Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 259

"What's wrong?" Serena asked. She was the kind of person who couldn't hide her feelings, and Gabrielle spotted her unease right away.

Gabrielle looked embarrassed. "I... my phone's acting up... Um, I brought you a little gift from my trip..."

"Gabrielle, hand me your phone," Serena said, reaching out with a tone that brooked no argument.

Gabrielle hesitated, clearly reluctant.

"If you won't give me yours, I'll check my own." Serena's words left no room for protest.

Left with no choice, Gabrielle handed over her phone.

Before Serena could finish scrolling, Gabrielle blurted out, "Serena, don't pay attention to what people are saying online. They're just making things up."

But Serena ignored her and kept reading.

Since the latest episode aired, the show had shot to the top of the trending charts again. This time, though, it wasn't just Serena's name everyone was talking about -Cynthia Lynwood and Rosa were trending, too.

she was apparently Aaron's girlfriend, sparking rumors that

in the comments section. Someone claimed the only reason Serena answered every question correctly was because she had a special relationship with the show's director, who had supposedly fed her the

like a bombshell,

cue, someone exposed that Cynthia had joined the show with backing from a sponsor. That left only Rosa as the so-called "real deal"-the only contestant

taking it all in before finally handing the phone

her face. "Don't let this get to you, Serena. I'll go home right now and ask my dad to run some PR

quietly reading the accusations online,

Serena and Gabrielle looked up at him

even sparkled with a hint of excitement. The last time Serena was hospitalized, William had taken care of her all night, and Gabrielle had been impressed with him ever since. If Serena and William

"I'll just—"

we get a

lip. "But we can't just sit here and let them spread lies about

her temples, a hint of fatigue in her expression. "No matter what we say,

cheated. If

posts or

the public more suspicious. Right now, the best thing we can do is