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 sitting by

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

home?" she asked, a mixture of gratitude and

are you feeling? Any

morning and learned the real reason Serena had collapsed: she'd simply

Finn to look into

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

couldn't just ask Serena

hallway interrupted his thoughts: "Excuse me, does a Miss Serena Sullivan

the voice

Gabrielle herself swept into the room,

she saw Serena, she rushed over and threw her arms around her. "Finally! I've been searching

Gabrielle's usually

had stumbled across the news online-Serena's recent TV appearance had gone viral. Eager to see her friend, Gabrielle had tried to get in touch, but Serena had been impossible

only to find it empty. In the end, it was a well-meaning neighbor who told her Seren@had been hospitalized. Gabrielle had rushed straight to

looking so frail," Gabrielle fussed, concern softening her voice. "If you keep this up, you'll have to come stay at my place. My housekeeper