CH.112

"How dare you refuse to let me in!" a woman screeched from somewhere near the entrance. Do you imbeciles have any idea who I am? Have you peons so quickly forgotten that no one—absolutely no one—stops me at any establishments under Gaard Corp?" Her voice rose in pitch with each word.

Serena felt irritation coursing through her veins. She knew that voice. Oh, how she knew it. The voice had haunted her for years, dripping with false sweetness in public but vicious and cruel when they were alone.

It was a voice she always hoped never to hear again.

The spa's manager could be heard trying to placate her in an anxious voice.

"Please, madam," he pleaded, "I assure you, it's not that we don't recognize you. It's just that we have some very important guests at the moment, and we simply cannot risk offending them. If you could perhaps come back later-"

"Come back later?" the woman shrieked, cutting him off. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to? I don't come back 'later'. I go where I want, when I want. Now step aside before I have you fired!"

Killian decided he'd had enough. He hastily tied his robe and strode purposefully towards the source of the commotion, where he bumped into Seven, whose hypnotic countenance was set in lines of annoyance.

They exchanged looks of pure displeasure as the woman's tirade continued.

"Well, well," Killian drawled as he approached. "If it isn't the White Lotus herself, gracing us all with her usual charming demeanor. Tell me, my dear, do you practice that shriek, or does it come naturally?" his voice dripped with sarcasm.

The woman whirled to face him, her eyes widening in recognition. In an instant, her entire demeanor changed. Gone was the shrieking harpy, replaced by a vision of sugary sweetness that was somehow even more grating.

"Killian, darling!" she cooed, batting her heavily mascaraed eyelashes. "What an unexpected pleasure. I had no idea you frequented such... quaint establishments."

She took a step towards him and stretched out her hand but Killian smoothly sidestepped her advances, his lip curling in disgust.

"Save it, lady," he said coldly. "Your act might work on some, but I can see right through you. Always could, always will."

The woman’s saccharine smile faltered for a moment before she hitched it back into place. "Now, now, Killian, is that any way to speak to an old friend? After all we've been through together?" she purred.

Killian let out a harsh laugh. "Friend? Is that what you call yourself? Last I checked, friends don't manipulate and scheme against each other. They don't use people as stepping stones for their own ambition."

Her facade cracked and anger flashed in her eyes. "How dare you-" she began, but Killian cut her off again.

"How dare I? How dare you! How dare you continue to parade around, using his name and influence like it's your personal golden ticket. How dare you treat people like they're beneath you when you're nothing but a parasite yourself!"

Killian was busy lashing out at the obnoxious intruder when Serena emerged from her changing room.

The sight that greeted her made her blood boil. There, in all her over-processed glory, stood none other than her ultimate rival in both the entertainment industry and in her marriage… the woman now revealed as Knox's mistress.

Mia Collins! How could it be her? Of course, she should have recognized that sultry voice whenever the snake called Knox.

“Oh, I see the public toilet is also here. Don’t tell me she’s the reason—”

The bitch was still blabbering when Serena's hand flew out, connecting with the latter’s cheek in a resounding slap that echoed through the lobby.

A stunned silence fell over the room.

Mia’s eyes were wide with shock as she slowly raised a hand to her reddening cheek. For a moment, no one moved.

Then, like a switch had been flipped, chaos erupted.

Mia’s bodyguards surged forward but halted at the sight of the dreadful Seven and Killian, who formed a protective barrier in front of Serena.

The tension in the air was palpable like electricity crackling before a storm.

"You little bitch! How dare you lay your filthy hands on me! Do you know who I am?" Mia spat, her carefully cultivated image of refinement crumbling in the face of her rage.

Serena stood her ground with her chin lifted defiantly. "Oh, I know exactly who you are, Mia." Her voice was steady despite the anger coursing through her. "You're the woman who's made my life hell for years. You're the one who's been causing a rift in my marriage. But guess what? Those days are over."

‘This bitch is the reason Knox had barred me from coming to the Villa.’ Mia let out a harsh laugh. "Over? You stupid girl. Do you really think he will choose you over me? I've been in his life for years. I know him in ways you never will."

"And yet, I'm the one bearing his name. I’m the one he will be sharing his bed and life with. I’m the one who will receive his seeds whenever we make love and bear his children. And let me tell you,” Serena leaned in closer, her eyes locked onto Mia’s, “He is humongous! The sight of him below is beyond terrifying… He is brutal in his craft. In fact, our first time resulted in a visit to the hospital., yet we were made for each other. I'm his wife, Mia. You? You're nothing but a bad habit he's finally kicking."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Seven, Killian, and everyone gathered had their faces flushed red at her brazen remarks. Their eyes darted around, unsure of where to look.

“Show’s over. Now go get busy with something else.” The manager quickly shushed the workers away, clapping his hands to disperse the growing crowd.

Mia’s face contorted with fury. It pained her beyond words that Serena was rubbing the fact that she and Knox had been intimate on her face.

Mia’s fists dug into her palms, trying to calm her rage but failed in the end. She lunged forward, ready to strike Serena. However, Seven's large hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.

"I suggest you leave. Now. Before this situation becomes even more unpleasant for you,” he said calmly.