Chapter 5

Clement suddenly said, "Ms. Jansen, have you ever considered joining Turner Group? I can offer you—" Before he could finish, Serena's rejection rang out, loud and clear. "No!" Watching her slender figure disappear, a flicker of something flashed in Clement's eyes—admiration, maybe even a hint of intrigue. … Another task on her checklist was completed. Serena rested at the hotel for half a day before heading back to the villa, only to find the garden in complete disarray. Wendy was wearing Serena's clothes, draped in an expensive wool shawl, acting like the lady of the house. She was instructing the maids to uproot the well-tended flowers. The moment she spotted Serena step out of the car, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She hadn't even gotten the chance to send a video to provoke her, yet Serena had already rushed back, unable to hold her frustration. Perfect. With a bright smile, Wendy greeted her cheerfully. "Serena, what brings you back? Zach said you'd be staying at a hotel for the next few days. He told me to make myself at home." She covered her lips and coughed softly. "It's my fault. My body is just so sensitive. I can't stand pollen. I even made Zach stay up late taking care of me. You're not upset with me, are you?" Serena's gaze swept over the wilting flowers, her expression cold and indifferent. After she left Zarena Group, Zach worried she would be bored. Knowing her love for gardening, he had gathered rare flowers for her. Some had been so delicate that it took her months to nurture them and get them to bloom. The day the first flower bloomed, she had sent Zach a picture, telling him she wanted to use them for her wedding bouquet. Now, they were nothing but rotting dirt. "Good job. Keep going." She retracted her gaze and headed upstairs. Wendy's smile froze. She had been expecting Serena to explode with rage, but Serena… was calm. … Inside her bedroom, Serena looked around the space she had lived in for years. It felt hollow. Even though she and Zach had always slept in separate rooms, everything in her space had been paired—toothbrushes, towels, stuffed animals, pajamas, pillows… She grabbed a black garbage bag and stuffed everything inside. She made five trips back and forth, but with all the maids busy in the garden, no one noticed her. On her last trip back, Zach had just stepped out of his car. He rushed into the living room and straight up the stairs, not even sparing her a glance. As Serena walked past his bedroom, she heard Wendy's tearful voice. "Zach, I should move out… Those flowers…" She coughed weakly. "Don't be silly. They're just flowers. If she likes them, she can plant them again. Your health is what matters most. Stop crying. Look at you, all teary-eyed like a kitten." Zach's gentle, comforting voice filled the room, each word cutting through her heart like a blade. Back in her room, she packed up the last of her things and zipped up her suitcase. Just as she did, the door swung open. "Rena, you—" Zach's heart tightened when he saw the empty closet. "Where are your belongings?" Serena turned to look at him, a faint smirk curling on her lips. "Isn't it normal to replace old things with new ones?" Zach froze. Something about that felt off to him. But he had already promised her they would get their marriage certificate next week. Once that happened, their relationship would change. It was only natural for her to replace things. Besides, she had come back to the villa, just as he had asked, to take care of Wendy. It could only mean that she wasn't upset about last night. Zach didn't think too much about it. Pushing aside his unease, he stepped forward, his hand moving to ruffle her hair like he always did. "I know you're upset. Why don't you take the next few days to shop and relax? I already had Morton find a suitable place for Wendy. She'll move out next Monday. After that, everything in my room will be replaced with whatever you want, okay?" Serena sighed inwardly. Her voice was eerily calm. "Zach, after we get married, do you still plan on taking care of Wendy like this?" Hearing her bring up marriage herself, Zach felt reassured. He bent slightly, meeting her gaze, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Don't be jealous, and don't cause trouble. Be good." "Alright." Serena nodded. She wouldn't be jealous. She wouldn't make a fuss. Before she could return to the hotel, an unexpected call came from the Foster residence. Zach's grandfather, Neal Foster, had spoken—Zach was to bring Serena back for a family dinner. Since the founding of Zarena Group, Zach's status within the Foster family had skyrocketed. His father, Kendrick Foster, who had once refused to acknowledge him, had transformed into a kind and doting parent. He often praised Zach as his most outstanding son in public. But for Serena, every family dinner was a battlefield she knew she couldn't avoid. The Fosters didn't know her real background. To them, she was just an orphan. … "Zach, I'm a little nervous. Do you think your family will like me?" Sitting in the passenger seat, Wendy's cheeks flushed as she glanced at Zach, who was driving. Zach had never brought his assistant when he returned to the Foster residence. He didn't respond. Instead, he glanced into the rearview mirror. Serena had stubbornly chosen to sit in the backseat. His lips pressed into a thin line. She was throwing a tantrum again. She had outright refused to sit in the front seat, just because he insisted on bringing Wendy to the Foster residence. They couldn't just leave her home alone. After all, she was still recovering. The atmosphere in the car was tense. However, Wendy acted as if she didn't notice. She occasionally turned back to make conversation with Serena. When she was ignored, she simply pouted and turned to Zach for comfort. Serena couldn't be bothered to watch any longer, so she simply closed her eyes to rest. Somehow, during the 40-minute drive, she dozed off. By the time they arrived and she stepped out of the car, she was still a little groggy. "If you didn't want to come, you could've just told me. This is the Foster residence. Don't throw a tantrum here." A hushed reprimand came from above her head. Serena looked up and met Zach's gaze, his eyes laced with faint disdain. Ever since she had stepped away from the spotlight, Zach rarely took her to public events. She had always thought it was his way of protecting her, that he never wanted her to socialize or entertain. But now, for the first time, it occurred to her—perhaps his reluctance had never been about protecting her at all. Maybe it was because he was ashamed of her. "Mr. Zach, welcome back!" The butler, Alger Cobbett, greeted them warmly, his eyes darting between Serena and Wendy with a subtle look of confusion. "And this is…" "Hello, I'm Zach's friend. I hope I'm not intruding." Wendy's voice was sweet and polite as she took the opportunity to slip her arm through Zach's, a gesture meant to display closeness. Understanding dawned on Alger's face. He cast a brief, sympathetic glance at Serena before bowing slightly and stepping aside. "Mr. Zach, Mr. Foster Senior and Mr. Foster are waiting in the study. Mrs. Foster is in the living room." As Wendy took in the grand, opulent mansion before her, her eyes shimmered with excitement. She thought, one day, all of this would belong to her. "Serena, let's go inside. We shouldn't keep the Fosters waiting." Her voice was light, her hand still clutching Zach's as she led him inside. Any trace of the nervousness she had displayed in the car had vanished. Serena watched them walk ahead, arm in arm, and felt an overwhelming urge to turn and leave. But there were things she had yet to resolve. Now was not the time to confront Zach. Besides, Neal had always treated her well. His health had been declining lately, and she didn't want to cause unnecessary conflict at the Foster residence. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and stepped inside a few minutes later. She had barely entered the front hall when she heard Clara Castro's voice, sharp and laced with disdain. "Zach, you truly have a knack for picking up strays. It was one thing to bring home an orphan girl, but now you're turning this house into a shelter for just anyone?"