Chapter 9

Serena’s tears stopped flowing. Her hands hung limply, her face utterly perplexed as she stared at Julian.

She didn’t understand why the man’s attitude towards her had changed so quickly.

Before, whenever she cried, he would always be the most anxious.

But now, his eyes held only indifference.

It was as if she could cry until her tears ran dry, and he wouldn’t be moved in the slightest.

Serena didn’t dare to admit her provocations against Vivian, nor her deliberate schemes.

She tightly sealed her lips, almost desperately praying, “Julian, I didn’t do anything, please believe me! Miss Vivian is such a good person, and you’ve helped me so much. I should be grateful to both of you, how could I ever treat her badly?”

“Even though she never liked me, and this tantrum of hers has lasted a bit long… but Julian, please don’t treat me like this just because she left.”

As she spoke, she forced out a few more tears.

Julian had always been easily swayed, and she could only hope he’d soften towards her and let this matter go.

Anyway, he probably hadn’t heard everything. Even if he had, she could just say her friend said those things, and she was merely trying to mediate.

As long as he didn’t dwell on these things, and she then revealed she was pregnant with his child, then with their constant interaction and their past affection, she was sure she could make him care only for her!

But the man in front of her, abandoning his usual indulgence, let out a cold laugh, a mocking smile spreading across his lips.

“You’re truly unrepentant, even at death’s door. After all these years, do you still not know what kind of person I am?”

“Serena, my patience has its limits.”

With that, he slammed Serena’s head onto the table and clamped his hand tightly around her neck.

“Since that’s the case, then I won’t wait for your news and will just tell your family. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to take you back.”

The pain of suffocation was perhaps less than the terror of Julian’s threat.

Her mind was filled with the vile grin on her father’s face when he said he would marry her off to that old pervert.

Serena was panicking intensely, almost losing her mind with fear.

“No, don’t tell them! I’ll talk, Julian, I’ll tell you everything!”

Receiving her answer, Julian slowly released his grip.

“Speak.”

“Cough, cough…” The sudden rush of cold air into her throat made her cough violently, but she didn’t dare stop. She gasped for air, whimpering, “You, you can check my phone!”

As she spoke, she fumbled to unlock her phone and handed it over.

“I didn’t do anything. You’ve misunderstood.”

Serena was secretly relieved that she had deleted all the provocative messages to Vivian earlier.

Julian only glanced at it, immediately guessing she was still unwilling and putting on an act.

He snatched the phone, intending to send it to a specialist to recover all the data.

Hearing Julian on the phone, Serena felt like her world was crashing down.

She frantically grabbed Julian’s hand, pleading desperately, “Julian, please believe me, just this once… don’t send it to recover data…”

However, this time Julian wasn't going to give her another chance.

He had given her enough chances, but unfortunately, Serena herself didn't cherish them.

Watching Serena collapse to the floor, he spoke in a low voice to his assistant, ordering him to investigate what else Serena had done to Vivian.

### Chapter 1