The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Serena used every ounce of strength to dodge Marco and stumbled away, running as she dialed Victor again. But all she got was the cold automated voice saying his phone was powered off.
The heat surged from her stomach to every part of her body, and her vision blurred even more. Serena bit down hard on the tip of her tongue, and only then did she regain a bit of clarity.
"Mrs. Powell, don't leave so fast. We haven't had our proper chat yet," Marco said, reaching for her arm.
Serena yanked herself free. "Don't touch me."
"Playing hard to get, huh? Who do you think you are? Just some chick Victor got tired of," Marco sneered, then lunged for her hair. "Don't run. Let's see how I'll deal with you tonight."
Panicking, Serena grabbed a sharp-edged stone from a nearby flowerbed and smashed it against the side of Marco's head.
A scream tore through the air. Marco collapsed to the ground, clutching his bleeding forehead.
The drug was taking stronger effect—Serena could feel her body slipping out of her control, her legs growing weaker and weaker.
Suddenly, a tall, steady figure caught her trembling body from behind. In the dim light, all Serena could make out was the man's black suit and his chiseled features hidden in shadow. His presence radiated a chilling intensity.
Serena opened her eyes in a daze, her fingers clutching his jacket tightly. "Please help me."
Later, when they were inside his car, Serena kept murmuring, "Victor, help me." Her hand uncontrollably traced across the man's chest.
When Serena woke up, all she saw was white. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nose. She struggled to sit up, only to feel a pounding pain in her head.
"You're awake?" A young nurse walked over, her voice gentle with concern. "How are you feeling? You were brought in last night—someone drugged you. It's a good thing you got here in time. Otherwise, it could've been really bad."
"Who brought me here?" Serena asked.
The nurse shook her head. "I'm not sure. Whoever it was has already left. But he paid all your medical bills."
Serena thought, 'Who saved me? Victor? No way. He was with Eliza at the time.'
She couldn't remember the man's face clearly, but those soulful, captivating eyes were etched in Serena's memory, along with the warmth of his broad chest and the strength in his strong arms when he held her close.
Serena couldn't quite recall what he looked like, but that feeling stirred something inside her she couldn't explain.
Meanwhile, at Powell Manor, Albert slammed a file down on the table. "How could you mess up such an important deal? What the hell were you doing?"
Victor tried to explain, "Dad, Ellie wasn't feeling well. Besides, Serena was there."
"Eliza?" Albert let out a sharp, angry laugh. "You've really lost your damn mind over that woman."
Victor muttered, "It's Serena's fault the deal didn't go through. She must've ruined it on purpose."
"On purpose? Didn't you leave her at the dinner party by herself and run off? Are you dumb?" Albert shouted.
Victor went pale. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to come up with something to say. He thought, 'This deal went south—Dad's not going to let me off easy.
'I need to find a way to pin it on Serena. It's not like she hasn't taken the fall before. One more time won't make a difference.'
Albert picked up his phone and called Serena. She was still a little disoriented when she answered the call. It wasn't until she heard Albert's voice that she began to gather her thoughts.
"Seri, where are you now? Come back to Powell Manor," Albert said.
Despite still feeling unwell, Serena called a cab and returned to Powell Manor.
As soon as she walked in, she saw Victor sitting on the couch, his expression dark and stormy.
"Albert," Serena greeted politely.
Albert nodded and gestured for her to sit. "Seri, what happened with the deal?"
Before Serena could say anything, Victor cut in, "Dad, she definitely ruined it on purpose. She's just jealous of Ellie."
"Shut up," Albert snapped.
Serena finally spoke, "Albert, at the dinner party, Mr. Watson drugged my drink. He touched me inappropriately and kept harassing me. I couldn't take it, so I hit him and ran. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital."
"Drugged?" Albert's expression darkened.
Serena nodded, her face pale. She glanced at Victor, who sat off to the side with a cold, indifferent look. There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt or concern in his eyes.
After a long while, Serena sighed quietly, her heart heavy with sorrow. She thought, 'This is the man I've loved for so many years.'
Victor sneered, "Go on. Keep making things up. Who knows where you really went? Maybe you were out sleeping around with some random guy."
His words hit Serena like a knife to the chest. She thought, 'Judging by the way he's talking, he must've twisted the whole story in front of Albert again. In his eyes, am I really that disgraceful? That untrustworthy?'
"Enough." Albert slammed the table. "Seri, you've been through enough. Go get some rest."
Serena nodded, got up, and left Powell Manor.
Victor started explaining, "Dad, Ellie's not like that. She really wasn't feeling well—"
"Cut the crap. There won't be a next time. Otherwise, I'll start considering someone else to inherit Powell Group." Albert shook his head with a sigh and waved him off. "You can go back too"
Victor walked out of Powell Manor and immediately spotted Serena standing by the road. "Serena, if you hadn't ruined that deal, would I have gotten chewed out by my dad like that?" he scolded.
"Victor, that's enough. You're saying the failed deal is my fault? Do you even have a conscience?" Serena was shaking all over, her voice laced with hurt.
She thought, 'After all this time, it's still the same. What did I ever do to deserve this?'
Victor snapped, "Cut the act, Serena. If you hadn't screwed up the deal on purpose, my dad wouldn't have torn into me. You just can't stand to see Ellie doing well."
Serena snorted, "I can't stand to see her doing well? Victor, ask yourself how much I've done for you all these years. And how have you treated me in return?"
Victor spat, "Stop pretending you're innocent. You got close to me for money in the first place, and now you're here pretending like you actually sacrificed anything for me?
"You think I don't know what's really going on in that head of yours? I'm telling you, when we divorce, you're not getting a single cent of the inheritance."
As Victor's words grew more vicious, Serena bit down hard on her lip, trying to keep the tears from spilling over.
She thought, 'The inheritance? So that's who I am to him? After everything we've been through together, does he really think our relationship was only ever about money?'
Victor sneered, "One minute you're playing the victim and filing for divorce, the next you're showing up at a business party with me. Do you have any shame at all, Serena?"
Serena said, "That's enough, Victor. I was drugged. I nearly died. You didn't even ask if I was okay, and now you're blaming me?"
"Drugged? Please. Who knows which random guy you were off messing around with last night," Victor scoffed.
Serena stared at him, stunned. As she looked at this man—so familiar yet now completely unrecognizable—she couldn't hold it in anymore. She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.
For seven years, she had given everything to him. And all she got in return was endless doubt.
Victor held his face. "You actually hit me?"
Serena struggled to steady her faltering steps, her hand trembling from the force of the slap.
Victor stood there, stunned. Staring at her pale face, he clenched his fists.
He forced himself to look away and spoke cruelly, "Let me make one thing clear, Serena. Even if you come begging in tears one day, I won't spare you a single glance."