Serana bit her lip, silent.

Straightening up in her chair, Yasmine’s gaze grew colder. “You might not like hearing this, but you knew what you were doing getting into this. So don’t play the victim.”

Casting a glance at the sandwiches left on the table, Yasmine let out a sarcastic chuckle. “To win a man’s heart, you gotta win his stomach first. Have you managed that over all these years?”

The words were blunt, and any pretense of ignorance Serana had maintained was now impossible to continue.

Perhaps Yasmine hit a particularly sore spot, Serana finally met Yasmine’s eyes. “No one knows Boyd better than I do.”

Yasmine raised an eyebrow, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Serana with feigned interest, as if waiting for a sermon.d2

Serana didn’t disappoint, continuing, “Sure, you knew him before I did, but you left his side for nine years. During those nine years, I was the one by his side.”

The expression on Yasmine’s face grew darker by several degrees. “Are you bragging or giving me a friendly reminder of my place? That it’s about time I stepped aside?”

Shaking her head, Serana clarified, “I’m not bragging, nor reminding you of anything. I’m just laying out the facts to explain that I’ve grown up with him, I know what he wants, and that’s why I’ve come to accept him being with you.”

Yasmine nodded, “It seems I should thank you for being so gracious about us being together.”

“I know you must think I’m a fool, but if I…”

“What’s going on here?”

Boyd’s voice suddenly cut in, interrupting Serana. He placed a plate of spaghetti in front of Yasmine. “You ordered it. You better eat it all.”

“But I didn’t say I wanted two eggs.”

“Just eat it.”

Boyd sat beside her, giving Serana a fleeting glance. “What were you two talking about?”

Serana’s complexion paled slightly as she gently shook her head. “Nothing important.”

Boyd turned to Yasmine, only to hear her say, “It’s not ‘nothing.’ I’m actually quite curious about what you were about to say.”

Serana took a sip of her milk, “I forgot.”

Yasmine only ate half her pancakes before pushing the plate towards Boyd. “Are you full?”

He pulled the plate closer to himself. “I don’t think you want to hear that I am.”

Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Yasmine quipped, “Do I look like someone who forces others?”

“I’m not full.”

Boyd directly took a bite of the half-eaten sunny-side-up egg Yasmine had left.

Yasmine smiled.

After Boyd finished eating, Yasmine’s phone rang. She answered the call without a second’s delay. “I’ll be right down.”

Boyd watched her, “I’ve arranged a ride.”

Standing, Yasmine said, “I won’t be going to school today.”

She brushed her hair back and exited the dining room.

off. Boyd could see it, but if Yasmine had already called for a driver, there was nothing more he could

happened. Before getting into

her close, kissing her forehead, “As you

away, Boyd headed to another vehicle. “If you can’t learn to talk to her, then talk less. If you piss

car pulled away, Serana stood there, a picture of

the driver

to reality, took a deep breath,

She told herself not to worry about it, but they always

But what if…

What if what?

was pretty sure, given the context of their conversation, it wasn’t anything pleasant. However, such an exchange with Serana could only happen once. The question remained unanswered,

to avoid the issue too, rarely visiting

not absent. After all, they had grown up together. The

to settle down. They were less boisterous, more silent than before, perhaps due to impending farewells, the pressure to

some, like Yasmine and Boyd, these concerns held little significance. In fact, Boyd’s focus

boss quite comfortably. Bryson even suggested she could stay in school if she was bored, as

however, didn’t hesitate to refuse, seemingly without ambition, which left Bryson

except when it came

a game gone too far. She couldn’t deny Serana’s present self due to past events or hold onto old prejudices forever, but as time and events proved, she and

grew day by day,

passed since their “unpleasant”

seat, but the driver opened the door and walked out, gesturing towards the back seat for

really stepping up your game, not even driving your own car

took her hand, “Can’t drive today. Got a dinner planned

of

could cook for you every day of my life

out? I’m actually

test score came in. She’s asked

raised an eyebrow, “Thinking about studying

head without

is why you

a reason to celebrate? She probably wants to share her joy

celebration? She isn’t some academic slacker, is she? Are we going to throw a party every

never paid much attention to it,

cold chuckle escaped her, but anger coiled in her chest. Were they really having their own little world right

in her mood, Boyd squeezed her hand, “What’s on

eyes, looking up at him playfully. “I’m curious, what exactly is

“Why do you ask? Before you left, she was

want a straightforward answer to what

tone was cold, her

at her for a moment, “We

that touched her eyes was tinged with chill, “So, the orphanage was left with

Boyd’s brows furrowed.

So among all those kids who grew up with you at the orphanage, why haven’t you handed out prime real estate to each of

brows lowered, “Why are you

she perhaps your

“No.”

to save you, almost paying with her virtue

layer of frost settled over Boyd’s features

stared at him for another two seconds, then sat up straight, turning to watch the world slide by outside the car

mirror, catching sight

the back was loud

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