Game Over No Second Chances novel Chapter 356

Serena quickly ended the call.

The terrace returned to silence. And the air instantly grew awkward.

Hugh raised an eyebrow slightly. His gaze slowly drifted away from Serena, settling on the distant lake.

His lips parted with calm indifference. "Deadbeat husband?"

"Absolutely not," she replied quickly.

Sitting up from the recliner, Serena grabbed her still-buzzing phone—the relentless stream of Ruth's messages vibrating nonstop—and began explaining in a fluster.

"She just misunderstood. I was going to let her finish ranting before explaining, but then you showed up and..."

"I came at the wrong time?" Hugh interrupted her with a cool, unreadable tone.

Serena choked on her words, her shoulders slumping with defeat.

"Not exactly..."

"So, no explanation?" His eyes flicked toward her phone.

She couldn't tell what he was thinking at all—was he angry or not?

Serena felt a jolt of panic. Weighing her options between a good ally and a good friend, she finally sighed.

Under Hugh's unreadable expression, she dialed Ruth again and, upon hearing the call connect, said solemnly, "He's really good to me. I mean it."

"You said the same thing about Zach. I don't buy it!" Ruth snapped on the other end. "Serena, I just want you to have the best. No settling just because. No putting up with less than you deserve!"

Just the thought of Zach, who had ruined Serena's music career and left her with nothing to show for thirteen years, made Ruth punch the air furiously in the orchestra rehearsal hall.

Serena paused, visibly taken aback, then gave a resigned little laugh.

From minimizing Serena's interaction with guests to the layout of the yacht cabins, down to food preferences and the addition of specific entertainment features—everything meticulously thought out.

It was Hugh's usual style. Decisive, but thorough.

In just three minutes, Ruth was rendered speechless. This kind of thoughtfulness? This level of planning? Ten Zachs couldn't even come close!

She had nothing to criticize. So after a long pause, she could only mutter dryly, "Well, now that you've said everything, there's no surprise left."

"I only shared what can be made public," Hugh replied smoothly. "Surprises are a secret."

He handed Serena the glass of blue cocktail. "After five minutes, the taste will start to go bad."

"Oh." Serena accepted the drink.

Their fingers brushed for a moment. His skin was startlingly hot. Was it really that warm tonight?