Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 226

Serena blinked rapidly, waiting for the cloud of tears in her eyes to clear before forcing a smile and turning to William. "I'm fine," she managed.

"You don't have to pretend with me. If you want to cry, just let it out. I promise I won't laugh at you." William, ever the gentleman, pulled out a tissue and offered it to her.

Serena shook her head. She had stopped caring a long time ago.

This wasn't her first day knowing Aaron. To put it nicely, Aaron was self-focused; to put it bluntly, he was selfish. Otherwise, the breakup wouldn't have dragged on this long.

William looked at Serena with a mix of concern and lightheartedness. "Are you sure? My shoulder's available if you need it. Let me tell you, it's the kind of shoulder ninety million girls would love to lean on, you know..."

Serena couldn't help but laugh. "That's the lamest joke I've ever heard."

"I'm just stating facts."

"I don't buy it. There's no way ninety million girls like you." Her eyes brightened, but a smile tugged at her lips.

"Ninety million is just the start. From grandmas in their eighties to preschoolers, they all adore me. So if you want to lean on this once-in-a-lifetime shoulder, you'd better hurry up-opportunities like this don't come twice."

growing. "Thanks,

chatting with William for a while, she felt a weight

her finally relax, William's own face warmed with an easy

"Serena," he said softly.

"Yeah?"

you'll meet someone who

turned, meeting his gentle gaze. She smiled, grateful,

her. But she knew, with a certainty that hurt, that she'd

the shadow behind it. He could tell-Serena had changed since he'd come back to Alderburg. She'd

an hour later, the car pulled up in front of

hesitated, not quite ready to leave her alone. With a teasing smile, he

but thank you.

need to be so formal with me. Oh, by the way, about that

many pastries from

watched her walk into the building before telling the driver

her apartment, bone-tired. She'd just set down her bag when her phone chimed with a