Poppy's face had turned a liver-like shade of purple, her whole body shaking with rage.
She raised her hand and pointed at Serena, looking like she wanted to stab her with a knife.
At that moment, a gentle male voice came from behind Serena. She instinctively turned around.
When the newcomer saw her, his expression instantly stiffened, and a different kind of spark lit up in his eyes.
Poppy immediately dropped her sinister expression and switched to a sweet smile as she hurried forward. "Clint, you came just in time! This woman was bullying me just now! You have to stand up for me!"
Clint remained calm and didn't even look at her. Pretending to put his hands in his pockets, he skillfully dodged the arm she tried to loop around his.
He continued walking forward until he stood in front of Serena.
With a faint smile, he asked, "It's been a while. How have you been lately?"
"I'm doing well," Serena replied politely. "How about you? Has your health recovered?"
The last time they met had been at the hospital, when she visited him. After that, they lost contact. She didn't even know when he was discharged.
"Pretty much recovered," Clint said, lowering his gaze and speaking with a trace of self-mockery. "I took to heart what you told me last time, so I stopped resisting treatment. I've been getting better day by day."
"That's good. Your body was given to you by your parents. No matter what happens, you shouldn't take it lightly."
"Mhm. I won't anymore."
Seeing the two of them talking casually, Poppy grew increasingly agitated.
She rushed forward and deliberately stepped between them. "Clint! Did you hear what I said or not?! This woman was bullying me! Aren't you going to do something?!"
Serena let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Truthfully, she didn't want to face Clint.
Every time she saw him, it was like facing the version of herself who was once blinded by love.
His face reminded her over and over how foolish and humble she once was.
Clint gave Poppy a cold glance. "This is a public place. Don't make a scene."
"Who's making a scene?!" Poppy cried, both angry and aggrieved. "I'm telling the truth! Just a few minutes ago, Serena called me crazy and even mocked me for being illiterate!"
She thought Clint would defend her. To her surprise, he simply said indifferently, "Then maybe you said something stupid again and embarrassed yourself?"
"Clint!" Poppy stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean?! Are you taking Serena's side?!"
Clint turned his gaze away and replied coolly, "Taking sides? I'm just stating the facts."
"Hmph!" Poppy stomped her foot angrily. "Even now, you still can't see through that vixen?! Haven't you suffered enough because of her? When will you finally let yourself go?!"
Her words seemed to hit a nerve. Clint pursed his lips and remained silent.
Serena was already overheated and had no intention of continuing to stand around with them under the sun.
"You guys keep chatting. I'm heading off now." With that, she turned to leave.
But Poppy refused to let it go. She quickly caught up and grabbed Serena's wrist, snapping, "You're not going anywhere! We still have unfinished business!"
Serena yawned. "You mean the part where you seduced my ex-husband and ruined my marriage?"
That immediately shut Poppy up.
After a short pause, Serena waved her hand generously. "Forget it. I won't stoop to your level. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have divorced Clint and might still be trapped in that endless misery. Thanks to you, I escaped the prison of marriage and now live a carefree life! So let's call it even."
"That's not what I meant!" Poppy snapped, glaring at her. "I'm talking about what you said to me earlier!"
"You mean the insults?" Serena feigned innocence. "Do you have any proof? Or..." She glanced around, "Any witnesses?"
"You-!"
Poppy was speechless again.
She truly had no evidence. It happened too suddenly; she hadn't thought to record anything.
And as for witnesses-there were none.
She had spotted Serena a while ago and deliberately cornered her on this quiet path with the intention of humiliating her. She hadn't expected that to backfire by eliminating any chance of witnesses.
"What? Nothing?" Serena folded her arms. "So you're accusing me with nothing but your word?"
"I..."
Serena smirked and held up her phone. "Even if you don't have evidence, I do. I recorded everything when you tried to slander me. If you keep talking nonsense, I won't hesitate to hand it over to the police and let them investigate thoroughly."
Poppy was so angry she nearly cracked her teeth from clenching them.
Her eyes glared at Serena like two poison-tipped daggers.
But Serena didn't even spare her a glance. With a light chuckle, she turned and walked away.
Watching her back as she left, Clint opened his mouth as if to say something-but in the end, he said nothing.
Seeing him still staring in Serena's direction, Poppy grew even more furious.
She gave an angry toss of her hand and stormed off in the opposite direction.
This path was in the hotel's back garden-secluded and rarely used but a shortcut.
Serena had taken this route to return to her room and rest quickly.
Poppy stomped angrily along the path, and just as she turned a corner, a strange voice came from a nearby shadow.
"Miss Castano, right?"
***