"Nina..."
Serena sat down next to Nina. Knowing how upset she was, she reached out to hug her.
Nina couldn’t hold it in any longer, and tears burst from her eyes.
She hugged Serena tightly and sobbed:
"Serena, was I wrong? I just want to protect my child from being hard. What right does he have to bla ?
His child with another woman isn’t going to survive. What does that have to do with ?"
Serena patted her back, whispering softly to console her:
"Of course. Nina, don’t feel guilty about this. It’s all his fault. He has no right to bla anyone else."
She knew the child, Clentine, was in a pitiful state.
But she was born at the wrong ti.
She could only hope that in her next life, the girl would be reborn into a whole family, healthy and strong, with a loving mother and father by her side, so she wouldn’t have to endure the tornt of illness again.
"Serena, I’m in so much pain."
Nina’s voice was choked with sobs as she clung to Serena, crying:
"He only thinks about himself, without any regard for how our son and I feel. If he really refuses to grant a divorce, what am I going to do!"
She knew what kind of person Quinn Gardner was. When he was ruthless, he would stop at nothing.
Moreover, he and Ethan Yardley were powerful enough to do as they pleased. With a single word from them, no lawyer would dare to take her case.
He might even twist the facts and turn around to bla her.
She knew deep down that she was no match for the treacherous and cunning Quinn Gardner.
"Don’t be afraid, Nina. He’s the one at fault. He deceived you into marriage and then held Leo captive. The law is just; it won’t let a villain get away with it."
Although Serena didn’t know Quinn Gardner well, she figured that no matter how powerful he was, he still had to abide by the law.
He was emotionally blackmailing his own son to save his daughter. What right did he have to refuse a divorce and then bla soone else?
He didn’t deserve to be a husband or a father.
"You’re right. I shouldn’t be afraid of him. Why should I be afraid of him?"
Nina pulled herself together, composing herself. After all, she had already submitted the evidence of Quinn Gardner’s marital deception and of him holding their son captive to the court.
The court would surely deliver a just verdict.
"Nina, where’s Leo?"
Serena asked.
Nina gestured upstairs. "I had Julian take him up there."
"That’s good. Don’t be afraid, Nina. I’ll always be on your side."
"Mm-hmm."
Having soone else there with her helped Nina feel more at ease.
...
That evening, Ethan Yardley checked Serena’s location on his phone.
When he saw she was still next door and hadn’t co ho, a familiar sour feeling crept into his heart.
’A whole week has passed. Is she just trying to defy ? Not coming ho, not contacting at all.’
Sitting in the living room, Ethan fought the urge to get up, go next door, and drag her back. But he was always the one to compromise, and this ti, he was unwilling to swallow his pride and go to her first.
Seeing Mrs. Miller approaching with a fruit platter, Ethan ordered, "Go next door and get Serena."
With Serena not ho for the past two days, it had just been him and Vivian Lynch in the house. He’d found it inconvenient, so he had firmly sent Vivian away and called for Mrs. Miller.
Mrs. Miller set down the fruit platter. "Yes, sir."
...
Next door.
Serena was just about to get ready for bed when Julian Thorne’s voice ca from outside the door. "Serena, Mrs. Miller is here asking for you."
Serena had no choice but to go downstairs. Seeing Mrs. Miller, she asked with concern, "Mrs. Miller, you’re out of the hospital! Are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Serena. I’m much better. It’s getting late, you should go ho and rest. Sir is waiting for you."
Mrs. Miller said politely.
Serena thought about how that man didn’t trust her. If she went back, they would just end up staring at each other in awkward silence. She didn’t want to go back.
She said petulantly, "I’m not going back. Tell him not to wait up."
"Why not? It’s just a few minutes’ walk. Co on, or Sir will get angry again."
Serena hesitated.
Julian Thorne ca down from upstairs and said, "Go on back, Serena. Just explain things to Ethan properly. I’m sure he won’t let his imagination run wild."
"..."
In the end, she followed Mrs. Miller back ho.
As she stepped into the house, her eyes fell on the brightly lit living room. There on the sofa sat an elegant man dressed in loungewear.
Seeing that his face was as black as thunder, Serena’s own expression soured, and she headed upstairs without a word.
Ethan watched her go, not saying a word either.
After sitting in the living room for a while longer, he went upstairs. He hesitated at their bedroom door for a good while before finally entering the master bedroom.
Serena had already settled into bed.
And she was sleeping right in the middle of the big bed.
She assud he wouldn’t be sleeping in the master bedroom, so she hadn’t left any space for him.
Ethan’s tall fra stood by the bed. Though reluctant, he swallowed his pride and got in.
He lay down right next to Serena.
Since Serena didn’t move over, the slightest turn would send him rolling off the bed.
He nudged her. "Move over."
With her back to him, Serena shifted over a little, still not saying a word or even glancing at him.
Ethan watched her, feeling a knot of annoyance in his chest that she was still giving him the silent treatnt.
"Serena Yardley."
He called out her na, his voice low.
Serena didn’t answer.
Ethan reached out and tugged at her. "Serena Yardley, what is your problem?"
"Don’t touch ."
She slapped his hand away.
’Who’s making a fuss? He’s the one who said I was so forward with every man. He’s the one who doesn’t trust , so what is he doing in my bed? If he thinks I’m so improper, why did he even call back, let alone get into bed with ?’
"I really... want to spank you."
Ethan threw back the covers and landed a smack on her bottom.
Feeling the sting, Serena shot up, clutching her backside and glaring at the man before her. "You hit ?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his gaze a mixture of anger and fond exasperation. "Didn’t you deserve it?"
"How did I deserve that?"
"For not listening to ."
"Am I the one not listening? You’re the one who insulted ."
Serena felt deeply wronged. Pouting, her eyes welled up with tears.
Ethan was speechless.
He hadn’t even done anything to her, and she was already on the verge of tears again.
A sharp pain tugged at his heart. In the end, he was the first to give in. He reached out and pinched her cheek.
"All right, now. No crying."
"Who’s crying? Why do you have to be so violent all the ti?"
Thinking of all the hurt she had been holding in for the past few days, Serena ignored him, pulled the blanket over her head, and sulked alone in the darkness.
Seeing her like this, Ethan felt as if he had committed so terrible, unforgivable cri.
He lay down as well, reaching out to embrace her.
"Serena, be good. Let’s stop fighting."
"I’m not the one fighting. You’re the one who found disgusting, who wouldn’t let touch you. So don’t you touch now. Go sleep in the other room."
She pulled his hands off her, putting distance between them.
Just as Ethan was about to try coaxing her again, a phone on the nightstand suddenly buzzed with a notification.
Thinking it was his, he picked it up and unlocked the screen.
When he saw who the WeChat ssage was from, his expression changed instantly, his eyes blazing with fury.
On the screen was a ssage from Gabriel Galloway: [Serena, I still can’t forgive myself. I’m sorry.]
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