Game Over No Second Chances

Chapter 1

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..."

red wine is your favorite. I picked it up from the vineyard

candles are gardenia-scented. I made them myself, just for

had known Zach for 13 years, and he had never missed her birthday. Unwilling to

timestamp of his last message. Just then, a notification

concert. Been looking forward

man and a woman, their arms pressed intimately against

concert lights, Serena recognized the cufflinks on the man's sleeve immediately. The engraved gardenia pattern was a custom design she had

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

eyes burned from the strain until she suddenly hurled her phone onto the table, gasping

bought tickets the moment Vincent announced his nationwide tour. At the time, she had told Zach it was the one thing she wanted most

with her. But in the end, he

her birthday, Zach had abandoned her and taken Wendy

ache spread from her chest to every part of her body.

She

and had to move from

regaining her health, she

had always protected and spoiled her, staying by her side from

another moment. He had given her the most beautiful bouquet and promised that she was the only one

when that promise had started to fade. Maybe

young woman in the white dress had smiled softly,

the scholarship student Ms.

easily triggered his protective instincts. From that day forward, whenever he

Serena had fought back.

filled with disappointment. "Wendy isn't as strong as you.

gave Wendy the

suddenly,

it up. Three messages popped onto the

to meet him after the concert

Zach to go back and see you, but he was worried I wouldn't eat properly and insisted on

Jansen, can you help me see if it matches my

that was only available through pre-order. When

But not for her.

a candle and finished her birthday alone. She dumped all the leftover food into the trash, including

week because, for the past thirteen years,

herself from him wouldn't be

She needed time.

she felt someone sitting on the edge of her bed. The next moment, a cool hand

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