Leo practically vibrated with excitement, spinning around dramatically in the middle of the living room, showing off his tiny black suit. The kid had completely fallen in love with the idea of dressing up for this party, and honestly? He did look kind of adorable.
Olivia smiled fondly, fixing his slightly crooked bowtie. "Like a true gentleman, sweetheart."
Leo grinned, standing straighter. "Told you I'd look like a boss!"
Serena rolled her eyes from where she was halfheartedly adjusting her own dress in front of the mirror. She had chosen something simple—a sleek black dress that didn't make her look like she was trying too hard. She did not want to go to this party.
"Why the hell do I have to go?" she muttered under her breath.
"Because you love us and you'll enjoy it," Olivia answered smoothly, stepping behind her to fix her hair.
Serena groaned. "Doubt it."
Margaret walked in, inspecting everyone like a general before battle. "Serena, have you taken your purse? You have money with you, right?"
"Yes, Grandma."
"Olivia, you called the driver, correct? He's on time?" William asked.
"Yes, Dad."
"Did you double-check?"
"Yes, Dad."
"Triple-check?"
"Jesus Christ, YES, Dad."
Margaret clapped her hands together. "Alright, let's go then!"
Leo practically sprinted to the front door. "PARTY TIME!"
At the Party
The moment they stepped into the fancy-ass hotel where the event was being held, Serena immediately regretted her entire existence.
The place was too much. Crystal chandeliers, people dripping in designer labels, fake-ass smiles everywhere—this was Olivia's world, but it sure as hell wasn't Serena's.
"Holy shit." Serena muttered under her breath.
Olivia shot her a warning glance. "Language."
Leo, on the other hand, looked like he had just stepped into Disneyland. "There's a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!"
Serena chuckled as he practically dragged her across the room towards the buffet tables. "God, you're like a little raccoon."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
She let him pile up his plate while she settled for a drink. As she sipped on her juice (because she wasn't old enough for the good shit), her mother got pulled away by some colleagues, and her grandparents found a group of people their age to talk to.
Leo, being a social butterfly, ended up making friends with some other kids, which left Serena alone.
Which was fine—except for the fact that some rich dude was already hitting on her.
"You here alone?" the guy asked, flashing her a cocky smirk.
Serena raised a brow. "Does it look like I'm alone?"
He chuckled. "I mean, I don't see anyone with you."
"You're literally looking at my entire family right now."
The guy had the audacity to smirk. "That means you're free to dance?"
Serena internally gagged. "Yeah, I'm gonna go with a solid no on that one."
"Come on, just one dance—"
A tiny demon suddenly latched onto her arm.
"Serenaaaaaa!" Leo whined. "The waiter said I can't take more than four marshmallows at a time! Tell him I can!"
Serena could have kissed him. Instead, she just ruffled his hair. "Rules are rules, dude."
"But—!"
"Nope. Accept your defeat."
The rich boy, now officially ignored, scoffed and walked off. Serena exhaled in relief. "Nice timing, kid."
Leo grinned. "You owe me."
Leaving the Party – The Beginning of the End
After a couple of excruciating hours of fake smiles, boring speeches, and way too many glasses of non-alcoholic champagne, Olivia finally declared it was time to leave.
The entire family piled into the car—Leo still hyped up from all the sugar he inhaled, Serena exhausted, and the grandparents laughing over some old joke Olivia told.
The mood was light. Happy.
"Admit it," Olivia said, glancing at Serena from the passenger seat. "You had fun."
Serena scoffed. "Define fun."
Margaret smirked. "You smiled at least five times, dear."
"Leo was an uncontrollable menace the whole time, how could I not?"
Leo gasped dramatically. "I WAS A PERFECT ANGEL!"
William chuckled. "Sure, kid."
Serena nudged Leo. "You literally threw a marshmallow at that old dude's head."
"He was boring!"
"HE WAS A CEO!"
"Exactly."
Laughter filled the car. It was warm, familiar, safe.
Serena let her head rest against the seat, closing her eyes for a moment.
She felt happy.
For a split second, everything was perfect.
Then—
Headlights.
Blinding. Too fast.
The sound of screeching tires.
"SERENA—"
Impact.
Serena's world shattered.
Metal twisted. Glass exploded. The car flipped.
Her ears rang. Everything spun.
She had seconds to react.
She threw herself over Leo, shielding him, arms wrapped around him like a vice.
She felt him shaking. Felt his tiny fingers clutching onto her dress.
"Serena—"
"Hold on, Leo!"
She squeezed her eyes shut.
The world collapsed around them.
Then—
Nothing.
Just blackness.
A/N
The plot is starting now. Stay hooked to know what happened next!!
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