Serena bent down and shielded the wary Snuggle in her arms.


    She looked up and saw Wendy''s clothes were disheveled, like she''d just been in a fight. Her hair was sticking up in all directions, a few strands stered to the corners of her eyes with sweat. That crazed look in her eyes was hard to ignore.


    Who had gotten on her nerves this time? Serena didn''t know. The words just slipped out.


    "When I first brought you down from the mountains, I should''ve taught you not just manners and etiquette, but basicmon sense.


    "Snuggle is a calico. Her coat color has nothing to do with bloodline. It''s fine if you''ve never understood education or decency, but you can''t even insult someone properly. Did you hit your head, or is this some terminal brain damage?"


    "You''re the one with brain damage!" Wendy screamed hysterically.


    She''d meant to stab at Serena with a few nasty words but hadn''t expected Serena to stay so calm. They were now even arguing about whether a calico cat was a mixed breed or not.


    Wendy stormed forward until she was just a few steps away, clutching her head and shrieking.


    "Serena! How much longer are you going to keep ruining me? You''re already Hugh''s wife, the heiress of the Jansen Group. Both the Larson and Jansen family are yours! You have everything! So why won''t you let go of Zach?


    "You were the one who pulled me out of that mountain. You paid for my asthma treatment and spent so much money on me. Why can''t you just give me the man you don''t even want anymore? Why did you save me if you wanted to destroy me?"


    Her voice broke apart, falling to pieces mid-sentence. It became a breathless whisper, fractured sybles and broken sounds.


    It was just like how she used to scream in the mountain valley.


    When she was little, she used to scream at the trees, asking why she had to be the one born in a poor vige. Why couldn''t she have a safer, warmer life?


    Serena watched as she clutched her head and slowly sank to the ground. Her breathing had grown ragged, but she still clung to her chest and screamed in hysteria.


    However, Serena felt nothing but calm.


    Back then, she saw something fierce in Wendy, a refusal to give up.


    Even when Serena''s own finances were unstable, she''d sponsored Wendy''s education and pulled her out of poverty.


    She''d never expected Wendy to achieve fame or fortune. She just hoped Wendy could one day live with the dignity, warmth, and safety the mountains never gave her.


    But in the end, Wendy started to be greedy.


    At first, it was just some extra cash to help her keep up appearances Then, it turned into shoes and designer bags. After that, it was a


    car and house to elevate her lifestyle.


    Eventually, Wendy eased her way into the life Serena shared with


    Zach, infiltrating their once


    inseparable bond. She quietly fed off Serena''s resources, drawing


    ve


    strength from her. In the end Wendy was the only one remaining in


    Zach''s eyes.


    "I never wanted to destroy you."


    Serena bent down and picked Snuggle up.


    Her shadow fell over Wendy, just like the day she went to the mountain to make a donation. That day, Wendy sat on the ground and looked up at her after a fall.


    Back then, Serena looked at that little girl protected by her shadow and reached out her hand.


    Now, she held a soft, purring cat in her arms, her eyes void of warmth.


    She turned around and walked away, choosing a different path. All she left Wendy


    with was her retreating figure and some final words.


    "I brought you out of the mountains because hoped you''d be a decent human being. I never thought you''d turn out to be so ungrateful. But thank you for swooping in when I was vulnerable.


    "You helped me see what was wrong between Zach and me. Because of you, I found someone better. You can have him. I have a better life now. Wendy, let''s call


    it even."


    She didn''t want to be entangled with Wendy anymore.