Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 172

Today, Serena was a vision transformed. She had put on makeup with particular care, and the result was enchanting, like a fairy stepping out of a woodland realm.

Her long, carefully curled hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her exquisite and alluring makeup rendered her as radiant and regal as a blooming flower.

Samuel was momentarily struck speechless, staring at her in awe until he finally gathered his wits. "Let me get the car door for you."

"No need, I can manage," Serena said, opening the door herself and sliding into the seat.

Samuel was still lingering in the afterglow of her beauty, his heart pounding wildly. He knew Serena was beautiful, but today she was breathtakingly so.

The thrill of seeing her like this was quickly followed by a stark reminder of reality. Though he'd made a decent living since graduation, his achievements paled in comparison to Aaron's.

"Samuel?" Serena's puzzled voice drew him out of his reverie. "Why aren't we moving?"

Snapping back to the present, Samuel replied, "Oh, right. Let's pick up Joy from school first."

"Okay."

up rather nicely herself, joined them. But beside Serena, her efforts seemed

Joy maintained a sweet smile. "Serena, I have a gift for you. You

hopeful look in his eyes, and then put

of them then headed to a

the average meal cost a little over a hundred dollars-a significant expense for

into his seat, his mind drifted back to college, to the day Serena first introduced Aaron to everyone. He recalled the disdainful look in Aaron's

"You usually eat here?"

a hundred-dollar restaurant-a meal Samuel had saved for two weeks to

with the daydreaming? Order something

and looked at Serena, but his gaze

was that just across the street, Aaron sat in

distraction, Cynthia Lynwood followed Aaron's gaze

Her eyes lit up with a certain

she with VP Lewis?

a soft, derisive snort. "You think they look

you love is happiness,