Chapter 1723


    "You probably haven''t been to many fancy asions, huh? It''s normal to get butterflies. I know


    Grandpa Phillip''s ways and temper very well. If you slip up or do something wrong, I''m right there to


    smooth things over. Come on, take me with you."


    Serena had a way with words, that much was certain.


    Aside from her gossiping, her actions often left others speechless.


    Take, for instance, the time when the family was enjoying afternoon tea together. Serena, thinking she


    had the inside track on her parents'' tastes after all these years, made a show of it right in front of her.


    She’d pour Dad and Mom each a cup of tea. When it came grudgingly to serving Arabe, noticing she


    was wearing a white dress, Serena even considered scalding her.


    When Dad asked about which college she wanted to apply to, Serena jumped in with "I''m aiming for


    Summerfield College," unting her academic prowess in front of Arabe.


    In front of everyone, Serena clung to Dad, Mom, and her brothers, acting all cutesy. To the outside, it


    seemed like the family orbited solely around Serena. Eighteen years old and still acting like a child.


    Then there was the time Serena knew Arabe wanted to go out, so Serena raced her for the driver,


    offering in a mock-generous tone, "If you''re really in a hurry, I suppose you can take the car first."


    When Romeo came looking for Arabe and she hadn''t yet gotten out of bed, Serena dolled herself up,


    slipped into something revealing, and made a show of bending over and cing a hand on Romeo''s


    knee, the curves of her chest on full disy as she confessed her feelings. After he turned her down,


    she had the gall to show up at his office, stalking him in secret.


    She even had Holly pretend to trip and spill water down her front, making sure she was soaked right in


    front of Romeo, hoping to stir something in him.


    When Romeo was at Arabe’s beck and call, Serena had the nerve to tell him, "You can''t always spoil


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    your girlfriend."


    She even lied to her best friend, iming that Arabe had stolen her fiancé.


    The list went on and on.


    From the day Arabe returned to the family, Serena had never intended to live in harmony with her.


    Later, after being scolded by Hans and Chasel, Serena seemed to change a bit, but it wasn''t long


    before she was led astray again by Martha.


    Arabe aired these grievances, her gazending on Martha, "And you, ever since I came back home,


    you''ve never shown me an ounce of respect."


    In front of Arabe’s parents, Martha would y the angel, but in private, she wouldn''t even


    acknowledge Arabe''s presence.


    She''d encourage Serena to get closer to Romeo whenever Arabe wasn''t around.


    It was Martha''s conspiratorial nces that emboldened Serena to act so recklessly.


    "And then there was that night, Mom called me down for soup, and you, you spiked it with something


    nasty."


    Martha bristled at the memory, "You ungrateful little wretch, I’d nearly forgotten. You had the nerve to


    make me eat it. I was sick all night!"


    "That''s called getting a taste of your own medicine," Arabe retorted, looking straight into Martha''s


    eyes, fearless. "Just like when you spilled oil all over the floor hoping I''d slip, and you and your


    daughter ended up taking the fall instead."


    Martha, reminded of these humiliations, grew even angrier. "You''re really asking for it."


    She snatched a leather whip from one of her men andshed it across Arabe’s back.


    "Boss—” Horace struggled frantically, "Damn it, leave her alone! Come at me!"