1995

Serena Destiny Chrisley (born May 17, 1975), known professionally by her mononym Serena, is an American actress, businesswoman, dancer, producer, singer, songwriter, and television personality.

"Serena, your sister will kill me," I said, my heart racing with a mix of panic and exasperation.

I couldn't believe the situation I now found myself.

Serena, Chiara's younger sister, had brought my eight-year-old daughter Destiny to visit me while I was on the road with WWF. I had hoped it would be a nice, uneventful trip, a chance for Destiny to spend time with me. But of course, things never seem to go as planned when Serena is involved.

As soon as Serena arrived, I could tell she was up to no good. She had this mischievous glint in her eye, and the way she was eyeing Matthew Anoaʻi, one of Solofa and Rodney's cousins who was also visiting, set off alarm bells in my head.

Matthew was a good guy, but the last thing I needed was for him to get mixed up with my sister-in-law.

"Oh please, Mark, you are acting like I'm about to run off and marry Matt, I just met him, calm down," Serena said, waving me off dismissively.

But I knew better than to trust her nonchalant attitude. Serena had a habit of downplaying her actions, only to later reveal that she had been planning something all along.

I shook my head and tried to rein in my frustration. "Just make sure you make it on time for your flight back to Texas, Serena," I told her, hoping that a gentle reminder of her responsibilities would keep her in check.

"I will," Serena replied, her tone light and carefree.

But as I watched her interact with Matthew, I couldn't shake the feeling that she had no intention of keeping that promise.

Sure enough, when the time came for Serena to depart, she was nowhere to be found. I frantically searched the hotel, calling out her name, but there was no sign of her. Finally, I managed to get in touch with Chiara, Serena's older sister, to break the news.

"What?!" Chiara shrieked, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and fury. "Where is she?"

"She, uh, she went to Florida with Matthew," I admitted, bracing myself for the inevitable onslaught.

"Fine, but if anything happens to her, you will be held responsible for it," Chiara said, her tone deadly serious.

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, already regretting my decision to get involved in this mess.

I knew Chiara was fiercely protective of her younger sister, and I could understand her concern. Serena was only twenty years old, and despite her outward confidence, she was still learning to navigate the world on her own.

As I hung up the phone, I couldn't help but wonder how I had ended up in this situation. I was supposed to be the responsible adult, the one who kept things under control. But with Serena around, that was easier said than done.

Serena had always been a bit of a wild card, a free spirit who marched to the beat of her own drum.

From a young age, she had a knack for getting into trouble, whether it was sneaking out past curfew, skipping school, or experimenting with things she had no business getting involved in.

Chiara, on the other hand, was the responsible one, the one who always did the right thing and tried to keep Serena on the straight and narrow.

I had always admired Chiara's dedication to her sister, but sometimes I wondered if she was too hard on Serena.

After all, we were all young and reckless once, and Serena was still figuring out who she was and what she wanted in life.

But Chiara seemed to have no patience for Serena's antics, and she would often swoop in to clean up her sister's messes, much to Serena's annoyance.

As I sat there, trying to process the latest development, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Serena.

Sure, she had made a questionable decision by running off to Florida with Matthew, but deep down, I knew she was just trying to find her own way in the world.

It wasn't easy being the younger sister of someone as accomplished and put-together as Chiara, and I could only imagine the pressure Serena must feel to live up to her sister's example.

Still, I couldn't ignore the fact that Serena's actions had put me in a difficult position. Chiara had made it clear that I would be held responsible if anything happened to her sister, and I knew that I couldn't just sit back and let Serena's recklessness put her in harm's way. I had to do something, even if it meant risking Serena's wrath.

Without hesitation, I booked a flight to Florida, determined to track down Serena and Matthew and send her back to Texas.

I knew it wouldn't be an easy task – Serena could be as stubborn as a mule when she set her mind to something – but I also knew that I couldn't just let her run off without a fight.

As the plane touched down in Florida, I felt a sense of dread wash over me. I had no idea what I was going to find, or how Serena would react to my unexpected arrival.

But I steeled myself, reminding myself that I was doing this for her own good, and that Chiara would never forgive me if I let anything happen to her little sister.

I rented a car and set off, determined to track down Serena and Matthew. I had a hunch that they might be staying with some of Matthew's family, so I started there, driving from one relative's house to the next, asking if they had seen the two of them.

It wasn't easy – Serena had a way of disappearing when she didn't want to be found, and Matthew's family was understandably protective of their cousin.

But I refused to give up, and after hours of searching, I finally caught a break.

One of Matthew's aunts had seen the two of them earlier that day, heading out to a local beach. I thanked her profusely and raced off, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread.

As I approached the beach, I could see Serena and Matthew sitting on the sand, lost in conversation.

They looked carefree and happy, and for a moment, I almost felt guilty for interrupting their moment.

But then I remembered the promise I had made to Chiara and the responsibility I had taken on by agreeing to look after Serena.

I took a deep breath and approached them, trying to keep my voice as calm and even as possible. "Serena, your sister is going to kill me," I said, bracing myself for the inevitable explosion.

Serena's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, I thought she might try to run. But then she seemed to realize that there was no point in trying to escape, and she let out a resigned sigh.

"What are you doing here, Mark?" she asked, her tone a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

"I'm here to bring you back home," I replied, trying to sound as authoritative as possible. "Chiara is worried sick, and she's made it clear that if anything happens to you, I'll be the one to blame."

Serena rolled her eyes, but I could see the concern flickering in her expression. "I'm fine, Mark," she said, though her voice lacked the usual confidence. "I'm just... I'm just trying to figure things out, that's all."

I nodded, understanding where she was coming from. "I know, Serena, but you can't just run off like this without telling anyone. Chiara is going to be furious, and I don't want to be the one who has to deal with her wrath."

Serena opened her mouth to protest, but then she seemed to deflate, all the fight leaving her body. "I'm sorry, Mark," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to cause so much trouble."

I reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. "I know, Serena, I know. But you've got to understand that your actions have consequences, not just for you, but for the people who care about you."

Serena nodded, her eyes downcast. "I just... I just wanted to get away, you know? I feel like I'm always living in Chiara's shadow, and I just wanted to do something for myself, for once."

I sighed, understanding the sentiment all too well. "I get it, Serena, but running off to Florida with a guy you just met isn't exactly the best way to go about it. Chiara is going to be furious, and she's going to be even more protective of you after this."

Serena groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I know, I know. I just... I don't know what I was thinking. I just wanted to feel free, to not have to worry about what everyone else thinks all the time."

I nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for the young woman. "I know it's not easy, Serena, but you can't just run away from your problems. Chiara loves you, and she's only trying to keep you safe. But you've got to find a way to balance that with your own need for independence and self-discovery."

Serena looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I don't know how to do that, Mark. Chiara is always on my case, and I just feel like I can't breathe sometimes."

I sighed, wishing I had a simple answer to offer her. "I wish I could tell you it's easy, Serena, but the truth is, it's not. It's going to take time and effort, and a lot of communication between you and Chiara. But I know you're strong, and I know you can do it."

Serena nodded, though she still looked uncertain. "I guess we should head back, huh?" she said, her voice resigned.

"Yeah, I think that's probably a good idea," I replied, putting a hand on her shoulder and guiding her towards the car. "But don't worry, Serena, I'll be there with you. We'll face Chiara together, and we'll figure this out, okay?"

Serena managed a small smile, and I could see the relief in her eyes. "Okay, Mark. Thank you for coming to get me."

As we drove back to the airport, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in Serena. She was still young and impulsive, but there was a maturity and resilience to her that I couldn't help but admire.

And I knew that with the right support and guidance, she would be able to navigate the challenges of growing up and finding her own path in life.

Of course, I also knew that facing Chiara was going to be a whole other challenge.

She was going to be furious, and I was going to have to do my best to smooth things over and convince her that Serena was safe and sound.

But I was determined to do whatever it took to help these two sisters work through their differences and come out stronger on the other side.

As we boarded the plane and prepared for the long flight back home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread and anticipation.

I knew that the road ahead was going to be a rocky one, but I was ready to face it head-on. After all, I had made a promise to Chiara, and I wasn't about to break it.

No matter what it took, I was going to make sure that Serena made it back home safely, and that she and Chiara could find a way to mend their relationship.