Serena quickly ended the call.


    The terrace returned to silence. And the air instantly grew awkward.


    Hugh raised an eyebrow slightly. His gaze slowly drifted away from Serena, settling on the distantke.


    His lips parted with calm indifference. "Deadbeat husband?"


    "Absolutely not," she replied quickly.


    Sitting up from the recliner, Serena grabbed her still-buzzing phone-the relentless stream of Ruth''s messages vibrating nonstop-and began exining in a fluster.


    "She just misunderstood. I was going to let her finish ranting before exining, but then you showed up and..."


    "I came at the wrong time?" Hugh interrupted her with a cool, unreadable tone.


    Serena choked on her words, her shoulders slumping with defeat.


    "Not exactly..."


    "So, no exnation?" His eyes flicked toward her phone.


    She couldn''t tell what he was thinking at all-was he angry or not?


    Serena felt a jolt of panic. Weighing her options between a good ally and a good friend, she finally sighed.


    Under Hugh''s unreadable expression, she dialed Ruth again and, upon hearing the call connect, said solemnly, "He''s really good to me. I mean it."


    "You said the same thing about Zach. I don''t buy it!" Ruth snapped on the other end. "Serena, I just want you to have the best. No settling just because. No putting up with less than you deserve!"


    Just the thought of Zach, who had ruined Serena''s music career and left her with nothing to show for thirteen years, made Ruth punch the air furiously in the orchestra rehearsal hall.


    Serena paused, visibly taken aback, then gave a resigned littleugh.


    "I''m not just settling. I''m not suffering chose this willingly. I''m the one who asked him to n my birthday party. I trust that he won''t let me down. It''s all my own decision."


    "But..." Ruth listened to her speak so calmly in Hugh''s defense and was reminded of those past years.


    Back during her world tour, Serena had also said the same thing, "Everything''s fine."


    Was it really fine? If it was, how did thirteen years with Zach end inplete ruin?


    But she held her tongue. She didn''t want to bring up more painful memories, not if


    it would hurt her friend again.


    Just then, Hugh spoke up.


    "A yacht party. Would that meet the standard for romance?


    "Although the birthday banquet will be held in the name of the Larson family and many guests will attend, if she doesn''t want to show up in person, I''ll handle all social matters.


    "As for the entertainment on the yacht, I''ll make the proper arrangements."


    His calm, steady voice flowed like the surface of theke-peaceful and clear-in


    just a few short minutes, he began outlining all the details.


    From minimizing Serena''s


    interaction with guests to theyout


    of the yacht cabins, down to food preferences and the addition of specific entertainment


    over.ne


    features-everything meticulously thought out.


    It was Hugh''s usual style. Decisive, but thorough.


    In just three minutes, Ruth was rendered speechless. This kind of thoughtfulness?


    This level of nning? Ten Zachs couldn''t evene close!


    She had nothing to criticize. So after a long pause, she could only mutter dryly,


    "Well, now that you''ve said everything, there''s no surprise left."


    "I only shared what can be made public," Hugh replied smoothly. "Surprises are a secret."


    He handed Serena the ss of blue cocktail. "After five minutes, the taste will start to go bad."


    "Oh." Serena epted the drink.


    Their fingers brushed for a moment. His skin was startlingly hot. Was it really that


    warm tonight?