Chapter 3
“Miss Blake, I have one final question for you. Did I or did I not push you?” Serenity asked, her voice dripping with ice as if she wanted nothing more than to tear Ariana apart.
“S–Seb–Seb, I’m scared! P–Please make her go away!” Ariana wailed, covering her face in her hands.
“Serenity, you have already signed the divorce agreement. What more could you possibly want?‘ Sébastien asked coldly, his
face set in stone.
Serenity burst out laughing, but there was no mirth in the sound, only pain and heartache.
After a few moments of laughter, she abruptly stopped and, before anyone could react, a loud slap echoed through the room.
Mouths hung open in shock as everyone gasped in disbelief. Ariana clutched her burning cheek and stared at Serenity with wide eyes.
She even forgot to continue her act, staring at Serenity in shock.
“Serenity Montgomery Sébastien bellowed, rising from his seat and glaring fiercely at his now ex–wife. His jaw was tightly clenched and his fist was balled up in anger. He was barely holding back from acting impulsively.
Before Sébastien could reprimand her again, Serenity raised her hand and delivered a sharp slap to his face.
The rest of the family gasped in shock as they stood up from their seats. No one, not even Sébastien’s parents, had ever dared to lay a hand on him. And yet, here was Serenity, a woman he had once called his wife, defying him with a single slap.
“Miss Blake, that slap is for falsely accusing me of a crime I did not commit. If I had known that you were planning to frame me, I would have pushed you down the stairs myself. I would not have allowed you to continue with this charade just to convince Sébastien to divorce me.” Serenity’s voice was calm, but there was a faint yet dangerous smile on her face.
She turned to face Sébastien, who was now seething with rage, and taunted him. “What? Does your heart ache because I hit your childhood sweetheart? Well, imagine how I feel right now. As my husband, you not only chose her over me, but you even conspired with her to frame me!
“I, Serenity, may be poor. But I know what it means to be ‘hurman. I am not as evil as your lover, who would go to such extreme lengths just to drive me out of this house. In fact, the two of you deserve each other. I wish you both the worst in life!” Serenity taunted him painfully
She wanted to scream at Sébastien for all the hurtful things he had said and done to her. But instead, she turned her bloodshot eyes to the rest of the family, causing them to shrink back in fear.
“As my name suggests, I stand for peace. So I will not seek revenge on all the wrongful youve caus we me to ruin my life. Whatever has happened between us ever since I entered this house ends now. From this moment on, we are strangers. And I hope our paths never cross again in the future. Because if they do, I will not hesitate to destroy you, even if it means destroying myself in the process! Serenity declared, her voice trembling with emotion of anger and pain.
She desperately hoped that her future would have nothing to do with the name Williams. From now on, she was going to make a fresh start and leave this toxic family behind.
In the coming times, she shall strive ardently for her aspirations, having forsaken them for a man who never valued her worth.
With a composed demeanor, Serenity walked away from the house, though her heart bled with indignation.
Upon reaching the exit, she turned to gaze icily at Sébastien, tears streaming down her face… “I cannot say if such a day will ever arrive. But I can promise you, I will never forgive you, no matter how much you plead!”
And with that, she opened the door, stepping out into the stormy night, leaving behind the stunned expressions of the Williams family.
Gazing up at the sky, rain assaulting her face, Serenity could not help but mock herself… “Oh Serenity, after all you have done for them, this is your end. Can your life be any more of a farce?”
After this display of self–ridicule, she retrieved her phone and dialed her best friend, Spencer, to come pick her up.
1/3
11:54 AM c
Chapter 3
Inside the Williams mansion, Sébastien excused himself, retreating to his bedroom, while his family tried to calm Ariana down.
Looking out his window, he saw Serenity squatting in front of their gate, as if waiting for someone while the rain poured down heavily on her.
Clutching his fists and gritting his teeth, he stared at her. An unfamiliar tightness weighed on his chest, causing him
discomfort. Why did he feel guilty seeing her like this? And her last promise. As soon as he heard it, something heavy settled in his heart, suffocating him.
Soon, a white car pulled up in front of his house, and a tall, handsome man stepped out, umbrella in his hand, rushing to Serenity’s side.
Of course, Sébastien recognized him as Spencer, Serenity’s best friend. If he weren’t into boys, Sebastien would have thought he had feelings for Serenity, considering how well he treated her.
Before long, the car drove off from the Williams mansion.
Watching it depart, Sébastien felt as though something precious was leaving him. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to
calm his turbulent emotions.
As he turned away from his chambers, Sébastien felt an overwhelming sense of solitude. For many nights, he hadn’t shared bed with Serenity, but when they did, he felt at ease and content in her presence
But that night, two weeks before Ariana’s accident, their passion had been undeniable and… Sébastien shut his eyes, trying to block out the memories. After their divorce, everything else seemed insignificant.
The only woman he had ever truly loved was Ariana; she was the only one who could stir up such intense emotions within him. Yet, something felt off. Why was he feeling this way towards his ex wife.
Sébastien sank into his couch, his mind wandering back to the first time Serenity had entered their home. She had been shy, with an infectious zest for life that reminded him of a student. Without any effort, she could lift anyone’s spirits.
His own grandmother, who had nearly passed out while walking in the park, had been saved by Serenity and taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, this meant Serenity had to miss her bar exams.
Despite the unfortunate circumstance, Serenity still made it a priority to visit his grandmother every day in the hospital. Her kind heart had made his grandmother believe she was the perfect wife for Sébastien.
Initially, both he and Serenity had rejected the idea, but Grandma Williams had used her health to blackmail them into marriage. And so, for the past three years, Serenity had tried her best to make their marriage work, even giving up on her own dreams at Sébastien’s request. But he had always pushed her away. She was not the woman he loved.
Despite their differences, their marriage had been somewhat peaceful until a month ago when Ariana returned from her studies overseas. Everything had turned upside down, leading to the accident that had landed them in their current sitution.
Even though Sébastien should have been relieved to finally be rid of a marriage he never wanted, why did something feel off? And why did his heart ache at the sight of tears in Serenity’s eyes?
Did he truly make the correct choice by divorcing her in such a situation? Furthermore, Sébastien couldn’t help but recall when Serenity slapped Ariana, claiming to have been framed.
Did Ariana really trip on her own and blame it on Serenity? But that’s not like Ariana, right? He had known Ariana since childhood and she can never be that kind if a person. But Serenity looked sincere earlier….
Sébastien rubbed his forehead in frustration before getting up to take a shower. As he opened his wardrobe, his gaze fell on Serenity’s clothes, causing him to tighten his hands on his buttons.
The realization that Serenity didn’t take anything he had given her struck him like a bolt of lightning. She didn’t even care about the benefits that would come from their divorce. In fact, she hadn’t even spent a single penny of the money he had given her over the years.
“Serenity, what kind of woman are you?” He muttered, before heading to the bathroom with a heavy heart. What is done is done. There’s no need to cry over spilled milk.
3/3
Chapter 3
The morning sun shone brightly as Serenity packed her belongings at Spencer’s apartment.
“Baby girl, are you sure about this?” Spencer had asked her countless times.He was worried for his best friend.
The night before, Serenity had told him about everything that had happened at the Williams Mansion, making him furious.
Spencer wanted nothing more than to give that foolish Sébastien a piece of his mind for making his friend cry and hurting her in such a cruel manner. What kind of a man was he?
After crying her heart out, Serenity had confided in him that she wanted to leave the country the following day.
Spencer tried to persuade her to stay, but Serenity had made up her mind. She needed a new environment to start afresh. away from all the painful memories.
It wasn’t about seeking revenge. She just wanted a new life to pursue her dreams. That was her goal in life now.
She gave Spencer a sad smile and nodded. “Yes Spen, I need a change of scenery, a new identity, and a new circle of people. Staying in this country will only bring me bad luck. I hope you understand. She said calmly, to which Spencer nodded in understanding.
Serenity was grateful to have some clothes at Spencer’s apartment, even though it wasn’t enough. After all, Spencer had beent the only friend she made during college days. So it was understandable that she will have some few clothes at his place.
“I am finished. Please, let me depart in a magnificent manner and escort me to the airport.” Serenity joked with Spencer, whose eyes were now watery. He was sniffing already.
“Come here, my girl. I will miss you greatly,” he said, pulling Serenity into a tight embrace. Spencer hated the Williams family. Had it not been for them, his best friend wouldn’t be separating from him now.
“Do not be sad. You can come and visit me whenever you wish. Remember, it is your parents who are helping me stay with them overseas, Serenity comforted him.
Spencer snickered. “Those people? Oh please! I will come visit you, but not in that house. I will stay at a hotel,” he exclaimed, rolling his eyes. Just the thought of his promiscuous parents overseas gave him a headache.
Serenity chuckled and surveyed her surroundings to ensure she had not forgotten anything Satisfied that everything was in order, she turned to leave as Spencer grabbed his car keys and her luggage to depart from the house.
Suddenly, Serenity felt nauseous and quickly rushed to the bathroom to vomit. She stayed there for a while before emerging with a slight pale face.
“Oh dear, are you alright?” Spencer asked with a knitted brow, concerned laced in his voice.
