"Serena, wait!"


    Zach chased after her and stopped her in the lobby.


    Serena paused, turning to look at him. "Mr. Foster, why did you leave the meeting room toe here?"


    "Larson Group''s investment project is far beyond what I imagined," Zach said, slowing his pace as he walked up to her.


    He wore a concerned expression and looked at her anxiously. "Did Hugh really not give you any special treatment? Or have you perhaps sacrificed something?"


    "No," Serena replied calmly, shaking her head.


    The project was entirely handled by Hugh''s team, with the n based on their own research. Furthermore, any help she had received from Hugh was purely mutually beneficial, so there was nothing sacrificed.


    Zach didn''t seem convinced. Still worried, he reached out as if to take her hand.


    "Are you sure? Or have you already sacrificed something important without realizing it? Men like Hugh are always..."


    Serena quickly pulled her hand away and stepped back. "Stop it. My rtionship with Hugh is above board. You, as an outsider, have no say in it."


    "Above board? He already has a wife! You''re just his mistress!" Zach shouted, too agitated to care about the situation. He paid no attention to the asion, nor to Serena''s reputation.


    The front desk staff and other employees turned to look, drawn by themotion. Serena felt a headacheing on. "I''m his wife. I''ve already married him."


    "Serena, why are you talking nonsense?"


    Wendy, who had been waiting outside, entered just in time to hear Serena''s words. She quickly stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Zach''s as she looked at Serena with feigned concern.


    "Serena, are you really buying into all that nonsense you read online? The only ones who are unloved are the people caught in the middle. Do you honestly believe that?


    "Even if you''ve had your differences with Zach, spreading rumors like this won''t help anything. He''s a respected man, and you shouldn''t tarnish his reputation like that."


    Zach agreed with what Wendy had just said. "Serena, you really shouldn''t speak like that."


    Serena couldn''t help butugh, shing a forced smile.


    "You two must be blind if you still don''t get it. If Hugh wasn''t my husband, why would he always bring me to important events while making sure that I''m in the spotlight? After all the times you''ve seen me by his side, you still don''t believe it? You might as well donate your eyes to someone who needs them. There''s no point in wasting them."


    Even with those words, Wendy still refused to believe it.


    "Serena, rich men y around all the time. Besides, Zach and I have asked Mr. Larson''s wife, and she said she doesn''t mind if he has mistresses. Maybe you''re just taking advantage of that loophole."


    Zach nodded, clearly in agreement with Wendy.


    Serena fell silent.


    Well, she had walked right into that one.


    Still, there was no point in arguing with people who refused to listen. She was done wasting her breath.


    She decided to leave, but before she had barely taken two steps, Wendy''s voice rang out behind her.


    "Serena, you threw away over ten years with Zach without a second thought. Do you really think a man like Mr. Larson, proud as he is, won''t worry that you''ll do the same to him? He''d never truly trust you... You''re just a passing fling, so don''t take it too seriously."


    "Wendy is right, Serena. Don''t let that old man fool you," Zach said.


    Serena finally stopped. She lifted her gaze, catching her own reflection in the ss.


    Suddenly, sheughed.


    So, that was how Zach saw it? Did he think she had thrown away over ten years like it had been hers to lose?