Chapter 52
The car door shut with a dull thud, sealing off all sound from both sides.
Zach didn’t hold back. “So, you’d rather be Hugh’s mistress than come back to me? Serena, if you’re willing, we can still go back to how things used to be. We can get married, just as long as —
Before he could finish, Serena cut in and retorted, “As long as I can peacefully coexist with Wendy, right? Zach, are you out of your mind? If I go back to you under these conditions, how is that any different from being someone’s mistress?”
Just then, Wendy walked over, her eyes red and filled with tears.
“Serena! You’ve misunderstood Zach. He’s only worried about you making the wrong choices. Besides, wouldn’t it be better if we all just get along?
“My health is poor. I won’t be able to take care of Zach for much longer. Once I’m gone, he’ll be yours forever…”
Serena scoffed. “Even stray animals know to slink away when they’re about to die. But you, Wendy? You cling to Zach like a parasite. You don’t look like someone who’s dying at all. With Zach to hold onto, are you really in a hurry to leave this world?”
“… Serena, how could you say that? I never wanted to come between you and Zach…”
“Oh, I know. You’re not here to break up the family. Instead, you’re here to join it. But I don’t want this family anymore. You two can do whatever you want. Just keep it out of my sight.” Serena’s words came sharp and fast, hitting like bullets.
She walked right up to Wendy and looked down at her tear–streaked face, then continued, “You’re such a terrible actress, but Zach actually buys it. He’s given you his heart and will bend over backward for you. I can’t tell which one of you is more dumb.”
“Serena, you –”
Unable to handle the repeated blows, Wendy lost her balance. While clutching her chest, she collapsed to the ground.
Zach reacted quickly and caught her just in time.
“Serena! You know she has asthma! How dare you say all that to her?”
“Zach, you know I never have nice things to say to outsiders, so how dare you still bring Wendy to see me? If you weren’t so greedy–wanting everything and everyone–she wouldn’t have to suffer through this, would she?”
Serena’s gaze was eerily calm.
Outsider?
Zach stared at her, stunned. After 13 years together, he was now just an outsider?
He had been thinking about giving her that business project just days ago. And today, she was cutting him off completely.
Fine.
Zach’s eyes burned red with anger. Without another word, he lifted Wendy and turned to leave.
As he brushed past Serena, his shoulder slammed into hers. Pain shot through her, but what hit her harder was the quiet, creeping sense of aggrievance.
She had already left. So, why did she still have to endure their endless humiliation?
Serena pressed her lips together and deliberately called out, “Oh, that’s right, Zach. Didn’t you say you still wanted me back? I’ll give you a chance.” “What?” Zach halted mid–step.
Wendy’s fingers tightened around his collar as she grew anxious. Zach was still stopping for Serena.
Serena smiled. “Get rid of Wendy, and I’ll consider coming back to you. How about that?”
The air turned frigid. Zach’s face darkened instantly, as did Wendy’s.
Still holding Wendy’s trembling form, Zach said nothing. He simply turned and carried her into the Rolls–Royce before driving off without a backward glance. Serena stood where she was and watched the car disappear with a cold smirk.
“Just as expected.”
Then, she slid into the car.
In the backseat, Hugh was reclining with his eyes closed. He had probably drifted off due to exhaustion.
Serena carefully shut the door and signaled to the driver to go.
The scenery outside blurred past.
Suddenly, Hugh’s deep, magnetic voice cut through the silence. “Aren’t you going to explain?”
Serena was startled and flinched. A beat later, she casually brushed off the dust from her shoulder–the same spot where Zach had bumped into her. Her voice was nonchalant as she said, “A scumbag and a shameless woman finally getting together isn’t worth talking about
