Chapter 4

"Serena came back a month ago. Use this phone to call her, she'll pick up."

Shortly after Zoran left, a call came to the house.

"Did Zoran dump you?"

"Don't you know the Winters family is in hot water now, barely keeping our heads above water? And you just let a big fish like Zoran go?!"

A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen. I curled up on the couch, clutching the phone and gasping for air:

"Mom, I've already sorted out the funding issue."

After firing off a few more questions, she finally believed me.

As my consciousness began to fade:

"Since Zoran doesn't want you anymore, why don't you marry that blind guy from the Belmont family up in the north side of town!"

"The Winters family has raised you all these years, you ought to..."

"Fine, I'll do whatever you say."

I cut her off before she could finish, then hung up the phone.

Those few exchanges had drained all my energy.

It didn't matter who I married anymore.

Right now, what the Winters family needed was money and resources to revive the family name and bail Father out of prison.

My hope of coming home to recuperate hit rock bottom in that moment.I dutifully packed up all my belongings, only to realize that after living here for ten years, I had surprisingly few possessions.

And traces of Zoran were even more pitifully scarce.

Looking at the empty and cold home before me, a wave of bitterness welled up in my eyes.

I wiped away my tears and sealed my luggage box by box.

Just as I sat down, the door clicked open.

Zoran stood in the doorway in a black suit, the bright light shining on his head.

The woman standing beside him was Serena.

"Felicity!"

Serena rushed over to me with a beaming smile, hugging me tightly:

"I've missed you so much, Felicity."

Sometimes I really admire Serena, always able to put on the most convincing and heartfelt performance.

I also admire Zoran. It had been only half an hour since he got Serena's number after signing the contract.

Now she was already standing here.

Zoran spoke expressionlessly: "Serena just got back. She said she really wanted to see you, so I brought her over."

After entering, he paused, his peripheral vision sweeping over those boxes:

"You're moving out?"

That deliberate question made my heart skip a beat in that moment."Felicity, you don't need to move out. I won't be keeping this place, and Serena won't be living here in the future either."

Serena's expression shifted slightly, her grip on my hand tightening a bit.

She turned to me with a smile, taking my hand:

"That's right, Zoran told me everything. Thank you so much for taking care of him all these years. Consider the house as a token of our appreciation."

Taking care...

Is that how Zoran explained it to Serena?

Of course, how could he possibly let Serena know about our relationship?

He thinks his Serena is pure as snow, but little does he know, she's aware of everything.

"No, thank you. I've already found a new place. I don't want this one anymore."

I stood up to gather my things, but a wave of dizziness hit me, making it hard to keep my balance.

Zoran reached out to steady me, his brow furrowing as he looked at me:

"Why do you look so pale?"

A natural question, tinged with concern.

It made me feel dizzy for a moment, as if the man who had recently asked me to get an abortion wasn't him.

"Felicity, what's wrong?"

Serena took my hand, her face full of worry: "Have you been working too hard lately?"