Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 293

William tilted his head back ever so slightly, as if invisible hands were strumming the strings of his heart, coaxing out a chaotic, tangled melody.

"So... you're saying you don't love me now?"

Serena let out a bitter laugh. Her striking features, half-hidden behind the rim of her glass, seemed even more beautiful in their sadness. Her eyes shimmered with resignation. "Didn't you once say I'd never make the same mistake twice?"

She paused, her lips tugged into a wry smile. "The truth is, I've already fallen into the same trap twice."

"That's why I've sworn off love for the rest of my life."

William's hands tightened on the armrests. "Are you saying you've fallen for someone other than Aaron?"

Serena took a sip of her wine, the sweet flavor lingering on her tongue, warming her from the inside out.

"If only I had," she murmured. "Maybe then, I could finally let go of the pain from my last relationship."

William sighed in relief.

He watched Serena, her cheeks flushed, somewhere between tipsy and sober. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held back.

time to lay his

license... he still wasn't sure how to bring

peered at him over the rim of her glass, her

beat, though he kept his expression

later, Serena set her glass down and leaned in, closing the distance between them. A faint, fresh scent clung to her, making William freeze, unable to

sound escaping her lips.

heart leap into his throat.

us to pick a fight and beat someone

voice trembled, her

relief, easing back just a

before replying, "First off, I think you've got it wrong. We didn't pick a fight on purpose. At most, you could call it... entrapment. But if the other person had any decency, none of this would

home for your birthday, to

and she nearly

really intended? He'd brought her here, knowing

because you love him," William went on, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, brushing away her sorrow "You wanted the most important person in your life there, celebrating your birthday together. That's not something to feel guilty about. I know healing from this is hard, but I'll be

stared at him,

tears slipped free, tracing silent

collapsed onto the couch, her face ashen and