Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 61

The figure standing in the doorway exuded an air of elegance combined with an intimidating chill. It was Aaron Vance, the man Bella had heard so much about yet never met until now.

"Mr. Vance..." The moment Bella laid eyes on Aaron, she couldn't look away.

He was strikingly handsome.

No wonder Serena had been infatuated with him for seven long years.

Aaron's gaze fell icily on the jewelry scattered across the table. These were pieces marked by time, astonishingly beautiful, yet they were left carelessly exposed to the air. His eyes narrowed as he strode into the villa, and the atmosphere in the room immediately turned tense and heavy.

Everyone instinctively stepped back, driven by a sudden wave of fear.

Bella, overwhelmed and unsure of what to do, cried out, "Mom! Mom!"

Penelope rushed down from the master bedroom on the second floor. Her expression shifted

had expected Serena might return.

Vance," Penelope greeted with a forced smile, trying to mask her unease, "What a surprise! To what do

meet hers. "I'm here

Aaron's words suggested he was here

didn't love Serena. Why would

one possibility emerged: Aaron was interested in Serena's antiques. That would explain why he stayed with her despite

towards Bella. "Mr. Vance, could

on the couch, his long legs elegantly crossed. "Anything you have to say can be

took a step

collection of antiques... If there's anything you

tilted his head, studying the middle-aged woman before him. Time had been kind to her; she was still quite beautiful, and he could even see traces of Serena in her features. But unlike Serena, whose eyes were clear and innocent, Penelope's were