Chapter 48
Lennon chuckled. “Even if you gained a few pounds, it wouldn’t make a difference p>
“You sound just like my grandpa,” Seren replied with a wry smile. “He always tells me to eat more, says an extra bite or two won’t hurt. And before I knew it, with every ‘it doesn’t matter,’ I lost all self-control. One more bite today, another tomorrow, and suddenly I was the chubbiest girl in class p>
“You were never really chubby, even at your ‘fattest,”” Lennon said gently.
Back then, Seren was only a little rounder than she was now. Her arms and legs remained slender, her features still delicate, just her cheeks a bit fuller-giving her that cherubic, innocent charm.
Seren hadn’t realized it at the time. Now, almost defensively, she insisted, “I was! Among all the girls in our class, I was definitely the heaviest p>
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she paused, suddenly struck by a thought. “Wait-you knew me back then p>
Lennon’s gaze softened, his voice low and warm. “You always wore your hair short, never letting it touch your shoulders. Every morning you’d dash through the school gates at the last possible second before the bell p>
“And at lunchtime, you’d sneak off to draw instead of napping-sometimes in the art studio, sometimes beneath the old sycamore by the basketball court, sometimes down by the lakeside p>
He spoke of her past as if reciting treasured memories, every detail perfectly recalled.
The high school and middle school at Seaside City Academy shared the same campus. If you paid enough attention to someone, it wasn’t hard to keep track of their comings and goings.
What Lennon didn’t say was that he’d known Seren long before those days.
Seren stared at him, stunned. “How do you know all this p>
Lennon answered calmly, “At Seaside City Academy, everyone talked about the prodigy in the middle school art program. Word gets around p>
Seren’s thoughts drifted back. She’d started learning traditional painting from Mr. Shaw at eight. By the time she was thirteen, she’d already won her fair share of awards and was something of a celebrity at school.
But talent in one field often meant shortcomings in others. Seren poured her heart into her art, leaving little energy for anything else. Her grades, especially in math, trailed near the bottom of the year.
At Seaside City Academy, where academic achievement was everything, her single-minded focus on painting made her seem irresponsible-like she was squandering her education.
She still remembered: that was when the Bradley family’s attitude toward her changed overnight.
Meanwhile, in Riverbend.
Sheridan was out drinking with his usual crowd at the Revelry Club. The Powers family was old money in Riverbend, and Sheridan had no shortage of friends- most of them the type who thrived on parties and trouble.
Quentin, Sheridan’s closest friend, had joined out of both loyalty and curiosity. As they entered the private suite, Quentin recognized more than a few familiar faces-Sheridan old crew. Three years ago, when Sheridan was bedridden after his
accident, these so-called friends had
vanished overnight. Now, with
Sheridan back on his feet, they’d all come flocking back.
Willa was at Sheridan’s side, dressed in a striking red dress, her hair in glamorous waves, makeup flawless, lips painted a bold crimson. She held a cigar between
her fingers, exuding an air of practiced allure.
Quentin watched her with a critical
eye, but no matter how he looked, he couldn’t see what made Willa so special especially when compared to Seren. Seren had a quiet, innate grace, Willa by contrast, gave off nothing but a brash, flashy vibe.
As Quentin passed behind Willa’s chair, a thick, artificial perfume hit him; he wrinkled his nose and made a beeline for the farthest seat from the pair.
The night wore on, drinks flowed,
and the games began. When Sheridan jost a round of drinking games, the winner-one of his rowdy friends grinned mischievously “Hey, didn’t you used to have that girl chasing after you all the time? Why isn’t she here? How about you give her a call, let us see what all the fuss
is about p>
Willa’s lips curled into an amused smirk.
Sheridan, flushed and tipsy, didn’t hesitate. He scrolled through his phone, found Seren’s number, and called.
Suddenly, the noisy room fell silent. Everyone watched, holding their breath.
A recorded voice answered: “The number you have dialed is not available at the
moment. Please try again later p>
Everyone in the room knew what that meant-he’d been blocked.
The alcohol seemed to evaporate from Sheridan’s system. He stared at his phone, stunned.
Willa’s smile froze, caught mid-curve.
The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances.
Only Quentin leaned back, a lazy, satisfied glint in his eye.
Atta girl.