Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 177: Not Done

Chapter 177: Not Done

If one thought that Mabel Hawk was done for the day, they would be sorely mistaken. The formidable matriarch, known for her iron will and the sharp glint of determination in her eye, had already dealt with one obstacle and was now setting her sights on the next. Her cane tapped with a staccato rhythm against the polished marble floor as she approached the office, each step ringing with a quiet authority that left no room for doubt.

"Stop dithering, Miss Mahi. I know she’s inside," Mabel snapped, her voice crisp and brooking no argument. "And if you make me wait a moment longer, it will not be good for you. Remember, I have seen yuo since you were nothing but a green girl.

Her practiced smile faltered under Mabel’s withering stare, and she gave a quick nod. "Chairwoman Hawk—"

The sudden crack of Mabel’s cane striking the floor made her flinch visibly. Her professional demeanor slipped as she hastily reached for the phone, "She’ll see you now."

Mabel’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second—a fleeting acknowledgment of the girl’s compliance—before she pushed past, nodding curtly and marching into the office without further delay. The heavy mahogany door swung shut behind her, muffling the outside world and enclosing them in a room filled with sunlight and the scent of fresh lilacs.

Before Mabel could utter the reprimand she’d rehearsed, she was caught off-guard. A blur of motion hurtled toward her, and she found herself wrapped in a tight, unexpected hug. Serena, her eyes alight with emotion, all but squealed into her ear, "I missed you, Grandmother!"

Mabel stiffened for the briefest of moments, her surprise quickly giving way to a rare smile. The icy exterior thawed as she patted Serena’s back, letting her hand rest there longer than necessary. "And I have missed you, child," she replied, her voice gentler than it had been with anyone else.

As they drew apart, Mabel’s gaze met Serena’s, searching for answers in the familiar features. She took in the way Serena’s eyes sparkled with a mix of joy and apprehension, the soft curve of her smile that hinted at a secret unspoken.

"Imagine my surprise," Mabel continued, the steel returning to her tone as she stepped back to regain her composure, "when I come back and discover that my granddaughter- in law’s identity has been changed without so much as a warning."

Serena gave a grimace at that before quickly pulling the older woman along as she said," Not so much as changed as revealed. I don’t know why I never connected my name to this."

"Probably because you wanted to forget about the past? So of course, your brain might not really connectt he dots. How are you doing, Serena?"

Serena smiled and nodded," I am doing quite well. I..."

Before she could speak more, the older woman cupped her cheeks and quickly asked her," Serena. How are you doing, child? Really, doing?"

Serena hesitated, her lips parting as if she were about to say something more, but the question hanging in the air stilled her. The concern in Mabel’s eyes, the warmth in her voice—it was enough to unravel something deep within her. Without a word, Serena sank onto the soft rug beneath them, sitting at the older woman’s feet as she placed her head in her lap.

The last time she’d sat like this, she had believed that maybe she’d had a grandparent she was close to and that is why she’d felt so close to her. But now she knew. This is what she had craved from her grandmother. Not the investments and the games and revenge on her behalf. A simple gesture making sure she was alright.

"I...I’m terrified. There are so many people who had already come to harm because of all this. Good or bad. They’ve been hurt. I... don’t like being the cause of all this...

I know... in my mind that I am not the cause. That it is whoever the person behind all this is. That it it their inability to stop themselves that is causing all this, but even then...I can barely sleep at night for fear that someone else might have come to harm because of me.

I spent so long chasing this dream of becoming some big businesswoman. It was a dream I held onto since I was young to be on the stature of Edwina Dawn. But now... I don’t want that anymore. I don’t want to be in charge, or be seen as this... powerful figure. Not if it means I have to hurt others, or risk losing everything in the process. All I really want is peace. I just want a life that’s mine, without the constant threat of losing it all."

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek before it was quickly wiped away by the sleeve of her shirt. Serena didn’t want to cry, but it felt like there was so much pent-up emotion inside her—guilt, fear, uncertainty—that it was all spilling out now.

"And Aiden. When I was first threatened with his safety, I’d almost backed out of the entire plan that Aiden had devised... grandma, what if something happens to Aiden because of me? Will you be able to forgive me? I don’t...I don’t think I would be able to forgive myself."

Mabel’s hand stilled in Serena’s hair, her expression unreadable for a long moment. The silence between them grew heavy, the weight of Serena’s words hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. She could feel the tremble in Serena’s body, the rawness in her voice, and yet, she said nothing at first. She simply let her sit there, letting the tears she’d been holding back finally break free.

When Mabel finally spoke, her voice was as steady and sharp as ever, but there was an uncharacteristic softness beneath it. "Child, you are not the cause of any of this. You have been caught in a web spun by others—by those who would use you and the people around you to play their own games.." I know you are frightened. You’ve been carrying a burden you shouldn’t have had to carry. But you are not alone in this. And you must stop punishing yourself for the sins of others. As for my Aiden, he can take care of himself. Trust him and trust yourself, hmm?"