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?

choice, Gabrielle reached out

you've really been through a lot while I've been gone. Listen, when I get back, I'll make my mom introduce you to

bit as dramatic as Frederick's. But somehow, Serena never found herself annoyed by Gabrielle. Maybe that's just how friendship works-double

So she simply replied, "Thanks.

"Okay, okay."

picked up the notice slipped underneath. The brightness in

was out of the picture? Those heirlooms were more precious than life itself to her dad. Even when things were at their worst, he'd

deep breath,

her father could keep them safe, so

could match him—maybe even surpass him. Even if she had to give up a few antiques, that was still better than

laptop and started researching

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

at a time, but not a single