Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 210

The private room had fallen silent.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on the woman who'd just spoken-Bella Brooks.

Serena hadn't expected to see Bella here. Most of the people in this room were old classmates, kids from families just as prominent as her own used to be. After her father's death, though, the Sullivans' standing in Northspire had been slipping further and further.

She never imagined Bella would make it into this circle.

Gabrielle, who'd been living abroad, naturally didn't know much about Serena's past-but Aaron did, and so did Gabrielle.

"Serena, who is that?" Gabrielle asked, lowering her voice. "She looks like she's got it out for you."

"She's Penelope's daughter," Serena replied quietly.

Gabrielle's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. A sneer curled across her lips. "Oh, so that's who she is. The daughter of the mistress. Well, I'm the host today, and let me make this clear: people like that aren't welcome here. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave right now."

Her father's gone, and she's not 'Miss Sullivan' anymore. Once I get back what's rightfully mine the antique-she'll have nothing left. If

temper flared. "You've got some nerve coveting Serena's things. I swear, I'm going to

word, she lunged

an athlete. In

lunatic! Let go of me!" The others rushed to break up

eyes flickering with emotion. She and Gabrielle had only ever been desk mates-hardly even friends-and only for three years at that. But watching Gabrielle go to bat for her, unleashing on

group managed to pull the

against their grip, breathless with rage. "Let go of me! I've

was truly furious, the others quickly hustled Bella

run away, big talker! Coward! Bella, don't let me catch you again—if I

at a loss for

while before Gabrielle finally calmed down.

silence for fear, she thumped her chest and declared, "Don't worry, Serena-I've got your back. I