Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 300

Now, there was nothing left between them—Aaron had even less reason to listen to her.

Serena’s gaze darted to the fruit knife lying on the table.

She gritted her teeth, snatched up the knife, and pressed it sharply against Cynthia Lynwood’s throat.

Cynthia’s breath caught in her chest—the sensation was all too familiar.

“Serena…” she whispered, fear trembling in her voice.

“Serena!” Aaron’s face was tight with worry. “What are you doing?”

Seeing the concern in Aaron’s eyes, Serena, oddly enough, calmed herself. The blade hovered just at Cynthia’s neck as she spoke in a cold, steady tone. “Is this reason enough? Leave the Chatham family alone, or—”

Tears began streaming down Cynthia’s cheeks. “Aaron, please help me! I don’t want to die…”

Aaron’s frustration boiled over. “Serena, do you even realize what you’re doing? This is a crime. Is it really worth it—for someone who’s basically a stranger?”

Serena’s eyes reddened, but she forced back the tears.

“In your world, everything comes easy. Friends, opportunities—if you want something, there’s always a line of people waiting to hand it over. But in my world, I have to fight for every single thing I want to keep.

Take the competition, for example. All it took was a few calls from you, and the first place that should have been mine was snatched away—just like that!”

Aaron flinched under the icy glare she shot him. Each word hit like a blood-soaked accusation, leaving a painful ache in his chest.

After a long, heavy silence, he finally managed, “If you want first place, I’ll organize another competition just for you.”

Serena let out a laugh—breathtaking, but heartbreakingly fragile. It was the kind of smile that called to mind an orchid blooming on the edge of a cliff, beautiful and perilous, ready to shatter at any moment.