Chapter 80
Chapter 80: Serena Is No One
Serena Is No One.
“What exactly are we doing here?” Vanessa’s cousin, Delilah, asked.
“And we’ve been waiting here for an hour, Vanessa. Are you trying to find Serena?” a friend added.
Vanessa and her companions were at the Astoria Hotel. She didn’t really know if she would see Serena, but she had to try.
She smiled calmly and replied, “Honestly, I am. I just want to make sure Serena is really alive. I’m sure she pulled that missing stunt to get Nathan’s attention-to make him feel guilty about the divorce. I want to tell her that it never worked and that we’ve moved on p>
“Also,” she added, turning to scan the crowd, “I want to make sure she doesn’t cause trouble and show herself before Bianca p>
Vanessa ran her fingers through her blonde hair and continued, “My dear mother-in- law has just recovered. It was a miracle in itself that she survived. My uncle and I helped Bianca through everything. It’s not a good idea for her to see Serena, or memories of the past, about Victor, will come flooding back. And Bianca? She hates Victor Kline the most. She hates anything tied to Victor.” (1)
“But what if Serena is not checked in at this hotel?” Delilah asked. “I’d rather go home p>
“Cuz, can we just wait a little longer?” Vanessa pleaded, lips pouting. “Just another hour. I’ll treat everyone p>
The lobby had a snack bar in one corner, serving coffee, tea, and pastries. They spent their time indulging, chatting about recent trends and luxury brands.
As they waited, Vanessa thought about Serena.
She wondered how Serena was.
Had she been eroded by everything she lost?
Vanessa imagined Serena struggling over the years, crawling back to Velmon to reestablish something with Nathaniel, or to secure some sort of inheritance from the Klines. As for the latter, she laughed internally. Vanessa knew that would never happen.
Still, all those years of Serena being gone hadn’t given Vanessa any chance with Nathaniel at all, and it frustrated her. In fact, Nathaniel had become distant after Serena vanished, especially after her uncle became
useless to Bianca and him.
Vanessa truly hated Serena.
She had held a grudge against her since childhood. Serena just didn’t know it. When Serena became Nathaniel’s wife, it only deepened her resentment. How could Serena marry someone as handsome and brilliant as Nathaniel?
Her parents had told her Serena was adopted—a nobody, an orphan. Yet she was enjoying more than she deserved.
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Four years ago, when everything went down, her parents’ reasons became clearer to Vanessa. But even then, she remained unsatisfied. She still hadn’t gotten what she wanted most. And that was… Nathaniel Thorne.
That was why, when she heard Serena was back, Vanessa couldn’t let it go. She had to put Serena in her place. Otherwise, all her hard work would be for nothing.
“Oh, that’s Serena, right?” another friend said, spotting her first.
Vanessa turned toward the hotel entrance and froze.
This Serena… looked as though she hadn’t aged at all!
Her skin glowed like porcelain under the light. Her hair was smooth, and though her eyes looked tired, they didn’t look broken. They didn’t look sad.
Whe
The question gnawed at Vanessa, sharp and unwelcome.
Then it hit her.
If Nathaniel saw Serena like this-standing there, unchanged, calm, alive-he would never let her go. Not after the way he had searched for her. Not after the way he had unraveled since she disappeared.
Vanessa’s fingers curled slowly at her side.
Serena wasn’t supposed to look like this.
She was supposed to look ruined!
Vanessa gritted her teeth as she stood. She couldn’t afford for her cousin and friends to know that Nathaniel had never courted her. 1
“Just stay here while I talk to her,” she said.
“No, I want to come with you,” Delilah suggested.
“It’s okay,” Vanessa replied. “I can handle her. Serena is no one. She’s nothing compared to me p>
She walked toward Serena and made her move. The last time she lied about herself and Nathaniel, it had worked like a charm. Serena had never doubted her. Vanessa remembered clearly how broken Serena had been four years ago.
But this time, it was different.
Serena was calm, and worse, she looked like she didn’t care at all.
What angered Vanessa the most was when Serena shot back, “If you’re so secure, why are you talking to me p>
“I just thought you deserved to know,” Vanessa said, hiding her nerves behind a confident smile. “In case you cross paths with Nathan. I didn’t want you to be surprised p>
“Actually, we already met. Thank goodness, you’re two days late, Vanessa p>
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Chapter 80 Serena is No One
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When Vanessa heard the voice, her skin crawled.
‘No. No p>
She turned and saw Nathaniel Thorne.
His eyes were narrowed… at her.
‘Did he hear everything?’ she wondered, panic widening her eyes.
“Nathan,” Vanessa said, stepping forward, about to kiss his cheek, but Nathaniel grabbed her arm instead, hard.
“Who gave you the right?” Nathaniel barked.
“I tolerated you because my mother liked you,” he said through clenched teeth. “I extended courtesy to you for the company you gave my mother, and because of your father. But that doesn’t give you the right to make up stories about me p>
Vanessa gasped as his grip tightened. It hurt. “Nathan, let go-ouch p>
“A child?” Nathaniel sneered. “If you have a child, it certainly isn’t mine.” “Marriage? What marriage?” Nathaniel demanded, his voice rising. “I only kept up appearances with you to appease my mother and to acknowledge the alliance between our families. There was nothing beyond that.
“We had an agreement, Vanessa p>
“I made it clear to you from the start p>
“Your father helped me with my business expansion, and I helped you secure endorsements,” Nathaniel said coldly. “Beyond that, you were nothing special to
me p>
“Nathan, how could you say that?” Vanessa hissed, mortified. Half the hotel lobby could hear them. In fact, her cousin and friends were looking at them in disbelief! How could she possibly save face now?
She lowered her voice. “Let’s talk privately. I meant no harm. I was only worried about Bianca. Nathan, you’ve been blinded by this woman. Have you forgotten who she is? She’s Victor’s daughter p>
Nathaniel shoved her arm away so forcefully she nearly stumbled.
“No,” he said coldly. “She’s not Victor’s daughter p>
‘What did he say?’ Vanessa’s mind reeled. Fear crept into her heart. ‘Does he
know?’ 1
LiLhyz
Author
December 28, 2025.
10 44
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.