Tears fell like strings of pearls. “It was Serena. Serena said she was going to meet with the state basketball team. I just drank a cup of coffee she handed me, and then I blacked out.”
Patrick’s heart jolted hard. He gripped Celeste’s shoulders tightly, his voice tense. “Did they…?”
“No!” Celeste shook her head furiously. Her pure and untouchable little fairy image couldn’t have a stain like this. “They didn’t do anything to me because they passed out too. This was all Serena’s setup—she wanted revenge for Thanos!”
“Serena Quinn!” Patrick slammed his fist into the wall, splitting the skin and drawing blood. His eyes turned red, his reason completely drowned by fury.
“Patrick, your hand…” Celeste quickly pulled out tissues to wipe the blood.
Patrick caught her hand, staring straight at her. “Don’t worry, Celeste. I’ll make sure you get justice for this.”
He turned and left. Celeste stood where she was, her tears already dry. "I don’t need to do it myself. That doesn’t mean I can’t have someone else do it for me. Serena… now that you’ve provoked Patrick, you’d better pray."
As soon as the afternoon dismissal bell rang, Serena received a message: "Serena, your younger brother is in my hands. You have thirty minutes to get to Warehouse Nine by the school, or don’t blame me for what happens."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Sebastian’s car had just been about to turn into the school when Serena slipped out the back gate into a side alley.
Warehouse Nine was barely ten minutes from Haven High School.
Serena entered with a face full of killing intent. Inside, a dozen thugs stood ready, and Zachary was tied up with ropes.
His expression flickered with surprise, but he quickly put on a scowl. “Oh, so you do remember I’m your younger brother? Hmph!”
The hostility in Serena’s eyes faded instantly. “You mean him?”
Patrick sneered. “Isn’t this the biological brother you’re always trying to please?”
He’d heard plenty—how in the Reed family, Serena glared at Celeste and even her own parents, yet somehow treated this younger brother differently. That meant Zachary mattered to her.
But…
“I’m not close to him.” She turned to leave.
Patrick’s scalp prickled. What the hell—she wasn’t playing by the rules.
Zachary’s eyes widened in outrage. “Have you moved on? Found Lebron and forgotten your own brother? Serena, you’re heartless!”
Serena frowned. “You really should take Chinese lessons from Celeste.”
Zachary was speechless.
Since she was here, there was no way Patrick was letting her walk out.
He waved his hand, and the thugs surged forward, surrounding Serena.
“No way.” Zephyr’s eyes narrowed. “No one touches Sweetpea. If they need to be dealt with, they’ll be dealt with.”
Russell chuckled. “Then why even ask me?”
Soon Serena got a short reply: "Hit them."
She put her phone away, tossed aside her lollipop, and said, “Come on.”
Come on?
The dozen men glanced at each other. Was she planning to take all of them at once?
What a joke.
Zachary was shoved out the warehouse door, stunned.
Then, the next second, he heard the sounds of fighting. His scalp prickled. “Hey, hey, what are you doing to Serena? I’m warning you—if you hurt a single hair on her head, I’ll have you all thrown in prison!”
He pounded on the door with all his strength. “Open up, or I’m calling the police!”
No one answered, but the sounds of battle didn’t stop for a moment.

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