Chapter 31
Seren suddenly realized that Swain hadn’t called her in nearly three years. Not once had he reached out to her of his own accord.
For three long years, she’d quietly wished he might pick up the phone-maybe just to say hello or ask how she was doing. But the call never came.
Instead, she watched as Swain showered Carla with attention across social media, always ready with a caring comment, never missing a chance to check in. Meanwhile, he couldn’t spare even a single message for Seren-not a line to ask if she was well, not a word to see if life in Riverbend City suited her.
She remembered one time when Carla was away for a golf tournament, just for a day. Seren could only watch as Swain fussed over Carla online—reminding her to rest, asking about her meals, constant and attentive. Yet for Seren, silence.
Seren snapped out of her thoughts and picked up the phone.
Swain’s warm voice came through the receiver.
“Seren, tomorrow’s Carla’s birthday. Slater, Carla, and I are downstairs at Nadine’s place. We’re here to take you home p>
“I’m not coming,” Seren replied crisply. “You all go ahead. I’ve got things to do- busy couple of days, no time p>
She wasn’t lying. Quentin needed her to finish “Peaks Piercing the Spring Clouds”-she’d be tied up for the next two days, with barely a moment to breathe, let alone attend Carla’s birthday dinner.
Swain frowned, the disappointment clear in his tone.
“Carla’s your sister. When you were away, we understood if you couldn’t make it to her birthday. But now you’re back in Seaside City. As her big sister, you really should be there p>
From the background, Slater’s voice rose, sharp and critical.
“We’re all waiting on you, and you put on this act-do you really think you’re some kind of queen who needs to be begged again and again p>
Before Slater could finish, the line went dead. Seren had hung up, not willing to waste another word.
Nadine, sitting beside her, looked furious.
“They know you’re busy, but they keep laying on the guilt. They don’t have to do a thing-just revolve around Carla all day-and expect you to drop everything, too p>
Seren’s lips curled into a wry, bitter smile. This wasn’t the first time. Because Carla was younger, Swain always used Seren’s role as the eldest to pressure her.
Whenever Carla wanted something, even if Seren liked it too, she was expected to give it up—because she was the older sister. No one ever asked if she wanted to, or remembered that she was just two years older than Carla, still a child herself.
Now, just because it was Carla’s birthday, Seren was supposed to shove aside everything else and play the doting sister. No one cared if she was genuinely busy; if she didn’t show up, she was in the wrong.
As for her own birthday-well, in the Bradley family, no one even acknowledged it.
It was as if her birthday didn’t exist.
A black Maybach idled at the curb outside, hazard lights blinking, sleek as a
panther ready to pounce.
Inside the car, Carla was indignant on Swain’s behalf.
“Swain didn’t even get to finish talking before Seren hung up on him. Isn’t that just completely disrespectful p>
Swain frowned, sensing that Carla was trying to stir things up.
Truthfully, it was Slater who’d gone too far-no wonder Seren ended the call.
If he were in her shoes, he might have done the same.
Carla sighed, her voice tinged with pity.
“I just feel bad for you, Swain. Sure, Slater was out of line, but you made the call. Seren should at least consider your feelings p>
Swain’s frustration softened a bit. Maybe he’d been too hard on Carta just now-she’d always been kind at heart She probably only said those things out of concern for him.
Slater, meanwhile, was fuming.
“She gets a little leeway and thinks she’s above everyone else—so arrogant and self-absorbed p>
He flung open the door and stormed out, heading straight for Nadine’s front door.
Swain half-reached out to stop him,
but hesitated. Slater’s temper was
legendary, his words could be
cutting. But thinking back on Seren’s coldness, her abrupt hang-up, Swain grudgingly admitted that Carta might be right. For someone older, Seren was still reckless and headstrong.
If she didn’t learn to change, she’d only run into more trouble in the future-
whether in marriage or out in the world.
Maybe a confrontation with Slater was just what she needed. Maybe then, Seren would realize she’d gone too far.