Chapter 17 My Name Is Serena
Violet accepted the medical forms from Serena, then glanced at Elsa.
Something about Elsa's expression was wrong.
Violet turned back. "Do you know me?"
Serena smiled and lifted her left hand to smooth back her hair. As she did, she glanced briefly at Elsa.
"I was walking past and heard this lady call you Violet. A friend's younger sister has the same name, so I asked without thinking."
The color slowly drained from Elsa's face.
The first moment she'd seen the woman's figure and hairstyle, she'd already suspected.
When Serena asked Violet's surname, Elsa became more certain.
Then she saw the diamond bracelet around Serena's left wrist.
There was no doubt anymore.
This was Serena.
The woman Alexander had never forgotten.
Elsa stood frozen, unable to react.
Violet looked Serena over with open suspicion. "Yes. I'm Violet. Who are you?"
Serena looked directly at Elsa and smiled politely.
"I'm a friend of your brother's. My name is Serena."
Serena.
Violet immediately turned toward Elsa.
So this was the legendary woman in her brother's heart.
Honestly, Violet wasn't impressed.
Compared with Elsa, Serena wasn't even close.
Elsa's hands tightened at her sides.
Her husband's other woman was standing right in front of her.
And Elsa could do nothing.
If she exposed Serena now, whatever happened next, Alexander would undoubtedly protect Serena.
Elsa couldn't produce one billion to buy her freedom.
She also lacked the power to clean up the consequences if everything exploded publicly.
If she made a scene now, the only person humiliated would be herself.
So she forced down the emotions churning in her chest and tried to remain composed.
Violet linked her arm through Elsa's and introduced her pointedly.
"This is my sister-in-law, Elsa."
Serena turned toward Elsa without avoiding her gaze.
Perhaps Violet had already realized who Serena was, because she added with a bright smile, "My brother loves Elsa very much."
Serena politely held out a hand. "Mrs. Horton, you're very beautiful."
Elsa forced out a few words. "You're very pretty too."
A housekeeper carrying medication approached.
"Miss Whitmore, the driver is here. You should go home and rest."
The woman moved to support Serena.
Serena smiled. "Mrs. Horton, Violet, I'll leave you two to it."
Then she walked away with perfect manners.
Elsa remained where she was, staring after her.
Luxury clothes.
Designer brands.
A housekeeper at her side.
A driver and a car waiting downstairs.
Alexander had given Serena almost everything money could buy.
Pain began pulsing through Elsa's chest again.
The emotions she'd struggled so hard to suppress rushed back and hit her so violently that she sank onto a bench in the corridor.
Violet hurried closer. "Elsa, why didn't you slap her?"
Tears trembled in Elsa's eyes.
Her lips shook. "I..."
Then she remembered Violet's explosive temper and abruptly stopped.
Violet straightened Elsa, placed her handbag beside her, and turned to chase Serena.
Elsa failed to catch her in time and immediately hurried after her.
Violet blocked Serena near the elevator.
Serena stopped. "Miss Horton, is there something else?"
Violet forced herself not to hit her and pasted on an obviously fake smile.
"Miss Whitmore, judging by your clothes, your family must be extraordinary. Which wealthy family are you from? Maybe we should become friends."
Serena's fingernails dug into her palm.
Everything she wore, ate, used, and carried had been bought by Alexander.
And six years ago, when she dated him, the Horton family had known exactly what kind of background she came from.
Violet's question was a deliberate slap in the face.
Serena endured it and answered graciously, "You're flattering me. I'm from an ordinary family."
Violet folded her arms and dragged out her voice.
"Then your husband's family must be rich. Which wealthy family did you marry into? Maybe I know them."
Serena glanced at Elsa.
Embarrassment appeared clearly on her face.
"I'm not married."
Elsa swayed so violently she nearly lost her balance.
Not married.
Yet she had a five-year-old son.
Then the child had to be Alexander's.
Violet gave Serena an exaggerated thumbs-up.
"Wow. Then you must be very successful. What do you do for work? We really should become friends. I admire independent women the most—women who earn their own money and would never live off a man like a parasite."
Serena looked mortified.
She stole a glance at Elsa, then quickly lowered her eyes.
"Miss Horton, I have something to do. I should go."
Before she even finished speaking, Serena stepped into the elevator.
Violet moved to follow, but Elsa stopped her.
Violet stamped her foot. "Elsa, I still haven't slapped her!"
Elsa's face was pale.
She pulled Violet toward an empty part of the corridor.
"I know you're trying to defend me. But even if you beat her half to death, it won't change the fact that she and your brother are together again. Your brother loves her. He loves their child. If he finds out you hurt her, he'll be furious and heartbroken. Don't make things worse."
Violet took Elsa's hand, suddenly careful and uncertain.
"Elsa... are you giving up on my brother?"
Before, if any woman so much as appeared near Alexander, Elsa treated it like a national emergency and found some way to get rid of the threat.
Now the woman Alexander was cheating with had stood right in front of her, and Elsa had remained composed.
If she weren't preparing to let him go, how could she possibly stop fighting?
Elsa did not answer.
Alexander had been the one to let go of her first.
Afraid she would start thinking too much again, Elsa went home and buried herself in her books.
If she wanted a divorce, she needed one billion.
Where was she supposed to find that kind of money quickly?
Monday arrived.
Elsa reported to the hospital on time, completed her onboarding, and officially became Professor Morris's assistant.
On her first day, she met several colleagues and began to understand exactly what she needed to work toward next.
After work that evening, Elsa visited her parents.
Their new three-bedroom apartment was only about ninety square meters, but it felt warm and lived-in.
She had dinner with them and stayed to talk for a while before returning to the house she'd shared with Alexander since their marriage.
Most of her books and research materials were still there, and she needed to study at night.
Otherwise, she would have preferred to stay with her parents for a few days.
After showering and changing into sleepwear, Elsa sat on the bed with her laptop and studied.
A little after ten, she heard a car engine downstairs.
Not long after that, the bedroom door opened.
Alexander walked in wearing a dark business suit, his face grim.
Elsa frowned when she saw him.
He had said he was leaving the country for a week.
Only three days had passed since his departure.
Why had he suddenly come back?