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."

you really think Serena is still the same Serena as before? Her father's gone, and she's not 'Miss Sullivan'

flared. "You've got some nerve coveting Serena's things. I swear, I'm going to tear you apart, you shameless little

she lunged at

academics, but she was definitely an athlete.

her face. "Gabrielle, you lunatic! Let go of me!" The others rushed

ever been desk mates-hardly even friends-and only for three years at that. But watching Gabrielle go to bat for her, unleashing on Bella like that, stirred something in Serena's long-frozen

managed to

with rage. "Let go of me! I've never met anyone so vile-I swear,

others quickly hustled

away, big talker! Coward! Bella, don't let me catch

else just stared, at a loss

before Gabrielle finally calmed down.

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