Chapter 8 Really Not Planning to Come Back
Chase's phone clattered to the floor. He stood frozen, unable to process what he'd just heard.
Nancy kindly reminded him, "Mr. Whitmore, you look like you're about to pass out. Maybe you should sit down?"
Chase sank onto the sofa and looked at Nancy. "She burned the wedding dress. Why didn't you tell me?"
Nancy looked genuinely innocent. "I tried to, but every time I mentioned Ms. Rothwell, you'd snap at me saying 'Don't bring her up.' What was I supposed to do?" She even mimicked his irritated tone.
Chase's expression darkened. He had said that, hadn't he?
Nancy twisted the knife. "Ms. Rothwell left her keys too—they're on the entryway table. You walk past them every day. Haven't you noticed?"
Chase strode over and sure enough, there were Serena's keys. She'd actually left them behind. Was she really not planning to come back?
For the first time, real panic set in.
Nancy handed him his phone. "You should call Ms. Rothwell."
Chase grabbed it and headed for the door while dialing Serena's mother Lauren. She picked up quickly, her tone warm and gentle. "Chase, what's wrong?"
Chase froze. If a mother knew her daughter had called off the wedding, she wouldn't sound like this.
He asked tentatively, "Mom, Serena hasn't come home?"
"No, why? Did you two have a fight?" Her voice turned anxious.
Chase quickly reassured her. "No, no, nothing like that. I've just been really busy lately, and Serena probably feels like I've been neglecting her. She's throwing a little tantrum, that's all. Don't worry—I'm going to pick her up right now."
Lauren's tone instantly turned cold. "Chase, I know my daughter. She has her moods, but she's not irrational. Did you hurt her?"
"No, we—"
Lauren had already hung up.
Chase didn't call back. He sat in his car, his brow furrowed. If Serena hadn't gone to her mother's, where could she be?
He immediately called Tom. "I don't care what you have to do—find out where Serena is right now."
"Ms. Rothwell is staying at Hotel Prime, room 1707. She always goes there for a few days when she's upset. Don't you remember?"
He'd forgotten. The hotel overlooked a peaceful lake. Serena always said it helped her relax, body and soul. Whenever she was upset, she'd stay there for a few days.
Chase had picked her up from that place plenty of times before. If she was still there, she must be waiting for him to come grovel.
Burning the wedding dress, canceling the photo shoot, blocking him—it was all just her way of throwing a tantrum.
Chase immediately relaxed and decided to go find her. That's when Brielle showed up.
Despite being a project manager, she'd only recently graduated and entered the workforce—she was very young. She wore a soft pink business suit with her long hair down, clutching two folders to her chest like an innocent college student.
She blinked those doe eyes at him timidly. "Chase, are you going out?"
Chase's tone with her was gentle. "Yeah. What's up? Get in and we'll talk."
Brielle smiled shyly, opening the passenger door and sliding in. "Are you going to see Ms. Rothwell? Should I come with you? I can help explain things to her, apologize to her."
"No need. She might just take it out on you again."
Brielle quickly shook her head. "I don't mind. You've been so good to me—I'm already content. I don't need anything as long as I can stay by your side."
Chase's heart softened. How could any man resist a woman who was so gentle, kind, and undemanding?
He agreed.
However, when they arrived at Hotel Prime, Serena wasn't there. She wasn't at the hotel.
Brielle tried to comfort him. "Chase, don't worry too much. Ms. Rothwell probably just stepped out for something. Besides, I think her staying here means she's waiting for you to come get her. If you just talk to her nicely, she'll definitely go home with you." She paused thoughtfully. "How about I help you pick out a gift for Ms. Rothwell first?"
Chase sighed. "If only she were a tenth as sweet and understanding as you... Have you eaten? Let me take you to lunch."
"I already ate, but I heard you're going to a charity auction today. I've never been to anything like that—I've only seen them on TV. Could you... could you take me with you?"
She looked so careful and curious, like someone who'd never seen the world.
Chase didn't hesitate. "Sure."
"Yay! Chase, you're the best!"
Chase found her joy infectious and decided not to overthink things. He started the car, completely unaware that at that very moment, Serena was also on her way to the auction.
Serena picked Jessica up from the airport first, and they headed to the auction together. On the way, Lauren called.
Serena spent a long time reassuring her mother that everything was fine.
Jessica listened to their conversation and teased, "Anyone listening would think you're the mom and Mrs. Rothwell is the daughter. You're constantly bending over backward to keep your mom happy."
"My mom worked so hard raising me. Of course I want to make sure she's happy every day." Serena finished the call and lazily leaned against the car window, watching the scenery blur past. Her mood was subdued.
"Don't be such a downer! I heard the items up for auction today are really good. If you see anything you like, bid on all of it—I'll cover it as a gift."
Serena laughed. "Alright, thanks in advance then."
Jessica waved grandly. "No problem at all! I'll take care of you from now on!"
They pulled into the underground parking garage of the auction venue. After parking, they didn't get out right away. Jessica pulled out her makeup bag to touch up her face.
Suddenly, she spotted a car parking across from them. The car looked familiar.
"Serena, look—isn't that Chase?"
Serena glanced up. Sure enough, it was. Chase was in the driver's seat with Brielle in the passenger seat.
Brielle saw Serena too. Their eyes met.
Brielle completely dropped her shy, demure act. She smirked triumphantly at Serena, then wrapped her arms around Chase's neck and kissed him full on the mouth.