Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 258

William's eyes flashed as he met Aaron's gaze across the dimly lit corridor.

A silent tension simmered between them-unspoken words and hidden motives swirling beneath the surface.

No one could say how long the standoff lasted. Suddenly, a nurse's voice cut through the quiet: "You two at the end—it's late! Head back to your rooms, please!"

At her urging, William finally broke eye contact. He spun his wheelchair around and rolled back toward his hospital room.

Aaron was just about to follow when his phone buzzed. Cynthia Lynwood's name lit up the screen-again.

He answered. On the other end, Cynthia's voice was ragged with fear: "Aaron, please you have to help me! I...I'm being "

"What's happening?" Aaron's brow furrowed in concern. But all he could hear now was Cynthia's frantic, uneven breathing.

He glanced back toward William's room, hesitated for a heartbeat, then turned and hurried away.

***

surprised to find William

her even more was the calm that greeted her; for the first time in days,

mixture

"How are

learned the real reason Serena had collapsed: she'd simply fainted from hunger. The explanation didn't

sent Finn to

few days ago, Penelope had come by to see Serena. No one knew what they'd talked about, but neighbors recalled that Serena had seemed

course, William couldn't just

from the hallway interrupted his thoughts: "Excuse me,

recognized the voice

Gabrielle herself swept into the room, her silhouette

and threw her arms around her. "Finally! I've been searching everywhere for you. Why

across Gabrielle's usually

viral. Eager to see her

end, it was a well-meaning neighbor who told her

her voice. "If you keep this up, you'll have to come stay at my place. My housekeeper will make