Game Over No Second Chances

Chapter 1

Serena Jansen stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, her silk robe draped elegantly over her figure. She gazed at the flickering city lights in the distance.

After a long pause, she picked up her phone and made a call. "I agree to the engagement."

There was a brief silence on the other end before her father's voice came through. Howard Jansen sounded excited, barely trying to contain it.

"Nina, when are you coming back? I'll pick you up."

Her chest tightened, and a lump formed in her throat. It had been years since she last heard him call her by her childhood nickname.

"Next Monday."

Without waiting for a response, she ended the call.

After her mother, Amber Hanson, had passed away, Howard wasted no time bringing another woman and her daughter into their home. Serena hated them, and she vowed to never let her mother's company fall into their hands.

For years, she had bent over backward for Zach Foster. But now, she no longer saw the need for such trouble. There was a far more direct way to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Still, the thought of Zach sent a dull pain through her heart.

...

Earlier that evening, at 8:30 pm, Serena had set the table with the dinner she had meticulously prepared. Right when she was done, her phone buzzed with a message.

Zach wrote, "Something came up at work. Don't wait for me."

Her entire body went numb as she stared at the screen.

It was her 23rd birthday that day, as well as the fifth anniversary of their relationship.

She had been calling and texting him since 6:00 pm. Her calls had gone unanswered, and her texts had been barely acknowledged-she had sent ten messages, and he had only responded with a single word.

"Busy."

Their WhatsApp chat felt like a one-sided monologue.

Serena: "I ordered tomahawk steak..."

Serena: "Picked up fresh roses and lilies..."

I picked it

gardenia-scented. I made them myself, just for

had never missed her birthday. Unwilling to accept reality, she dialed his number one more time. This time, it went straight

then, a notification popped

forward to

a photo of a man and a

immediately. The engraved gardenia pattern was a custom design she

was Zach's favorite. And there was only one set in all of

repeatedly. Her eyes burned from the strain until she suddenly hurled her phone onto

nationwide tour. At the time, she had told Zach it was the one

her. But in

birthday, Zach had abandoned her

from her chest to every part of her body. She

She could

move from Javerton City to Yellowbrook City to recover. That was when she

after regaining her health,

two years older than her. He had always protected and spoiled her, staying by her

her 18th birthday, he had confessed his love, unable to wait another moment. He had given her the

when that promise had started to fade. Maybe it was the moment she

in the white dress had smiled softly, eyes

scholarship student

protective instincts. From that day forward, whenever he had to choose between Serena and Wendy, Zach had chosen

Serena had fought back.

frown, his eyes filled with disappointment. "Wendy isn't as strong as you. She's not as privileged as you.

to scream. So being weak gave Wendy the right to shamelessly steal her

phone vibrated suddenly, breaking

it up. Three

for me to meet him after the concert so I could ask to

worried I wouldn't eat properly and insisted on staying with me. You called so many

me this gift! Ms. Jansen, can you help me see

latest seasonal release that was only available through pre-order. When the concept advertisement first came out, Serena had casually mentioned

But not for her.

all the leftover food into the trash, including the cake she had spent two weeks

until next week because, for the past thirteen years,

herself from him wouldn't be

She needed time.

of her bed. The next moment, a cool hand