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

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

rim of her glass,

beat, though he kept

glass down and leaned in, closing the distance between them. A faint,

a soft, troubled sound escaping her lips.

felt his heart leap into his throat. "What is

was wrong of us to pick a fight and beat someone up like

voice trembled, her

exhaled in relief, easing

gently put some space between them 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

like your father's accident. Sure, he got in that crash coming home for your birthday, to bring you a cake. But you never wanted anything bad to happen to him. You weren't

and she nearly

He'd brought her here, knowing her guilt,

your life there, celebrating your birthday together. That's not something to feel guilty about. I know healing from this

at

tracing silent paths down her cheeks.

collapsed onto the couch, her face ashen and drained of