Chapter 4

The entire room fell dead silent.

Everyone had heard rumors about our divorce, but they had politely avoided the topic. Nobody expected Chloe to bring it up so crudely, launching a vicious personal attack on me.

On the surface, she was insulting me. But in reality, she was mocking Serena for hanging out with "trash."

Serena frowned slightly. She shifted her gaze from me to the mocking Chloe. For the first time, a look of genuine confusion appeared on her face. "...I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose to keep from laughing. Serena’s face-blindness was acting up again.

But I couldn't blame her. Chloe’s style had changed so drastically. She used to be a simple girl, but now, under her expensive makeup, she looked like a tired, worn-out woman trying too hard.

Chloe’s expression shattered. "Serena! You don't recognize me? It's me, Chloe! Chloe Cooper!"

Serena blinked, finally putting the name together. Her polite demeanor instantly turned cold and distant. "Oh. Ethan's ex."

Seeing Chloe’s face turn the color of a bruised plum, I wanted to burst out laughing. Chloe had wanted to use Serena to show off, but now she was reduced to nothing more than "Ethan’s ex."

Serena raised her eyes, her commanding CEO aura instantly filling the room. "I don't care what happened between you two, and frankly, I'm not interested. But as Ethan's friend, I will protect him. I ask that you watch your mouth in front of me."

She paused, then added coldly, "You had something precious and didn't know how to cherish it. Now you're here throwing tantrums. If I were Ethan, I'd be glad to be rid of you too."

Though she kept her words polite, the underlying anger in her voice was unmistakable.

I looked at Serena, completely stunned. Was she... defending me? Was she saying Chloe didn't deserve me?

Did she actually care about me...?

Sensing my gaze, Serena turned to look at me. Realizing what she had just blurted out, a deep blush rushed up her cheeks. She suddenly looked like a shy schoolgirl, a complete contrast to the cold CEO who had just shut Chloe down.

I tentatively reached out and took her hand. Her hand trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she quietly nudged her chair closer to mine.

Having lost all face, Chloe wanted to scream. But she didn't dare cross Serena. She wanted to glare at me, but Serena’s warning was still ringing in her ears. With nowhere to vent her fury, she slumped into a corner, her face dark with rage.

I didn't care about Chloe. I just looked at Serena. She had changed so much, yet the way she looked at me—with that same quiet, hidden warmth—had never changed.

Soon, classmates started coming over to toast Serena, hoping to secure partnerships with her company. Serena looked at me as if asking for permission. When I smiled and nodded, she gave me an apologetic look and turned to handle the guests.

Watching her, my heart melted.

Suddenly, a loud shriek shattered the warm atmosphere.

Chloe stood up, holding her phone high in the air, screaming frantically, "It's time! The lottery numbers are being drawn! I won $5 million! It’s my time!"

【PAYWALL NODE】