Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 73

Seren's bid didn't surprise Swain at all.

He knew she must have taken a liking to that jade bracelet.

A rush of old memories washed over him.

He remembered when Seren was eight, studying painting with Mr. Shaw, and would come home, chattering on about watercolors and landscapes as if they were treasures she'd discovered herself.

Back then, Seren's eyes always sparkled with excitement.

Her favorite was always Elder Fairchild's "The Shadowed Oak."

Seren had been so small then—barely waist-high to Swain—a plump little thing who'd wrap herself around his leg, pleading for him to take her to auctions just to see the original "Shadowed Oak."

She used to whisper her dreams in his ear, insisting that when she grew up, she'd be a painter as brilliant as Elder Fairchild.

Swain had always believed that men shouldn't cry easily, but remembering those days, he couldn't stop his eyes from turning red.

How had he managed to lose that little girl who'd once clung to him, sweetly stubborn, always dreaming big?

"What's Seren playing at now? Does she have to snatch everything away?" Slater's angry outburst snapped Swain back to the present.

"I'm not giving up this time," Slater fumed. "If she wants to bid, I'll go up against her till the end!"

Carla tugged at Slater's sleeve, trying to calm him down. "Come on, let it go, Slater. If Seren likes it, just let her have it."

Then, in a soft, embarrassed voice, she added, "Besides, even if you tried, you wouldn't be able to outbid Lennon."

Slater looked as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water in his face. The anger didn't leave him—it just simmered there, making his eyes burn red.

"This is outrageous!" he spat, his frustration boiling over.

Suddenly, a chill crept up Swain's spine.

He'd never noticed this side of Slater before—the logical, rational brother suddenly losing all composure.

All Seren had done was bid on something she liked. Slater hadn't even had a chance to make an offer. Seren had simply acted first.

Yet, in Slater's mind, that was enough to make her the villain.

Swain's face hardened. He couldn't stop himself from asking, "Slater, just how much resentment and prejudice do you have toward Seren?"

Carla and Slater, caught mid-whisper, both froze, shock plain on their faces.

Slater was at a loss for words, his face growing redder by the second.

"What resentment? What prejudice? She's clearly doing this to compete with Carla! Am I wrong?"

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