To Rowan Keller, his words felt like a stab wound, delivered by his own hand.
Seeing the news about him and Serena Sterling had been painful, but she’d clung to the sliver of hope that it was all just a misunderstanding.
Now, hearing their words with her own ears, the reality was harder to accept than a knife to the chest.
A suffocating pressure settled over her.
“What is it?” Zion Hawthorne’s deep voice came through the phone, far more distant than usual, as if he were speaking to some insignificant person he could dismiss at will.
Still, Rowan Keller had to ask, “What are you two doing?”
“Did you call just to ask that?” Zion Hawthorne countered instead of answering.
Rowan Keller was utterly disappointed in him.
She composed herself, no longer willing to waste time on him.
“My suitcase.
Give it back to me.”
Her only response was Zion Hawthorne hanging up on her.
Rowan Keller called again.
She had to get her personal documents back.
The longer he had them, the greater the chance for complications.
But this time, Zion Hawthorne didn’t answer.
Serena Sterling saw the caller ID on his phone—”Rowan”—and asked tentatively, “Aren’t you going to answer?”
“First things first.
I’m here with you, so let’s watch TV.” Zion Hawthorne let the phone continue to ring, neither answering nor declining the call. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Serena Sterling wrapped her arms around his.
Fresh from the shower and wearing only a slinky nightgown, she looked sultry and alluring.
“I don’t want to watch TV.
I’d rather do something else with you.”
She pressed herself even closer to him.
All Zion Hawthorne had to do was lower his gaze to see the view offered by her plunging neckline.
“Behave,” Zion Hawthorne said, stopping her.
Her advances didn’t faze him in the slightest.
“Your priority right now is to focus on your recovery.”
“Are you rejecting me because you don’t like me?” Serena Sterling asked, her voice tinged with grievance.
Zion Hawthorne reassured her, “No.”
Serena Sterling pressed, “Then why were you willing to kiss Rowan, but you won’t even touch me?”
“That was just an act for Summer’s sake.” Zion Hawthorne gently removed her hand from his arm, smoothly changing the subject.
“You don’t need to worry that you’re less important to me than Rowan Keller.
You are the most important person in my life.”
Moved, Serena Sterling hugged him, but a seed of unease was planted deep in her heart.
She knew very well that her lie would be exposed one day.
The moment Zion Hawthorne discovered that the one who saved him in their childhood was Rowan Keller, not her, everything she now possessed would vanish.
And then, she would truly have nothing left.
「One hour later.」
It was just four short words: “Come get it yourself.”
Attached was the location of the Waterside Pavilion.
Rowan Keller didn’t hesitate.
After telling Summer she had to run an errand, she headed straight for the destination.
When she arrived at the Waterside Pavilion, the place was deserted.
The main gate was shut tight, and not a sound came from within.
She called Zion Hawthorne, but he didn’t pick up.
It was then she realized Zion Hawthorne was deliberately toying with her.
She wasn’t about to indulge him.
She sent him a message: “If you’re not here in thirty minutes, I’m calling the fire department to let me in.”
They weren’t officially divorced yet; she still had a right to be in his house.
Zion Hawthorne hadn’t expected this change in her.
「Thirty minutes later.」
He returned with Serena Sterling.
Seeing how intimate the two of them were, Rowan Keller didn’t lash out or make a sarcastic comment.
She simply walked over and asked him, “Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
“Why should I have?” Zion Hawthorne’s words were merciless, and he looked at her as if she were a complete stranger.
“Are you someone important?”