Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 220

Beneath their feet, expensive velvet carpets covered the marble floor.

Oil paintings-each one rare and valuable-adorned the walls, every piece set in a finely crafted frame. Ornate gold trim caught the light, glittering like stardust scattered across the room.

"Miss Chatham," greeted a woman in her thirties as she approached. She wore a striking red dress that hugged her figure, and her face was both elegant and beautiful. "It's been too long."

Gabrielle didn't bother with pleasantries. "So, any new faces lately?"

"Oh, absolutely." The woman smiled, but there was nothing flirtatious or sycophantic about it. "This way, please."

She led them into a private lounge, handed Gabrielle a roster, and quietly slipped away.

Gabrielle slid the roster across the table to Serena. "Go ahead, pick anyone you like! Don't be shy."

Serena grimaced. "I really don't need this."

"Trust me," Gabrielle replied, dead serious. "Serena, you absolutely need this."

Gabrielle pressed on. "Do you know

"Why?"

matter which one you choose. So, why shouldn't

Serena stared, bewildered. "What...?"

"Come on, pick someone."

respond, the

there's trouble-the police are here for some reason. You'd better slip out the back,

Serena's hand, and they

Northspire's most prominent families were making a

"Wasn't this place supposed to be safe? How did the police find it?

they ran

insisted on trying a third

the police were waiting

you kidding me?" Gabrielle groaned. "Do I have a tracking device on me

crackdown tonight," Serena offered, unbothered. Truthfully, she

just hit a bar and

found it dull. By ten