Burn the Marriage, Keep the Crown

But who could have imagined that behind it all lay a web of intricate schemes?

No wonder when she returned to the collector, hoping to buy back the Tri-Glaze Pottery, she was told it had already been sold!

Her body trembled more violently, yet her gaze at Cynthia Lynwood was terrifyingly calm.

"I need to see Aaron."

"Why do you still cling to hope?" Cynthia Lynwood caressed the Tri-Glaze Pottery

in her hands. "Serena, my patience is wearing thin. If you don't sign, I'll smash this Tri-Glaze Pottery to pieces."

"This is your father's legacy. Can you bear to see it destroyed?"

Serena squinted her eyes. "What did you say?"

Cynthia Lynwood replied, "I'll count to three, and if you still refuse..."

"No need to count," Serena interrupted. "I agree!"

A triumphant smile appeared on Cynthia Lynwood's face. "Serena, at least you know when to concede. Sign it."

"Wait!" Serena called out. "I have a condition."

"What condition?"

"Come closer. I can only tell you."

"Cynthia!" Matthew interjected anxiously.

Cynthia Lynwood glanced at Serena, noting her hand was cuffed. She was confident Serena couldn't cause any trouble. Rising from her wheelchair, she moved cautiously to the bedside, stopping several steps away. "Speak."

"Let Aaron see me."

Cynthia Lynwood chuckled. "Serena, how many times must I tell you? Aaron has no desire to see you. Let go of this foolish hope and quickly..."

Before she could finish, a sudden gust of wind rushed towards her.noveldrama

In the next instant, her neck was gripped tightly by a hand.

The sensation of suffocation overwhelmed her.

"Se...Se..."

Serena's hand clamped around Cynthia Lynwood's neck, her gaze coldly fixed on Matthew. "Don't come any closer, or I'll snap her neck."

Cynthia Lynwood's neck was delicate, as if it would break with the slightest twist.

Matthew stood frozen, unable to move.

"Don't be rash," Matthew tried to soothe Serena. "Murder is a crime."

"I'm already on the brink of death; do you think I care?" Serena's voice was icy. "Bring Aaron here!"

Matthew hesitated, looking from Serena to Cynthia Lynwood.

Cynthia shook her head in painful defiance.

"Alright," Matthew took a deep breath. "I'll get Aaron. Just stay calm!"

With that, he rushed out of the operating room.

Once outside, he was momentarily at a loss.

There was no sign of Aaron anywhere.

Aaron had no idea about today's events.

The consent form bearing Aaron's signature was indeed signed by him, but he was unaware of its contents.

Yesterday, Matthew found Aaron drunk.

As soon as Aaron learned that Cynthia Lynwood had found a kidney donor, he signed the form without a second thought.

If he told Aaron the truth now, it would be disastrous for him.

Yet...

Matthew glanced nervously back at the operating room.

If Aaron didn't come, there was no predicting what Serena might do to harm Cynthia Lynwood.

Just as Matthew felt like a cat on a hot tin roof, a tall figure began to approach from the distance.

The man's face was obscured by the sunlight, but as the shadows shifted, Matthew finally recognized him.

His breath caught, and his heart pounded in his throat.