Chapter 2
Serena Whitmore stood frozen by the poolside, her eyes fixed on Julian Blackwell as he performed CPR. Cold water dripped from her hair, but the chill in her chest cut far deeper.
In her past life, Julian had always been distant–refined, reserved, untouchable. She’d chalked it up to his fastidiousness, his aversion to intimacy, maybe even disinterest in women altogether. And she’d convinced herself that, with time, she could warm his frozen heart.
But now, the truth hit like a slap.
He already had someone he loved.
She had never even been a blip on his radar.
Clawing her way up onto the deck, Serena’s nails scraped the concrete, her breath ragged, her resolve hardening like stone.
She couldn’t die.
Not yet.
She still had to marry Wesley Hawthorne.
Not far off, Julian finally pulled back from what felt like an endless round of CPR. Evangeline Hart–Evie, as he called her coughed weakly, her eyes fluttering open.
“Evie!” Relief cracked Julian’s voice. Without hesitation, he swept her into his arms. “I’m taking you to the hospital.
He turned and walked off, never sparing a single glance at the woman drenched and shivering behind him.
At that moment, the other three men finally snapped out of their stupor and turned toward the edge of the pool.
“Serena!”
Miles Carrington was the first to reach her, his deep blue suit still flawless despite his urgency. Grayson Hale and Declan Price followed closely behind, the three of them looking like they’d stepped out of a luxury fashion spread.
“Are you okay?” Miles asked, reaching out to steady her. His voice was gentle, concerned. “Everything happened so fast, we-”
“We thought Evie was you,” Grayson interrupted, his tone anxious.
Declan handed her a towel. “The water was too murky. We couldn’t see clearly.”
Serena took the towel, her fingers icy, her jaw clenched.
What a pathetic excuse.
The pool was crystal clear. Evie had been wearing white. Serena was in red. Mistaking them was impossible,
“You should get checked out at the hospital,” Miles said softly, coaxingly. “We’ll go with you.”
Serena looked up and caught the urgency flickering in their eyes.
They weren’t worried about her.
They just wanted an excuse to check on Evie.
“No need,” she said flatly, tossing the towel back. “I’m line.”
“You can’t just brush it off,” Grayson said with a frown, pushing his glasses up his nose. “You’re soaked. What if you get sick?”
“If you want to go to the hospital,” Serena cut in coldly, “go yourselves.”
The three men exchanged awkward glances.
“We’re not the ones who almost drowned. Why would we go?” Declan said, trying to placate her. “Don’t be mad, okay? We really
thought–look, we’ll skip work for a few days and stay with you. Call it our apology.”
Serena said nothing. She turned and walked away.
Her drenched clothes clung to her skin, every step heavy-but her spine stayed ramrod straight. She didn’t look back.
Over the next few days, the three men tried everything to win her over.
Miles sent a custom gown straight from Paris Fashion Week
Grayson had a rare pink diamond necklace flown in.
Declan handed her the keys to a limited–edition sports car.
“Serena,” Miles said one evening, handing her an embossed invitation with a soft smile, “there’s an auction tonight. Come with us. It’ll help you take your mind off things”
Serena looked at their eager faces and gave a cold, inward laugh.
The auction hall sparkled under massive chandeliers, the gilded space glowing like midday.
Serena stepped inside, her champagne–colored gown hugging her figure, heels clicking softly on the marble floor only to freeze in her
tracks.
In the VIP section ahead, Julian was carefully helping Evie to her seat.
He wore a tailored black suit, sharp and elegant. His tall frame stood poised beside her, and the phoenix–shaped eyes Serena had once adored now shimmered with unmistakable tenderness–for someone else.
When Julian caught sight of her, his brow twitched ever so slightly. To her surprise, he walked over.
His voice was calm. Businesslike. “Did your mother mention anything about choosing a fiancé?”
Serena met his detached gaze, her heart twisting in her chest.
“I know you have feelings for me,” he said, the words falling like shards of glass. “But I don’t feel the same. So don’t pick me.”
With that, he turned and walked back to Evie, his posture protective as if guarding something precious.
Serena stood frozen for a moment.
Then, as if on cue, Miles stepped in to shield her from the blow. His hand landed gently on her shoulder.
“Don’t let it get to you,” he murmured. “Julian’s blind. That doesn’t mean no one sees you.”
Grayson adjusted his gold–rimmed glasses, his warm gaze crinkling into a smile. “Exactly. The three of us? We’re crazy about you. Always have been ”
Declan snatched a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and offered it to her, his eyes full of concern. “Here, princess. Drink something. Let it go.”
Serena stared at them at the carefully curated affection in their eyes and let out a cold smile. She took the glass, her fingers numb. “I’m fine,” she said softly. Her voice was calm, too calm.
“But really,” Miles leaned in, his breath warm against her ear, “back when you sent Wesley packing overseas, that left four of us. So, Serena who are you going to pick? We’re dying to know.”
She opened her mouth to say, “None of you.”
But what came out was
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
That single line sent a ripple of tension through them.
Serena’s lips curved faintly.
In her last life, she’d endured twenty years of hell.
A few days of making them squirm?
That was nothing
As the auction began, the three men kept asking what she liked. She shook her head every time.
Across the room, Julian bid on everything Evie so much as glanced at–diamond necklaces, antique pocket watches, jade bracelets.
Serena watched them, but her heart didn’t ache anymore.
It was silent. Still.
Her face blank as she stared ahead.
Then the final item was revealed,
The auctioneer lifted the red cloth–and Serena’s pupils constricted sharply.
