Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 1

Aaron didn’t linger.

He turned, opened the door, and strode out with determined steps.

As his footsteps faded away, Serena’s lips curved into a smile, yet a silent tear slipped down her cheek.

The next morning, Serena awoke to find an unexpected guest in her home.

It was Aaron’s assistant, Victor.

“Miss Sullivan, Mr. Vance has sent you a gift,” Victor announced, gesturing towards a row of sparkling jewelry laid out on the table.

To his surprise, Serena reacted with indifference. “I see,” she replied coolly.

Victor was taken aback. Every time Aaron had sent gifts before, Serena had been overjoyed. This cold response was something he’d never witnessed.

“Well, I’ll take my leave now,” Victor said professionally, not prying further into the reasons behind her reaction.

Serena gazed at the glittering gems on the table, feeling nothing. She knew Victor had probably picked them out. Aaron’s apologies always felt so insincere to her.

Thankfully, she no longer had any expectations. Without expectations, there was no pain.

Ding—

A message popped up on her phone.

Cynthia Lynwood: [Received Aaron’s gift yet? You owe me a thank you. If it weren’t for my persuasion, he wouldn’t have bothered apologizing!]

Serena tightened her grip on the phone. She hadn’t blocked Cynthia Lynwood yet because she planned to send all these messages to Aaron once she left Alderburg, to reveal Cynthia’s true colors to him.

She took a deep breath and looked around Aaron’s villa. Serena didn't have many belongings here, so she wasn’t in a hurry to pack. Her concern was her own house.

Back when she was passionately in love with Aaron, she thought she’d settle down in Alderburg. So she bought things without much thought. The appliances could be sold, but it was the antiques filling the villa that she couldn’t bear to part with.

However, before heading home, she needed to make a stop at the hospital. Recently, she’d been suffering from stomach issues—nausea and vomiting. She’d postponed her check-up to focus on getting their marriage license.

After a tense moment, Aaron released the pale reporter, casting a cold gaze over the rest.

“Since you’re all so curious, I’ll tell you what our relationship is,” he declared. “But—this is the only time I’ll address it!”

The hospital entrance fell silent, the air buzzing with anticipation.

Only Aaron’s deep, resonant voice cut through the tension.

“She’s under my protection!” he announced. “If any of you dare to harass her again, consider the consequences!”

Cynthia Lynwood looked up at Aaron with a perfectly timed bashful admiration.

The other reporters understood immediately.

Serena, sitting in her car, suddenly lost all desire to see the doctor. Instead, she floored the accelerator and headed back to her own villa.