Chapter 227

Even though the thunder kept rumbling all night, Serena didn't freak out like last time. Maybe... that’s just part of growing up. The next morning, the rain had stopped. The sunshine after the storm felt amazing. Serena stretched, closed her eyes, and turned toward the sun like last night was just a bad dream she'd already moved on from. “Serena, you up?” Dylan knocked lightly on her door, his voice gentle. Serena hopped out of bed, yanked the door open, and grinned playfully. “Coming, coming!” Dylan frowned slightly and shook his head, walking in and placing a pair of slippers at her feet. “The floor’s cold.” “Oh...” Serena stuck out her tongue sheepishly, slipped on the slippers, and went to wash up. At the table, Dylan watched her gobble down breakfast like she hadn’t eaten in days. He looked a bit worried. “You okay?” “Totally fine! Just starving, haha...” Her goofy grin brought Dylan back to when they’d first met years ago. Back then, Serena had been the same—carefree and full of