Chapter 2

This time, Wendy's message contained no words, only a photo. It was a photo of Zach asleep. He was lying behind Wendy, his arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he slept soundly. Wendy had a shy, demure smile on her face. Her lips were swollen, and the open collar of her nightgown revealed a trail of faint hickeys down her neck. There was no need to guess what had happened last night. Serena and Zach had been together for five years, yet they had never crossed that final line. In the past, whenever Zach had struggled to hold back, he would pull her into his arms and murmur in a deep, husky voice, "Rena, can you grow up a little faster?" Later on, he stopped holding her that way. He would simply coax her, saying they should wait until they were married. She had always believed it was because he cherished her. Because he loved her. But desire was also another form of love. Serena stared at the photo, tears streaming down her face. It felt as if a piece of her heart had been ripped away, leaving a wound so deep it would never heal. … After breakfast, she went next door to the adjacent villa. Crossing the specially built sky bridge, she stared at the carefully curated garden below. Despite the colorful flowers in full bloom, all she felt was emptiness. These two villas had been bought in full after she and Zach closed a major deal together. The deed was in her name. Zach had said everything he had belonged to her, so he had put them under her name. He had even hired a designer to create a shared garden and a connecting bridge between the two villas. He had told her that if she ever got upset and wanted to go back to her parents' house, she could just move next door. That way, whenever he looked up, he would see her and feel at ease. Now, she was right in front of him every day, yet he never looked at her the same way anymore. She entered the passcode and pushed the door open. The spacious villa wasn't furnished for living but designed like an exhibition hall. Inside, every display case housed a precious porcelain piece—Amber's life's work. Years ago, Serena had carefully placed each piece inside, entrusting both herself and her future to Zach. But now, she would pack them up one by one and take back her future. Her fingers traced the custom glass of a large display case. She paused in front of the largest one. Unlike the others, these pieces weren't delicate or beautiful. Their shapes were uneven, rough, and slightly misshapen. Every year, on the anniversary of Amber's passing, Zach would take her to a pottery studio to make one herself. "Rena, don't be sad," he said. "Let's make something your mom loved. She'll know how much you miss her, and she'll know you're doing better and better." Serena had never inherited Amber's talent. When she first started, she couldn't even shape a piece of clay properly. Back then, Zach hadn't been the powerful CEO he was now. He hadn't had the wealth to indulge in a life of luxury. She still remembered him slightly lowering his head, speaking softly to the studio owner, persuading them to let her stay as long as she needed so she could immerse herself in the craft and find peace. As the years passed, her pottery improved. But the time and patience Zach had for her grew less and less. She opened the display case and picked up the most beautiful hand-painted ceramic jar inside. Their names were written in artistic lettering on the jar, with a heart drawn between them. It looked childish. She remembered that moment. Zach had held her hand, guiding her as they wrote their names together. Overcome with emotion, he had kissed the tip of her ear. His deep voice carried a hint of laughter. "In your mom's eyes, we've already sealed the deal. You can't back out now, okay?" Serena curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile. Everything she had treasured, every beautiful moment, had turned into nothing more than a cruel joke. Her grip loosened and the ceramic jar slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Like the memories she once held dear—fractured, scattered, gone with the wind. … By the time she finished packing everything into the moving trucks, it was already past 4:00 pm. She called the real estate agent, signed the necessary paperwork, finalized the price, and instructed him to officially list the property the following Monday. Once everything was settled, she hailed a cab to a countryside ranch. "You're really going back?" Pauline asked with a sigh of regret. "I always thought you and Zach were inseparable. I thought you two would last forever." Serena said nothing. She simply closed her eyes and leaned back in the rocking chair. For a moment, she could almost hear the faint jingle of Zach's bicycle bell. Then, his bright, youthful voice followed. "Rena, hurry up! You're gonna be late. I brought you a bagel and some milk. Come on!" She forcibly pulled herself out of the memory, opening her eyes to look at the middle-aged woman cutting fruit for her. "Aunt Pauline, back then, you left the Jansen family for a man. Do you regret it?" Pauline's hands stilled for a moment before she resumed cutting. "I had your cousin," she simply replied. Serena couldn't help but wonder whether she regretted it or not. She stared at her, waiting for an answer that never came. Years ago, Howard had tried to force Pauline into an arranged marriage. Instead, she had eloped and severed all ties with the Jansen family. The family disowned her and acted as if she never existed. Yet, when she was about to give birth, that man had disappeared. Now, her son, Derek Warner, was in college, and she was still waiting for the man she had given up everything for. Serena thought to herself, "Love. What did it even mean?" Pauline wiped her hands, then reached out and gently held Serena's wrist. "If you're leaving just because your father forced you, then you really don't have to—" "It's not that. Zach has someone else." Serena shook her head. Her voice was soft, but the words lingered in the air like an echo on the quiet porch. Pauline fell silent. There was nothing more she could say. Serena leaned back in the rocking chair. "I won't let my mother's memorial be removed from Everstead Chapel!" She had always known her father was a selfish man, but she never expected him to stoop this low. He had agreed to that woman's ridiculous request—claiming that since Serena had been away from home for years, the Jansens should disown her, just like they had done to Pauline. And her mother didn't deserve a place in the chapel anymore, either. It was unbelievable. As Serena was leaving, Pauline handed her a small yellow charm pouch. "You asked me to get this for you," she said. Serena didn't open it until she was in the car. Inside was a slip of red paper with a date written on it. It was the date she and Zach had agreed on during their second year together—after she turned 23, they would get married. Pauline was the only family she had left in Yellowbrook City, so she had asked her to visit a church and have a date chosen. She never expected that the day written on the paper would be next Monday. The day she planned to leave Yellowbrook City for good. How ironic. … When she returned to the villa, soft violin music drifted from the living room. Wendy stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, her graceful silhouette bathed in warm golden light. Zach sat on the couch, long legs crossed, listening intently. It was a picture of undeniable intimacy, a scene of a man and his mistress lost in their own world. Serena walked in without hesitation. As soon as Wendy noticed her, she stopped playing and turned with a bright, delicate smile. "Serena, Vincent composed this piece just for me. Zach signed me up for an international competition, but I'm not feeling too confident. Could you listen and give me some advice?" Serena stared at her pale, delicate face. At first, she had been fooled by Wendy's gentle, innocent act. She had lent her dresses and taught her how to play the violin. She had hidden her talents while encouraging Wendy to participate in college competitions, cheering for her achievements. But in the end, Wendy didn't just want the awards—she wanted Zach too. As the silence stretched between them, Wendy suddenly lowered her head, her voice timid. "Serena, are you upset that I'm going to stay here?" Serena's expression darkened instantly. She snapped her head toward Zach. "She's staying?"