Game Over No Second Chances

Serena felt Hugh's hand tighten ever so slightly. That confirmed it. Her hunch was right.

So, the cold, emotionless Hugh actually had a soft spot for fuzzy things.

She recalled the vibrant, exotic plants in Hugh's villa-lush, delicate, and meticulously cared for. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that his icy demeanor might just be a defense mechanism.noveldrama

With that in mind, she shot him a knowing look, leaned in a little closer, and lowered her voice. "If you like it, feel free to touch it more. I can carry fuzzy handbags when I come see you, too."

If he really liked soft, plush textures that much... Well, she could let him indulge in private.

After all, Hugh wasn't made of stone. Between work and family obligations, if even this tiny pleasure was off-limits, wouldn't that just be too cruel?

She looked at him now not just with amusement, but with a trace of tenderness in

her gaze.

Hugh, on the other hand, was frowning deeply. Something about the way Serena was looking at him felt... off.

But she had become more forward lately. And that was good.

Slowly, his brows eased, and following her lead, he rubbed the fur of her shawl a little more. His eyes, however, were fixed on the sharp curve of her jawline.

She was too thin.

They were both lost in their thoughts when the distant wail of a siren shattered the moment.

"What happened?" Holly was the first to rush to the door.

"It's Mr. Cole's fiancée! She collapsed, unconscious, in the garden downstairs. No one could wake her, so we had to call an ambulance! Is Mr. Cole or Mrs. Larson around? The EMTs are asking for a family member to ride along!"

Sarah had collapsed?

As Cole's fiancée, she was already halfway into the Larson family.

Guests began exchanging confused glances and whispering among themselves. Hugh quickly stepped in to calm the crowd.

As Sarah's older sister, and with Cole being her fiancé, Serena and Cole both followed the ambulance to the hospital.

Nebula Design's grand opening ended with a medical emergency. It didn't even take 30 minutes for the news to hit the media.

The Larson family heard about it almost immediately and sent people over.

An hour later, Sarah lay pale and still in a hospital bed, surrounded by members of both the Larson and Jansen families.

Rachel sat at her daughter's bedside, tightly gripping her hand, eyes brimming with tears.

"My poor girl... How did this happen? You were just attending a company event! How did it turn into this?"

"Mom, my stomach just started hurting. Before I knew it, I passed out..." Sarah bit down on her lip, turning even paler as she spoke.

Howard was red with fury as he asked, "What kind of company throws an opening party and serves food that sends people to the ER?"

As soon as Melissa entered and heard that, her expression darkened.

Nebula Design's launch party had only been possible thanks to Eric who'd worked tirelessly to navigate both domestic and international networks. He had even earned Calvin's respect.

Yet now, the Jansen family had the audacity to throw accusations like that?

Her sharp eyes swept the room, and she immediately snapped back, "Tonight's event was hosted by the Larson family for the Nebula Design launch It was a high-end event with models, celebrities, and a curated

menu. ve

"Everyone ate the same food, and no one else had issues. So, why is your daughter the only delicate one who ends up in the hospital?

"Your eldest daughter was there too. She's standing right here, perfectly fine. If you're going to throw around accusations, you'd better come with proof.

"Otherwise, this is just more of your Jansen family's drama. Maybe this is just like before. Maybe you're all just Stirring up trouble to pin things on my son!"

Serena frowned and stepped forward to explain.