"Mrs. Larson, someone like you doesn''t need to get involved in this kind of thing. You can have others handle it," Wendy suggested.


    "Anything could happen on a dark street. What if she had a little "ident? If someone decided to take advantage of her and ruin that perfect face, would Mr. Larson still want hey then?-


    The wife chackled. As Wendy watched eagerly, the wife lifted her gaze and spoke past het.


    "What do you think, Mc Laren?"


    Stunned, Wendy tuned around immediately.


    Hugh and Zach were standing side by side behind them


    Wendy jolted in fright. She tripped over her word so badly that she early bit het tenger.


    She was at a loss for worth. "Zach, Mr. Larson, L.-


    "oh my gosh, Wendy What on earth are you telling Mes. Larson?


    Zach yanked her over as he observed Hugh''s and Serena''s expressions. Their expressions were surprisingly calm, and they said nothing


    Zach wasn''t sure how they felt, so he quickly apologized. Then, he dragged Wendy away, and, for once, he lost his cool


    "Haven''t you caused enough trouble, Wendy? How does telling Mrs. Larson about Serena benefit her or thepany? Please, just drop it."


    Upon heating Zach''s words, Wendy realized that there was no sabraging the situation. So, she broke down and flung bersell into his embrace


    "I''m not trying to cause trouble here! I know you like Serena, so you''d do anything to protect her, no matter what Mrs. Larson does. It''s Serena who''s being stubborn now. She''ll onlye to her senses when an outsider Mrs. Larson forces her away."


    Wendy continued sobbing as she said, "I just want you and Serena to be okay! If I have to, I''ll apologize to them"


    Crossing Hugh meant there was no way he''d let Zach off easily. Besides, Wendy had only meant well for him and Serena


    Hence, Zach paused for a brief moment and finally gave in.


    "Forget it I know you were just trying to help."


    "I''m sorry, Zach. I shouldn''t have done this."


    Wendy stifled a unit cough, leaving Zach at a loss for harsher words


    Still, Zach was worried that Hugh''s wife might really do something to hurt Serena after hearing Wendy''s suggestions. After pondering for a while, he caused Wendy down and returned to where Hugh was.


    Hugh''s


    wept over him, cool andmanding


    re to it. I


    Despite the overwhelming presence, Zach turned to Hugh''s wife and said, "The woman that Wendy has mentioned is merely involved with Mr. Larson for work. There''s nothing more i apologize for Wendy''s reckless remarks, Mrs. Larson. I believe that these baseless spections won''t sway you."


    Serena''s fingers, which were resting on herp, suddenly tensed.


    Zach''s words were filled with a subcle defensiveness.


    "Was he really afraid of what Hugh''s wife would do?" Serena thought.


    The pext instant, a warm hand gently enveloped her trembling fingers.


    "If you''re apologizing on her behall, then I''ll ept it on my wife''s," Hugh remarked.


    Serena came back to her senses.


    No matter how defensive Zach got for her, Wendy had already taken her ce beside


    Her wavering emotions instantly faded away. Tenderly, she grabbed Hugh''s hand as she turned to loob at Zach


    "I''m not actually bothered by the situation between her and Mr. Larson."


    The way their hands were sped together felt like a dapper to Zach''s heart


    So what now? Was Serena, whom he had cherished so much, merely something


    for the two of them to amuse themselves with?


    Chapter &


    Zach''s nails sank into his palm, the sharp pain grounding him.


    Just then, a waiter walked up to him and said. "You can''t stay in the VIP section


    for too long, Mr. Foster Please, follow me


    Atst, his fists rxed Suppressing his anger, he turned and lett.


    He stopped midway and tied around to take a photo of Hugh and his wife conversing. In the frame, they were leaning in close to each other, but beyond the camera''s view, their finger


    "Oh, Anu. To Hugh, you''re just a hidden and unwanted person in public," he thought.


    Then, he tucked the damning photo away, nning to show it to Serena when the time was right. He needed to show her the truth about Hugh.


    In the VIP section, Hugh withdrew his hand first and said. "I''ve already talked to my friends at the banquet"


    Basically, he was suggesting that they left now.


    High had eyes for no one but Serena. But every moment of Zach''s indecision seemed to pull Serena''s thoughts along To Hugh, it was truly something to be'' jealous of


    Serena had no clue what was on Hugh''s mind. The banquet was dull, so she might as well head home to rest with him.


    The spectacle faded, and so did the crowd.


    The two of them left halfway through, and no one dared to say anything


    The car pulled up in front of Crestview B


    Hugh had to return to the Larson residence. Hence, he had departeden route, instructing his assistant to drive Serena home.


    Serena had changed into a cozy brown.coat


    The moment she got out of the car, she saw two familiar figures standing under the streetlight.


    Chandler also noticed them "Would you like me to go upstairs with you, Mrs. Larson?" he asked, furrowing his brows


    Wendy was Too much of a risk.


    Serena waved it off. She still hadn''t gotten used to the title yet


    "You can just call me by my name. And think they probably have so ething to tell me in palvate. You can wait for me in the car."


    Chandler went back into the car. He had no ns to drive off. Instead, he kept a careful eye on Serena


    Serena knew he was just carrying out Hugh''s instructions, so she didn''t mind him watching


    She stopped under the soft glow of light. She stood at the edge of the light with her hands buried in her pockets, her form fading into the shadow "What''s the matter?" she asked


    "There''s something important 1 have to talk to you about in private. Will you give me a chance?" Zach asked, about to take a step forward But then, Serena took her hand out of her pocket, exposing the bandage around it.


    She was wearing a ck glove earlier at the banquet. Now, in her casual attice, the bandage looked even more conspicuous against her skin... "Do you want to talk, or are you just here to hurt me aram?"


    incin Zach''s eyes, freezing him in ce.


    Sereia shoved her hand back into her pocket. She raised her chin and said. "I''m trying to head hom? Don''t stand in my way."


    Wendy gripped her coat tightly, irritation shing in her eyes. What was Serena


    So


    ? about? She was just a mistress!


    Seeing that Serena was about to walk past him and head inside, Zach spoke up immediately. * want to tell you about Hugh and his wife......"