Chapter 466 The Hotel
Upon Antonio's return to the office, he promptly dove into the pile of urgent tasks that had accumulated during his absence. Despite the company's seamless operation under James's supervision, Antonio couldn't shake off the weight of responsibility that clung to him.
Having addressed the most pressing issues, his mind inevitably drifted back to the perplexing situation with Serene. Sarah's words had left a lasting impression on him.
If there was indeed a connection between Serene and Brady, then something was undoubtedly amiss. Yet, the investigators he'd dispatched had failed to unearth any significant leads. Serene remained in the hospital, awaiting treatment. Her emotional state had stabilized, but she had grown noticeably quieter.
Over the past few days, Antonio had meticulously combed through surveillance footage, hoping to unearth clues that might shed light on the unfortunate incident that had befallen Brady.
"Mr. Valencia, here’s today’s hospital surveillance footage," James announced, handing over the day's footage to Antonio. Given the gravity of the situation, Antonio knew he had to personally verify every detail.
The footage revealed Serene confined to her room, occasionally being wheeled out by a nurse to soak up some sunlight. Antonio squinted at the screen, scanning for irregularities in her routine. But what was he missing? He scrutinized the footage once more and suddenly noticed an odd patch of green paint on Serene's wheelchair.
Startled, Antonio swiftly retrieved the police report from Brady's accident. It stated, unequivocally, that Brady's clothes bore green paint from the hospital's rooftop, which hadn't dried when he fell. The same paint was now on Serene's wheelchair. Could this be evidence that she had been on the rooftop?
Driven by suspicion, Antonio made his way to the hospital. As he had suspected, he discovered faint traces of wheelchair marks in the paint on the rooftop, concealed behind some debris. Without a careful inspection, it would have easily been overlooked.
Antonio's brow furrowed in suspicion. Could Serene really be involved in this? After a moment's contemplation, he dialed her number.
"Antonio, why the unexpected call?" Serene's voice held a hint of surprise.
Without beating around the bush, he asked, "Why were you on the rooftop the day Brady had his accident?"
"What are you talking about..."
"Come on, Serene, did you think you could fool everyone? I wouldn't call without solid proof. Now, tell me - what were you doing up there?"
Serene tensed up, realizing her secret was out. "I... I had my reasons," she murmured uncomfortably.
"Look, it's a long story, and it's not really suitable for a phone call. How about we meet up tomorrow? Come to the hospital, and I'll explain everything," she suggested.
A sinking feeling washed over Antonio; she had indeed met Brady on the rooftop that day. "Serene, you had better be straight with me. And remember, I have my ways."
She hesitated. "I... I’ve got treatment today, no time to meet. How about tomorrow? We can talk it all out then. I'll tell you everything, the whole truth."
"I'll be waiting for your explanation, and don't try to pull any stunts," Antonio replied icily.
He hung up, a surge of anger etched onto his stoic face. He was about to update Sarah, but decided against it after a moment's consideration. She was just regaining her spirits, and he didn't want to upset her without having all the facts clear. It could wait until after he'd spoken with Serene.
As dawn broke, Sarah rose early, her morning punctuated by the soft rustle of a package being delivered. The custom-designed rings she had been eagerly awaiting had finally arrived. Their intricate constellation pattern and the initials delicately engraved on them were exactly as she had envisioned. As she held the rings, memories of their shared journey flooded her mind, bringing a sense of contentment.
After all these years, they had finally reached this pivotal point in their lives. Regardless of what the future might bring, she was certain of one thing - she would never part from Antonio as long as he was by her side.
The house, too, was alive with the excited chatter of children who had awoken at dawn, their anticipation for the upcoming birthday party palpable. The air was thick with their infectious enthusiasm.
"Sarah, I have a few matters to attend to at the office. I'll join you as soon as I'm done. Just hold the fort," Antonio announced, oblivious to the unusual energy that seemed to be radiating from Sarah and the children. He assumed their heightened excitement was simply due to the prospect of a day filled with family fun.
After his conversation with Serene, Antonio had meticulously planned his departure to coincide with his rendezvous with Sarah and the children - an appointment he had no intention of missing, and from which he planned to relay any new insights to Sarah.
"Alright, we'll wait for you," Sarah responded, her voice steady as she carefully tucked away the ring - a surprise she had planned for Antonio. Everything had to be perfect.
With a tender kiss on Sarah's forehead, Antonio bid her goodbye and left for the day.
"Let's get moving, daddy's gone! Time to decorate the venue," Harper announced, her sly grin peeking from the doorframe as Antonio's car faded from view. Her words were a rallying cry, urging everyone to spring into action.
Though the preparations were already in place, they still wanted to add some final touches to the gifts and the venue to ensure the birthday celebration was just right.
A smile tugged at Sarah's lips; it had been a long time since their family had gathered in such lively celebration. She wished her brother could be there too. But the thought of him caused her smile to wane.
Meanwhile, Serene had chosen a hotel owned by the Jerretts Group for their meeting. Antonio drove there directly. Upon his arrival, the hotel manager recognized him instantly and approached with due respect. "Good day, Mr. Valencia. Miss Serene is waiting for you in the private room. Please, follow me."
With a stoic expression, Antonio handed his car keys to the valet and followed the manager to the reserved room. However, with each step, his confusion deepened. He had visited this hotel before and, unless he was mistaken, this floor was usually reserved for VIP banquets. He couldn't help but wonder what Serene's motive was in choosing this location.
"Right this way," the manager gestured, bowing slightly as he ushered Antonio through the door.
Upon entering, Antonio was met with a sight that caused him to raise an eyebrow in mild surprise...
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