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.

to try." Gabrielle hung up before Serena could protest. Serena tried to call her back, wanting to talk her

Two hours later-

arrived at

her at the door,

you? It's been ages-you've grown even more beautiful," Elaine Chatham 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 gotten into her. Oh,

father, Gallagher Chatham, grinned and waved her inside as well. Looking at

she'd come over to the Chatham house

was how, at the

on the cheek, right in

parents had never

of affection-not even once. In

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

was then

also then she understood that