Chapter 8
A thunderous crash tore through the villa–glass shattered, wood splintered. Bodyguards stormed in, boots crunching over the wreckage. Priceless antiques lay in shards, vintage wine bled across the marble, and custom furniture was reduced to splinters. In minutes, the once–luxurious estate was wrecked beyond recognition.
Serena Whitmore stood amid the chaos, her expression unreadable.
Her nails dug deep into her palms. She didn’t feel a thing.
The ruin around her mirrored the state of her dignity–shattered, irreparable.
“Got it!” a bodyguard called out, racing down from the second floor with a gilded trophy raised high.
Julian Blackwell took it with a satisfied smirk, then reached for Evangeline Hart’s hand and led her out the door.
At the threshold, Evangeline turned, offering Serena a sweet, poisonous smile. Victory in her eyes.
“Don’t let it get to you, Serena,” Miles Carrington said, stepping forward, voice laced with mock sympathy. “We’ll build you another villa just like this one.
“Yeah,” Grayson Hale added casually. “Everything that got trashed–we’ll replace it. Brand new, just for you.” Declan Price nodded along.
Serena looked at the three of them. Then she let out a low, bitter laugh.
“Don’t you ever get tired of faking it?”
They froze. “What?”
She didn’t answer. She just turned and walked away.
She relocated to a new villa on the outskirts of town, l
locking herself away from the world, waiting for Wesley Hawthorne to return from
abroad.
The day before her birthday, she finally stepped out–heading downtown to the city’s most exclusive boutique to find a gown.
But the moment she walked through the door, she saw Evangeline.
And their eyes landed on the same dress.
“I’ll take this one,” Serena said coolly
The sales associate recognized her instantly, her smile turning syrupy. “Miss Whitmore, you have impeccable taste. This gown is a global limited edition–absolutely perfect for someone of your status,”
She tossed Evangeline a dismissive glance. “As for others… maybe check out the ready–to–wear section. Haute couture isn’t for everyone.”
Evangeline’s eyes brimmed with tears. She pulled out her phone, voice trembling. “Jullan… please, come quick… she’s humiliating
Serena’s stomach dropped. Trouble was coming.
She didn’t even bother changing out of the gown–she turned and rap.
But just as she reached the parking lot
Crack
A searing pain exploded at the back of her skull. Her world went black.
When she came to, Serena found herself suspended from the outer wall of the Whitmore Group’s skyscraper,
Sixty–nine stories up, the wind howled like knives. She was dressed in nothing but thin lingerie, her exposed skin raw and blue from the
cold.
“Awake?”
Julian’s voice came from above–calm, cold, cruel.
Serena tilted her head up and met the eyes she once adored.
Phoenix eyes. Eyes she used to dream about
Now, they were filled with nothing but contempt.
It was him.
He had done this to her.
Her pupils contracted. Panic gripped her heart like a fist
Before she could speak, Julian crouched, fingers pinching her chin.
“You like stealing from Evie, don’t you, Serena?” he said, voice low and venomous. “Think of this as a warning. Next time, make sure you can handle the consequences.”
He let go and walked away without another glance.
His footsteps faded. Then came distant voices from the stairwell.
“She messed with Evie. She had this coming,” Miles said, voice like ice.
“Leave her up here for an hour?” Grayson suggested, adjusting his glasses like they were discussing lunch.
“whyn
not all day?” Declan laughed. “She’ll survive. Gives us time to pick out something new for Evie.”
Their voices faded, leaving Serena alone in the biting cold.
Her body shook violently, lips turning purple. She clenched her jaw, refusing to cry–but the tears came anyway. Why?
Why were they doing this to her?
She had once believed that–even if they didn’t love her–their childhood bond meant something.
But now, she saw it clearly: to them, she was nothing.
Not even a stranger,
The next morning, early commuters stopped in their tracks, pointing up at the skyscraper.
“Jesus. Isn’t that the Whitmore heiress?”
“What the hell is she doing up there… dressed like that?“.
“That’s beyond humiliating…”
Serena looked down at the tiny, ant–like crowd below. Shame boiled in her veins. For one terrible moment, she considered letting go.
Then, finally, Miles, Grayson, and Declan strolled up–fashionably late.
Serena! Oh my God–we just found out fullan did this to you!” Miles sald, eyes wide with faux concern.
Grayson wrapped his coat around her trembling shoulders. “You’re okay now. We’ve got you.”
Declan crouched beside her, voice soft. “We’re so sorry. I
It won’t happen again. We swear.‘
Serena lifted her head and looked at them. At their perfect, lying faces.
ReelShort
And smiled.
A broken, icy smile.
“Get lost.”
They blinked. “Serena?”
“I said get the hell away from me.” She shoved them off, forcing herself to her feet. “Every wound I’ve got you think I don’t know where it came from?”
