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.

the time to lay his feelings

still wasn't sure

Serena peered at him over the rim of

though he

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

soft, troubled sound escaping her lips. "Can I ask you

his heart leap into his throat. "What

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

her

relief, easing back just a

on purpose. At most, you could call it... entrapment. But if the

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 to blame,

shimmered, and she nearly blinked away

really intended? He'd brought her here, knowing

as a spring breeze, brushing away her sorrow "You wanted the most important person in your life there, celebrating your

at him,

her tears slipped free, tracing

Penelope collapsed onto the couch, her face ashen and