(Serena and Theo go public with their fake relationship, and Damian hears about it for the first time.)
---
Serena never did things halfway.
If she was going to make the world believe she had moved on, she wasn’t going to settle for a quiet rumor or a few staged appearances. No, if she was going to be in a relationship, then it was going to be the relationship.
And there was no better place to debut it than at Westbridge University’s biggest social event of the month—the annual Bennett Charity Gala.
Which, conveniently, was hosted by none other than Theo’s family.
So when Serena arrived, stepping out of a sleek black car in a red, floor-length gown that hugged every inch of her confidence, her arm effortlessly linked with Theo’s, the cameras flashed in a frenzy.
It took less than ten minutes for the entire ballroom to start buzzing.
---
Damian heard about it before he even saw them.
He had been standing near the bar, casually listening to Jace complain about some professor, when the whispers started.
"Serena Lancaster and Theo Bennett?"
"Are they actually dating?"
"I heard they’ve been seeing each other for weeks."
Damian barely reacted—until Jace suddenly muttered, "Well, damn."
Damian turned his head just as Serena walked in, her hand resting lightly on Theo’s chest, laughing at something he said.
His grip on his drink tightened.
Serena never laughed like that around him. Not that he noticed. Not that he cared.
…Did he?
---
Across the room, Chloe Moreau smirked.
"Do you see his face?" she whispered to Serena, barely hiding her amusement.
Serena took a small sip of her champagne before glancing in Damian’s direction. He wasn’t looking at her, not directly, but there was a tension in his posture that hadn’t been there before.
Interesting.
Serena smiled, turning back to Theo. "Would you like to make it worse?"
Theo chuckled. "You read my mind."
And then, in one seamless, deliberate motion, Theo leaned in, brushing his lips against Serena’s cheek as he whispered, "How mad do you think he is right now?"
Serena smirked. "I don’t know."
She turned her head slightly, her lips a breath away from Theo’s.
"But I hope he’s furious."
---
End of Chapter 1.
Next up: Chapter 2, Part 1 - A Different Serena
Preview of the next chapter!
(Serena embraces her true self, shocking everyone—including Damian.)
---
The morning after the Bennett Charity Gala, Serena Lancaster walked into Westbridge University with an entirely different aura.
She had always been well-liked. People admired her for her beauty, her charm, and her presence. But she had never been seen as intimidating—not in the way someone like Damian Westwood was.
That changed today.
She wasn’t just Serena, the girl who chased Damian.
She was Serena Lancaster, the heir to an empire.
And people felt it.
Her confidence was sharper, untouchable.
Her gaze? Focused, unreadable.
The softness she used to carry around Damian? Gone.
See you my muffins in the next chapter!
Have a wonderful day/night!
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 5 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments