The floor looked like a war zone.

Serena popped her meds and hauled her stuff to the guest room.

On the way out, she paused by the shattered glass and grabbed a photo.

The only one she and Vincent ever took. Now officially the last.

She hadn't figured out what to do with it while packing.

Guess Maggie handled that for her.

Serena smirked, ripped it up, and let the pieces fall into the trash.

Vincent didn't show up that night.

***

Serena woke to clattering in the kitchen at five a.m.

Vincent froze when he saw her, guilt flashing across his face.

"Did I wake you? Maggie didn't eat last night, so I'm making her creamy seafood soup. You should grab a bowl too."

She stared at the pot, silent.

He still remembered every single thing Maggie liked—even after all that time apart.

Just yesterday, she mentioned her seafood allergy—he hadn't even registered it.

She hadn't known he could cook until now.

Love hits different when it's one-sided.

"I'm good. Don't save me any," she said, voice low.

She turned to leave.

"About last night..." he called. "I panicked when I saw Maggie hurt. I didn't mean what I said. Don't take it personally."

She nodded.

"Right. Emergency. I get it."

Her calm threw him. Watching her eyes drop, guilt clenched his chest.

"It's been forever since we went anywhere. Once things settle, let's take a trip. Just us."

She gave a vague hum.

Didn't matter. She'd be out of there in a few days anyway.

***

Three days later, Serena got back from a day out with friends and found Vincent and Maggie already home.

They were curled up on the couch, flipping through some old photo album.

Maggie lit up when she saw her.

"Miss Saun, you're back! Vincent and I were just looking at old pics. Our friends always said we looked like a married couple. I thought they were just joking, but even the photographer said so during our wedding shoot. Come see—don't we look totally husband-and-wife?"

The air turned icy for a second.

It was a straight-up power move, but Serena didn't flinch.

She nodded.

"Yeah, they're right. You two really—"

Vincent jumped in.

"There's a class reunion tonight. Serena, come with us."

She almost laughed.

Nice try. He clearly thought she was hurt and was scrambling to fix it.

***

The drive over was dead silent. Everyone was stuck in their own heads.

At the hotel, Maggie stayed close to Vincent, chatting about high school like they were still living it. Halfway through a story, she slipped her arm through his.

Serena trailed behind, quiet.

The second they walked into the room, people swarmed.

"What's going on with you two?"

"Didn't think you'd actually end up together after all this time!"

Maggie didn't say a word—just blushed and smiled like it said everything.

Then someone spotted Serena standing by the door.

"And she is...?"

Vincent froze, like he'd just remembered Serena existed.

He opened his mouth to say something, but she beat him to it.

"I'm their friend," she said, calm and steady.

He glanced her way—expression all tangled up—but with Maggie clinging to his side, he kept quiet.

People looked confused but let it slide, waving her over to join the group.

Old friends, same energy, like nothing had changed.

Vincent jumped right in, laughing, chatting, and carefully fixing a plate for Maggie—making sure to leave out the onions she hated.

Serena sat beside them, wearing her 'just a friend' mask.

Midway through, she ducked out to the bathroom.

On her way back, a voice from inside stopped her.

"Vincent, be real. While Maggie was gone all those years, did you ever catch feelings for someone else?"

The room went dead quiet.

Everyone turned, waiting.

Maggie jumped in fast. "Okay, let's not do this. I was gone forever—it's normal if he liked someone else..."

She tried to smile, but her eyes were shiny, and the smile was barely hanging on.

Vincent's chest tightened. His voice dropped. "No. I never liked anyone else."

Maggie finally cracked a real smile through her tears and tucked herself into his arms, all shy and glowing.

The group burst into cheers and teasing.

Serena didn't say a word.

She slipped out and called a cab home.

***

A few hours later, Vincent showed up carrying a wasted Maggie.

He laid her down gently. Her arms looped around his neck, loose and clingy.

"Vincent, don't go. If I hadn't left back then, maybe there wouldn't be a Serena. I'm the one who should be in those wedding pics with you. We're the real thing, right? Please... don't leave me..."

He froze.

Maggie leaned in and kissed him.

Right then, Serena opened the door.

She stopped, stared for a beat, then turned and walked away.

Anyone else would've broken down.

But maybe she'd already seen it coming.

It didn't sting the way it should've.

Vincent panicked, shoved Maggie aside, and ran after her.

"Serena, wait—let me explain. She—"

"I get it. She's drunk. Go take care of her. I'm not gonna cause a scene."

Her voice was calm, her eyes honest—and that's what wrecked him.

Something shifted. Slipped.

"Why aren't you mad at all?" he choked out.

Vincent pressed on. "At the reunion, you said we were just friends. You didn't blink when Maggie kissed me. You even told me to look after her... Serena, I'm your boyfriend. Why are you handing me off?"

She went quiet.

Right as she was about to say it—

A scream shot out from the bedroom.

Vincent's face snapped. He took off.

Maggie, barefoot, wobbled off the bed and collapsed into him.

"That creep came back for me. Vincent, I'm scared. Please don't leave me. Don't—"

He didn't let her finish. Just scooped her up, voice low and gentle.

"You're safe. I'm here. No one's gonna hurt you. I'm not going anywhere..."

Maggie melted into him, throwing a smug look over his shoulder—stone-cold sober now.

Serena scoffed in her head. 'So that's it, huh, Vincent? It was never me pushing you away. You've always picked her. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.'

He stayed with Maggie all night.

Serena? She couldn't care less.

***

Arya had wrapped early and was flying back in two days.

The news gave Serena a tiny spark of relief.

Next morning, mid-breakfast, she spotted Vincent's phone on the table.

After a beat, she headed to the master bedroom.

Before she could knock, Maggie swung the door open.

"Miss Saun, Vincent took care of me all night. He's still asleep. Maybe don't bother him right now."

She tugged her collar just enough to flash some faint red marks.

Serena didn't flinch. Just held out the phone. "Cool. Just make sure he gets this."

She turned to leave—but Maggie caught her arm.

"How thick can your skin be? Vincent never loved you. We didn't just take wedding pics—we already signed the papers. I'm his real wife now. So how about you leave our house?"

A sound came from inside the room.

Maggie's face flipped in a second. Gone was the smug, replaced with full-on panic.

"Miss Saun, I'll move out. Please don't be mad..."

Then—bam.

Her back hit the door, and she crumpled to the floor.

A second later, Vincent burst out. The second he saw Maggie on the floor, his face twisted with anger.

"Serena Sauna, what the hell is this?! You told me to look after her. I thought you were being mature, and now you're pulling this PETTY CRAP?"

Serena's face went cold. "I didn't touch her. Didn't lay a hand on her. Check the security cam if you're so sure."

Maggie's eyes flicked nervously. "Vincent, don't blame Miss Saun... I just slipped..."

But with her soft voice and that broken look, she played the victim like a pro.

Vincent's expression melted. He scooped her up, gentle as ever.

"Stop. You don't have to cover for her. Serena, you're my girlfriend, but if you ever lay a hand on Maggie again... don't blame me for what comes next."

And just like that, he carried her off.

Serena took a deep breath, stuffing the fury back down.

Didn't matter what she said. Vincent was never gonna believe her.

So why even bother?

She pulled it together and spent the day out, surrounded by friends who actually gave a damn.

***

By evening, she grabbed a cab home.

As she reached into her bag for the keys, something shifted in the corner of her eye.

Her whole body tensed.

She spun to run—

Too late.

Someone yanked her hair and dragged her back.

A knife pressed against her neck.

Serena froze, heart slamming, brain scrambling to stay calm.

"I've got cash in my bag. Take it. Just—don't hurt me..."

The man didn't answer.

He just grabbed her phone and started a video call.