Chapter 103
A flash of panic crossed Serena’s face. “No, you remembered wrong.”
“Oh, really?” Eleanor let go of Serena, sneering. “Are you done? Then go.”
Serena bit her lip lightly and said, “I have a few things I’d like to say to Tyler. Alone.
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“No need!” Tyler’s deep, commanding voice rang out. “Men and women should keep their distance. Who knows what dirty tricks you might pull? If something happened, I’d never be able to clear my name.”
Serena’s eyes turned red. “Tyler, how could you think that of me? Everything I’ve done was for Chris.”
“For Chris?” Tyler scoffed, strolling to the door and pulling Eleanor into his arms. “Let’s be real–whenever Eleanor has something, you just have to take it from her. How do you have the nerve to say it’s all for Chris?”
“I didn’t.” Serena shook her head frantically.
“If back then, Eleanor had liked me instead of Chris, would you still have gone after Chris? Or would you have tried to hit on me?”
“Tyler, you can’t accuse me like that.” Tears streamed down Serena’s face. “Chris and I really love each other.”
“Great,” Tyler laughed. “The manager of the Himvar branch is about to retire. I plan to send Chris there. You can go with him. How’s that?”
Serena’s eyes went wide. “That place is so remote! Isn’t that basically exile? Tyler, can’t you let him stay at headquarters?”
“Everyone needs a little challenge in life,” Tyler said coolly. “Are you scared of a little hardship?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… my health isn’t suited for that place.” Serena clutched her chest. “My heart’s not good. I can’t handle the altitude.”
“Oh?” Tyler mocked. “Don’t you say you loved Chris? Can’t you tough it out for him? If he does well, I’ll bring him back. That’ll be a lot more convincing, don’t you think?”
“I can’t decide for him,” Serena muttered. “Tyler, you’re just worried Eleanor and Chris might get back together, so you want to send Chris away, right?”
Tyler let out a cold laugh. “Of course not. I believe my wife has better taste than that. Are you trying to stir up between us?”
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“No, I’m not.” Serena shook her head hard. “I just hope you won’t keep targeting Chris. He loves me. Not Eleanor.” Eleanor, who had been silent until now, rolled her eyes. “You’ve been rambling all morning, and I still have no idea what you’re trying to say,” she said impatiently. “Are you done yet? If you are, get lost. I still want to nap.”
Serena stared at Eleanor in disbelief. “Eleanor, how can you be like this? Back when we lived together, you always got up early to work out. You’d even bring breakfast back after your morning run. Was all that just for show?”
“What’s it to you?” Eleanor shot back coldly.
With that, she turned and slammed the door in her face.
Serena stared at the closed door, her gentle mask finally cracked. Her expression twisted with resentment.
Everything had been going according to plan–until Chris suddenly changed his mind and refused to let anything about the past be posted online. That infuriated Serena. The truth about what happened back then didn’t matter; what mattered was
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Chapter 103
what everyone believed.
“You think you can hold out under public pressure? Let’s see,” she spat, then turned and left.
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Serena headed to the hospital and spotted Chris asleep on a bench in the hallway. She walked over and gently shook him awake. “Why are you sleeping out here?”
Chris opened his eyes, and when he saw it was Serena, a complicated expression flickered across his face.
“Chris, look, I’m out now. I’m innocent. You don’t actually think I’d lie to you, do you?” she smiled sweetly. “Even if I kept things from you, it was because I love you so much.”
Chris didn’t respond to that. He asked flatly, “Do you know Marie Donovan?”
Serena’s eyes went wide in surprise. “Who’s that? I don’t know. It’s not like I know everyone named Donovan.”
Chris said nothing more.
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Serena grabbed his hand. “Chris, I really didn’t lie to you. But why are you here at the hospital while Tyler and Eleanor sleep at home? Isn’t it their job to be here too? They’re so irresponsible!”
Chris sounded tired. “I volunteered to stay.”
“That’s still not right,” Serena complained, her voice full of grievance. “Eleanor already said I’m no longer part of the Donovan family. So you’re not either. Tyler is so ridiculously biased. Who would actually believe he never had something going on with Eleanor?”
“It was my words that caused Linda suddenly faint,” Chris said quietly. “Because I told her about that thing.”
A flash of satisfaction crossed Serena’s face. She knew Linda cared more about her reputation than anything else and couldn’t stand that kind of thing.
“You actually told her? Chris, how could you? You know how much she cares about this stuff. Seriously, what were you thinking?”
Putting on a worried look, Serena hurried toward the ward and pushed the door open.
Inside, Linda had just finished her bowl of porridge. Hearing the noise, she looked toward the door and frowned. “What are you doing here?”
Serena walked over, step by step, face full of feigned guilt. “Can I still call you Aunt? Eleanor said I’m not the Donovans‘ adopted daughter anymore, so I should call you Grandma.”
“She’s not wrong. But you can still call your uncle ‘Uncle,” Linda said coldly, her face expressionless. “Didn’t anyone you to knock before coming in?”
Serena said softly, “So you still won’t forgive me? I didn’t mean to hide some things from you. I had no choice.”
“No need to explain,” Linda cut her off, her voice icy. “Gracie, take her out. I don’t want to see her.”
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“Yes, ma’am.” Gracie walked over. Seeing Serena still refusing to leave, she grabbed her and pushed her toward the door. “My lady doesn’t want to see you. Don’t bother her again!”
Serena stumbled back to the doorway, clenching her fists. “Can’t I even visit as the Langford family’s granddaughter–in–law?” Gracie shot back, “My lady can’t stand men who use women and then walk away. Chris made her furious, she didn’t want to see him either!”
“What are you talking about?” Chris snapped, getting angry. “I know I messed up, but I’ve tried to make it right.”
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Chapter 103
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“Gracie,” Linda called her over.
A few minutes later, Gracie came out and slapped Chris hard across the face. “My lady said to apologize like this.”
Chris held his cheek, completely stunned.
“Chris!” Serena rushed over and grabbed his arm. “How can you all treat us like this? Is it just because I married Chris that you want nothing to do with me?”
Hearing the commotion, several people nearby stepped out to see what was happening.
Serena raised her voice on purpose. “I was adopted by your family, and my adoptive father tried to take advantage of me. Instead of blaming him, you all blamed me! I’m the real victim here. I liked Chris, but just because your real daughter liked him too, you kicked me out. You might as well never should’ve adopted me!”
The crowd started whispering, all criticizing the family for how they treated their adopted daughter.
Eleanor snapped, “Serena, do you have any shame?”
Remembering that Linda had asked them to come, Eleanor dragged Tyler to the hospital right after breakfast–only to walk in on this disgusting scene.
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