Chapter 292

The crisp glow of the phone screen illuminated Dylan Reeves' face as he scrolled through the scathing comments.

"Messaging a married man at midnight? That's crossing the line. But throwing yourself at him, kissing him? Disgusting. If I were Nathan's wife, I'd slap Serena Cole so hard she'd forget her own name."

With a sharp exhale, Dylan tossed the phone onto the couch. The penthouse suite, usually filled with the hum of city life outside, was now suffocatingly silent—a heavy, unyielding quiet that pressed down on them both.

Then, the stillness shattered.

A choked sob escaped Serena, curled into herself on the marble floor. Her shoulders trembled as the tears came—first in quiet hiccups, then in heaving, unrestrained cries that echoed through the room.

Dylan's chest tightened. He wanted to go to her, to pull her into his arms and shield her from the storm, but the searing pain down his spine rooted him in place. Gritting his teeth, he could only watch helplessly as she unraveled.

Minutes stretched like hours before her sobs softened into ragged breaths.

"Dylan," she whispered, voice raw. "It's over. Everyone thinks I'm some homewrecker now. How do I even show my face again?"

His jaw clenched. There was nothing he could say. Leonard Grant had played his hand perfectly—cornering Serena with no escape. And who would dare challenge him? The damage was done.

But Dylan knew who was truly to blame.

Evelyn Hartley.

This was her doing. She had orchestrated this humiliation, and she would pay for it. A cold, calculating glint flickered in his eyes.

Evelyn first heard the whispers in the hospital break room.

"Leonard Grant actually called Serena out publicly? That's brutal. Her reputation is in shreds."

"Right? I never thought he'd get involved. But he didn't just go after her—he even dragged Nathan into it. No mercy."

Evelyn's fingers stilled around her coffee cup.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, feigning casual interest.

One of the nurses turned, eyes bright with gossip. "You haven't seen? Leonard Grant just dropped a bomb online. Serena's little redemption act? Crushed. He made sure everyone knows exactly what she is."

Evelyn pulled out her phone, scanning the trending post. A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips.

So this was Leonard's idea of closure.

No courtroom, no evidence—just one decisive strike. And nothing could have been more effective.