NovelEndChapter 210 The private room had fallen silent.
Every pair of eyes was fixed on the woman who'd just spoken-Bella Brooks.
Serena hadn't expected to see Bella here. Most of the people in this room were old classmates, kids from families just as prominent as her own used to be. After her father's death, though, the Sullivans' standing in Northspire had been slipping further and further.
She never imagined Bella would make it into this circle.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtGabrielle, who'd been living abroad, naturally didn't know much about Serena's past-but Aaron did, and so did Gabrielle.
"Serena, who is that?" Gabrielle asked, lowering her voice. "She looks like she's got it out for you." "She's Penelope's daughter," Serena replied quietly.
Gabrielle's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. A sneer curled across her lips. "Oh, so that's who she is. The daughter of the mistress. Well, I'm the host today, and letmake this clear: people like that aren't welchere. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave right now." Bella's cheeks burned scarlet. "Gabrielle, do you really think Serena is still the sSerena as before? Her father's gone, and she's not 'Miss Sullivan' anymore. Once I get back what's rightfully mine the antique-she'll have nothing left. If you're smart, you'll pick the winning side." "Antique?" Gabrielle's temper flared. "You've got snerve coveting Serena's things. I swear, I'm going to tear you apart, you shameless little tramp!" Without another word, she lunged at Bella.
Gabrielle wasn't much for academics, but she was definitely an athlete. In a flash, she'd wrestled Bella to the ground.
Bella burst into tears, shielding her face. "Gabrielle, you lunatic! Let go of me!" The others rushed to break up the fight.
Serena stood aside, her eyes flickering with emotion. She and Gabrielle had only ever been desk mates-hardly even friends-and only for three years at that. But watching Gabrielle go to bat for her, unleashing on Bella like that, stirred something in Serena's long-frozen heart.
Eventually, the group managed to pull the two apart.
Still fuming, Gabrielle struggled against their grip, breathless with rage. "Let go of me! I've never met anyone so vile-I swear, I'll finish her off!" Seeing that Gabrielle was truly furious, the others quickly hustled Bella out of the room.
But Gabrielle wasn't done. "Yeah, run away, big talker! Coward! Bella, don't letcatch you again—if I see you, I'll knock you flat!" Everyone else just stared, at a loss for words.
It took a while before Gabrielle finally calmed down. She turned and noticed Serena standing quietly to the side. Mistaking Serena's silence for fear, she thumped her chest and declared, "Don't worry, Serena-I've got your back. I won't let them hurt you."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSerena wasn't sure what she felt.
After everything she'd been-through, she'd learned not to let anyone past her defenses.
Not long after, the manager showed up with a couple of male models, and the room's atmosphère quickly grew lively again. But Serena's mind was elsewhere. She found an excuse and slipped out.
Near the restroom, she finally found a quiet corner. Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to William.
*I've fixed the watch. I'm back in town, too. Can you tellwho it belongs to? I'd like to thank him in person.* She waited a long time, but William didn't reply.
With a sigh, Serena tucked her phone back into her purse and headed for the bathroom.
She had just reached the sink when the door swung open behind her. She glanced up, and her expression instantly changed.
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