บททั้งหมดของ Chasing Back The Woman He Destroyed: บทที่ 161 - บทที่ 170

Serena's POVSophia’s sharp eyes shifted from me to Sam, then back again, like she was watching a tennis match.Sam didn’t answer immediately. He sat there, studying me as if he were measuring how much truth I could bear. Then he said slowly, “Because no matter how strong someone is, no matter how guarded, sometimes the person you trust most is the one who hurts you the deepest. Damien wasn’t blind. He wasn’t weak. He simply trusted her. That’s what made the wound cut so deep.”I felt a lump rising in my throat, and I quickly took a sip of wine to drown it.Trust.Betrayal.Pain that lingers long after the wound should have healed.I knew those words better than anyone.Sam leaned back again, his voice steady. “That’s what makes Damien different from Alexander. My brother doesn’t fall for manipulation. He doesn’t get deceived by flashy lies or pretty words. What broke him wasn’t manipulation. It was love.”I tightened my grip on the glass until my fingers ached. I didn’t want to hear

Serena's POV Sophia’s wide eyes mirrored my own, and even though neither of us spoke, I knew we were both thinking the same thing: trouble.But when we pushed open the doors and stepped outside, the truth unraveled in bursts of Fireworks. Not gunshots.They tore across the sky in red, blue, golden flowers.The crowd outside gasped and pointed upward, their shrieks not shrieks of terror but awe.But even supposing the sky was flashing lights, the people's fingers finally fell to something else.I looked where they were.There lay a red carpet unrolled from the gate, so precise it appeared to have been unrolled by invisible hands.And then, without warning, the crowd started to chant, cheer, clap."Serena! Sophia! Serena! Sophia!"For a moment, I stopped. Why was everyone chanting our names?Sophia tugged at my wrist softly. "Come on, I think they're hollering for us."She said this tremulously, and against my better judgment, I followed her.We proceeded out onto the red carpet togeth

Serena's POV"Thank you for being here," I said, my voice low but sincere. "It means a lot to me that you came to my party." Even though my heart wasn’t fully at ease with her, I knew it was the right thing to do."You're welcome," she smiled gently back. Her tone was smooth, as if she had known I would be thanking her. "Your birthday was good, Serena. Very entertaining."I nodded and smiled. "Sam played well," I said, glancing around at the fading lights, the laughter of the guests growing less as the evening moved on. "He's more charming than Damien."Her lips curved in smile, but she shook her head."I don't agree. They both have charisma, but just in different manners. One simply prefers to use his on women and pleasure, while the other uses his in courts."I tilted my head to the side, watching her. "You know them both fairly well, it appears.""Attempt to read Damien," she said easily. "But Sam? Too open. A simple book."I grinned once more, though something within me twisted.

Alexander's POVI leaned against the living room wall, observing Serena and Sophia fight their way through what was left of the crowd.Guests were beginning to leave, waiters were making rounds with collecting trays. But my eyes were still fixed on the two of them descending the stairs. I exhaled softly in relief. The evening had turned out better than I could have wished. Serena hadn't shut herself off completely, she had spoken to me, even looked in my direction. That in itself was an improvement.I hadn't visited here this evening hoping for miracles, but the fact that she hadn't turned me down in so many words provided me with some cause to hold on.I was merely trying to make up my mind what to say when I heard a woman's voice behind me. "Excuse me," she said.I turned and for an instant my mind fought to recognize the face. I didn't know her. She was young, pretty, with intense eyes."You look really handsome in person," she started off softly.I withheld for a moment, still no

Alexander's POV"I never touched Pristine," I claimed. "Not the way she'll try to make you think. I was the one who broke it off with her, before we could get any further. Just like I walked away from my father's company when I knew I couldn't keep living in his shadow."The room was quiet. For a second, Damien just looked at me, his eyes roving over mine as if he was weighing every word. Then finally, he exhaled."I believe you," he stated bluntly.Relief coursed through me, though I didn't let it register.Damien shifted forward, his voice softer but resolute. "You know, I believe that's wonderful. To walk away from someone as manipulative as Pristine takes a lot of strength. And to walk away from your father's company? That requires even more. Most men wouldn't have the heart to do what you've done."I swallowed hard, the words sticking more than I'd expected. "Thank you," I whispered.He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach. his eyes. "Don't worry. As much as I am her attorney, I w