Game Over No Second Chances

Chapter 2

This time, Wendy's message contained no words, only a photo.

It was a photo of Zach asleep.

He was lying behind Wendy, his arms wrapped around her, holding her close as he slept soundly.

Wendy had a shy, demure smile on her face. Her lips were swollen, and the open collar of her nightgown revealed a trail of faint hickeys down her neck.

There was no need to guess what had happened last night.

Serena and Zach had been together for five years, yet they had never crossed that final line.

In the past, whenever Zach had struggled to hold back, he would pull her into his arms and murmur in a deep, husky voice, "Rena, can you grow up a little faster?"

Later on, he stopped holding her that way. He would simply coax her, saying they should wait until they were married.

She had always believed it was because he cherished her. Because he loved her.

But desire was also another form of love.

Serena stared at the photo, tears streaming down her face. It felt as if a piece of her heart had been ripped away, leaving a wound so deep it would never heal.

After breakfast, she went next door to the adjacent villa.

Crossing the specially built sky bridge, she stared at the carefully curated garden below. Despite the colorful flowers in full bloom, all she felt was emptiness.

These two villas had been bought in full after she and Zach closed a major deal together. The deed was in her name.

Zach had said everything he had belonged to her, so he had put them under her name. He had even hired a designer to create a shared garden and a connecting bridge between the two villas.

He had told her that if she ever got upset and wanted to go back to her parents' house, she could just move next door. That way, whenever he looked up, he would see her and feel at ease.

Now, she was right in front of him every day, yet he never looked at her the same way anymore.

She entered the passcode and pushed the door open. The spacious villa wasn't furnished for living but designed like an exhibition hall.

Inside, every display case housed a precious porcelain piece-Amber's life's work.

Years ago, Serena had carefully placed each piece inside, entrusting both herself and her future to Zach. But now, she would pack them up one by one and take back her future.

fingers traced the custom glass of a large display case. She paused in front

or beautiful.

Zach would take her to

sad," he said. "Let's make something your mom loved. She'll know how much you miss her, and she'll

When she first started, she couldn't even shape a piece of clay

was now. He

to the studio owner, persuading them to let her stay as long as she needed so she could immerse herself in the craft and find

years passed, her pottery improved. But the time and patience Zach had for

most beautiful hand-painted ceramic jar inside. Their names

held her hand, guiding her as they wrote their names

of her ear. His deep voice carried a hint of laughter.

her lips into a self-deprecating smile. Everything she had treasured, every beautiful moment, had turned into

grip loosened and the ceramic jar slipped from her

memories she once held dear-fractured,

time she finished packing everything into the moving trucks, it was already past

the necessary paperwork, finalized the price, and instructed him to officially list the property

really going back?" Pauline asked with a sigh of

She simply closed her eyes and leaned back in the rocking chair. For a moment, she could almost hear the faint jingle of Zach's bicycle bell. Then, his bright, youthful voice

up! You're gonna be late. I brought you a

out of the memory, opening her eyes to look at the middle-aged woman

left the Jansen family for a man. Do you

cousin," she simply

or not.

eloped and severed all ties

was about to give birth, that man had

Derek Warner, was in college, and she was still waiting for

herself, "Love. What did it

her hands, then reached out and gently held Serena's wrist. "If you're

Serena shook her head. Her voice was soft, but the words lingered in the air like an echo on the quiet porch. Pauline fell silent. There was nothing more

won't let my mother's memorial

had always known her father was a selfish man, but she never expected him to

ridiculous request-claiming that since Serena had been away from home for years, the Jansens should disown her, just like

to Pauline. And her mother didn't deserve a place in the chapel anymore,

It was unbelievable.

Serena was leaving, Pauline handed her a small yellow charm