Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 68

"There's a celebration dinner on Friday. You need to be there."

Another order.

Serena clenched her fists. "I'm not going!"

"You have to!" Aaron's tone was authoritative, leaving no room for argument.

"And what if I just don't go?" Serena bit her lip defiantly.

"There is no 'what if." With that, Aaron turned and walked away, disappearing through the doorway.

Serena picked up the glass in her hand and hurled it toward the door. "Aaron, you're such a jerk!"

Downstairs, Aaron paused briefly before leaving the house.

Over an hour later.

Serena finally composed herself and went downstairs.

The breakfast had gone cold.

Used to fending for herself, Serena headed to the kitchen.

But as she reached for the eggs, she noticed Olivia standing in the doorway.

stood in silence, the

Finally, Olivia spoke. "Pasta?"

Serena nodded.

stepped into the kitchen.

took out a

for a

the way," Olivia said, gently

outside, Serena realized Olivia's

before long, a steaming bowl

"Thank you," Serena said.

said nothing, just turned back

diving into the

excellent, and Serena quickly

carried the bowl back

a sharp

slipped from her grasp, shattering on the

at the sound, finding Serena crouched on

gripped Olivia. "What's

stomach, struggling to speak. "Stomach...

panicked. "Mr. Vance has medicine-I'll

Serena managed to say before losing

she awoke, she was in

caring for her was a

have a stress ulcer. Luckily, it was caught early, so medication should help," Olivia explained, handing a bowl of soup to Serena. "He also mentioned it's stress-related, so you need to manage