Staring at Holly, Serene was too shocked to speak. How could this be possible? How could the truth be


    such?


    Yet, Holly’s analysis seemed to make some sense. Otherwise, why would Jason allow someone to


    target his life and do nothing about it?


    Noticing Serene’s incredulous and reddened eyes, Holly said, “I’m just a casualty of their emotional


    warfare, Serene. What do you think you are to him? So what if you saved Jason’s life? So what if you


    got hurt? So what if you can’t have kids anymore? Do you really think Jason cares about any of that?


    He only cares about Estre. My death is inconsequential, and your injuries even less so. We’re just


    coteral damage in their constant battles.”


    Serene still shook her head, “Impossible, it just can’t be.”


    Holly let out a snort ofughter, “You doubt my evidence? Serene, if you don’t believe it, you can check


    its authenticity yourself. And remember, Jason has a copy of all of this evidence, and his set is probably


    even moreprehensive than mine.”


    With that, Holly straightened up, her eyes locked on Serene, “If you have the guts, take this evidence to


    Jason and ask him if I’ve wronged Estre.”


    Such unwavering certainty from Holly made Serene believe that the evidence was real, and the fire


    was indeed rted to Estre. However, Serene still remembered Estre’s reaction when they


    discussed the coboration – it didn’t seem like she knew the truth, and it didn’t seem like Estre was


    the one who had set the fire.


    Serene remained silent, motionless, so Holly added, “Serene, you want the truth, and now it’s right in


    front of you. Whatever you decide to do next is up to you.”


    After Holly finishing her point, Serene furrowed her brows and said, “Holly, you’ve had this evidence for


    a while now, haven’t you? Why tell me only now? Why didn’t you confront Jason yourself?”


    Holly rose calmly, “Who says I haven’t approached Jason?” She continued, “I told you the truth


    because I heard you made a deal with Estre to investigate this matter. I thought you were being a


    fool.”


    After a pause, Holly looked down and said softly, “We were both victims in that fire, so I don’t want to


    see you being yed for a fool. And Serene, you should be grateful, too. If it weren’t for me, you


    wouldn’t be living as well as you are today.”


    Listening to Holly’s words, Serene remained silent.


    Holly rested a hand on Serene’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze, “Compared to me, you’ve suffered the


    most. After all, I can recover, but you’ll never be able to. Don’t even think


    about being with Jason, or any man for that matter. It won’t be easy.”


    00.10


    Holly’sst sentence struck Serene’s vulnerability with precision. Indeed, her stomach scar, coupled


    with her inability to have children, would be hard to ept, not just for an affluent man like Jason, but


    even for your everyday, average man. After all, she had lost the most basic function of womanhood.


    Having said her piece, Holly paid for their coffees and left, leaving Serene in a long, pensive silence at


    the café.


    Was it because she was poor? Because she had no connections or background, did she deserve to be


    trampled on?


    Swallowing a lump in her throat, Serene felt even more sorrowful realizing that Jason’s years of care


    weren’t because she had saved him, but to help Estre cover up her crime. In this game of the


    wealthy, Serene was always just a pawn.


    Thinking of her contributions and sincere feelings rendered worthless, Serene wiped away her tears


    with a swift motion. In this world, having money and connections sure seemed to make life easier. Her


    efforts and affections seemed nothing but a cruel joke. She felt like a joke herself.


    Later, with the evidence Holly had provided, Serene left in her modest car. She didn’t go to Jason or to


    the police but instead headed to Justice Guardians LLP.


    In the meeting room, as Estre brought in two cups of coffee, Serene didn’t beat around the bush. She


    mmed the evidence on the table in front of Estre, “These are the proofs Holly gave me. She said


    that the fire all those years ago was your doing.”


    Estre paused mid-motion, not reaching for the photos and documents that spilled out of the


    envelope. She just stared at the evidence in silence.


    Serene’s anger red, and she confronted Estre directly, “Estre, just because I was born ordinary,


    my family has no background, and my dad passed away, does that give you the right to bully me, to


    treat me like I’m less than you?”


    “Is your love with Jason so grand that nobody else matters?


    “Estre, by what right do you treat me this way? Why do you torment me? Do you have any idea how


    hard these years have been for me?”


    Thinking of her hardships and Jason’s indifference, Serene’s heart ached even more. Why was it that


    no matter where she went or how hard she tried, she always seemed invisible? Why did her kindness


    never seem to be acknowledged?


    Estre swallowed hard and slowly stood up straight.


    As Estre faced her squarely, Serene grew even more agitated, leaping up from the sofa, “Speak up!


    Why are you silent now? You’re always so articte. So tell me, why are you making my life


    miserable? Is it because I’m poor? Because I don’t have powerful friends? What gives you the right?”


    Serene’s outburst was met with Estre’s furrowed brows, “Serene, calm down. Even if I did set that


    fire on purpose, it wasn’t meant to target you.”


    Estre’s scolding was sharp and unyielding, cutting through the air like a cold front. Serene found


    herself frozen in ce, her eyes locked on Estre for what felt like an eternity. Then, with the tter of


    defeat, Serene slumped onto the couch, the fight draining from her posture. “Yeah, so what if you were


    the one who started that fire? It wasn’t meant for me. It was Holly’s room that was burning, with her and


    Jason inside. That whole mess should’ve had nothing to do with me. It was my own fool self, bloated


    with idle hope, who barged in there, thinking just maybe, if I yed the hero and saved Jason, he might


    see me, and choose me.”


    Serene hade armed with a barrage of words, ready tounch them at Estre. Noticing the rity


    returning to Serene’s eyes, Estre simply mmed her coffee cup down on the table with a thud. “I’ve


    never been involved in or interfered with your affairs with Jason, so there’s no need for you to y the


    victim card with me or bring up family backgrounds.”


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Whether it was Serene and Jason, or Holly and Jason, Estre had kept her distance. She knew better


    than anyone that all the choicesy in Jason’s hands, not in the hands of


    others.