Serena removed her hands from her face to look at him. Her eyes turned to slits. Hate. She hated him. "Talk, talk, talk. That's all you're ever good at Charlton, and I'm sick of it. From this moment on, we go our separate ways as if nothing was ever between us. I can't do this with you anymore."

"What are you talking about? Serena don't act this way. You may even be pregnant with our child. You're…"

"What made you so sure that it's yours?" she asked as she laughed sardonically.

"What?" Charlton asked incredulously. "You can't be serious."

"Yes, you heard me right the first time."

Charlton's heart felt like it was being stabbed by a million knives. He found it difficult to breathe himself. "Did… did Geoffrey… force you?"

Serena laughed again like a bat crazy person. "Geoffrey would never do that. He loves me. From the bottom of his heart, he loves me. We did it, and I liked it. I liked it very much. He did not force me. I did it with him on my own accord in this very room."

No. Serena would not do this to him. She can't possibly… "Serena, tell me that you are just saying those words out of spite." Charlton pleaded, his own voice quivering.

Serena could feel her own gut quench, her heart felt like it's bleeding, but she did not stop. Instead, she pushed the knife deeper. "You wish. Why do I even have to run away? Now, I'm poised to be the crown princess, the future queen of this kingdom. Why did I even choose you from the start? I was an idiot blinded! Now leave! I don't want to see you ever again. You hear me? I don't want to see you ever again! Just breathing the same air as you are burning my lungs!"

Charlton have never felt anything like this all his life. Every nerve on his body shook and he felt absolutely stripped. Vulnerability. Disbelief. Disgust. Horror. Anger. Humiliation. Confusion. Shattering, crippling, traumatizing heartbreak. He did not know he was capable of feeling all these emotions at once. There was absolutely nothing like it. He loved her. He absolutely fucking loved her. 

No. Serena might just be speaking out of anger. This can't be real. This can't be what she really thinks nor feels. She wouldn't do this to him. To them. They loved each other. Then he remembered what happened in Ligeti's ball. How she responded to Geoffrey's touch. How she moaned with pleasure as he did those things to her. 

Then he saw red. Rage. Red hot fury enveloped his body. He clenched his fists as his heart continued to palpitate, his breathing became erratic. Everything just wanted to explode. He needs to leave. He needs to leave before he does something irreparable. He can't do this. He can't.

He stood up from his seat. He could not look at her. So, he walked. He walked out of that room with his pain and his anguish. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid that he might do something completely out of his character. Never has he felt such sense of betrayal that made him want to destroy everything on his path. And to think that such a feeling would be drawn out of him from the woman he loved the most. 

As Charlton walked away Serena felt unbelievable. She knew she said those words, but he never even asked why. He did not even show any other reaction. She wanted him to be angry at least then she would know he felt something. But what happened? He just accepted her words as is. So that's it? Perhaps he was even thankful. Gods, he just stood up to leave. She was so angry that she picked up a vase full of flowers and threw it on the floor. The sound of porcelain shattering resounded in the room. She will not chase him. She will not chase him this time. 

Charlton just continued walking not even turning back once. 

--

Leonard was alarmed when Mildred came in to report that she heard the sound of porcelain breaking from the drawing room. For a moment, he wondered why she knew he was not in the room when he specifically told her that he was waiting for Serena there earlier. He shook his head, maybe she thought that the two of them already finished talking so she went to find him.

The most pressing concern was Serena. He got up from his seat in the study to see her.

When he entered the drawing room, he saw his sister hunched on the sofa. Broken porcelains were scattered on the floor. Gods, what happened? Briefly, he wondered, why did he always have to create disaster when he tries to meddle in her love life? 

"Serena?" he asked as he reached her and sat beside her. 

Serena looked up to see Leonard. Her eyes red and swollen. 

Leonard could not bear see such pitiful look on Serena. She was his sister. His only sister. Spoiled, proud, haughty, but he loved her all the same. To see her like this, his heart felt unbearable. He reached out and pulled her in his arms. "Serena. Tell me… what happened?" 

"Brother Leonard… am I… am I a disgusting person?"

"No. Serena, you're the most beautiful person in this world. Whoever tells you otherwise… did Charlton say that? Tell me. I'll kill that bastard." Why did he even allow their affair to happen? He should have nipped it in the bud. Wait, he did try, but why did he listen to Serena? He even covered for them for 2 years. He should've known better. This was also his fault. 

Serena hugged Leonard back as she continued to cry. "No… Charlton did not say anything like that… please don't blame him. It was my choice… I should have listened to you from the start. I'm so sorry, brother. I'm so sorry…"

Leonard shook his head. "No. Serena, it's not your fault, okay? Don't blame yourself." He said as he tried to comfort her. 

--

TBC