That third party was soon exposed to be Giselle.

College classmates who knew them left comments.

"This Giselle is truly an ingrate. Back in college, no one wanted to hang out with her, and only Serena treated her as a best friend, yet she actually managed to steal Serena’s man."

"She’s truly shameless. Doesn't she have a clue how much Serena helped her? If it weren't for Serena, she would have been taken by debt collectors to pay off her debts with her body long ago—a low-life who bites the hand that feeds."

"It’s not just her; is Preston any better? When Preston was kicked out of his family’s home, it was Serena who helped him through the toughest moments. Now that he’s reached the shore, he’s the first to strike down his benefactor."

Preston instantly turned into a thankless, ungrateful scoundrel. Wave after wave of public opinion surfaced, with not a single kind word to say about him.

They had transformed him into a heartless villain who would eat people without spitting out the bones.

Preston didn't care; he dialed Serena’s number over and over again, but that number could no longer be reached.

Once the companies they had collaborated with heard about these events, they all canceled their partnerships with Preston.

In the beginning, it was Serena who had worked hard to negotiate these deals for him, but in the end, they were also lost because of Serena’s departure.

Preston laughed as tears slid down his cheeks.

They were right, after all. Without Serena, he was nothing.

It was Serena who had allowed him to make his comeback, yet he had failed to cherish her.

The door opened, and two police officers appeared before him.

"Mr. Preston, regarding Ms. Serena’s accusations, we need you to come with us to assist in our investigation."

Preston said nothing. Before leaving, he simply turned back to take one last look at this home.

The home he and Serena had shared—now destroyed by his own hands.

Chapter 13

On the day Serena returned, her brother, Shen Zhiheng, came to the airport to pick her up.

Having not seen Shen Zhiheng for three years, she suddenly felt an immense sense of strangeness.

It was raining in Hong Kong. Shen Zhiheng wore a black trench coat. Upon seeing her, he smiled gently: "What are you standing there like a fool for? Why aren't you getting in the car?"

Serena felt a heaviness in her heart. After getting in, she smelled the aromatherapy in his car—it was still her favorite scent—and her heart became even more unsettled.

"Brother, do Mom and Dad know I’m back?"

Shen Zhiheng raised an eyebrow: "Of course. They were there the day you called me. I wanted to keep it a secret for you, but you know how perceptive they are. Don't worry, all these years have passed, and even the strongest anger has mostly dissipated. Besides, you’re still their biological daughter; what family doesn't have its quarrels?"

Though that was said, when Serena had insisted on marrying Preston despite her family’s opposition, her parents had only left her with one sentence: "If you dare to marry him today, don't ever return to this home again."

At that time, Serena had been blinded by love, wanting only to marry Preston, ultimately failing the family that had raised her for so many years.

Now, she was filled with remorse—why had she done such a foolish thing back then, breaking her parents’ hearts?

"Serena, I’ve heard about your situation, and Mom and Dad know as well. They feel for you. Don't argue with them when you see them later, okay?"

Serena nodded bitterly. What right did she have to argue now? If her parents were willing to let her step through that door, she was already infinitely grateful.

Shen Zhiheng naturally understood the trepidation in her heart, but he felt even more heartbroken for his sister, who had endured so many grievances, now appearing to have lost her spirit.

He looked at her, as if she had turned into someone else.

On the way back, Serena drifted off to sleep without realizing it—the soundest sleep she had had in a long time.

When she woke up, the car was already parked in front of her home.

The car was quiet; she was covered in Shen Zhiheng’s jacket, while he stood outside the car, head bowed, talking on the phone.

She subconsciously stared at Shen Zhiheng. It seemed he hadn't changed at all; whether in the past or now, as long as she spoke up, he would always be standing where she needed him.

Shen Zhiheng seemed to realize eyes were fixed on him. He turned his head and caught her gaze.

Serena awkwardly averted her eyes, looking down with a guilty conscience, not daring to look at him again.

The car door beside her was suddenly pulled open.

"Awake?" he asked with a smile.

She nodded in embarrassment.

"Get out, Mom and Dad are waiting for you."

Serena, who had been a bit nervous, felt a surge of energy. She gingerly followed Shen Zhiheng back into the home she hadn't returned to in three years.

The last time she had been here was the day after her wedding to Preston for the traditional visit home.

But her father had insisted she not be allowed in, saying he had no such unfilial daughter. From that moment on, Serena had silently competed with her father, refusing to return voluntarily again.

Her mother came forward to take Serena’s hand and simply said: "It’s good that you’re back."

"Mom." Serena forced a smile, then looked nervously at her father, who had remained silent for so long.

"Dad."

Her father finally raised his eyes to look at her: "I told you back then that you wouldn't have a good outcome if you insisted on following him. You wouldn't listen, and now you’ve returned only after crashing into a wall and bleeding."

But upon seeing the wounds on her, he couldn't say any more; his expression changed.

"Zhiheng, take your sister to the hospital first for an examination and see what’s become of her! If people didn't know, they’d think our Shen family abused our own daughter!"

Shen Zhiheng patted Serena’s shoulder: "Go up, take a bath, and change your clothes. I’ll take you to the hospital."

Serena returned to her room in silence. Nothing had changed; knowing she was returning, her mother had ordered the room cleaned until it was spotless and had bought all the snacks and fruit she used to love.

Tears surged from her eyes in an instant.

Chapter 14

When Serena came back downstairs, her eyes were red. Shen Zhiheng had just come out of their father’s study, and seeing her like this, he frowned slightly.

"How are you still like you were when you were a child, crying at the drop of a hat?"

"Brother, stop making fun of me."

Shen Zhiheng smiled: "Serena, it’s all in the past. From now on, the family will protect you. Don't look at Dad as being cold; in reality, he has always been very concerned about you. Otherwise, how do you think you were able to negotiate so many major partnerships for Preston? While they gave you face, they were also largely doing it for Dad’s sake."

Even without Shen Zhiheng saying it, Serena understood this logic.

At the hospital, Serena underwent a full-body examination. When Shen Zhiheng saw the wounds on her, a tempest of fury rose in his eyes.

"What exactly has he done to you?"

Serena’s eyes grew moist, and she shook her head. She didn't want to bring up the past anymore. From now on, there would be no more ties between her and Preston.

"Brother, he will pay the price."

Shen Zhiheng simply felt heartbroken that Serena’s sincere heart had been treated this way. Back then, even when the whole family opposed it, she was determined to marry Preston, and Preston had clearly sworn that he would only be good to Serena for the rest of his life and only love her.

And the result?

It changed in just three years.

He watched as Serena bore the pain in silence, her once-smooth skin now covered in ugly scars. When the nurse stitched her up, she didn't utter a single sound of pain.

But he remembered that Serena was the most afraid of pain; as a child, if she was even nicked by a blade, she would wail in tears. Now, having grown up, her growth was gnawing at his heart, causing him a dull, bloody pain.

Serena eventually passed out from the pain, and when she woke up, she was already admitted to the hospital.

Shen Zhiheng was leaning against the window, reporting Serena’s situation to their home.

He downplayed the severity, not wanting their mother to worry.

In a blink, he saw that Serena had woken up. He hung up the phone and came to her side.

"The doctor says the wounds are inflamed and there are multiple contusions on your body. You had another fever just now, so it’s safer to stay in the hospital for a few days."