Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown novel Chapter 60

But soon, he composed himself, hiding the tumult in his eyes, "Mr. Vance, we've confirmed it. Miss Sullivan wanted to leave last night because Penelope had taken her cherished antiques."

Aaron stood up, his eyes cold and steely.

"Are you sure about this?"

"It seems certain. Bella even posted about it on social media."

Aaron's expression turned grim. He knew better than anyone how much Serena treasured those antiques.

Others might not understand, but he did.

To protect her collection, Serena would tirelessly gather information, losing sleep as she delved into research. Sometimes, to safeguard a single jade hairpin, she would visit multiple museums, consulting with experts to create the perfect environment for preservation.

"Book me a ticket to Northspire," Aaron instructed.

Victor blinked, momentarily taken aback, "Yes, sir."

"Go ahead."

With a nod, Victor exited the room, leaving the villa in silence once more.

Aaron gazed around the empty villa, feeling its chill for the first time.

Serena had always filled the space with her lively chatter, making it feel warm and vibrant. But since she'd grown quiet, the villa had become colder by the day.

He climbed the stairs and gently pushed open the door to find Serena asleep, curled up like a small, insecure hedgehog.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, bending down to press a tender kiss on her forehead.

Sensing something, Serena shifted in her sleep, turning away from Aaron’s touch.

Aaron sighed deeply.

Victor soon returned, having secured a flight to Northspire departing in two hours.

"Bella, is this really a Victorian era golden hairpin? It's stunning, it looks almost lifelike!"

"And this pavilion-themed hairpin is exquisite too. Look at the tiny figures carved into it, the craftsmanship is incredible."

"Oh my gosh! This filigree-embedded gold jewelry is breathtaking! I've never seen such beautiful jewelry before. Bella, you’re so lucky! Are these your wedding gifts from your mom?"

"Yes!" Bella replied casually, her eyes gleaming with pride as she watched her friends' envious gazes.

She had long wanted to claim Serena's antiques as her own. Now, she finally had them and wasted no time inviting her closest friends over to show off.

But just then, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

"Miss..." the butler started nervously, glancing at the guests.

"What's got you so flustered?" Bella snapped, annoyed by the interruption.

The next moment, her expression froze as she saw the figure stepping into the room.