Chapter 167
Serena
Felix blinked. "What?"
"She didn't do it." Wesley stepped away from Felix's hand. "Serena didn't climb into Lance's bed for money. Didn't scheme. Didn't betray anyone."
"Wesley, what are you—"
"I believe her." Wesley's voice cut clean through. "I know her character. Better than you ever could." His jaw tightened. "And more than that? I've got no right to judge her. None."
Felix's smile flickered. "What are you talking about?"
"Three years ago?" Wesley's tone went flat. "I targeted the Vance family. Specifically. You remember what they were then? A joke. A has-been dynasty losing their art collection piece by piece at auction."
My chest tightened.
"I didn't fall for Serena by accident." Each word landed like a hammer. "I picked her because her family was disgraced. Because dating someone from a fallen house made me feel powerful. Made me feel like I wasn't just Arthur's charity case. Or Vanessa Holland's performing monkey."
Felix's expression cracked. "You're not thinking—"
"I'm thinking more clearly than I have in years." Wesley laughed, harsh and bitter. "You know what the sickest part is? I took all the rage and humiliation Vanessa put me through—all the times that bitch made me grovel for scraps of approval—and I turned around and made Serena carry it. I couldn't fight back against the Hollands, so I punished her instead. Made her feel as small as Vanessa made me feel."
"Wesley—" Felix's voice had gone cold.
"And every time she tried to leave, every time she got tired of my shit, I'd pull her back. Because if she left, I'd have to face the truth—that I'm exactly what Arthur always said I was. Weak. Dependent. A parasite living off the Lawson name."
Felix's face had gone stone-cold. "You're being manipulated—"
"The only person who's been manipulating me is you." Wesley's voice cracked like a whip. "And I'm done. I'm done pretending I'm the victim when I've been the one causing damage all along.
I felt something break open in my chest. Something like relief. Like vindication.
"Well," I said, and I couldn't help it—I smiled. Actually smiled. "I have to say, Wesley, listening to you insult my family name does sting a little. But—" I shook my head, "—that's the most honest thing you've said in three years. Maybe the most mature thing you've ever said." I met his eyes. "You're finally growing the fuck up."
Wesley's mouth quirked. Not quite a smile. But close.
Then his expression hardened. He turned back to Felix, stepped between me and the Corsetti enforcers.
"Uncle Felix," he said clearly. Firmly. "Tonight is over. I'm taking her out of here. We're leaving."
Felix stared at him for a long, silent moment.
Then something shifted in his expression. The paternal warmth vanished. The manipulative charm dropped away.
What was left was cold. Calculating. Dangerous.
"Wesley." His voice was ice. "Do you understand what you've done tonight? What you've set in motion?" He moved closer, and the Corsetti men shifted, ready. "You lured Serena Vance to a private dinner. You brought her to a location with no witnesses, no security, no protection. You aligned yourself with criminal organizations. You made yourself Lance Lawson's enemy."
"I know—"
"No. You don't." Felix cut him off. "Because if you understood, you'd realize something very important: the only way you're getting access to your parents' trust fund—the only way you're unlocking those millions of dollars—is by using leverage. Real leverage." His eyes gleamed. "And right now, the best leverage you have is standing right there."
He pointed at me.
"You want your inheritance?" Felix continued. "You want Lance to unfreeze those assets? Then you take the girl. You hold her. You make him choose between his money and his girlfriend." His smile returned—sharp, predatory. "It's simple business, Wesley. Surely even you can understand that."
For a moment—just a flicker—I saw Wesley waver. Saw him calculate. Saw the temptation of those millions of dollars war with whatever conscience had just started to wake up.
Then he shook his head.
"No." The word was firm. Final. "That's not happening. What's between me and Lance—that's our business. Our family issue. Our problem to solve." He looked at Felix directly. "I'm not using her as a bargaining chip. I'm not kidnapping her. I'm not sinking to that level."
"That level?" Felix's voice turned mocking. "You think you have the luxury of principles? You think you can just walk away from this?"