Chapter 8 New Beginnings, Old Wounds

Serena could faintly hear Sylvie’s voice in the background, trying to grab the phone to talk to her. Warmth filled her heart as she reassured her two little ones with a few comforting words.
When she hung up, a wave of relief washed over her. From that day forward, she no longer had to worry about Chuck’s threats or the fate of her children. As for any trouble Victor might give Chuck after waking up? Well, that wasn’t her concern anymore.
Lennox glanced over, catching the softened expression on her face. Was that her boyfriend on my phone? The thought of Serena, after spending the night with him, still in a relationship with someone else made him grimly instantly. Does she think that she can just stroll back into someone else’s arms after spending the night in my bed? Not a chance!
“Who were you calling?”
None of your business. The words almost slipped out, but she bit them back, recognizing the dangerous look in his eyes. Handing him his phone, she answered with a little white lie. “I didn’t go home last night, so my family was worried. I need to head back now.”
This time, Lennox didn’t stop her, simply saying, “I ordered breakfast. Eat before you go.”
Her stomach growled as if on cue, and she suddenly remembered her purse, along with her cash and phone, was still missing. Returning to Victor’s room wasn’t an option either. Even if her things were there, she had no desire to see him again. Moreover, leaving now would mean walking back from The Mariner’s Resort to her place, a half-hour drive that would take her at least two hours on foot. The thought alone made her reconsider.
With that, she took a seat on the farthest end of the couch, as far from him as possible. She still didn’t know his name and had no intention of asking. After all, their paths would never cross again after this.
The couch was incredibly plush, and Serena found herself growing drowsy. Had Lennox’s watchful gaze not been fixed on her, she might have actually dozed off.
The silence stretched on as they waited for breakfast, and the tension in the air became palpable. Serena grabbed the remote, flipping on the TV to break the awkwardness. She scrolled through the channels, freezing when an entertainment news broadcast caught her eye.
“Twenty-three-year-old actress Serena Stone was found dead in her apartment this morning by her manager. Reports say that over the past few months, Serena had largely withdrawn from the public eye. According to sources, she was rumored to be dating a wealthy businessman and was even pregnant with his child. When her manager found her, a premature baby lay by her side. It’s believed she may have died during a home birth, unable to reach help in time.”
Footage of her past shows and dramas flashed across the screen, a grim slideshow of what little her career had amounted to. The anchor’s detached tone continued, “Entering the entertainment industry at 16, Serena Stone had been an orphan. Her manager is handling all funeral arrangements, and her service is expected to be private, attended by a few friends and a handful of fans.”
Serena lowered her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. She should have known. Shawn had power, and as director of PrimeCare Hospital, he could cover up her death’s real cause effortlessly. She had been nothing more than a minor celebrity; how could she have ever hoped to take him down?
Her fists clenched, resolve hardening within her. She wasn’t ready to take on Shawn yet, but one day, she would make him suffer.
Lennox, sensing the shift in her mood, glanced at the TV and then at Serena. “Funny, you share the same name.”
Startled, she looked at him. “You knew her?”
“Not personally.”
He was familiar with many A-list actresses, though he’d seen her on screen before. After a moment’s consideration, he added, “She had some talent.”
Serena bit her lip, a faint sheen of tears forming in her eyes. It was the closest she’d ever come to a genuine compliment. Since the rumors about her and Shawn, the public had branded her as just another starlet dating a rich man. She was almost moved that Lennox didn’t sneer at her.
Blinking away the moisture in her eyes, she looked back at the TV. The screen showed clips of her funeral, a modest affair. Her manager, Adrian Zanetti, carried her framed portrait, bowing politely to the few attendees with a solemn expression.
Her eyes stung at the sight. Adrian was probably the only person in the world who genuinely cared about her. She remembered how he’d been supportive when she started dating Shawn, even congratulating her on finding someone she could trust.
How painfully ironic that was now.