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 her

that greeted her; for the first time in days, she hadn't woken from a

didn't go home?" she asked, a mixture of gratitude and guilt coloring

gently. "How are you

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

to look into

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

William couldn't

hallway interrupted his thoughts: "Excuse me, does

voice instantly-it

herself swept into the room, her

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

lines across Gabrielle's usually bright face when she

across the news online-Serena's recent TV appearance had gone viral. Eager

found Serena's apartment, 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 the

up, you'll have to