𓂋
༊

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serenity
los angeles, california

Will you be my girlfriend?

Those words were ringing through my mind as I sat on Paul's lap. I began to play with my ring and said "I-i d-"

"Just hear me out...this is a risk for me too, I haven't had a crush like this in years and to feel like this about someone as beautiful and great as you...it honestly feels amazing."

"Give me until after our date." I replied making him nod "That's fine...I'll just let you go to sleep."

I softly removed myself from his lap and mumbled "I'm sorry."

"No need to be." He replied laying back in his bed as I laid beside him feeling like a terrible person. I liked this man so much and the only thing holding me back was fear, fear that Aiden would fulfill all his threats toward me about having another man in my life.

"How can I prove to you I like you too?" I said now fidgeting with my necklace

He looked over and said "Nothing...I can see it in your eyes. And you seem like a woman that would've punched whoever for getting a kiss you didn't want."

I laughed lowly and said "I just don't want you to feel bad in the situation, I promise you've done nothing but all the right things. And that's kind of scary to me."

"Don't worry about it. I feel great about it because you treat me like somebody, not a pawn." He replied smiling softly at me before I moved over onto his chest causing him to wrap his arms around me.

"Goodnight, beautiful," Paul said kissing my head

"Goodnight, speedy," I replied as I slowly drifted off to sleep

❍ ❍ ❍...𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊

I quickly paced around the house trying to be sure everything was cleaned as Aiden wanted.

I then began to feel a slight ache on my side as I walked into the bathroom stopping by the mirror lifting my shirt a bit seeing a bruise that covered more than half of my side.

"Serenity!" Aiden called loudly making me flinch

"Ye-Yes...?" I stammered

"Come here."

I began to make my way to the front door seeing Aiden was dressed in his suit and didn't look too happy.

"Yes?" I asked forcing a smile

"The man out on the pier says I have a nice house."

I nodded and said, "Well you did design it, it is beautiful..."

"When was he in here?" Aiden seethed

"Aiden, I promise you no one was in here," I replied trying to calm him down

Briskly, he grabbed me by my neck and slammed my back against the wall making me grab for his hand as he tightened his grip around my neck.

"Who was in my fucking house?" He yelled as I cried in his grasp

"No one." I winced before he threw me against the marble floor causing my lip to bust.

"Don't lie to me!" He shouted getting on top of me...

❍ ❍ ❍...𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓

"Serenity," Paul said lowly making me lean up with tears in my eyes

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm sorry...did I wake you?" I sniffled wiping my eyes

"Yeah, you're fine. You just scared the crap out of me, I was holding you while you slept and you just began crying out of nowhere." He trailed off as I took a deep breath

"I thought I'd be fine. I have PTSD and it gets bad sometimes. I'm so sorry." I rambled

"Stop telling me sorry for something you can't control." He said pulling me into a tight hug as he rubbed my back softly

"I just feel so damn stupid because I know you're a good man but I was hurt so much by the man that was supposed to be my husband for years and he's making it so hard for me to move on because I'm scared. I'm scared to be hurt the way I was and to have another man do if not the same worst. I can't even be intimate without thinking about the things Aiden did to me." I ranted as I broke down in his arms

"I know this is hard to ask of you but I want you to realize, I'm not him and I'll never be like him. All I want you to be is happy and to not be in pain." He said reaching over to turn the nightstand lamp on

"If I let you in and trust you please don't take advantage of it, I'm begging you please don't," I said lowly as he laid his hands on my cheeks.

"I promise on my daughter, I'd never take advantage of you or put my hands on you."

We sat in silence for a minute before he grabbed my hands softly squeezing them giving me a small smile.

"Then I'll be your girlfriend," I said making him light up and pull my body over onto his making me laugh as he began to plant kisses on my face with the biggest smile on his face.

"But I don't want to be in the public eye. I have to work and Aiden is trying to push for full custody with no visitation so I have to be careful." I ranted nervously making him laugh

"If you hadn't realized this I run from those motherfuckers." He joked making me laugh

"All jokes aside you should meet with my lawyer and let him help you, he's one of the bests of the best." He replied holding my waist

"I'll think about it," I replied making him smile harder

"I'll get his information to you and do my best to keep paparazzi and the blogs away from you. If something happens and you do get out in the media, I will get you security." He reassured rolling over on top of me making me smile

"Alright. Alright. But I like working." I replied resting my hands on his cheeks

"And I think that is incredibly sexy." He replied kissing my lips

I softly bit his lip and he pulled back in laughter making me roll my eyes "I can't believe I'm dating the dude I went crazy over in my mid-twenties."

He groaned and said "I wish I met you in my mid-twenties. But I guess forty's fine too."

"Why are you such a cutie?"

"My mom." He rebutted making me smile

A/N: Oop. It happened. Paul and Serenity are dating!! 🤪 How do you guys feel? How did you guys feel when Serenity initially didn't give him an answer? What about Serenity's flashback dream about Aiden? What did you think about Paul comforting her?

What do you guys think is going to happen in their relationship? Do you guys think the media will find out sooner than they should? Also, what do you think Aiden's reaction will be? Remember to vote, comment, share and add to your library!! Love yaa🖤🖤🖤🖤