One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood-Chapter 92 — Ninety-two

"Y-you..." Miles trailed off as he shakily rose to his feet with the help of his walking stick.

Serena looked at the man, and an inexplicable familiarity swelled in her. She was sure that she had never met the old man before, so she was confused on where the familiarity came from.

Elias looked at him, and a knowing smile crossed his face. He pretended that he couldn’t see his old friend’s reaction as his gaze drifted to Alexander.

"You have finally arrived." He smiled. "Serena, come have a seat with me. Do you remember me?"

Serena walked to Elias, but her gaze still drifted to Miles once in a while.

"Mr. Blackwood." She bowed slightly. "Nice to meet you again."

"Hey, don’t be so formal with me." Elias chuckled heartily. "Refer to me as Grandfather, just as Alexander does."

Serena was taken aback as she hesitated. "Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?"

"What’s inappropriate?" Elias laughed, then turned to Alexander. "Punk, tell her."

Serena turned to Alexander who nodded. "Just do as Grandfather says." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Grandpa Miles, I didn’t know you would be here. How have you been?" Alexander finally turned to Miles whose gaze finally left Serena.

"Hmm." He nodded, forcing a smile on his lips. "You should have a round of chess with me soon. I’ve missed playing with you. My grandson is nothing but a noob when playing the chess."

Alexander chuckled as he took his seat. "Cody won’t be happy if he heard you say this."

’So, he is Cody’s grandfather.’ Serena thought to herself, and nodded internally.

Miles waved his hand. "I’m only speaking the truth." Then he turned to Serena who had taken her seat beside Elias. "Young girl, what’s your name?"

"Serena." She replied with a smile, her eyes crinkling while a dimple appeared on both cheeks.

Miles nodded as he murmured under his breath. "She looks like her even when she smiles."

Miles studied Serena more closely now, no longer bothering to mask his scrutiny. It wasn’t rude. If anything, it felt reverent, as though he was looking at something fragile he was afraid might disappear if he stared too hard.

"What is your surname?" he asked suddenly, catching Serena off guard.

The question drew Elias’s attention who smiled knowingly, but he said nothing. Alexander frowned slightly, sensing a shift in the air, but he said nothing as well.

"Serena Wilson," she answered politely, not sensing the probing in his question.

Miles repeated it slowly. "Wilson..."

Something flickered across his face. Perhaps, disappointment, or relief. Or maybe both. He nodded just once, as though confirming something only he could hear.

"And your parents?" he asked, his grip tightening subtly around his walking stick. "What about your mother?" He asked specifically.

Serena stiffened subtly, but it was enough for Elias to notice. She lowered her gaze for a brief second before lifting it again, her smile still intact, though thinner now.

"My mother passed away when I was young," she said. "It’s just been me for a long time. I don’t have a good relationship with my father."

The room went silent, that even if a pin fell, it could be heard.

Miles swallowed. "I see." After a pause, he added, almost casually, "What was her name?"

Alexander shifted in his seat. Something about the way the question was asked felt... heavy. He turned to Serena, eager to know her answer. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t really know about Serena’s late mom.

Serena hesitated only for a moment.

"Her name was Gina," she said at last. "Regina Hale."

As soon as she answered, Miles’s walking stick slipped from his hand and hit the floor with a dull sound.

Everyone turned to him at once.

"Grandpa?" Alexander rose halfway from his seat. "Are you alright?"

Miles didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were locked on Serena. His gaze was wide, disbelieving, and shimmered with something dangerously close to tears.

"Regina..." he whispered, the name breaking in his mouth like it had never healed properly. "You said Regina Hale, isn’t that it?"

Serena nodded, confusion flashing across her features. "Yes, sir. That was her name." She wondered why the old man was interested in her lineage and why he looked... disoriented.

Elias leaned forward slowly, his jovial expression gone. He looked from Miles to Serena, then back again, his sharp eyes piecing together what no one else could yet see.

’It seems I was right.’ He thought to himself.

Miles laughed suddenly, but it wasn’t out of happiness. If one listened closely, they could hear the sadness dripping from the sound of the laughter. He lowered himself back onto the chair with great effort.

"So," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else, "she really went and did it."

Serena exchanged glances with Alexander and both could see the question in their respective eyes.

"Grandpa Miles?" Alexander pressed. "What’s going on?" He then turned to Elias. "You should have an answer, Grandpa."

Miles raised a hand, stopping him. His gaze softened as it returned to Serena. His gaze was gentler, and the wrinkles around his eyes became much more prominent.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he said quietly. "At least, not yet."

Serena felt her chest tighten, that strange familiarity swelling again. This time, it was stronger and heavier.

Miles gave her a genuine smile as he said.

"You remind me of someone I once lost," he said. "That’s all."

But the way his eyes lingered on her told a very different story.

Serena bit her lips. She felt that a different dimension was about to open up for her.

-----------------------

The meal finally ended, and prior to Serena’s expectations, the two old men were friendly. They, excluding, Alexander engaged in discussions. And she could see that she and Miles had the same similarities.

Throughout the meal, the familiarity she felt increased, and she let down her guard against Miles, much to his happiness.

"Grandfather, I’d drop Serena off at the bakery." Alexander informed, as the couple rose to their feet.

Miles’s ears perked up as his gaze turned to Serena. "Bakery?"

Serena nodded. "My mom’s bakery. She left it to me after she died." Then she paused, before turning to Alexander. "If it weren’t for him, it would still be handled by my stepmother and she would drive it into ruins."

Unconsciously, she said more than she should. But she didn’t mind. In fact, she felt at peace. It was as though she finally had someone she could complain to.

"What’s the name? Perhaps, Elias and I could visit for a quick snack?" Miles asked, his gentle gaze still resting on Serena.

"Rena’s Confectioneries." Serena replied proudly.

Elias nodded, pleased with the name. "Then we will do well to patronize you."

"Alright. That’s enough." Alexander stepped in. He gave Serena a pointed stare while feeling like an outsider. "You didn’t give me much attention today. I’m in a bad mood."

Elias and Miles burst out laughing.

Amidst his laughter, Elias instructed Alexander. "Punk, drive her to the bakery. It can’t function without her."

Alexander held Serena by her palm, and pulled her out.

"Goodbye, Grandpas." Serena didn’t forget to wave at them before Alexander slammed the door shut.

"She’s cute." Elias commented, wiping the lone tear from the corner of his eyes.

"You knew about it, didn’t you?" Miles suddenly asked, snapping him out of his laughter.

Elias turned to him with an ignorant expression. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"Don’t play dumb with me, old friend." Miles scoffed. "I know you better than anyone else. You wouldn’t have invited me out to lunch with your son and his girlfriend. There was an agenda behind it."

Elias chuckled, the ignorant expression wiping off his face. "See, this is why you’re my best friend. You are able to piece things together."

Miles looked up to the ceiling, and he shook his head. "Twenty-five years, Elias, twenty-five years." He muttered, taking a deep breath.

"Do you think she’s your granddaughter?" Elias asked quietly.

Miles snorted and turned to him. "Think?" He repeated. "Old friend, I know she’s my granddaughter. She’s Regina’s daughter, my Regina’s daughter. The semblance is undeniable and a fact."

"And besides, you know about it. So why are you asking me? Isn’t this the reason you invited me over?"

Elias nodded. "But we need proof." He rubbed his chin. "We can’t inform her that you are related without proof. Serena is smart. She would doubt it."

Miles grinned. "Way ahead of you." He waved a strand of hair, and Elias froze.

"How did you get her hair?" He asked incredulously, while his eyes narrowed at his best friend.

"When I lovingly rubbed her hair." Miles replied, a trace of nostalgia flashing through his eyes. "She might not have grown up with me, but she has the same mannerisms as the Hales. She is really my blood."

While the two men were contemplating on how to perform a DNA test, Serena was in a good mood compared to Alexander.

As he drove, she even hummed a tune as the corner of her lips remained tilted.

"You seem to be in a good mood." Alexander commented, tightening his hands around the steering wheel, while he tasted a bitter feeling

Serena couldn’t sense the change in his mood as she nodded. "Hm-mmm. Grandpa Miles is so cool, I feel at peace with him."

Seeing a smile on her lips, Alexander’s expression softened, then changed when he recalled the conversation before the meal was served. He could come to a conclusion based on Miles’s attitude and questions but he wasn’t sure.

"Serena..." He called out quietly, and she turned to him. "Do you know about your mother’s past?"

Serena’s smile froze on her lips as she looked at him tentatively.