Chapter 23 Just Tear the Mask Off
"How are you feeling? Any better?"
Sarah's voice on the phone was cool and detached—like she had no feelings at all. But Serena knew better. Her sister was worried about her.
Serena hadn't wanted to tell anyone about the hospitalization, not even her best friend Jessica. Everyone was busy. If she could solve problems with money, she wouldn't bother people. But somehow, Sarah had found out anyway. Adrian must have told her.
Serena smiled. "Just a little sprain. Nothing serious. I'm already better."
"You think I'm as easy to fool as Mom?"
Serena's voice turned playful. "Hey, what are you saying? Would I lie? I'm the good one, remember?"
Sarah had no defense against that. Serena was the Rothwell family's little princess. Since childhood, she'd perfected the art of sweet-talking her way out of anything.
Old Mr. Rothwell, Lauren, Sarah—everyone spoiled her like royalty. The old man used to say, "When the Rothwell princess turns on the charm, the whole world's got no choice but to give in."
So Sarah didn't waste time arguing and got straight to the point. "I heard from Jessy you're planning to sell your Chasey shares. Adrian's running the Locke Group now. He's setting up a branch in Sweetwater City to expand into new sectors. Chasey Group's assets align with what he needs, and he's interested in acquiring them. Go talk to him."
Serena fell silent. She did want to sell the shares. But if Adrian was the buyer, Chasey Group would definitely end up absorbed by the Locke Group. It would cease to exist.
No matter what had happened between her and Chase, she'd poured seven years of effort and youth into Chasey Group. It was like her child. The thought of that "child" disappearing from the world one day—she couldn't help feeling reluctant to let go.
Sarah didn't push. "Adrian's staying in Sweetwater City for another two weeks. You've got time. Think it over. When you're ready, contact him. He's always been generous with friends—won't lowball you when you're vulnerable."
"Got it."
After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call. Serena lay in bed, staring blankly at her phone.
Brielle had posted another Facebook update. The caption read: [He said he can't wait to hear the baby call him daddy. He promised to give me and the baby the best of everything. I'd already planned to leave, but seeing how much he looks forward to the baby's arrival... I really can't bear to leave him. What should I do?]
The photo showed Chase with his hand pressed against her flat stomach, listening for fetal movement. His face wasn't visible, but Serena recognized the watch on his wrist immediately. She'd given it to him for his birthday two years ago.
The comments were full of people cursing her out as usual. Serena scrolled through a few, then lost interest. Just as she was about to put her phone down, a text notification popped up.
From Brielle. Serena had blocked Chase but hadn't deleted Brielle.
Brielle sent a photo—her hand wearing that jade bracelet. With a message: [Thanks for giving this up. I really love this bracelet.]
Serena let out a cold laugh and typed back: [You think if I wanted to keep him, you'd even have a chance? You picked up the gum I spit out and kept chewing it, and now you're bragging to me about blowing bubbles. Don't you find that pathetic?]
Brielle fired back immediately: [Why even bother? If I could steal this bracelet away, I can steal the man too. What does being so stubborn get you?]
The "man" naturally referred to Chase. But was Chase even a man? He was just garbage Serena had thrown away.
Serena couldn't be bothered arguing with Brielle. She opened her photo album, found the picture she'd taken when she smashed the bracelet, and sent it over. Added a caption: [Looks like Chase didn't tell you—I already smashed the real one. What he gave you is a fake. Might want to get it authenticated.]
Message sent. Brielle didn't reply. Serena tossed her phone aside and stared out at the pitch-black night sky.
She'd wanted to end things with dignity. But Chase didn't want dignity. Fine then. They'd just tear it all apart.
---
Over the next week, Serena stayed in the hospital recovering peacefully. Chase never showed up once.
Serena received plenty of messages, though—mostly from people in her department subtly updating her on Chase's situation. He and Brielle's relationship had progressed at lightning speed. They were practically joined at the hip 24/7. Even in restaurants and conference rooms, their behavior was so brazen it made people look away.
Funny thing was, Chase still thought he was hiding it well. Or maybe he figured that even if he cheated, Serena would never actually leave him. So he'd stopped bothering to hide it.
Whatever. Either way, Serena didn't care anymore.
During this time, the jewelry store also messaged Serena to confirm whether she really wanted to adjust the ring size. Serena found that odd and asked what was going on.
They replied immediately: [This morning, our staff tried to deliver the wedding rings to Mr. Whitmore and confirm a pickup time. His secretary answered and said there's some swelling in the fingers, so the ring size needs to go up two sizes. We thought that was strange, so we're calling you to confirm.]
Serena understood immediately. That "secretary" was Brielle. Brielle's fingers were two sizes larger than Serena's. She was having the rings resized to fit herself. Even if she couldn't wear them personally, at least Serena would be stuck with ill-fitting rings that would embarrass her at the wedding.
Chase and Brielle's relationship had gotten this intimate already? He was even letting Brielle handle wedding arrangements?
When Serena didn't respond for a while, the staff asked again: [Ms. Rothwell, should we proceed with the size adjustment?]
Serena smiled slightly. "Go ahead and change it."
Since Chase doted on Brielle so much—letting her interfere with the wedding, even willing to postpone it for her sake—then Serena would give Chase a gift. A wedding he'd never forget for the rest of his life.