Chapter 222 Running Out of Options

Serena spent the morning waiting outside Sterling Tower, but no one came down to see her.

Frustrated, she had the driver take her to the Thorne residence. Security turned her away at the gate.

That was the last straw.

She called Alpha Victor.

"You made this mess," he said. "Now clean it up. I only care about results."

The call ended.

Serena clenched her jaw. Fine. If Eira refused to see her, she would go to Alpha Sebastian.

The driver took her to Hale Tower. The receptionist recognized her immediately. Serena had visited Alpha Sebastian countless times, and Beta Jordan had always come downstairs to escort her up without asking questions.

That old sense of privilege returned. She lifted her chin, put on a polite smile, and stepped into the elevator as if she still belonged there.

When the doors opened, Beta Jordan was waiting.

He did not look happy to see her.

Alpha Sebastian had been drowning in financial trouble for weeks, and Serena’s name was tied to every problem. Beta Jordan’s job was on the line if Alpha Sebastian went down.

He had no patience left for her.

"Ms. Winthrop," he said, his voice cool. "What brings you here?"

His tone stayed professional, but the warning underneath was clear.

Serena ignored him and headed for Alpha Sebastian’s office.

"Alpha Sebastian is in a meeting," Beta Jordan said, stepping in front of her. "He can’t see you right now."

"Then I’ll wait in his office."

She tried to move around him, but Beta Jordan blocked her again.

"You need an appointment."

"I’ve never needed one before."

"That was before."

Serena’s polite smile faded.

Beta Jordan picked up the phone and called the front desk.

"Who cleared Ms. Winthrop upstairs? From now on, no one goes up without an appointment and a confirmation call. No exceptions."

He paused, then added, "Dr. Crawford is the only exception. She can come up whenever she wants."

Beta Jordan hung up and headed for the conference room.

Inside, Alpha Sebastian was wrapping up a video call with the Snowmark Group. They were finalizing the launch date for their joint project.

"We’ve chosen a date," Alpha Sebastian said. "If your team is ready, we can hold the launch tomorrow."

Soren hesitated. "Tomorrow? Isn’t that cutting it a little close?"

"We’re ready on our end."

Soren had met Dr. Crawford the day before and was still impressed by her work. After a brief pause, he nodded.

"All right. Tomorrow it is."

"Then it’s settled, Soren. I’ll see you tomorrow."

The call ended.

Beta Jordan stepped into the room. "Alpha, Ms. Winthrop is here."

Alpha Sebastian’s good mood vanished.

"What does she want now?"

"She’s already in your office."

Alpha Sebastian gave him a sharp look.

Beta Jordan lowered his eyes. He had already dealt with the receptionist and knew he would be reviewing the new security rules with the entire front desk team. For now, he had no choice but to accept the blame.

Alpha Sebastian pushed open his office door.

Serena sat behind his desk as if she belonged there. An open velvet ring box rested on her lap. Inside lay Eira’s old mate-bond ring, its familiar design catching the light.

Alpha Sebastian’s expression changed the moment he saw it.

He crossed the room in three strides and snatched the box from her hands. Then he turned and handed it to Beta Jordan.

"Put it somewhere safe."

Beta Jordan took the ring box without a word.

"Sebastian," Serena said softly, "you and Eira are over. Why are you still holding on to this?" She placed a hand over her stomach. "You should be thinking about us. About the baby. Don’t you want to hear our child call you Dad for the first time?"

The mention of the baby softened him, if only slightly. His gaze dropped to her stomach.

"I don’t need a reminder," he said. "And keep your voice down. If you mess up the Snowmark deal, you know exactly what happens next."

Serena knew how to read him. She also knew when to use the baby to get what she wanted. If Alpha Sebastian lost the partnership, who would help her repay the $118 million?

"Relax. I know what’s at stake."

"If you do, why are you here?" Whatever patience he had once shown her was gone.

Her eyes filled with tears. "The demand letter. My grandfather tore into me over it. He told me to find Eira today and settle everything privately. But this affects both of us. I thought we should figure it out together."

Alpha Sebastian wanted the matter settled quietly too. If the legal notice became public, he would be the one taking the biggest hit.

"Sell everything I gave you."

Serena’s stomach dropped. That was not what she had planned to hear. She had hoped to play the helpless pregnant woman and make Alpha Sebastian shoulder the entire debt.

"If I sell everything, what happens to me and the baby?"

"If you don’t sell anything, there may not be a future left to worry about."

Serena fell silent.

"But even if I start selling today, I can’t raise that much before the deadline," she said. "We need to see Eira and work something out. Otherwise, we could both be served with court papers within ten days."

The thought made her chest tighten.

"Eira isn’t taking this to court right away," Alpha Sebastian said.

Serena stared at him. "What does that mean?"

Had he managed to stop Eira? Did Eira still love him enough to walk away from more than a hundred million dollars? Serena could not imagine making a choice that foolish.

Alpha Sebastian had no intention of telling her how he had bought himself time.

"Trust me. She isn’t moving forward with the lawsuit for now. But we still need the money ready in case she changes her mind."

"How long is ...for now’?"

"Stop asking questions and do what I said." His patience was wearing thin. "Sell the cars, the condo, and anything else you can turn into cash. We’ll deal with the rest later."

The moment Serena heard that Eira was not filing suit yet, the pressure in her chest eased.

She hated the thought of selling the cars and the condo, but she nodded. At least she had something to report to her grandfather.

Serena had planned to stay a while, act vulnerable, and use the baby to draw Alpha Sebastian closer. But he was already looking at the door, making it clear he wanted her gone.

She had no choice but to leave.

The moment she stepped outside, she called Alpha Victor.

"Grandfather, Alpha Sebastian and I talked things over. Eira isn’t filing suit for now."

"For how long?" Alpha Victor’s voice was sharp. "This is not a conversation we’re having over the phone. Come home. We’ll talk there."

He ended the call before she could answer.

Serena’s plan to return to her own apartment was gone.

If she went back to the Winthrop estate, Alpha Victor would soon realize she was pregnant. The relief she had felt only moments earlier disappeared, replaced by a tight knot in her chest.