Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 228

Serena blinked in surprise. "Wait-you two know each other?"

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Gabrielle's face. She glanced out the window, struggling to find the right words to tell Serena that she was, at this very moment, in Alderburg.

Ever since Gabrielle found out that Serena had been pining after Aaron for seven years, she'd always wondered just how much Serena had suffered. Sure, the internet made keeping in touch easier, but Northspire and Alderburg were two different cities, and not every piece of gossip traveled that far.

So, Gabrielle took matters into her own hands-she hopped on a train to Alderburg herself, determined to get answers. She tracked down Aaron's best friend, Frederick, and did her best to coax information out of him without raising suspicion.

But after hearing Frederick's side of the story, Gabrielle was so furious she ended up trashing his bar. That was how Frederick found out she was Serena's friend. For the sake of dealing with the damages, they exchanged contacts.

The next day, completely out of the blue, Frederick sent her a screenshot from Aaron's social media. No explanation, no greeting-just the image, dropped like a bomb.

Seriously, what was wrong with him?

Gabrielle reached out

I've been gone. Listen, when I get back, I'll make my mom introduce you to the most gorgeous guy she knows- someone who'll help you mend that

couldn't help but rub her forehead. Gabrielle's approach to love was every bit as dramatic as Frederick's. But somehow, Serena never found

she wasn't sure how to convince Gabrielle that she'd truly moved on. So she simply replied, "Thanks. I've got

"Okay, okay."

walked to the front door, and picked up the notice slipped underneath. The brightness in her eyes faded a

she really lost all power to protect her father's antiques now that Aaron was out of the picture? Those heirlooms were more precious than life itself to her dad. Even when

She drew a deep

could keep them

out there who could match him—maybe even surpass him. Even if she had to give

opened her laptop and

stood by his floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the city lights,

a time, but not