Serena woke up the next morning feeling jolted out of her sleep, her mind still clouded with the events of the previous day. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, hoping that it was all just a terrible nightmare, but her eyes immediately fell on the divorce papers lying on her bedside table. The sight of them brought her back to the harsh reality that her marriage was on the rocks.
Despite the overwhelming sense of despair that threatened to consume her, Serena couldn't help but cling to a faint glimmer of hope. She had been with Rick for three years, and in that time, he had showered her with love and affection. She had seen the way he looked at her, with eyes brimming with tenderness and devotion. She refused to believe that he could just throw everything away in a single day.Serena was convinced that Rick still loved her, even if he was unable to see it himself. She knew that he was struggling with unresolved feelings for his ex, but she refused to give up on their marriage. Serena resolved to fight for the love that she believed was still there, buried deep within Rick's heart.As Serena stepped inside the bathroom, her gaze immediately fell on the mirror before her. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying the whole night. Serena leaned closer to the mirror and used her fingertip to trace the tear stains on her cheeks. She looked at her reflection and saw a face full of mixed emotions - a hint of sadness, a touch of anxiety, and a glimmer of hope. Her eyes, in particular, appeared to be the windows to her soul, reflecting an inner turmoil that seemed to be consuming her from within. She watched as her reflection mimicked her movements, and wondered how her seemingly perfect life had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye. The reflection showed a woman with tousled hair that fell over her shoulders, her face pale and drawn with deep creases under her eyes. Overwhelmed by her emotions, Serena slowly peeled off her clothes and sank into the porcelain bathtub, seeking solace in the stillness and silence of the water.Serena emerged from the bathroom, her eyes scanning the room as she took in the sight of Rick packing her belongings into her bags. A knot formed in her stomach as she approached him, her heart beating fast and her hands shaking."Rick," she said, her voice shaky with emotion.He turned to her, his expression stern. "What are you doing?" Serena asked, her eyes brimming with tears.He paused for a moment, looking at her with a mix of anger and frustration. "And what does it look like? I'm helping you pack your belongings since you refuse to do it."Serena held Rick's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed into his cold, unfeeling eyes. "Don't do this to me, Rick. Please," she begged in a trembling voice. "I love you more than anything in this world, and I can't imagine living without you."Rick pushed her away roughly, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. She clutched at her towel, which was barely hanging on, as she struggled to regain her balance. "I don't love you," Rick snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "I never have, and I never will. Just sign the papers and get out of my mansion."Serena was left heartbroken by his words. How could he be so cruel? She picked herself up from the ground and followed him as he began to drag her luggage out of the room. "Rick, please," she called out to him, her voice quivering with emotion.But he didn't even look back at her as he continued to walk away. Serena gathered herself up, holding tightly onto her towel, and followed him, calling out his name. She couldn't believe that the man she had loved for three years, the man she had married, was now telling her to leave and never come back.As she caught up with him, Serena forcefully retrieved her luggage from his grasp, her eyes filled with frustration and anger. She couldn't help but question Rick's irrational behavior. "What is wrong with you? Are you really willing to throw away three years of our marriage for a woman who left you without even thinking twice about it?" Rick didn't even flinch at Serena's outburst. His expression was cold and distant as he retorted, "What I do with my life is none of your business. Just sign the damn paper. Living with you for three years has been nothing but hell for me. Looking at a lady who isn't Gina for three years was hell, and now that Gina is back, I have the chance to be with her. I won't miss the opportunity."At that moment, Rachel, Rick's mother, entered the living room, curious about the tense atmosphere. Rachel immediately asked, "What's going on here?"Upon hearing Rachel's voice, Serena rushed up to her and went down on her knees, clutching her leg tightly. "Rick, listen to you. Please talk to him," she pleaded.Rachel moved back, a look of disgust on her face. "Don't you ever lay your filthy hand on me," she hissed through gritted teeth. Serena hung her head low, clasping her hands together in a desperate plea."I can't leave without your son," she said softly. "Please talk to him. I don't mind cleaning the whole Archer mansion ten times a day. I don't mind being the Archer slave for the rest of my life. I just want to be with your son."Rachel, still not understanding what Serena meant, moved closer to Rick and held his shoulder. "What does she mean, son?" she asked, turning to him."Gina is back, and I'm getting a divorce," Rick replied coldly. Rachel's heart skipped a beat with joy. Gina had always been the daughter-in-law she had dreamed of - a woman with class and wealth who would bring good name and fortune to the Archer family.Without a second thought, Rachel called two burly bodyguards in and ordered them to get rid of Serena's luggage. The guards dragged her belongings out as Serena pleaded with them, her voice falling on deaf ears."Mother, please don't,""I'm not your mother," Rachel snapped back, her tone sharp. "Your mother is probably rotten in her grave. I don't want a daughter-in-law who brings nothing but shame to the Archer family. A woman whose background is unknown and unverified is not worthy to be a part of our family." Her words were sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.Rachel turned to face Rick, her expression stern and unyielding. "Get her out of this mansion," she commanded, her voice ringing out across the grand entrance hall. Without waiting for a response, she ascended the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the silence.Serena's tear-streaked face turned to Rick, her eyes pleading with him not to abandon her. "Don't leave me, Rick," she implored, her voice cracking with emotion. Rick rubbed his forehead in frustration."How much do you need to get rid of you forever? 100 million dollars? I'm willing to pay more," Rick spat out the words, his eyes flashing with anger. Serena was stunned by his callousness, realizing in that moment that this was not the man she had married and fallen in love with. This was a monster, willing to go to any length to get rid of her.Serena wiped away her tears and met Rick's gaze head-on, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Is this what you really want?" she challenged him, her voice steady and unwavering.“Definitely," he said, his voice devoid of any hint of remorse. Serena felt a sense of finality wash over her, knowing that there was no saving their marriage now.She ran upstairs and returned a few minutes later, fully dressed and with the divorce papers and pen in hand. "I don't need your money," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "I thought I could make you realize your love for me, but it's clear that it's a lost cause. Fine," she said, her words laced with bitterness. "I'll sign the papers. But just remember this, Rick. You will regret losing me and will beg to have my love back, but you won't get it.""Goodbye, Rick," she said, taking one last look at him and walking out of the Archer mansion, never to return again.Tbc.With her luggage trailing behind her, Serena stepped out of the Archer mansion and into the blinding sunlight. As Serena made her way down the path, memories of her time with Rick rushed through her mind, causing hot tears to spill down her face. It was still so difficult to comprehend that the three years she had spent with him, a time she had believed was filled with love and happiness, had come to an abrupt and painful end. Every step Serena took away from the mansion felt like a step away from the life she had known, and her heart ached with the weight of what she had lost.Serena took a final glance back only to realize that the mansion was no longer visible. She was alone, lost and thoughts of her impending motherhood began to flood her mind. She had been abandoned by the only person she thought she could rely on, and now she was left to face the world alone, with a baby on th e way.Serena couldn't help but feel that this was not how she had envisaged her future. Serena wiped a
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the sprawling estate, two luxurious Mercedes-Benz cars pulled up to the grand Stanford's mansion. The cars were impeccably clean and polished, and their sleek lines shimmered in the fading light. Two imposing bodyguards emerged from the first cars, and with a brisk nod to each other, they made their way to the last car. The car's door opened with a soft hiss, revealing Marcus and a Serena. “We're finally home," Marcus said, his voice tinged with a hint of excitement. Serena, on the other hand, was visibly anxious, nervously rubbing her hand. Sensing her apprehension, Marcus took her hand in his and spoke confidently, "It's gonna be okay. Dad isn't angry anymore." With a deep breath and a forced smile, Serena tried to calm her nerves as they both emerged from the car.The sound of their footsteps echoed through the entrance hall. The opulence of the surroundings was overwhelming, with intricate chandeliers an
Serena slowly opened her eyes to the sound of birds chirping and the gentle light that filtered through her window. As she yawned and stretched her body, she felt the warmth of the sun on her skin. Sitting up in bed, she took a moment to let her eyes adjust to the brightness of the morning light.Feeling rejuvenated, Serena got up from her bed and walked over to the window. She drew back the curtain, allowing the fresh morning breeze to fill her room. As she took in the beautiful scenery outside, she felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over her. The world seemed to come alive around her, and she couldn't help but smile at the beauty of it all.Serena made her way back to her bed and plopped down wearily, reaching for the TV remote. She aimlessly flipped channels, trying to find something to distract her from the events of the day. Suddenly, a news anchor's voice caught her attention and she stopped changing channels. The anchor's tone was excited as he announced, "Georgina Spar
Four guards stood at the front and three at the back, preventing the reporters from getting too close. Marcus's hand slides around Serena's waist as the cameras keep clicking away. Serena flashes him a warm smile, and they both catwalk to the hall with reporters flocking behind them. Gina and Rick are forced to move out of the way to avoid being pushed by the reporters trying to get more pictures before the entrance hall closes.Gina angrily stomps her feet to the ground. "I hate this. Today was supposed to be my day. The attention should be on us, not your ex-wife," she says, her face contorted with anger."I'm sorry, love," Rick replies. "Don't worry, I will make sure she leaves this place in shame." Gina's face suddenly softens. "Are you sure, baby?" Rick nods his head. "I will make everyone here aware that she is a lowlife," Rick mutters with determination. Saying those words makes Gina excited, and she can't wait to see what Rick has in store for Serena.With that, they make their
A new voice rang out in the huge hall, "300 billion dollars!!" Everyone turned, their gazes fixed on Serena, who was sitting calmly with her card raised high. The auctioneer looked stunned for a moment, before resuming the countdown. "Going once, going twice," he said, but no one was able to match Serena's bid. Finally, the auctioneer declared the item sold. Rick's face turned purple with rage as he clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. He couldn't believe that a lowlife like Serena could outbid him, the almighty Rick Archer. With a scowl, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Boss," the receiver said. "Matthew," Rick replied. "Yes, boss," the receiver answered. "I will send you a picture soon. I need every bit of information you can find on that guy. Both business and personal life," Rick said, cutting off the call. "Wait," Serena got up from her seat and made her way towards the auctioneer, with Marcus trailing behind her. "I want this necklace to be placed on
Archer's mansion.Rick stormed inside, holding Gina in his arms as he made his way to his bedroom. Rick sat Gina on the bed, her bandaged feet resting on a pillow. "Are you okay?" Rick asked, earning a glare from Gina.“Do I look okay to you?” Gina snapped. Her voice was laced with anger and frustration. “Today was supposed to be my day, but your ex-wife stole the spotlight. As if that was not enough, she won the bid and did this to me,” Gina said, pointing to her bandaged ankle."I am truly sorry, and I will make it up to you," Rick placed a gentle kiss on Gina's forehead. Just then, Rick's phone rang. Rick took out his phone and checked the caller ID. "I will be right back," Rick said to Gina as he exited the room."What have you got for me?" Rick asked with a hint of desperation as soon as he answered the call."I am sorry, boss, but I could not find any information about him," Matthew said from the other end of the line.Rick's anger flared. "How is that even possible!!?" Matthew
Rick felt like his world was crashing down on him at that very moment. His chest tightened, and his breaths grew shallow as he sat there, his hand finding its way to his head. He pulled at his hair, as if he wanted every single strand to be removed from his head. Sensing his distress, Gina gasped and immediately removed his hand from his head. "What's wrong with you? If something is troubling you, then please tell me. That's what partners do," she said, her voice filled with concern.Rick looked at Gina and scoffed, "Partner?" he asked bitterly and chuckled. "I was gone for more than four hours, and you didn't even bother to give me a call to know about my whereabouts. Instead, you were enjoying yourself.""I-I was going to call you," Gina stuttered, her eyes filling with tears.Rick stood up and started ascending the stairs. "Rick, I love you so much, and I'm so sorry," Gina called out after him.Rick turned back to look at her. "You can go back to your movie," he said flatly, before
Madison stormed to where Serena stood " You bitch, you framed me " Serena only smiled and looked at Amanda " You found the thief, what are you going to do now?" Amanda immediately called the security guard while the crowds kept taking pictures and videos. "Stop taking videos, stop it!!!" Madison yelled, trying to grab the crowd's phones, but they only mocked her more. "Is the necklace so expensive that the great Madison Archer couldn't afford it and decided to steal?" someone from the crowd said while the others laughed.Madison pointed her finger at the crowd and turned around, saying, "I promise you all, I will make you pay for talking to me this way." Someone from the crowd yelled back, "Keep your filthy threat to yourself, you thief."Just then, three security men arrived and grabbed Madison. She struggled to break free, yelling, "What are you doing? Let go of me! How dare you!! Do you know who I am?" " Yes, you are nothing but a thief " The crowds yelled and burst out in a fit