Serena was in a daze while riding the carriage back to school. She could not help but contemplate.

At some point, she felt guilty because there was indeed a time when she gave him a chance. She also did show some initiative once upon a time and she regrets it. However, she already rejected his advances over and over. Even earlier, she already drew the line. So, she could not understand what was wrong with him. Why was he being so persuasive? Come to think of it, although they were engaged, it's not like it was a love match. It was purely political.

Then again, she should not be surprised. Geoffrey was a typical male lead in a novel. Dominant, possessive, and clingy. She understands the allure of that kind of male personality, but that is only for the books. She has no plans of ever suffering that in her reality.

If it was just her, she has no issues of breaking everything to Geoffrey. What can he do to her? If he thinks that he can do some dominant sheez so that she would develop some kind of a Stockholm syndrome for him then he was sorely mistaken. But it was not just her. She has a family who will receive repercussions if she chooses to act against the king's ordinance. And then there is Charlton.

In the past, she took everything for granted, but the more she knows, the more she realized how selfishly naïve she has been. She did not think, all she did was just follow her heart. She just wanted to keep convincing him to love her back. And when he did, she did not expect that he would come back with a resolve.

Sometimes, she just thinks of telling him that they should just run away, take the easy route, pretend to have died, go pack up and go to another continent, so many possibilities. Yet how could she say all those to Charlton? He already confessed his dreams for them in the future, is already working on making those a reality. He was gambling his everything for her, for them. So how could she dissuade hin from doing all those because of her being afraid for him, as if telling him that she doesn't have confidence in him? And even if she successfully convinces him to throw away everything, she knows that he would never be truly content.

Thus, in the end, she must still keep the status quo.

--

"Ah, finally back. I still can't believe that I managed to do volunteer work for almost a year. Anyway, see you guys tomorrow." Kylo said as he lethargically walked to his room. Like usual after they return from the orphanage, the four of them walked back to their dorm and since Kylo and Leonard's rooms were on the second floor, they parted ways from there.

Leonard shook his head at Kylo's antics. "Anyway, Geoffrey, Charlton, I'll also go ahead. It's been a long day."

That way, it was only Charlton and Geoffrey now climbing the stairs towards their rooms on the third floor. When they arrived at the landing, Charlton was about to say goodbye as their rooms were on opposite sides. However, unlike the usual, Geoffrey looked at him seriously.

"We need to talk." Geoffrey said.

Charlton who was feeling a bit tired suddenly felt alert. Trying to sound casual, he replied, "Yeah sure, what is it?" He did not panic as he realized that Geoffrey couldn't have found out about him and Serena yet because if he did, he doubts that he would approach him this way. Although he was still feeling some guilt over doing this behind his back, he already made his resolve.

"Not here. Your room or mine?" Geoffrey asked.

Thinking that it was better to be safe, Charlton said, "Yours."

--

Geoffrey's room was a one-bedroom suite similar to Serena's only smaller by a few square meters. The reason why the men's dorm has smaller rooms was because their building was older and housed more students. Anyway, once inside, Geoffrey asked Charlton to take a sit on the couch at the living room.

"So, what is it?" Charlton asked. He did not plan on staying long.

"I heard that you signed a contract with Columbia Recording Company." Geoffrey stated as he handed Charlton a bottle of water then he took the seat opposite him.

Charlton received the bottle as he opened it to drink some water. "Yes, I did. Why?"

"Did you know that Serena also signed with them?"

Charlton knew that he must play his cards right. So, he raised his brow. "Yeah, what of it? Did she not tell you?"

Geoffrey sighed. "She did earlier. But I did not like it. Did you know that she signed for 3 years? Was it she or Edward who set that duration?"

"I believe it was Serena."

"I thought so." Geoffrey replied as he shook his head. "Anyway, I want to ask you for a favor. Can I trust you?"

Charlton did not reply at once as he felt his heart make a thump. However, he must not let Geoffrey notice him acting strange. "Of course, what is it?"

Geoffrey took a moment as he deciphered the next words to say. He trusts Charlton, but his cousin was still a man, and the truth was, just the thought that Serena might fancy him did not sit well with him.

"I want you to ensure that no one should ever covet what is mine."

Charlton did not like how Geoffrey pertained to Serena as his, like she was some object of his possession. However, he knew that he could not voice it nor show it. Also, he understood what Geoffrey was truly saying, that when he meant no one, he was pertaining to him. For with Serena's status, who would even think of it? However, he pretended not to catch what he meant. Instead, he chuckled and half-jokingly responded with, "And should anyone dare?"

Geoffrey did not laugh, nor did he smile at him. Instead, he just looked at him in all seriousness.

"I trust you Charlton, and I hope that you would never break that trust."

--

TBC