Two and half hours later, Serena stepped out of Javerton City Airport and got into the Jansen family's car.

It was only then that Zach's message came through.

"Where are you? Why didn't you go back to the hotel? The courthouse is still open. Just head there, I'll be there soon."

Serena scoffed, her lips curling into a cold smile. Without hesitation, she blocked Zach on everything.

Zach had been waiting for her reply, but after a long time, nothing came. His brow furrowed tightly. Serena had always responded to his messages instantly. Lately, her temper had been worse than ever.

He called her, but the moment the robotic voice came on, he froze.

Serena had blocked him before, but back then, they were still in the honeymoon phase. It was just a playful act after a lovers' quarrel, a way to get him to coax her.

But now, with Wendy still unconscious, Zach had no patience for such games

Several elders of the Jansen family shook their heads in disapproval.

"She's spent too many years away from the family, and now she's completely unruly. If she gets married like this, she'll only bring shame to the Jansen family's name," one of them said.

Another chimed in, "Someone needs to teach her proper manners. Even the wildest temper can be tamed".

A third elder added, "Howard, the Larson family is the wealthiest in Javerton City, with assets worth billions. Whether our family can rise to the next level depends on this alliance. We're not asking her to achieve great things, but she must not cause trouble."

Howard's face was grim. "Nina, stop making a scene! Come here and greet your elders."

Serena walked forward, pulling her luggage behind her. She didn't even spare Howard a glance, instead sweeping her gaze over the elders, their faces filled with feigned kindness.

The Jans

"Zach, just eat your dinner properly," Neal said, placing a shrimp on Serena's plate.

Even with Neal's presence, the dinner still ended in tense, uncomfortable silence.

As they left, Zach dropped Serena off at a bus stop without saying a word. Then, he drove away without looking back.

Serena didn't react. She returned to her hotel quietly and didn't bother reaching out to Zach. Instead, she focused on wrapping up her affairs in Yellowbrook City, cutting ties with everything that still linked her here.

Occasionally, she would glance at the messages Wendy had sent. Every little thing she and Zach had done over the past few days was documented in excruciating detail, laid out in the chat like a report.

At first, it hurt. Then, she felt numb. Now, she found it almost amusing.

The constant messages felt like a desperate performance, each one only making Wendy look more like a pathetic clown.

Serena never responded. She simply took screenshots, saving them for later use.

…

Monday arrived. Her flight was booked for 11:30 am.

She woke up early, packed her suitcase, and was about to head downstairs for breakfast when Zach unlocked the door with a spare key card. He was dressed in his usual sharp suit, but his expression was far from composed.

Serena instinctively moved her suitcase behind her, a flicker of unease crossing her face.

She had never truly left Zach before.

There was a time when they had a fight, and Zach got drunk. He grabbed her hand and told her that if she ever dared to leave, he would drag her back and lock her up at home. She would never be allowed to step outside or see anyone for the rest of her life.

Back then, even the most twisted words had sounded sweet to her. After all, she loved him. But now, they only filled her with resistance.

Zach stared at her for a long time. He had been holding in his frustration for days, but Serena never once reached out to him. That made him feel unsettled in a way he couldn't control.

Now, seeing her quietly waiting in the room, the tightness in his chest finally eased. 

"Leave the luggage here," he said. "I'll have Morton pick it up later. Let's go get our marriage certificate."

Once, this was all she had wanted. Now, it barely stirred anything in her heart.

She adjusted the strap of her bag and looked at the elegant hand he extended toward her. "No rush. Come with me somewhere first."

Zach glanced at his watch. For once, he showed some patience. "Fine, but don't take too long. I have a meeting at 10:00 am."

How considerate of him, squeezing in time from his busy schedule just to marry her.

The car pulled up in an old district. The worn cobblestone streets were lined with aged townhouses. Since the area had been turned into a tourist attraction, they hadn't visited in years.

"Why did you suddenly want to come here?" Zach asked.

He parked the car, his sharp eyebrows furrowing slightly as unease churned in his chest once again. Without thinking, he reached for Serena's hand, gripping it tightly in his palm, only then feeling a semblance of calm.

Serena didn't resist. Instead, she lifted her other hand and pointed toward the park in the distance.

That used to be a basketball court, but the city had torn it down.

"When we were juniors in high school, a guy from the neighboring school had a crush on me. You were so mad that you challenged him to a three-on-three game. You won the match but messed up your leg. You cried like a baby and demanded that I take responsibility for you.

"When we started dating freshman year, you dragged me here in the middle of the night and set off fireworks to propose. I had started college early—I was barely eighteen. You were so impatient, insisting we had to lock it in first."

Her words lingered between them until Zach finally broke the silence. "Rena, what's wrong?"

Serena turned to face him. "Our first fight over Wendy happened here too. You left me stranded at a half-demolished basketball court. I have a terrible sense of direction—it took me over two hours to find my way home, and I ended up with blisters all over my feet."

She had never set foot here since.

Zach felt like something inside him was being squeezed, hard. He reached for her, ready to pull her into his arms. "Rena, that was a long time ago. I take care of Wendy because—"

Serena slipped out of his grasp. "Come on, let's check out the new park. I heard they kept some of the old diners. It's been a while since I've had a meal in this area."

She freed her hand from his grip and walked ahead.

Suppressing the emotions welling up inside, Zach followed her. There weren't many tourists at this hour, but a few breakfast diners were open, serving the residents.

A bucket of dirty dishwater was dumped onto the pavement, glistening with grease. Zach frowned and stepped aside to avoid it, instinctively pulling Serena closer to him.

"Today's an important day. Once we get our marriage certificate, let me take you somewhere nice. How about lobster?"

This street held so many memories. He had once brought her to every single shop.

Back then, Zach would ride his old bike through the bustling streets, a freshly made bagel in his mouth, weaving through the laughter and chatter around him.

At that time, he was just the unacknowledged illegitimate son of Yellowbrook City's wealthiest man—no connections, no money, no one to take him seriously.

Zarena Group had shaped him into the man he was today. As the rightful heir of the Foster family, he commanded power and influence—someone everyone was forced to respect.

But somewhere along the way, he had forgotten where he came from. And he had forgotten his promises to her.

"I want to eat here today." 

Serena's sudden stubbornness caught Zach off guard.

The young woman she had grown up with for over a decade had always been bright and full of life. But she had also always revolved around him. 

He didn't know when that had changed.

He thought back to that night at the Foster residence. The Serena he knew would never have embarrassed him in front of his family. She had always understood what mattered to him.

Sitting on the worn-out wooden bench, Serena ordered two bagels and two cups of coffee.

Zach took the napkin she handed him, a strange emptiness settling in his chest.

"Rena, I already had Morton pick Wendy up today," he said. "From now on, that villa will be just the two of us, just like before."

In his world, she could do whatever she wanted. And she would always belong to him. That would never change. 

It couldn't.

He continued, "Eat up. As soon as we're done, we'll head straight to get our marriage certificate."

Zach was growing impatient.

Serena's heart clenched. She thought to herself, "Just like before?"

Before she could respond, an abrupt ringtone broke the silence. It was the special ringtone Zach had set for Wendy.

There had been a time she had an asthma attack and called him, but he had put his phone on silent and missed it. He had been so upset that he sat outside her hospital room, tugging at his hair in frustration.

That was also the moment Serena realized—Zach had feelings for someone other than her.

"Go ahead and answer it," she said, lowering her gaze and taking another bite of her food.

Zach stared at her fair face, the ringing phone amplifying the irritation simmering in his chest. Still, he pressed to answer.

"Wendy, I can't step away today. If you need anything, call Morton and have him—"

Before he could finish, Morton's voice came through the line. "Mr. Foster, Ms. Smith has been in the greenhouse all morning, trying to take care of the flowers so Ms. Jansen wouldn't be upset. 

"She had an asthma attack but refused to rest, and she ended up passing out. She's in the ER now. She didn't want me to contact you, but… her condition doesn't look good."

Zach's face darkened immediately. "I'll be right there."

He hung up and turned to Serena, his expression growing colder. "I'll have the garden restored to the way it was. There was no need to make things difficult for Wendy over something so small. We'll get the marriage certificate another day."

With that, he turned and walked away.

For the second time, in the same place, Zach had left Serena behind. And this time, on the very day they were supposed to get married.

Serena watched Zach's figure disappear into the distance, but her emotions remained steady.

There was a time when she believed that if she had been the one who was sick, he would have treated her the same. But that thought felt bitter now. 

Love wasn't something that should be earned through suffering.

The man who once swore he loved her was the same man who betrayed her. He wasn't worth it.

The warmth of the freshly baked bagels made her eyes sting.

She quietly finished her meal. Then, she walked the path she wanted to take, unhurried and calm. After that, she returned to the hotel, grabbed her luggage, and headed straight to the airport.

Two and half hours later, Serena stepped out of Javerton City Airport and got into the Jansen family's car.

It was only then that Zach's message came through.

"Where are you? Why didn't you go back to the hotel? The courthouse is still open. Just head there, I'll be there soon."

Serena scoffed, her lips curling into a cold smile. Without hesitation, she blocked Zach on everything.

Zach had been waiting for her reply, but after a long time, nothing came. His brow furrowed tightly. Serena had always responded to his messages instantly. Lately, her temper had been worse than ever.

He called her, but the moment the robotic voice came on, he froze.

Serena had blocked him before, but back then, they were still in the honeymoon phase. It was just a playful act after a lovers' quarrel, a way to get him to coax her.

But now, with Wendy still unconscious, Zach had no patience for such games.

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he dismissed the thought. At most, it would take a couple

Chapter 8