NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: A Night of Secrets
CHAPTER 4: A NIGHT OF SECRETS
The Blackwood Estate stood true to its name, invoking elegance, despite her countless visits in
the past, Serena felt a shiver run down her spine as she walked towards the entrance. Tonight
felt different, maybe it was due to her mother's message last night. She doesn't know why Isla
felt she should invite her for an invite but she's glad she's with her tonight.
Keep your distance from the Blackwoods.
She had tried not to think about it, tried to push the warning aside as nothing more than
paranoia. But standing here now, stepping through the grand entrance with Isla at her side,
Serena couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking straight into something she couldn't
escape.
She walked into the dining hall with Isla at her heel, the hall was just as grand as she recalled
—an elegant chandelier hanging overhead, a long mahogany table set with fine china and
crystal glasses. And at the head of it, seated like a king in his castle, was Dominic.
He heard them walk in and his eyes moved towards her, before shifting to Isla.
"You're late," he said, his voice smooth, unreadable.
Isla waved a hand dismissively. "Barely."
Serena took her seat beside Isla, keeping her gaze carefully trained on the plate before her. She
was good at pretending. She had spent years learning and perfecting the skill of indifference
when it came to Dominic Blackwood. But tonight, the air in the room felt heavier, charged with
something she didn't understand.
Dinner proceeded smoothly at first. Isla carried most of the conversation, ranting about Julian's
obsession with floral arrangements and how she was half-tempted to let him marry himself at
this point.
Dominic listened, his expression unreadable, though Serena caught the faintest flicker of
amusement when Isla declared that she'd rather elope to Vegas than endure another
wedding-planning argument.
Then Ethan Langford arrived.
The shift in the atmosphere was immediate.
Ethan marched in with ease like a man who belonged, which is true; pouring himself a drink
before sliding into the seat beside Dominic. As he glances toward Isla, he notices Serena.
"You are here too? Didn't expect to see you here."
Serena didn't answer but shrugs. She looked at him for a moment before looking away.
Ethan smirked but didn't press.
The conversation went on, with Isla making small talks with Serena; mainly gossips by the way
about Julian and his friend which she had introduced to her at the previous party.
Just as the main course was being served, Ethan leaned back in his chair, his voice casual.
"Heard anything from Harrison Cole lately?"
Serena stilled.
She recognized the name. Everyone did.
Harrison Cole.
Dominic's former business partner turned rival. No one knew what happened between them but
the bad blood had been boiling for years.
Dominic didn't react at first. But then, with slow precision, he set his fork down, fingers tapping
once against the table before stilling.
"He's been quiet," Dominic said evenly.
Ethan smirked sipping his drink. "That's what worries me."
Serena's pulse thrummed.
There was something calculated in Ethan's tone, something prodding.
The men talked in hushed tones but Serena couldn't shake off the tension she was feeling.
She felt something was coming.
At dessert, Isla's phone rang, so she excused herself to pick up Julian's call. Serena saw this as
an opportunity to escape from the dining as the energy in the room was suffocating.
"I need to go to the bathroom" she said speaking to no one in particular as she pushed back her
chair.
Dominic didn't react.
Or at least, she thought he didn't.
As she stepped out of the hall, she could feel him; his presence lingering at the back of her mind
like a whisper she couldn't ignore.She looked for the bathroom but somehow she had forgotten where it was, but her feet kept on
dragging her, like they were leading her. The halls of the Blackwood Estate were familiar to her,
yet tonight, they felt… different.
And then she found herself in front of a door she had never dared enter before.
His study.
She hesitated
She should go in or not?
Would she be trespassing?
Her hand seemed to move on its own and before she knew it, she was already in. The scent of
leather welcomed her, drawing her in. It was dim in there but her eyes adjusted well. She took in
the structure of the study: bookshelves, the oakwood table at the center, the fireplace..
Serena exhaled slowly.
This was Dominic's world.
And she shouldn't be here.
She couldn't understand what she was looking for, not even sure why she was in there. She
was driven by instinct, she has no clear goal.
But then—
The door closed behind her.
Serena froze.
"This doesn't look like the bathroom."
Dominic said as he stood near the door.
Serena felt her throat tightening.
"I.. got... lost" She stammered.
The air was thick, as he stared at her; charged with something she wasn't sure she wanted to
name.
She looked for the bathroom but somehow she had forgotten where it was, but her feet kept on
dragging her, like they were leading her. The halls of the Blackwood Estate were familiar to her,
yet tonight, they felt… different.
And then she found herself in front of a door she had never dared enter before.
His study.
She hesitated
She should go in or not?
Would she be trespassing?
Her hand seemed to move on its own and before she knew it, she was already in. The scent of
leather welcomed her, drawing her in. It was dim in there but her eyes adjusted well. She took in
the structure of the study: bookshelves, the oakwood table at the center, the fireplace..
Serena exhaled slowly.
This was Dominic's world.
And she shouldn't be here.
She couldn't understand what she was looking for, not even sure why she was in there. She
was driven by instinct, she has no clear goal.
But then—
The door closed behind her.
Serena froze.
"This doesn't look like the bathroom."
Dominic said as he stood near the door.
Serena felt her throat tightening.
"I.. got... lost" She stammered.
The air was thick, as he stared at her; charged with something she wasn't sure she wanted to
name.
Then, the distance between them was shortened with a quick stride from him. She could feel his
warmth. She couldn't control her heartbeat.
"Lost?" he echoed, his voice quiet. Knowing.
Serena gripped the edge of the table behind her as she swallowed hard. "Yes."
Dominic eyes bore into hers as the light from the fireplace cast shadows on his face. He didn't
call her out on her lie but his silence and his gaze said enough.
She shouldn't be here.
And yet, she hadn't left.
Her pulse was too loud, her breaths too shallow. The study, once a place of quiet authority, now
felt like something else entirely—something far more dangerous.
Dominic exhaled slowly, controlled, his gaze never leaving hers.
Serena forced herself to move first. To look away. To step back.
The shift was almost imperceptible, but he noticed. Of course, he did.
Still, he didn't stop her.
Instead, he let the moment hang between them, taut and electric, before finally saying, "You
should go look for Isla if you don't need the bathroom anymore."
Serena nodded, inwardly trembling, wondering why he had to mention to bathroom.
She walked past him, her heart beating rapidly with adrenaline putting her on edge.
As she stepped into the hallway, she knew that whatever had just happened in that study…
It had changed everything.
Serena walked quickly through the dimly lit hallway, but the weight of the moment lingered like a
whisper against her skin. Her breath was uneven, her thoughts tangled. She had expected
Dominic to question her, maybe even scold her for wandering into his study. Instead, he had
simply looked at her—looked through her—as if he already knew the truth she refused to admit.
She wasn't lost. She had wanted to be there.
She couldn't believe herself. By the time she got to the dining hall, her heartbeat had been
steadied, but she was still shaken inside. Isla who is back in but still on her phone, was too distracted to notice anything. Serena picked her wine glass and chug down the drink trying to
calm herself.
But even as she drank, she could still feel it.
Dominic's gaze.
His silence.
And the undeniable fact that, for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to escape it.