Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 249

When they arrived at Giles's villa, Serena and William barely had time to catch their breath before they pushed open the front door-and froze. Finn was tied up in the living room, duct tape plastered across his mouth, his muffled cries little more than desperate whimpers.

Serena rushed over and yanked the tape off. "Where's Giles?" she demanded.

Finn gasped for air, his voice shaky. "He's... he's in the study."

Serena didn't wait another second. She strode quickly down the hall, threw open the study door, and found Giles himself bound to a chair, tape covering his mouth.

For a moment, relief flickered through Serena-at least Giles was safe at home. She'd assumed he'd skipped the court hearing on purpose. But now the truth hit her: he'd been tied up all along.

She hurried to his side, carefully peeled the tape from his mouth, and asked, "Who did this to you?"

"I have no idea." Giles took a few deep breaths, his voice trembling. "This morning, someone knocked at the door. I thought it was someone from Mr. William's office, so I answered it. Next thing I knew, two men in ski masks forced their way in and tied me up."

furrowed. "Did they hurt you? Did they take

think so." Giles finally managed to free himself from the ropes. He stood, checked every room in the house, and returned to the living room shaking

at Serena, who was untying Finn. "So those men did all this just to stop Mr. Weatherly from

her expression dark. "From what Nestor Leighton said, he

watched her, concern etched on his face. There were things he wanted to say, but they sounded too harsh,

beautiful, but edged with pain. "I'll be fine," she whispered, lowering her eyes, her lashes trembling. "If Nestor Leighton didn't know about Mr. Weatherly, he couldn't

drew a shaky breath. "But there's someone else who wouldn't want me

sorrow mingled in her

But to go this far-to block

judgment really

conclusions," William said quietly, his tone conflicted. "It