Chapter 28
Seren walked out of the sitting room without glancing back.
Running into Quentin was inevitable, given his close connection with Sheridan, but that didn’t mean she had to spend any more time around him than absolutely necessary.
In the corridor outside, there was a small waiting area. Framed landscape paintings hung on the wall, and Seren paused in front of one, letting her thoughts drift.
Footsteps approached behind her.
She turned, having assumed it was Seth—but found Quentin alone instead.
She raised an eyebrow and asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be working out the contract details with Mr. Gilbert p>
“My assistant can handle all of that. They don’t really need me,” Quentin replied in his usual unruffled tone.
He hesitated, then asked, “Are you planning on going back to Riverbend p>
He knew it was an inappropriate question, but he couldn’t help himself.
Seren immediately recognized his real reason for coming out: he wanted to talk about Sheridan.
Her response was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “No, I’m not going back. Sheridan and I are done p>
“You really broke up?” Quentin asked, his disbelief apparent.
Over the past three years, he’d heard about their countless arguments-every time, it ended with them getting back together.
“It’s over,” Seren said, her voice steady. “I blocked him on WhatsApp and changed my number p>
Quentin sighed. Clearly, Sheridan had finally managed to break her heart.
He’d known Sheridan since they were kids, and although he’d never been close to Seren, he’d heard plenty of rumors about her-how she was just a minor celebrity scheming to marry into a wealthy family, how she was manipulative and calculating.
But Quentin never bought into any of that.
Three years ago, when Sheridan was paralyzed, if Seren had truly been after money and status, she would never have chosen him. Marrying Sheridan meant signing up for a life of caretaking and uncertainty. What could she possibly gain from that?
To Quentin, it was obvious Sheridan didn’t know how good he had it. If Quentin were in Sheridan’s shoes-paralyzed, but with a woman who stuck by him through it all-he’d be the happiest man alive.
Seren glanced at him warily, uncertain of his intentions. “So, what’s this—are you here to convince me to go back to Sheridan p>
It had to be that. With him being so close to Sheridan, there was no other explanation.
Quentin gave a small, amused smile, the mischief flickering in his eyes. “Look, I may be his oldest friend, but I’m not getting in the middle of this. You’re finally free of the Powers family would never ask you to walk back into that Honestly if weren’t Sheridan’s friend,’d have told you three years ago: he wasn’t right for you p>
From the start, Quentin had no intention of talking her into anything. In fact, he thought Seren was making the right call by leaving.
He’d heard bits and pieces: this latest fight was supposedly about Willa, who’d just returned from abroad. Séren had nursed Sheridan back to health for three years, and the moment he could walk again, he Pan straight to Willd. Anyone would call Sheridan out for being a
to Willd. Anokon he
first-class jerk.
No decent man would treat a woman like that.
But since Sheridan was his childhood friend, Quentin kept his opinions to himself. Privately, he thought Sheridan and Willa deserved each other-a disloyal boyfriend and the woman who’d jetted off when things got tough, grily to return when it was convenient. If he were Seren, he’d have booked the first flight out too.
“Just curious, that’s all,” Quentin said lightly. Gossip was human nature, after all.
As they spoke, Seren’s phone rang. It was Lennon. She answered without hesitation.
Lennon’s voice was gentle, warm-like a spring breeze. “Add me back on WhatsApp, would you? I’ve found a set of wedding rings. Let me know if you like the style p>
“Wedding rings?” Seren echoed, momentarily stunned.
She lowered her voice. “Maybe don’t bother. These sorts of ceremonies don’t matter to me. I don’t even like wearing jewelry p>
Lennon’s reply was calm and steady. “It’s more than a name it’s you becoming Mrs. Crestwell. That makes it important to me. It’s an honor, not a bother. If you don’t like wearing jewelry, we can just keep them as keepsakes p>
Seren felt her cheeks warm, suddenly flustered.