Chapter 453

Vivian's fingers trembled violently as the phone slipped from her grasp, shattering against the marble tiles like fragile glass. The spiderweb of cracks mirrored the fractures in her heart.

How? How could Serena always come out unscathed?

Adrian remained motionless on the sofa for thirty agonizing minutes, conflict etched across his chiseled features. When he finally rose, his footsteps echoed through the silent penthouse. The bedroom door resisted his first attempt - locked. A bitter smile touched his lips as he remembered the biometric override. His thumb hovered over the scanner when Miranda's caller ID flashed across his screen.

"Mr. Blackwood!" Miranda's panicked voice pierced through the receiver. "It's Serena - she collapsed. They're rushing her to St. Mary's."

At Seabreeze Villa...

A faint engine roar drew Vivian to the floor-to-ceiling windows. She watched Adrian's midnight blue Bentley glide down the winding driveway, its taillights disappearing into the velvet darkness. An icy dread coiled around her chest. There was only one place he'd be rushing to at this hour.

The weight of realization threatened to crush her when salvation arrived in the form of Audrey Winslow, brandishing greasy paper bags and clinking bottles. "Celebration time!" Audrey announced, shoving the aromatic packages into Vivian's arms before kicking off her designer heels onto the priceless Persian rug.

Vivian recognized the scent instantly - that legendary street vendor's barbecue from their college days. No fancy marketing, just generations of secret recipes that made food critics weep. Only Audrey would remember this comfort during her darkest hour.

With a resigned sigh, Vivian joined her best friend on the rug that cost more than most people's annual salary. Audrey tore into the food with abandon, leaving greasy fingerprints on the ivory wool without a second thought. Vivian found herself strangely comforted by the rebellious act.

"Where's His Royal Grumpiness?" Audrey asked between bites, glancing around the empty penthouse.

Vivian picked at her skewer with forced nonchalance. "Gone to Serena, obviously. The moment my tweet went viral."

The unspoken words hung heavy between them. Some things never changed.