Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 221

Serena didn't give it much thought and simply followed Abby into the recording hall.

Inside, aside from the production crew for *Antiquities Gambit*, there were only three others present-the contestants.

There were supposed to be five contestants in total.

Which meant one person hadn't arrived yet.

At Abby's direction, Serena took a seat beside the other three.

The contestants, sizing up Serena-so young, strikingly pretty, and hardly looking

like an antiques expert-immediately seemed less interested in her.

Just then, someone called out, "She's here, she's here! Miss Lynwood just arrived!"

At the sound of "Lynwood," Serena instinctively thought of one person.

She looked up and, sure enough, saw Cynthia Lynwood gliding in from the doorway. Serena's eyes flickered, but her face gave nothing away.

at once and strode over with infectious enthusiasm. "Serena! I didn't expect to see you

held out her hand, eager for a

a step back,

across

I had no idea you two actually knew each other! Well, let me do a quick introduction. This is Cynthia Lynwood-Miss Lynwood. She's an amateur collector, not exactly an expert in the field,

one who asks the questions everyone at home is probably wondering

very generous sponsor. That was why Abby's boss had come rushing in with last-minute changes

to replace Serena-after all, she

only because Abby argued her case that Serena got to

contestants weren't naïve. Still, nobody minded a well-connected contestant-after all, who in their right mind would turn down

them stepped forward to shake Cynthia's

Except for Serena.

and moved on

a short, round man from the university's history

gentleman described as a private

Rosa Fairchild, director of the city

saved Serena's introduction for