Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

Chapter 298

The showrunners, for their part, kept silent.

It was as if they were saying, "Throw all the tantrums you want the winner will be Cynthia Lynwood, no matter what."

"This is outrageous!" Gabrielle's blood pressure shot up as she scrolled through the news. "This is definitely Aaron's doing! The producers would never dare pull this off otherwise. I'm reporting this garbage show to the network!"

Serena watched the rerun on TV, Cynthia Lynwood dazzling as ever, but her voice was calm and detached. "Let it go."

"How can you just let it go?" Gabrielle pressed a hand to her chest, fuming. "Cynthia Lynwood didn't just steal your title-she stole your one chance at making history. Eldoria returning those artifacts, it's the first time ever! Do you know how significant that is? No way, I'm reporting them!"

"It's pointless." Serena's tone didn't waver. "Even if you take it to the network, nothing will change."

After all these years, she'd seen through it all.

If Cynthia Lynwood wanted something, Aaron would move heaven and earth to get it for her—even if she asked for the moon. Compared to that, a spot in a televised competition was nothing.

her down, but no one picked up. Worried that Gabrielle might do something to provoke Aaron, Serena

Two hours later-

arrived at the

parents greeted her at the door, recognizing

exclaimed, warmly taking Serena's hand. "Are you here for Gabby? She stormed out about an hour ago, really upset about something. Who knows what's

Chatham, grinned and waved her inside as well. Looking at them, Serena felt

in middle school, after she and Gabrielle became desk mates, she'd come over to the Chatham house once. Even then, Mr.

she remembered most vividly was how, at the

kissed Gallagher on the cheek, right in

parents

affection-not even once.

father with thinly veiled disgust, never with the tenderness Elaine had

was then that Serena

t was also then she understood