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.

wasn't the time to lay

as for the marriage license... he still wasn't

peered at him over the rim of her glass, her

though he

down and leaned in, closing the distance between them. A faint, fresh scent clung to her, making William

furrowed her brow, a soft, troubled sound escaping

felt his heart leap into his

think it was wrong of us to pick

trembled, her

in 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,

your birthday, to bring you a cake. But you never wanted anything bad to happen to him. You weren't to blame, not for

and she nearly

He'd brought her here, knowing her guilt, just

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 here for you. Every step of the way, until you're

at him,

slipped free, tracing

the couch, her