NovelEnglishChapter 229 Aaron didn't bother satisfying Frederick's curiosity-he simply ended the call with a click.
Frederick stared at his phone, speechless.
Seriously? Stingy much.
He tucked his phone away, but the playful glint in his eyes had vanished. Ever since he'd learned there was a chance Evelyn might still be alive, Frederick had been relentlessly chasing down every lead, determined to find her. He'd lost her once already he wasn't going to let it happen again.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtMeanwhile, at his hotel, Aaron stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the city. He was waiting for Serena to show up.
The next morning.
Serena got up early and headed straight to the studio. She'd already found a lawyer even more formidable than Nestor Leighton, but today she had a shoot scheduled. She'd have to wait until filming wrapped to meet with the attorney.
Still, a knot of anxiety twisted in her chest. She forced it down, gripping the steering wheel, eyes set with determination. She couldn't lose to Penelope. And she absolutely couldn't lose to Aaron.
When she arrived at the TV station, Cynthia Lynwood was already there. As soon as she saw Serena, Cynthia greeted her with sunny enthusiasm. Serena, however, ignored her. Truth be told, she didn't want to be here at all -but quitting the show would mean paying a hefty penalty for breach of contract.
The whole interaction didn't go unnoticed. Onlookers exchanged glances, their whispers thick with speculation. "Isn't Miss Sullivan being a little harsh with Miss Lynwood? I mean, so what if she's dating her ex? Does she have to be so cold?" "Yeah, Miss Lynwood's just too nice for her own good and keeps getting the cold shoulder." "She even brought snacks for everyone today-she's so sweet! If I were Aaron, I'd pick Miss Lynwood too." "Seriously, who doesn't love a sweetheart?" Cynthia caught fragments of the gossip, a faint smile flickering on her lips. But when she glanced in the makeup mirror and caught sight of Serena's striking, effortlessly beautiful face, her expression faltered for a moment.
Serena was prettier than her. That had always grated on Cynthia, a stubborn thorn in her side. But then again, what did beauty matter? In the end, Serena hadn't married Aaron either. The thought made Cynthia's smile return, a touch more self-assured.
Serena, meanwhile, paid no mind to the chatter. In seven years living in Alderburg, she'd learned one thing: never let rumors dictate your life. You only get one shot-live it for yourself.
Once makeup was done, the five guests filed into the studio. Cynthia, who'd only landed her spot thanks to Aaron's extra investment, was placed center stage. To her left and right sat Professor Julian Sterling and Dr. Rosa, the museum director, while Serena ended up at the far end.
To keep the show authentic, the producer Abby had only briefed them on the format-not the questions. Everything from here on out would be unscripted.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAbby shot Serena a meaningful look-she was counting on her to bring the spark, the headlines, the buzz. But once filming began, a problem quickly emerged. The first segment was a rapid-fire trivia round. Given a series of photos, the five guests had to correctly identify each antique to score a point. Serena, however, didn't seem eager to jump in. She'd barely attempted to answer, and as a result, hadn't gotten any questions.
This wouldn't do. Abby needed Serena to dominate-she wanted that "AlderUniversity prodigy sweeps the competition" moment. Abby called a halt to filming. "Serena, can I have a word?"
Serena followed her out into the kd hallway. Abby took a deep breath. "Serena, you the content is on "Serenay novelenglish.net! do realize this is a competitive show, right?" Serena nodded.
"Then why aren't you jumping in?"
"Even if I try, I won't get them," Serena replied, matter-of-fact.
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