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?

jolt of panic. Weighing her options between a good ally and a good

again and, upon hearing the call

on the other end. "Serena, I

career and left her with nothing to show for

paused, visibly taken aback, then gave a resigned little

chose this willingly. I'm the one who asked him to plan my birthday party. I trust that he won't let me

listened to her speak so calmly in Hugh's

Serena had also said the same

did thirteen years with Zach end in complete

tongue. She didn't want

hurt her friend

then, Hugh

party. Would that meet the standard for

family and many guests will attend, if she doesn't want to show up in person, I'll

the entertainment on the

steady voice flowed like the surface of the lake-peaceful and

a few short minutes, he began

From minimizing Serena's

with guests

down to food preferences and the addition of specific