(James)They arrive just after I storm off to my office.I hear the car and I go to let them in as there are no staff here.I pull the door open, but I see them on the screen before that.Not just Bree and Jacob Langley, but Wes too. Not sure why he had to come as well. I’d think his medical schedule would be too busy to be here.All three of them step out of Wes’ black SUV with a quiet fury that carries further than any slammed door could. Bree’s chin is high, her expression like thunder. Jacob’s face is stone.And Wes—Wes looks like he’s ready to throw someone through a wall.I brace myself because this is going to be hectic. Right now, I’m proving everything they ever said to Serena about me is right.I try to start off civilly. I don’t want a family war. I just want Serena and I to be okay. I don’t get why we aren’t. Not really. We’re so good together in so many way. But now it feels like a chasm has opened up between us.But still, I’m not going to be made feel like an asshole i
(Serena)I freeze. So now we revert back to the real James under personal pressure?Is this who he truly is, who he always will be?“I’m going James, if I ever come back is up to you. But a tip for you, if you react like this every time, I won’t ever be back.”He lowers his voice just enough to make it feel colder. “You leave like this, expect divorce papers in a month.”I get closer to him. “Is that supposed to scare me?”His mouth is a hard line. He doesn’t answer. “You can’t survive without me. I’ll ruin you.”“News flash for you, you already did. But I’ll come back stronger. I don’t need you, and worse, I don’t even want you right now.”“Once the Hale name is gone, you think you’ll thrive? Not a chance.”“You think I care about your threats?” My voice is trembling now, but not from fear. “I’ve been hearing your mother’s since the day I walked in here. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”“Stop blaming my family for every bad thing that ever happened to you. You never tried t
(Serena)It’s like something splits off inside me, logic separates from instinct and the only thing I hear is that name.Little baby James.My mouth is dry. The air around me is suffocating.“What did you call him?” I ask, barely recognizing my voice.Savannah smiles, so sweet it might rot teeth. “Baby James. It just… felt right. I’m so excited and James loved the idea.”“You’re naming him after my husband?” My voice cracks, sharp and rising. “I wanted to call the baby I lost James. How did you find out?”I’m careful not to mention the latest pregnancy.I swing around to him, “You? Did you tell her?”James steps forward fast. “No…Serena…please, don’t do this here.”I turn to him. “Don’t do what, James? React to this?” I jab a hand toward Savannah. “To her hijacking everything I held precious about our life, about us? This… this is too much. How could you ever agree knowing how it would make me feel?”“I can’t stop her. It’s her baby.”“And you’re just fine with this?” I ask, voice cli
(Serena)James’ whole posture shifts, shoulders rising like he’s been caught in something. He straightens, adjusts the blanket in the pram a little too deliberately.I don’t miss the flicker in his eyes. That fast calculation he does when he’s trying to figure out how bad something looks. How bad this looks.He’s holding the baby.Her baby.Savannah turns next, slow and smiling, like I’ve walked in at the perfect moment.Her hands are clasped in front of her and her hair’s been styled, just messy enough to look natural. There’s a glow to her, either from good lighting or a good performance. I can’t decide which.“Oh, Serena!” she calls, her voice airy and warm like I’ve just stepped into a spa lounge. “I’m so glad you’re here.”She steps toward me like she’s welcoming me into her courtyard, like this isn’t some cruel twist in a morning that was already hard enough to stomach. I’ve barely had time to breathe today, now this?“I’ve just been telling James,” she says, her voice dropping
(Serena)I dial Haylee's number from the east wing office phone. I know hers by heart. Always have.She answer, “Hello?”“Hey, it’s me.”“Serena?” Concern immediately in her voice.“Yeah. I’m sorry it’s been a while....”“Oh my God, I’ve been losing my mind. I wanted to message, but I didn’t know if I was intruding...”I laugh, weakly. “No, I just… well so much has happened.”I force myself not to cry.“Are you okay?” she asks, “you don’t sound okay.”I close my eyes. “No. But I’m… steady. I lost the baby, Hay.”The line goes silent. Then, “Oh Serena. I’m so sorry. Fuck!” “It was in the hospital, the morning after the fall.”“Fall? What the fuck, Serena? What fall?”“After the dinner party that Margot and Charles gatecrashed just before dessert.”“What the Hell?”“She pushed me, Haylee. Well, she nudged me enough to out me off balance and I tumbled down the stone staircase.”“I swear to god I’m going to end that fucking bitch.”“She guessed I was pregnant. Then it just happened. Sere
(Serena)I wake to the dull reminder of my physical injuries. Not actual pain.At least, not the kind of pain that makes you grit your teeth and hold your breath.My body still aches, my broken collar bone is painful, my sprained ankle is sore, a dressing over the cut on my forehead will be removed and the stitches checked later today.I have to take it easy with the break and the sprain. I’m not feeling I want to be here at all.But James was right about us needing that purge yesterday. Once before I would’ve felt refreshed and ready to fight for us again. But this time… I still love him, but I’m tired of fighting on my own for this marriage.I’m not saying it’s over. But I need so much more from him. I especially need him to see through the manipulations of his mother and his ex. I think deep down he knows, he has to know.But he chooses to let it happen because maybe deep down he wants the life they want for him too. I need him to make that choice once and for all. But I also under