Just as Serena stepped out of the Beckett Corp building, her phone suddenly rang-its ringtone muffled, echoing somewhere in her bag. Her heart skipped. Could it be Clint? Maybe he'd changed his mind... maybe he wanted her to come back and finalize the divorce after all.
She quickly fumbled through her bag, digging for her phone.
But by the time she found it, the call had already ended. Missed it.
Her screen lit up with a name-Xavier.
The moment she saw it, her breath hitched. Those words he once told her came rushing back: "I'll give you my life if you want it!"
Her fingers tightened around the phone. Her pulse quickened. Should she call him back?
Before she could decide, the phone lit up again.
Xavier.
Ringing.
Serena took a deep breath, swiped to answer, and said sharply, "What do you want?"
"Where are you?" came that familiar, magnetic voice-low, amused, warm.
She paused, then replied coolly, "Mr. Blaze, you really do have eyes everywhere, don't you? Do I need to start reporting my location to you now?"
"No one said anything about reporting." His tone was teasing. "Just thought I'd let you know my old man's having dinner with your dad tonight. He wants him to bring you along."
"Dinner?" Serena frowned. Nothing special about today, so why the sudden invite?
"Well... I guess they haven't seen each other in a while," Xavier drawled. "Want to catch up and all that."
He paused. "What's wrong? Don't feel like coming?"
Truthfully? She didn't feel like it.
Whenever her dad got together with Uncle Blaze, she just sat there quietly, stuck listening to their dull, old-man talk. And after the scene with Clint today, the last thing she wanted was dinner and small talk.
She opened her mouth to decline, but just then, a warm, familiar voice came through the speaker.
"Serena!"
"Uncle Blaze... hi!" she said quickly.
"Hey, sweetheart! We're having dinner with your dad tonight-you should come too! It's been too long. Are you free?"
She was all set to say no. But now? With Henry personally inviting her?
Serena sighed. "I... don't have any plans. I'll go with my dad tonight."
"Great! See you then!"
"Okay, Uncle Blaze."
The line switched back to Xavier, who seemed in a hurry to hang up before she could say anything else. "Alright, see you tonight!" he said-and clicked off.
"Ugh!" Serena pulled the phone from her ear and scowled. "Typical spoiled brat. Always hangs up like the world revolves around him."
With a few hours to kill before dinner, she made a quick decision-not going home. Instead, she headed to the mall.
Back when she was with Clint, her entire wardrobe had been lifeless. Just plain white everything. She'd practically looked like a ghost of herself. Now, even looking at those clothes made her feel cursed.
Tonight would be the first time she was seeing Xavier's parents since her rebirth. She needed a fresh look-something new. Something her.
She headed to Vernon Mall, the busiest shopping district in the city, and walked into a boutique known for its chic, mature, sexy vibe. Without overthinking it, she started browsing.
As she wandered, a particular dress caught her eye-a light purple, V-neck mermaid gown with a thigh-high slit. It hung elegantly in the corner.
Serena smiled to herself and stepped toward it.
But just as she reached for it, another hand grabbed it from the other side.
A pale, manicured hand.
Serena paused, then graciously let go. "Go ahead, take it."
She turned to walk away, uninterested in a tug-of-war over a dress-until a sharp, familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Knowles."
Serena turned back.
There stood Poppy, her expression smug, clutching the dress like she'd won something.
"Didn't think I'd find you somewhere like this," Poppy said with a sneer. "Isn't your style more... plain? This place doesn't suit someone like you."
Serena clenched her jaw, but didn't take the bait. "These legs are mine. I'll go wherever I damn well please. Who do you think you are, telling me otherwise?"
"You-" Poppy's eyes narrowed, her grip on the dress tightening. "You shameless witch. Planning to wear this to seduce my Clint?!"
Serena let out a cold laugh. "Seduce? That man? Please. He's garbage. You're the only one who still thinks he's a prize."
"Still lying, huh?" Poppy scoffed. "It doesn't matter what you say. Clint's mine now. His heart belongs to me!"
"Good," Serena said smoothly. "You two deserve each other. Clint and Poppy Castano... a match made in hell."
Poppy's face flushed-either from anger or embarrassment, Serena didn't care.
"Stop pretending!" Poppy snapped. "You'll never take him from me!"
"I don't want him." Serena folded her arms. "If rotting fish is your thing, keep a tight grip. Just don't let him wriggle away."
"What the hell does that mean?!"
Serena smirked. "It means I'm doing you a favor. I've been trying to serve that man to you on a silver platter, but he won't stop hanging onto me. Won't sign the divorce papers. So, tell me, what am I supposed to do?"
Poppy's expression froze.
"What?! Clint... won't divorce you?!"
***