Game Over No Second Chances

Serena returned to her room to rest.

Not even two hours later, a maid came rushing over.

"Ms. Sarah and the others angered Mr. Eric and Ms. Saint. After a heated argument, Mr. Larson Senior grounded them all. He forbade them from wandering around and causing trouble on the island."

Serena lazily flipped through the pages of her book.

"Advice falls on deaf ears when someone is dead set on digging their own grave. But since Grandpa has given the order, have someone watch both families closely. Let the people guarding them know they're grounded and not to let them out unless it's an emergency. We don't need them embarrassing the Larson family any further."

They made Hugh work overtime cleaning up their mess. What a pain.

Serena casually mentioned it to the maids, and they treated her words like a decree. For the next two or three days, not a single member of either family dared show their face around the island.

Meanwhile, Calvin's complexion was looking a lot better.

He often spotted Hugh accompanying Serena on strolls or lounging on the deck chairs, chatting and laughing.

At night, through the windows, he saw their silhouettes moving back and forth. He tugged at Robert excitedly.

"It looks like Hugh has really found himself a good woman! They've only been married a few months, but they're already inseparable!"

Robert could only force a smile.

He wanted to say that they were discussing cat vaccines during their stroll.

On the deck chairs, it was all business talks. Now they were buried in paperworks

in the study. The constant movement was just subordinates constantly delivering files and reports.

Serena suddenly sneezed. Her nose tingled. Was someone missing her?

Hugh lifted his head from the documents, frowning slightly.

"Want to take a break?"

"No need. Probably just someone gossiping about me," Serena said lazily from the couch.

Lét

She glanced at the towering pile of papers in front of Hugh and clicked her tongue. "If you're this swamped, maybe we should just head back early."

Hugh's pen paused mid-air. "You don't like the island?"

Serena fell silent.

She did like it. She just hated seeing Hugh working himself to exhaustion. But for some reason, she couldn't get the concern out.

It felt strange like she was admitting she cared too much about him.

After a moment of silence, she simply shook her head.

Hugh watched her for a few seconds before he suddenly asked, "What were you trying to say at the end of your birthday?"

There had been something she hadn't finished saying when he set that rose down near the end of her birthday.

Serena snapped out of her daze and met Hugh's calm gaze. She felt a wave of inexplicable restlessness and looked away.

She had wanted to ask Hugh why he had chosen a rose. Birthdays could be grand feasts, surprise parties, and celebrations between allies.

But why had there been a rose, a symbol of fiery love and romance?

Now that she'd cooled down, she realized she shouldn't have said anything at all.

A man like Hugh, who had always kept his distance from women, could hardly be expected to turn into some lovestruck fool over her.noveldrama

She had spent 13 years with Zach

and had never once been truly special to him. How could she really

have taken root in Hugh's heart in

just a few months?

She shouldn't have assumed he had feelings for her. She shouldn't expect anything from him either.

It would be better to stay allies than to fall deeper and be torn apart again.

Serena took a breath, trying to brush

it off.

file to

half her face leaving

smiled faintly and lifted t

only her helpless eyes visible

"I got interrupted that night and forgot what I was going to say."

Hugh fell silent too.