Chapter 25

"What will it take for you to finally let me go?" Serena turned her face away to dodge Matthew’s kiss, her voice cold. She'd meant to talk things through calmly, but his smug attitude made it impossible to stay composed. Annoyed, Matthew leaned back on the couch, eyes cool. "Give me one good reason to let you go. And don’t say you don’t love me—that’s not something I’ll accept." Seriously? Could he be any more arrogant? Not loving him wasn’t enough of a reason? This was Matthew. If you didn’t have leverage over him, you either accepted your fate or got crushed. But what did she have left? Just her life. Serena straightened up, her face calm but stubborn. She was ready for a real negotiation. "If you don’t mind becoming a widower right after the wedding, I’m not scared to burn everything down with me." She had no attachments now—her adoptive parents were gone, and her biological ones probably didn’t even remember she existed. Maybe that was for the best. Otherwise, she wouldn't dare sta