Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 285

The hallway was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

For a long while, Gabrielle just stood there, frozen. Finally, she managed to force out a few words through gritted teeth. "I don't believe it..."

"Miss Chatham, it's the truth." Penelope couldn't hold it in any longer-she broke down, sobbing. "Serena's father died because of her. If she hadn't insisted he come back for her birthday, he wouldn't have driven all night. If she hadn't begged for that cake from Buttercream Bliss Bakery, he wouldn't have turned the car around he wouldn't have crashed into that truck. She's the reason he died, and she doesn't even remember. The rest of us are the ones left grieving."

Penelope's cries grew louder, echoing down the empty corridor.

Gabrielle was speechless.

She turned to Serena, her face suddenly twisting with emotion. "Serena."

"Don't come near me!" Serena's face had gone ghostly pale. She staggered back

a step, then suddenly clutched her head in agony. "Just-stay away..."

Her body swayed unsteadily, as if she might collapse at any moment.

and Gabrielle looked on, their eyes filled with worry, but neither dared to

Serena pressed her hands harder against her temples, desperate to

each blow crushing her heart, grinding it to

began to creep in, threads unraveling one by one, until the truth-bloody

Penelope hadn't lied.

really was her

birthday. She'd waited and waited, counting down the days. The night before, she'd called him, giddy

But he'd completely forgotten.

until he finally gave in and promised he'd

a whim, she remembered the cake her favorite, from Buttercream Bliss Bakery. She wanted it so badly, but Penelope had never

and always snapped at her whenever she asked

Serena had crept upstairs in secret and called her

"Of course, sweetheart. Anything for my little

finish, Serena heard a

Now,

hers, pulling her back from