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 to Serena to

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

to love was every bit as dramatic as Frederick's. But somehow, Serena never

simply replied, "Thanks. I've got something to take care of now, so I'll talk to

"Okay, okay."

walked to the front door, and picked up the notice slipped underneath. The brightness

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 things were at their worst, he'd never once

drew a deep breath, her eyes

her father could keep them

Leighton might be formidable, but there were lawyers out there who could match him—maybe even surpass him. Even if she

Serena opened her laptop and

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

but