Chapter 35
Seren headed upstairs and told Nadine she’d decided, at the last minute, to move in with Lennon.
The walls were thick, and Nadine had no idea what had just happened
downstairs. Still, even though Seren’s face looked calm, Nadine could sense that something unpleasant must’ve gone down-why else would Seren make such a sudden change of plans?
Nadine didn’t press for details. She just watched as Seren packed her things.
Seren didn’t have much-just some clothes, toiletries, and her cherished art supplies. Sketchbooks, brushes, charcoal pencils-these were her treasures, always within reach, always handled with care.
Before coming to Riverbend City, her life had been simple: drawing, and more drawing. Only after did she pick up little luxuries-makeup, perfume, the kinds of things she’d never bothered with before.
Now, with her departure from Riverbend City, all those extras, along with Sheridan, were being erased from her world, leaving not a trace behind.
Seren always felt love should be just that simple. When you love, burn bright, give everything, even if it means flying headlong into the flame. But once the love is gone, cut it off-clean and final, as if that person had never existed.
While she packed, Seren was careful to keep her left sleeve pinched between her fingers, hiding the bruised patch on her arm from Nadine’s view. If Nadine spotted it-well, knowing her hotheaded, fiercely loyal friend, she’d probably call Swain and chew him out, or worse, go into full doctor mode and drag Seren to the hospital for a late-night checkup.
Seren remembered once, late at night, when she’d dropped her inkwell and it landed squarely on her foot. Everyone else in the Bradley household had already gone off to bed, not paying her any mind. But Nadine, who happened to be staying over, panicked—she tossed her things into the car and sped Seren to the ER like her life depended on it. The ER doctor joked that if Nadine had waited any longer, Seren could’ve just slept through it at home. All Nadine could do was trail behind Seren, fussing nonstop.
“Listen, if things don’t work out at Lennon’s place, call me. Don’t bottle everything up inside. If you can’t bring yourself to talk, just shoot me a text. Even a status update would do p>
Nadine remembered that, once upon a time, Seren used to post little updates- quiet reflections, photos, the rare peek into her thoughts. She was reserved, but you could read between the lines and see hints of joy or sorrow. Somewhere along the way, though, the updates stopped. A year might go by without a single post, as if she’d locked her world away and thrown out the key.
“Alright. I’ll do as you say.” Seren hesitated, hands pausing over her suitcase, then nodded.
She couldn’t even remember when she’d stopped sharing anything at all. Maybe it was after realizing that, unlike Carla’s, her updates never got the attention she’d hoped for. Disappointment had drained her enthusiasm, little by little, until there was nothing left to share
“You know, things are different now. When you were in Riverbend City, I couldn’t just take time off work and rush over to bail you out. But here in
Seaside City, if Lennon gives you any trouble, just call me can be at your door in twenty minutes, tops p>
“Whatever happens, you can always come here. This place will always be your home base p>
Nadine’s voice was warm and relentless, like a mom fussing over her daughter before she heads off on a grand adventure.
Seren felt a pang in her chest. She
wanted to say something, but words failed her. She was never good with social niceties or sentimental speeches. In the end, she just
lowered her eyes and mumbled,
“Alright, Dr Brewer. not your
patient, so you can stop fussing over
me p>
Nadine’s eyes were red, but she kept rambling, giving Seren every piece of advice she could think of, while silently cursing the Bradley family: A pack of blind fools— they’d regret their treatment of Seren one day, she was sure of it.
Twenty minutes later, night had fallen fast and sudden over Seaside City.
Seren sat in the backseat of the Bentley, waving goodbye to Nadine as the car pulled away. Nadine’s figure grew smaller and smaller, swallowed up by the darkness, until she was gone.
As the night settled over the city, streetlights flickered on one by one. Buildings and trees slipped by outside the window, nothing but fleeting shadows.
The car sped through the quiet streets; reflected in the dark glass beside her, Seren caught glimpses of the man sitting next to her. Tall, sharply dressed, his face was striking-chiseled features, cold and unreadable in the dim light.