Game Over No Second Chances

Chapter 356

Serena quickly ended the call.

The terrace returned to silence. And the air instantly grew awkward.

Hugh raised an eyebrow slightly. His gaze slowly drifted away from Serena, settling on the distant lake.

His lips parted with calm indifference. "Deadbeat husband?"

"Absolutely not," she replied quickly.

Sitting up from the recliner, Serena grabbed her still-buzzing phone-the relentless stream of Ruth's messages vibrating nonstop-and began explaining in a fluster.

"She just misunderstood. I was going to let her finish ranting before explaining, but then you showed up and..."

"I came at the wrong time?" Hugh interrupted her with a cool, unreadable tone.

Serena choked on her words, her shoulders slumping with defeat.

"Not exactly..."

"So, no explanation?" His eyes flicked toward her phone.

She couldn't tell what he was thinking at all-was he angry or not?

Weighing her options between a good ally and a good friend, she finally

again and, upon hearing the call connect, said solemnly, "He's really good

same thing about Zach. I don't buy it!" Ruth snapped on the other end. "Serena, I just want you to

of Zach, who had ruined Serena's music career and left her with nothing to show for thirteen years, made Ruth punch the air

paused, visibly taken aback, then gave a

him to plan my birthday party. I trust that he won't

so calmly in Hugh's defense

during her world tour, Serena had also said the same

did thirteen

held her tongue. She didn't want to bring up

hurt

Hugh spoke

that meet

held in the name of the Larson family and many guests will attend, if she doesn't want to show

for the entertainment on the yacht, I'll make the proper

calm, steady voice flowed like the surface of the lake-peaceful

a few short minutes, he

From minimizing Serena's

guests

cabins, down to food preferences and the addition of specific