Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 111: Friends(2)

Chapter 111: Friends(2)

"Hi, Rena! What a surprise! We meet again!"

Serena looked up from her book, her mood souring the instant she recognized the voice. Her glare shot toward the boy sliding into the seat next to her as if they were old friends.

What surprise? She thought bitterly. She’d barely left him standing outside the library, and now here he was, right beside her again.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed under her breath, trying not to cause a scene. Her eyes darted around the quiet library, where people were trying to study in peace.

Sidney shook his head dramatically, his expression teasing. "Tsk tsk! You’ve forgotten your manners again, Rena. You’re supposed to say, ’Hi, Sidney.’ Come on, try it with me."

Serena’s fingers tightened around her book, her jaw clenched as she fought the urge to snap at him. Just as she was about to give him a piece of her mind, he raised a finger to his lips and leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Shhh! If you really want me to leave, all you have to do is say it. Just say, ’Hi, Sidney,’ and I’ll disappear. Easy, right?"

Serena shot him a withering look, her patience hanging by a thread. She was so close to snapping at him again, but she stopped herself. If all it took was saying his name, maybe she could finally get rid of him.

"Hi, Sidney," she muttered through gritted teeth, her words dripping with irritation. "Now go."

Sidney’s grin widened, clearly enjoying the small victory. But instead of getting up, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head as if settling in.

"Well, that’s the thing," he said, flashing her a mischievous smile. "I never said when I’d go. Just that I would."

Serena narrowed her eyes, still gripping her book as though it could shield her from Sidney’s persistent presence. "Why are you bothering me?" she demanded, her voice sharp but low enough not to disturb the others in the library. "Don’t you have somewhere else to be?"

Sidney gave a casual shrug, as if her annoyance rolled right off his back. "I’m not bothering you. I just think we’re... similar."

"Similar?" Serena repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. She scoffed, shaking her head. "You must be joking. We are not similar."

Sidney raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her reaction. "Oh? And why not?"

Serena closed her book with a snap and glared at him. "Because you’re the prince of some rich family. I’ve seen your clothes, the way you carry yourself. You probably never have to worry about anything real. Meanwhile, I’m just the poor relative—the unwanted guest no one knows what to do with. I’m an embarrassment to this family, and they can’t wait to get rid of me."

For a moment, Sidney’s smile faltered. His playful demeanor shifted, replaced by something more serious. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, his voice quiet but earnest.

"I’m an embarrassment too," he said, surprising her. "The only difference is that my stepmother doesn’t dare show it to the world. But trust me, I know exactly what it feels like."

Serena frowned, taken aback by his sudden openness. "What are you talking about?"

Sidney let out a long sigh, glancing down at the table as if debating how much to say. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, more vulnerable. "I’m a child born out of wedlock," he admitted. "My father married his current wife just before I was born, so... well, she’s never been too happy about having me around. It’s like I’m this permanent reminder of a betrayal she wants to forget. She puts on a smile for appearances, but behind closed doors..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

Serena blinked, her defenses slightly lowered. She hadn’t expected this.

Sidney looked back up at her, meeting her eyes. "That’s why I said we’re similar. Maybe we come from different circumstances, but we both know what it’s like to not belong. To be the person the family wants to hide."

Serena’s frown deepened as she absorbed his words. She hadn’t expected this kind of honesty from him, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. So, she simply patted his hand and then quickly withdrew her hand before asking him," Uhh. Do you want to read something? You are a member here. We can read together."

Sidney smiled at her then and she smiled back. "What are you reading?" Before she could answer, he leaned forward and saw the title,"Aren’t you too young to learn about all this?"

Serena shook her head," Not really. I want to run my own business when I grow up so I should start preparing earlier..."

"Alright, then. I think I’ll go grab something related to business too. After all, I have to grow up and fight for my inheritance too."

They spent the next few hours in harmony, sitting side by side, studying meticulously.

Finally, Serena stretched in her seat and quietly closed her book. As she stood up to leave, Sidney glanced at her, tilting his head.

"Finished?" he asked, his tone casual but curious.

Serena nodded, tucking the book under her arm. "Yeah, I think I’ve had enough for today. You?"

Sidney stood as well, grabbing his own book. "Same here. Let’s go return these."

They walked side by side to the front desk, dropping off their books without a word.

As they reached the doors, Sidney paused, turning slightly toward Serena. "Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye—"

Before he could finish, a loud grumble echoed from Serena’s stomach, making her freeze in embarrassment. Sidney’s eyes widened, and then he broke into a grin, clearly holding back a laugh.

Serena’s cheeks flushed. "Oh God," she muttered, pressing a hand to her stomach. "Sorry about that..."

Sidney chuckled softly, waving it off. "No need to apologize. Sounds like your stomach’s speaking for you." He glanced around before meeting her eyes again. "Hey, you wanna grab a bite to eat before we head our own way? There’s this great street food stall nearby that sells these amazing Chinese skewers. They’re pretty famous around here. Come on, my treat."

Serena hesitated but only for a moment. He did offer to treat her and if she ate now, she would not have to spend her money for buying those instant noodles for dinner...