SERENA

My life has become meaningless with no purpose.

I heard George's car leave the garage, and I curled in myself on the floor, staring at the papers.

Where am I to start from? I successfully ruined my career, my marriage and lost my mother's house all in one day.

I desperately wished this was a dream.

True to his words, George didn't come home that night.

I was still curled up on the floor, in a fetus position, and too drained to move a muscle.

I didn't know how much time passed or how long I stayed in that position till I heard a familiar voice.

"Oh goodness! Serena!" I heard Karen scream, then she fell beside me, eyes wide with worry, "I saw the door opened so I let myself in. What happened?"

"George wants me to sign divorce papers. My career is gone, and my life is gone. There's no way I'm going to make a comeback after this."

"Come on." She grunted, pulling me into a sitting position.

"He has a fiancee." I laughed, "George has a fiancee, and it's my best friend!"

Karen eyed me, "You are not supposed to be laughing at that. Aren't you hurt?"

"I spent the past hours trying to cry, but my eyes are dry as heck. Now, all I want to do is make them pay and destroy their lives, too."

"I need you, sane Serena. We have to think of a way out of this situation."

"Should I beg the people?" I asked, "Cry to them? Maybe they would see past the rumors and I get my life back?"

She shook her head negatively, "I tried that last night. I released an official letter to debunk the rumors. It only got worse."

"Basically, there's nothing to do?" I asked desperately.

"I suggest you lay low till everything dies down."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced at the divorce papers.

"What do you think?" I asked Karen, nodding at the papers, curling my fists in anger.

"You have to sign it to avoid any more scandals." She advised.

I nodded and grabbed a pen on the table close to me and signed the papers and alimony deeds without reading at it.

Then, I stood up and packed my things out before George came back and met me in the house.

Karen drove silently for an hour before she swerved off the road and parked.

"Where are you going to now?" She asked.

"Find an apartment. I obviously need one."

Lines instantly creased her forehead, and she looked everywhere but at me.

Dread pooled at the bottom of my stomach.

"What is it?"

"You don't even have enough to continue keeping this car much less enough to rent an apartment."

An icy chill ran up my spine, "What do you mean, Karen?"

"You're broke." She said curtly, "And penniless. I had to do a lot of refunds to the investors, and the last of your money just went into paying alimony to George."

I froze.

Ten years of my life and savings were gone, in a blink of an eye.

"Do you need me to drop you at your parents? They'd earlier requested you come home."

I stared at her, unable to form words.

"I'm sorry." She muttered and started the car.

I can't believe I'm going back to my parents' place as a failure and embarrassment after I ran away twelve years ago.

Although we made up years later, this is the first time I'd be seeing them in twelve years.

Karen drove into the driveway and helped me get my things out, then she left with the car, promising to send whatever was left after she sold the car.

I was alone.

I stood on the driveway, staring at the house I spent half of my life in. Nothing has changed.

Taking a deep breath, I dragged my luggage with me to the front door and knocked.

The door opened, and a maid ushered me into the living room where I met my parents.

"Hi?" I said nervously, feeling a bit out of place.

My father and Janet, my stepmother, hugged me tight, making me feel at ease instantly.

Maybe this was a good idea, after all. I can think of other things to do while I wait for my comeback.

"Welcome home, darling," my father smiled cheekily as they both released me from the hug.

I sat on a chair and glanced around. There were flowers everywhere like they were celebrating something.

I frowned when I saw a name on one of the congratulatory flowers.

"What's going on?" I asked, "Where's Tasha?"

"Your sister was preparing for her marriage. Now that you're here. She should be home soon."

"Was?" I repeated, "And why's my name on that congratulatory flower? To congratulate me on my failure?"

"Oh, that flower just came in a few minutes ago."

I raised an eyebrow, "That doesn't answer my question."

"That's because you're getting married in your sister's place."

I narrowed my eyes at my stepmother, "I'm what?"

"Getting married in her stead. Exactly two weeks from now. " She said firmly.

I stood up with a scoff and glared at them, "I just basically lost everything yesterday, and you are marrying me away today? Making me a substitute for your ever precious daughter? I should have known this was a mistake. I'd rather sleep under a bridge than live with you two."

"You didn't ask who her groom is." My stepmother said, raising her voice.

"Do I look like I give a fvck?!" I snapped.

"It's Kane Wilder." My father dropped, looking at me with desperate pleading eyes, "And you have to marry him."

I glowered at him in anger.

I have to?

Kane Wilder??

From what I knew, the man is an infamous billionaire. He is also an unforgiving, cruel, and wicked man with a reputation for killing his ex-wife and the one before her because they defied him.

Thinking about him alone made goosebumps rise on my skin, and they want me to marry him??

"You want me to marry that tyrant?" I asked, disappointment lacing my voice, "Is this why you wanted me home? To give me away? I bet you are glad at my failure. Your favorite daughter gets to live while I get to be the scapegoat!!"

"Serena!!" My stepmother yelled, "I won't sit back and watch you talk to your father that way."

I scoffed, "How were you guys so dumb to get yourselves involved with Kane Wilder in the first place?"

"Don't ask questions!" Janet snapped, "just do as you're told."

I raised an eyebrow, "And if I don't?"

"He'll kill me." My father replied softly, "He'll kill me, so unless you want me dead, you have to marry him."

"Then let the marriage proceed as planned, let Tasha marry him."

"Tasha is nowhere to be found." Janet answered.

I raised an eyebrow questioningly, "How?"

"She ran away from home three days ago."