Zach''s heart sank at the two words "my man".


    He was desperate to confront Serena, to demand an exnation. He couldn''t believe that after the thirteen years of love they shared, she could simply move on from it all.


    He also wanted to ask her, "Do you really want to be Hugh''s mistress?"


    But the words caught in his throat. He thought of the Foster Group and couldn''t bring himself to speak.


    He had already lost Serena, and he couldn''t bring himself to risk losing everything else for the


    sake of love.


    Serena returned home in a great mood. She had just sunk into the soft couch when her phone. lit up with a message from a familiar number.


    "Next month, my orchestra will perform in Javerton. Could you help me withposing the music?" The message was followed by a cute cat emoji..


    Serena immediately remembered who it was. It was Ruth Wright, the head of a renowned international orchestra and a famousposer and pianist.


    She had worked with Ruth for a while. They didn''t have the usual pretentiousness ofposers, but their talent was unmatched by most. They hit it off immediately, coborating effortlessly.


    Yet, Ruth had been deeply absorbed in her music, while Serena had chosen her love with Zach. Ruth never knew much about Serena''s rtionship, and over time, they had drifted apart.


    Ruth must have heard that Serena had returned to Javerton, and it seemed she wanted to


    reconnect.


    Serena agreed to meet her, and they set a time at the café they used to frequent. On the week Serena arrived at the café early.


    What had once been a small coffee shop near their school was now a three-story, upscale establishment, popr with influencers. The second and third floors were reserved for afternoon tea, catering to the city''s socialites.


    For privacy, Serena had booked the most expensive booth on the third floor. Ruth arrived right on time.


    As a well-known figure, Ruth was fully covered. She was wearing sunsses, a mask, and a


    hoodie, leaving no trace of her identity exposed. Not a single strand of her hair showed."


    She sat confidently across from Serena, shing warm smile.


    get


    "It''s been a while! You''re getting more beautiful is that the glow of love?" Ruth teased.


    "Your career is doing great, too. I hear your name everywhere these days. It''s hard to tickets to your shows, and you''re hard to book. You''re impressive," Serena replied with a smile..


    She was genuinely happy to see an old friend after so many years.


    Ruth chuckled, took off her sunsses, and winked at her before putting them back on.


    "Times have changed. The small coffee shop we used to visit has turned into an upscale café. The girl who swore she''d stay in Yellowbrook City has finally returned to her hometown in Javerton City. How have you beentely?"


    "Not bad. But you''ve really been making a name for yourselftely. What made you think of. asking me topose for you?" Serena asked.


    "Well, I''m out of ideas, so I thought I''d borrow some inspiration from an old friend."


    Although they hadn''t seen each other in years, their conversation flowed as effortlessly as it always had.


    As they were talking, a group of socialites came in for afternoon tea.


    Seeing Ruth''s outfit, one of them scoffed and asked, "How did someone like her get toe upstairs and join us for tea?"


    Another replied, "Ignore her."


    The group of socialites settled down gracefully at their table.


    Taking off her sses, Ruth nced over at them and remarked, "Some people just have nothing better to do but gossip."


    Serena was about to ignore them, but then one of the women eximed, "Wendy, you''re here! I heard you y the violin well. There''s one right here. Why don''t you give it a try?"


    "It


    "Sure!" It was Wendy''s voice.


    Serena turn **o see Wendy already on the stage. The sweet sound of the violin filled the room. as her fingers and the bow danced across the strings.


    Chacer 123