Vincent closed his eyes, pain etched deep on his face. “Serena… why did you have to find out?”
“Why couldn’t you just… be the Queen?”
I looked at his tortured expression and felt only nausea.

Outside, rain lashed against the windows, just like the night my father died.
Before the enemies broke in, Dad ordered his men to get me out first.
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand. His eyes held a thousand unsaid words.
In the end, he only said, No matter what happens, stay with Vincent.
I hadn’t understood the warning then.
Now… he must have known. Known about Vincent’s betrayal.

But for his foolish daughter, hopelessly in love, he swallowed the truth. Just wanted me happy.
But Dad… how could I lie on your bones, on my child’s ashes, and pretend to love Vincent Shaw?
The gunfire outside sputtered, then fell silent. Tension in the room skyrocketed.
I signaled Kyle to check. He never came back.

“Vincent! It must be our guys! We won!”
Lily Ann’s voice was shrill with triumph. She glared at me.
“Serena! You and these traitors are dead!”
Vincent relaxed visibly. He gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Serena, I promised your dad I’d take care of you.”
“I meant it. About forever.”
“Forget the past. You’ll always be Mrs. Shaw.”
Lily Ann gaped at him. “Vincent! Are you insane?! After all this? You still want her?!”
“Remember our baby! Remember how she betrayed you just now?!”
“You killed her father! You killed her baby! If you don’t kill her now, she willkill you later!”
Stupid as Lily often was, she nailed it this time.
I lunged, knife aimed for Vincent’s heart. He dodged; the blade sank deep into his shoulder instead.
I watched the blood flow, clicking my tongue in mock disappointment.
“She’s right, Vincent. You and me? Only one walks out of this room alive.”
Vincent gripped the knife handle, yanked it out. Blood sprayed my face.
He leaned close, tenderly wiping a drop from my cheek.
“Serena, we both walk out. We grow old together.”
BANG!
The conference doors burst open. Men in black tactical gear poured in.
The leader blew smoke from his pistol barrel, looking at Vincent with utter contempt.
“Who said anything about growing old with you?”
“Vincent Shaw, Miss clearly can’t stand the sight of you.”
Vincent staggered as blood gushed from his arm. He stared at the newcomer in shock.
“Xavier? How…? Carlo exiled you overseas years ago!”
Vincent whirled back to me, disbelief warring with betrayal. “Serena… you teamed up with him?”
“He was gunning for your father’s throne! Carlo barely managed to exile him!”
“Bringing him back? You’ve let a wolf into the house!”
Xavier looked at Vincent like he was garbage.
“If Miss hadn’t staked her life on that table to save your worthless hide, I’d have buried you years ago.”
“Carlo and Miss lifted you up! And how did you repay them?”
“A wolf? You’re the ungrateful snake!”