toward the factory entrance.

I watched him take a few steps away, and suddenly, I couldn't bear it. The thought of him walking into danger, of possibly never seeing him again, crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Before I could think twice, I was running after him. My heels sank slightly into the gravel as I closed the distance between us. When I reached him, I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, pressing my cheek against his back, inhaling his familiar scent of sandalwood and something uniquely him.

"Lucas," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I don't think I've told you yet, but I love you."

I felt him stiffen slightly before relaxing into my embrace. "I know," he said quietly.

"I love you," I repeated, louder this time. "I love you, Lucas Harrington."

Slowly, he turned in my arms until we were face to face. His storm-gray eyes searched mine, and I couldn't stop the tears that welled up and spilled down my cheeks. I'd always prided myself on being strong. Growing up in the Sinclair family had taught me early that showing emotion was a weakness others would exploit. But these past few days had broken something inside me, shattered the walls I'd built around my heart.

"I'm so scared," I confessed, the words barely audible. "I've never felt so helpless. I can't lose you, not after everything we've been through."

The vulnerability in my voice surprised even me. I'd spent years crafting an image of unshakable confidence. But with Lucas, all those layers fell away, leaving me raw and exposed.

He reached up, his thumb gently wiping away a tear from my cheek. "Serena," he murmured, his voice low and intense. "Look at me."

I forced myself to meet his gaze, drowning in the depth of emotion I found there.

Before I could respond, Lucas leaned down and captured my lips with his. I closed my eyes, feeling more tears escape as I surrendered to his kiss. It was gentle at first, almost reverent, but quickly deepened into something more desperate-a kiss that held the weight of everything unsaid between us.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing myself against him as if I could somehow keep him with me through sheer force of will. His arms tightened around my waist, lifting me slightly off the ground. For a moment, the world disappeared-there was no abandoned factory, no waiting danger, no family rivalries or corporate wars. Just Lucas and me, and this kiss that felt like both a promise and a goodbye.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily.

"Don't cry," he whispered, brushing another tear from my face. "Take care of yourself. Don't make me worry about you too."

He slowly disentangled himself from my embrace, his fingers lingering on mine until the last possible moment. Then he turned and walked away, his stride purposeful, not once looking back.

I reached out, trying to catch him, to hold onto him for just one more second, but my fingers grasped only empty air, the ghost of his touch already fading. Through my tears, his silhouette blurred as he approached the factory entrance, flanked by his security.