Game Over No Second Chances

The blow didn't land.

Serena had caught Melissa's wrist mid-air. "Melissa, don't act on impulse."

Melissa glared at her. "What? You're defending her now? Didn't you just tell someone to bury her earlier? Or does it not matter anymore?"

"She's already told Grandpa," Serena replied evenly, her tone unshaken. "If you hit her now, he won't let it slide, Melissa."

She'd deliberately emphasized her name.

It wasn't just a reminder of their family dynamics-it was a subtle warning. Serena was pulling rank as the younger, rightful family member, trying to advise the elder.

It worked.

Melissa's chest rose and fell, but eventually, she lowered her hand.

Sarah had gone pale, genuinely frightened. But now, seeing Serena protect her, something flickered in her chest-smugness.

She gave a cold little sniff and said, "Thanks for your kind words back at the banquet, Serena. It looks like Cole and I really are getting married for the sake of the baby."

She tilted her head slightly and continued, "But you're smart, Serena. You knew how important this baby was. That's why you stopped her from hitting me, right? Still, you did pour champagne on me earlier. If I told Great-Grandpa—"

"Go ahead." Serena turned to face her fully, her eyes calm and the corners of her lips curling upward. "I poured out your drink to save that thing in your belly. Without me, you'd have miscarried by now.

"And as for stopping Melissa from hitting you..." She gave a small laugh. "I just didn't want her to dirty her hands because of someone so filthy."

The air in the room seemed to shift.

"Also," she added, her voice cool but polite, "according to the Larson family's customs, you should call me Aunt Serena. Grandpa may want five generations under one roof, but that doesn't mean he'll stomach someone with no manners."

She paused, then said, "In this day and age, divorcing and remarrying isn't a big deal. Wouldn't you agree?"

Her words floated through the room, light and airy, but every syllable hit like a hammer.

The room fell dead silent.

Even Melissa had to swallow her breath.noveldrama

How ruthless.

Serena didn't sound like someone from the Jansen family at all. If anything, Serena was every bit a Larson.

No wonder she could match someone like Hugh. This woman was definitely not a pushover.

Sarah was stunned speechless.

Rachel snapped back to her senses and tried to intervene. She exclaimed,

"Serena, how could you scare your sister like that? She's pregnant!"

But Serena only smiled faintly. She leaned down, her hand resting casually on the edge of Sarah's hospital bed.

She met Rachel's resentful gaze head-on. "I'm just stating facts. Ms. Lloyd, don't you remember how you climbed your way into this family?"

Her voice slowed, and her tone sharpened. Im the daughter of the first wife, and I got nothing. I didn't get any shares or titles. But the second wife and her daughter climbed all the way up and took everything."

She looked down at Sarah's belly. "That child isn't even born yet. Who's to say the Larson family won't

choose the child over the

mother-and perhaps find someone better suited for Cole later?

Rachel froze.

How could a woman as soft as Amber Hanson raise such a daughter?

Howard, standing nearby, looked like he could sink into the floor. His face burned.

He'd always cared about appearances. Yet now, his precious daughter was knocked up before marriage. And the daughter from his first marriage had just exposed every ugly truth of his favoritism.

It was humiliating. It was absolutely and unspeakably humiliating.

He finally snapped, "That's enough! Stop right there! What's all that about the first wife and second wife? Right now, what matters most is protecting the baby. But..."

He glanced at Serena, then turned back to Sarah. "Serena's right. Since you're a part of the Larson family now, you need to follow their rules. Address her properly, and don' embarrass us. What will Mr. Darson Senior think of our family, otherwise?"

UM

He shot Sarah a warning look. She should cooperate now or risk everything.

The top priority was stabilizing the situation-in order to keep the baby, keep the engagement, and more than anything, to not piss off the Larsons.

Even Melissa nodded approvingly.

"Serena's right. There's no structure without rules. If you want to become part of this family, you have to follow our customs."

Sarah looked like she could shatter her teeth from clenching them so hard.

But in the end, she forced the words out through gritted teeth. "A-Aunt Serena."