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.

The call rang and rang. Just before it dropped, someone finally picked up.

"Vincent Schit, bring Maggie back. Fifteen minutes. Or say goodbye to your girlfriend."

Vincent's face went pale when he saw the knife at Serena's neck. "Don't hurt her! Where are you? I'm coming! Maggie, Peter's got Serena—tell him to stop!"

The camera shifted—Maggie's face popped into view. "Peter?"

The guy stared at her. "It's me, Maggie. You said you'd marry me. I gave up everything for you. You can't just ditch me..."

His voice cracked, and his hand twitched—the knife sliced Serena's skin. She gasped.

Vincent's heart dropped. "Don't touch her! Serena, just hold on—I'm on my way!"

Tears blurred Serena's vision, but she stayed still, jaw clenched.

Then Maggie opened her mouth—and everything stopped.

"Vincent, relax. That's not Peter. Miss Saun, come on. There's nothing between me and Vincent. You didn't need to fake a whole kidnapping just to test him."

Vincent's face shifted, doubt creeping in.

Serena's heart dropped.

"I'm not pretending. Vincent, please. Just this once... believe me."

Knife at her throat, she pushed the fear down and begged.

But Maggie just let out a sigh. "Stop guilt-tripping him. If I leave, will you quit pulling stunts like this?"

Vincent's face iced over. "Serena Saun, I'm done with your games. Even if this is real, I'm not giving Maggie up."

Click.

He hung up.

Serena stared at the screen, frozen.

Cold flooded her chest.

Behind her, Peter's voice snapped.

"Blame yourself for being his girl. Next life, pick better."

***

When Serena opened her eyes, she was in a hospital bed.

Vincent was right there, looking wrecked.

"You're awake. Are you in pain?"

Her head was spinning, but she remembered everything—he chose Maggie. Again. Left her hanging when it mattered most. If the neighbor hadn't shown up, she might've been dead.

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. I should've believed you. Don't be mad, okay? I didn't know that guy was really Peter—"

She yanked her hand back. "And Maggie didn't recognize him either?"

He froze. Voice strained. "It was dark. Maggie just didn't see clearly. When she realized it was Peter, she cried for hours.

"Anyway, he's been arrested. Can you stop blaming her now? You're the kindest person I know..."

Serena almost died.

Maggie just shed a few tears, and Vincent rushed to ask for forgiveness.

A nurse burst in. "Mr. Schit, Miss Cheape's awake. She's crying and asking for you."

This time, Vincent didn't budge.

He just stared at Serena like he was waiting for her to say something else.

She forced a smile. "Go. I'm tired. I want to sleep."

She rolled away and shut her eyes.

Vincent thought that meant she'd forgiven Maggie. He tucked the blanket around her like everything was fine. "I'll check on her. I'll be right back."

Then he followed the nurse out.

***

Minutes after leaving the hospital, Serena grabbed a cab.

Halfway home, Maggie sent a pic—Vincent on one knee, sliding her shoes on like some rom-com prince.

Before the typing bubble could even finish bouncing, Serena hit block.

Back at the house, she headed straight to the study, yanked the fake marriage certificate from the safe, and ripped it to shreds.

Suitcase in hand, she was out.

Vincent? Not part of her future anymore.