The Lies Behind Her Marriage

: Resigned

Resigned.

Serena stayed in her office for some time. She did nothing work-related. Instead, she reached out for her old friend, Xavier Dorian.

Unfortunately, Xavier’s phone didn’t ring. It had probably been two years since they last contacted each other. So, she searched for Xavier’s social media and messaged him instead: [Xavier, I don’t know if you heard, but Nathaniel and I are divorced. He took over Dad’s company. I need you, my friend. Please. I want to leave Velmon City.]

When it was finally nine in the morning, Serena made her way to Nathaniel’s office floor. When she found his assistant, she presented a resignation letter.

“Mr. Price, this is my resignation letter. It’s effective immediately,” Serena said, putting the document down on Gavin Price’s table.

Gavin stilled. He gulped and received the letter. “I… I don’t know what to say, but I understand, Miss Kline.”

“I see no reason for him to refuse my resignation,” Serena said. “Thank you for the time we have worked together, and the friendship, whether it’s genuine or not.”

Gavin paled, and that all the more confirmed Serena's suspicion. It looked like Nathaniel’s assistant knew of his plans.

“I only found out four months ago, I swear,” Gavin said, looking guilty. He lifted the letter, adding, “I’ll give it to the boss later.”

Serena just nodded. Even Gavin was on Nathaniel’s side.

In fact, all employees from Kline BioSolutions were on his side, not about her divorce, but about ousting Victor Kline. Everyone in the company feared Serena’s father, but they all respected Nathaniel. He listened, treated his employees fairly, and worked harder than anyone else. He remembered people’s names and asked about their families.

Within the company, Nathaniel earned everyone’s loyalty not by force, but by being an effective leader. That was how he easily won the favor of the board members.

After handing her resignation letter, Serena hurriedly returned to her office, packed her things, and made her way to the lift. She hopped in, eager to leave this life for good, but she didn’t get lucky.

On the tenth floor of the office building, the elevator doors opened. Vanessa Holt and Nathaniel’s mother, Bianca Thorne, walked in.

Tension arose in the room.

“So you are leaving,” Bianca said, giving Serena's box of personal items a glance.

Serena said nothing.

“It’s good. It’s better that way. You should know, we gave you mercy. We at least didn’t strip everything away from you. Every food you have eaten since you were a child, the house you lived in, and every luxury you have experienced, they all came from my husband’s hard work and sacrifice!” Bianca snapped. She was so mad, the veins on her neck throbbed. "Your father robbed us!"

“Aunt, please. Your blood pressure,” Vanessa said, her sophisticated expression filled with concern.

But Bianca was not done. She turned to Serena again and said, “You were never good enough for my son. How could the daughter of my husband's murderer be my daughter-in-law!”

Her true colors had finally shown.

Bianca had never been this curt toward Serena before.

All those smiles, those congratulatory hugs during the wedding, and every gesture of courtesy had been nothing but an act. They were all lies layered onto her so-called marriage, only that these came from Nathaniel’s mother.

“On the other hand, Vanessa is perfect for my son.” Bianca smiled at Vanessa and motioned to her face. “She is gorgeous, a model and actress, and comes from a respectable family. Her father is a respected city councilor, and her mother is a fashion designer.”

“Not like you!” Bianca snapped at Serena. “Your father is a criminal!”

Then, Bianca’s temperament changed to something more gentle again. She smiled at Vanessa, adding, “Vanessa stayed with us at my mansion last night. She and my son are a couple now. Isn’t that right, Nessa?”

Vanessa blushed. She pushed back a strand of her sleek blonde hair and said, “Oh, Aunt. Let’s be considerate of Serena.”

“You and Nathaniel are free to openly date. What Serena and Nathaniel had was not real,” Bianca declared. “When you get married, I will arrange a grand reception!”

“Oh, thank you, Aunt, you are so sweet,” Vanessa said, giggling. The same actress glanced sideways at Serena, looking smug.

“Please, call me Mom,” Bianca suggested, smiling proudly at Vanessa.

Serena kept a straight face, but deep inside, she was dying.

When the elevator finally reached the first floor, Bianca and Vanessa left. But Serena? She stayed in the elevator, leaning against the wall.

She already knew Nathan had never loved her, but hearing it again didn’t make her immune. It simply made every new humiliation cut deeper than the last.

The door closed, and the elevator climbed back up again. Yet Serena stayed glued to the floor, her vision blurred, and her knees turned weak.

Before she knew it, she was losing awareness.

Thud!

Her body hit the cold floor.

Just before her vision turned dark, she thought she saw a familiar figure.

“Serena?”

“Serena!”

***

When Serena awoke, she smelled the sharp, sterile scent of the hospital. The mix of disinfectant, cold air, and faint antiseptic stung her nose, grounding her back into reality.

Her eyelids felt heavy. As she slowly blinked, the bright white ceiling came into view, too clean, too quiet… but… familiar.

Her throat tightened.

For a moment, she didn’t move. She looked at the blanket and read the print: [Grand Mercy Hospital]

“Serena, thank God you are finally awake. I was worried sick,” Alice’s voice came through.

Alice was a Lead Medical Equipment Technologist at Grand Mercy Hospital, so it no longer surprised Serena to see her friend.

“How did I get here?” Serena asked.

Alice frowned. She said, “Someone from your office brought you here. I didn’t know who. One of the nurses recognized you and told me.”

Just then, they heard a knock on the door. Serena was surprised to see Gavin Price enter. He asked, “Miss Kline, how are you doing?”

“Gavin? Was it you who brought me here?” Serena softly asked.

“Um…” Gavin gulped. He said, “Ye… yes, I brought you to the hospital. I hope you are feeling better.”

“I’m fine,” Serena said. “It’s just all because of the stress, I guess.”

Gavin lingered. His mouth opened again, but no words left him. Instead, he said, “I should head back. I’m really sorry, Miss Kline. Please, take care of yourself.”

After Gavin left, Alice frowned. “He brought you here?”

She shook her head, adding, “Don’t get me wrong, you are five feet and six inches tall, while Nathan’s assistant is what… two inches shorter than you? He isn’t even that well-built.”

“He could be strong,” Serena suggested. “You know, adrenaline rush.”

Alice shrugged and said, “I suppose.”

Then her best friend turned serious. She grabbed Serena’s hand and said, “There is something you should know.”

What Alice said next made Serena feel as if the world was giving her another blow.

"No."

"No!"