After standing silently in front of Niel's bedroom for several minutes, Serena finally went downstairs. Once she had put on her high heels, she hurried toward the front door to meet Varron.
However, she ran into Niel again. He stood in the doorway, staring straight ahead. Even as Serena's footsteps drew closer, he remained firmly in place.
"What are you doing, Nathaniel?" Serena asked.
"Looking at your boyfriend's face. That's your boyfriend, right?" Niel pointed toward Varron.
When Serena turned around, she saw that Varron was already standing in front of the gate to their house. He was also staring at Niel with an unusual look in his eyes.
"Why are you looking at my boyfriend like that?"
"I don't mean anything by it. I was just curious to see how handsome your boyfriend is."
After saying that, Niel hurried away, leaving Serena behind. Not wanting to think too much about it, Serena quickly left without looking back at Niel.
She walked over to Varron, who was still staring into Serena's house, whose front door had been left wide open.
"Have you been here long?" Serena asked when she reached Varron.
"So he's the stepbrother you told me about? Why does he look so mature, Serena?"
"He is an adult. Didn't I already tell you that? Did you forget?"
Serena immediately approached the car, opened the door, and got in ahead of Varron. A few seconds later, Varron followed her inside, his expression extremely unpleasant.
"His stare is so sharp."
"Yeah, he does have frightening eyes."
"I feel like something's wrong with him, Serena. You really don't sense it?" Varron began rambling in the car.
"No."
"His eyes. When he looks at you, there's something really suspicious about his stare."
Serena turned her gaze away from Varron. She had no idea how long the conversation about Nathaniel between the two of them would continue. Ever since Niel had moved in with Serena, Varron had been uneasy.
Serena had already told him that she wasn't interested in Nathaniel. Even though Niel looked much more handsome to Serena now, Varron was still number one in her heart.
"Where are we having lunch, Varron?"
"You should stay with me until your dad comes home, Serena. That man is highly suspicious."
Serena let out a deep sigh. "How long are you going to keep talking about him? You don't have to worry that I'll become interested in him, Varron. That will never happen."
Varron drove a little faster. His jealousy was real. But it wasn't only jealousy—Varron also sensed something in Serena's stepbrother's gaze. The obsessive look of a man.
"I'll contact your dad and ask him to let you stay with me for a while."
"Don't be crazy, Varron!"
"This is for your safety too, Serena!"
Serena wasn't unhappy with Varron's concern; she just didn't want him to go overboard. Contacting her dad to ask for permission would only stir up an even bigger problem. He might suddenly come home and lock Serena inside the house so she could no longer go out to see Varron.
Nothing was that simple for Serena. Her dad still had plenty of rules, even though Serena was an adult. He wouldn't even allow her to work.
"If you're going to keep rambling about that man, just let me out here."
"Are you crazy?"
"You're the crazy one, Varron!"