Serena’s heart sank: "As long as Brother likes it, I don't have any opinions."

"Your brother told your father that he doesn't like that An Qi girl; he already has someone in his heart."

Serena suddenly froze.

Shen Zhiheng had someone he liked? When did this happen? Why didn't she know anything about it?

"Although Zhiheng has never said it, I know that the person in his heart... is you."

Serena went rigid in an instant.

Her face turned deathly pale: "Mom, you can't say things like that."

"You and Zhiheng aren't biological siblings. Back then, I couldn't get pregnant, so I discussed adopting a child with your father. You and Zhiheng both know that. Zhiheng is usually stern and rarely smiles, but he is only talkative when he’s with you. You might not have noticed, but outsiders have seen it all along."

"But he’s my brother..."

Serena still couldn't imagine how Shen Zhiheng could possibly like her.

"Serena, Mom doesn't mean anything else by this, I just hope you can think about it carefully. You’ve already experienced one failed marriage, and Mom doesn't want you to fear marriage forever. If it were Zhiheng, Mom believes he would definitely be able to take good care of you and put you at the center of everything."

Her mother’s words kept floating in her ears. To Serena, this was a massive shock.

A suffocating silence filled the room.

Suddenly, a servant came stumbling up, shouting with a ghastly expression: "This is bad, Ma'am, downstairs... someone claiming to be Preston is here to see the young lady."

Chapter 17

Hearing the name Preston felt to Serena like a lifetime ago.

Mother Shen wouldn't let her go downstairs, so she could only secretly observe the situation from the window.

Preston was blocked at the gate, begging Mother Shen: "Mom, please let me see Serena. I have a lot to say to her. I still owe her an apology."

Mother Shen sneered at him: "Don't address me that way; I am not your mother. You and Serena are already divorced; what are you still doing looking for her? Haven't you made her suffer enough?"

"The treasure we held in our hands since childhood—look at what you’ve tormented her into. When she returned, she was covered in wounds and had multiple minor fractures. Is this how you treat the wife who helped you secure investments and projects?"

Preston’s heart ached more and more, his voice nearly choking: "It’s my fault for letting her suffer so much. For so many years, she stayed by my side, through my hardest times, and never abandoned me, yet I treated her this way..."

"I came here to find Serena because I truly regret my actions. I beg you to give me another chance..."

Mother Shen interrupted him: "Is it because those investors are no longer willing to fund you that you’ve thought about coming back to find Serena? You’ve only realized Serena’s worth because you lost other important things. Do you think Serena is so foolish that she’ll jump into the same pit a second time?"

"Furthermore, Preston, her father and I have never given you a chance, so how could we give you another? My thoughts remain the same as they were back then: I will never consent to you two being together. You’ll get the same answer even if you ask again. Please leave."

The gate in front of him slammed shut.

Preston stood there blankly, like a walking corpse without a soul. He stood there, motionless, refusing to give up.

He stood from dawn until dusk. Even when security guards came to drive him away, he insisted on not leaving.

It wasn't until it was almost dark that Shen Zhiheng returned home and discovered Preston.

"You’re here looking for Serena?" Shen Zhiheng looked him up and down, his gaze cold.

A light suddenly ignited in Preston’s eyes: "Can you let me see her?"

"Are you worthy?" Shen Zhiheng’s voice was icy. His gaze was bloodthirsty, as if he wanted to skin him alive: "Preston, I am well aware of everything you’ve done to Serena. I haven't even gone to find you yet, and you’ve had the nerve to show up at our door."

Preston’s expression turned cold bit by bit: "Do you think I don't know? Serena didn't have the power to make investments appear or vanish; it was nothing more than you pulling the strings behind the scenes. You’re quite proud of yourself, aren't you? You played a part in making me end up like this!"

Preston grabbed Shen Zhiheng’s collar, ready to throw a punch.

"Stop!" Serena suddenly rushed out, pushing Preston away and shielding Shen Zhiheng.

"Preston, what exactly do you want? What has my brother done to you that you’d want to lay hands on him? You really haven't changed one bit; it’s sickening!"

Her words shattered Preston’s heart.

He cautiously approached Serena, but the look of disgust and hatred in her eyes made him freeze in his tracks.

"Serena, I was wrong. Don't look at me like that."

For the first time, Preston realized that being hated by Serena was such a painful thing.

He had once thought Serena was unimportant to him, and whenever she asked about his schedule, he would impatiently assume she didn't trust him.

Only now did he realize that being held in Serena’s heart was clearly a blessing.

But all of that, he had now lost.

"Serena, don't leave me. I’ve already made a clean break with Giselle."

Chapter 18

The moment Preston’s hand touched Serena, she felt utterly disgusted.

She shook off his hand forcefully, looking at him with the disdain one might reserve for garbage: "Preston, aren't you sick? When you and Giselle were cheating behind my back and doing those things, did you ever think of me? Now that you suddenly remember, is it because I still have some utility value to you?"

"I exhausted every effort to secure resources for you, and you called me a socialite; you thought I was dirty! Yes, in your eyes, Giselle was the cleanest of all. She was innocent, she was cute, she was understanding—in your eyes, she was perfect! What about now? Did you find out you were being fooled by her, so you kicked her aside?"

"You are such a selfish and heartless person. As soon as you find someone doesn't suit your whims, you don't hesitate to kick them away. It was the same with me, and isn't it the same with Giselle? Although Giselle brought this upon herself, I still have to say: you and Giselle are a pair of scumbags, truly a match made in hell."

The words she had never spoken before were finally voiced to Preston’s face.

Serena felt incredibly relieved. She had never been a soft target; she had only allowed Preston to manipulate her in the past because she loved him.

But now, Preston was nothing to her, and she no longer needed to maintain his dignity.

"Serena, no, that’s not it. It’s that Giselle had been lying to me all along. If it weren't for the fact that not a word out of her mouth was true, and that she was doing those things to hurt you behind my back, I wouldn't have misunderstood you..."

Preston tried to explain further, but Serena had no desire to listen.

"But you were still willing to be fooled by her, weren't you? You believed whatever she said. You helped her torment me. She dared to be so bold only because she was counting on your backing, right? If you hadn't excessively indulged her all that time, do you think she would have dared to act so wantonly?"

"Preston, stop making excuses for yourself. The way you look right now is truly ugly. Don't let me see you again. There is no possibility for us—ever again!"

With that said, Serena had no more to say and pulled Shen Zhiheng away.

Back in her room, she realized she was still holding Shen Zhiheng’s hand and her face flushed instantly.

Just as she was about to let go, Shen Zhiheng gripped her hand back.

"Serena, have you really thought it through? You’ll have no more to do with him?"

Serena frowned: "Do I look like someone with so little self-respect? He treated me like that, and I should still stay with him? I’m not that foolish to ignore the pain after the wound has healed."

Shen Zhiheng was amused by her words, and his mood brightened considerably. Just as Serena turned to leave, he suddenly said: "Since that’s the case, why don't you consider me?"

Serena was frightened by his words, freezing in place, subconsciously retorting: "What nonsense are you talking about? We are siblings, how can we..."

"You know we aren't biological siblings. Serena, don't try to brush me off with words like that. Besides, Mom and Dad know my feelings for you."

Serena was stunned.

Father Shen actually knew too?

Since when?