Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 3

The antique collection from the mansion filled over a dozen moving trucks before it was finally cleared out.

As Serena stared at the now half-empty mansion, she felt an unsettling emptiness inside herself, as if she too had been hollowed out.-

She took out her phone and looked at the calendar, suddenly realizing that her birthday was the day before she was scheduled to leave.

Every holiday season, Cynthia Lynwood would inevitably call Aaron, and this had left Serena with a sort of PTSD about celebrations, causing her to forget her own birthday.

But once she left Aaron, she would finally be able to live a normal life.

Filled with hope, Serena drifted off to sleep. The next morning, she found herself at the doorstep of the home she and Aaron had shared as newlyweds.

Aaron had originally paid for the house in full. Yet, Serena insisted on sharing the cost.

To her, this was their home, and both of them needed to contribute to truly call it that. Despite having no liquid funds at the time, she had painfully parted with her cherished pair of Tri-Glaze Pottery.

one of

was puzzled when the lock

based on her and Aaron's birthdays-there was no way it could

voice from inside, followed by a

are you?" Serena

you?" the woman shot

Serena saw Cynthia Lynwood emerging from the bedroom in

into their

let out a bitter laugh, "Who

Serena. She had moved in precisely because she knew it was Serena

could stay, Serena. Don't you get it? Aaron only has room

her phone and called the property management office: "Yes, hello? My

arrived. But it wasn't property management.

in, coldness emanating from his every feature. His handsome face was as icy as frost, and when he saw Serena, his eyes flashed with irritation.