Chapter 3 What Is the Meaning of This?

As she spoke, Serena picked up a signed poster of the legendary figure skating master.

Even Fourth Brother Edward gasped sharply at the sight of it.This autographed poster of Jackson, Serena's all-time favorite skating icon, had cost him a trip overseas just to obtain.

He'd waited three whole days and nights outside the master's residence for that signature.

Once Serena had gotten it, she'd clung to it endlessly, sleeping with it tucked in her arms nearly every night.

It was her most treasured possession—and she intended to hand it over too?

This couldn't be real.

Edward clenched his fists tightly. "What are you doing? You're giving this to Tina as well?"

Serena ignored him entirely. She finished introducing the final item: a pair of custom figure skates handcrafted by Fred, then held the silver tray out toward Tina.

"There. Everything's here."

She lifted her chin to meet their stunned, dumbfounded stares, a cold, hollow smile tugging at her lips.

"From this moment on, all of these belong to you, Tina."

Every trinket on the tray had been hunted down and gifted to her by her brothers, poured over with endless care. She wanted none of them now. Not the gifts and not them, either.

"Serena, have I somehow misunderstood you?" Tina seethed inwardly at Serena's deliberate ploy to embarrass her in front of everyone. She gently pushed the tray back toward Serena, her voice soft and meek. "These are precious gifts your brothers gave you. I could never accept them. You ought to keep them safe."

Serena's stomach churned with revulsion. She let out a cold sneer. "These were meant for their most beloved little sister and isn't that role yours now? Don't you idolize Jackson too?"

"Serena, please, I must have upset you somehow. I'll apologize, I'll even kneel before you… Don't throw away these priceless gifts out of spite." With that, Tina's knees buckled, ready to drop to the floor before Serena.

Fred quickly hauled her upright, his patience fraying completely. "Serena, can you stop this ridiculous tantrum? All we asked was for a sincere apology. What is all this supposed to accomplish?"

Serena shot him an icy glance.

"Do I look like I'm throwing a fit? Since these were given to me, wouldn't it hold far more meaning if I passed them on to the sister you all adore?"

"Or is it that you think they're beneath her?"

Serena shifted her gaze to Tina, who paled instantly. "That's not it at all—"

"If you don't find them unworthy, then take them." This time, Serena did not give Tina a chance to push the tray away. She pressed it firmly into her arms and smiled sharply. "And it's not just these trinkets. My dear brothers are all yours too!"

The pile of treasures weighed heavy in Tina's hands, burning like hot coals—she could neither hold them nor set them down without drawing more judgmental eyes.

But she knew she could not let Serena seize control of the room's narrative.

She reached out, fingers outstretched to grab Serena's arm. "Serena, I never wanted to steal your things, or your brothers. Please don't be like this. I'll leave right now. I'll depart the Seymour household entirely, move out of Riverton City, and never cross your path again—will that make things better?"

Her act of timid humility did not fool Serena for a second. She cut her off before Tina could milk the performance further. "Tina, you're wasted not starring in the Oscars."

She'd only brought these gifts over to draw a line under everything between herself and her six brothers at tonight's gala.

Yet Tina dared twist the situation to paint herself as the victim?

Now that she saw the fraud beneath Tina's mask, Serena had no intention of tolerating her games.

"Serena, listen to the garbage spilling out of your mouth!" Brian's temper flared to a boiling point. He raised his palm, ready to strike her across the face.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Everyone in Riverton City knew the six Seymour masters doted madly on their baby sister.

Now Brian was raising a hand against his own blood for an adopted girl—this Tina clearly held an irreplaceable place in their hearts.

All the guests stood transfixed, watching the drama unfold.

But Serena did not let Brian land the blow.

She caught his wrist mid-swing, blocking the strike, then roughly shook his hand off. "I'm human, so my words can't be truthful? If I'm the dog you claim I am, then what does that make you?"

A bitter, mocking smirk curved Serena's lips.

In her past life, she would never have dared speak to him like this, never stood tall to defy her elder brother.

She'd endured a lifetime of agony once; she would never let herself be hurt again in this second chance.

"You—!" Brian burned with unbridled rage.

Serena had no more energy to waste on arguing. She'd handed all the mementos to Tina, and her brothers had publicly declared Tina their new sister for the whole party to witness.

She turned to walk away, but Albert's fingers snapped tight around her wrist before she could take a single step. "Serena, all this uproar stems from your refusal to accept Tina as our adopted sister. But she has no one left in the world, and her parents sacrificed their lives to save you."

The same tired speech, once more.

Serena let out a scoff of contempt. "And what of it?"

"Kneel and apologize, take these gifts back from Tina, and I will overlook your outburst toward Brian and everything that's happened tonight."

That was Albert's ultimatum.

Serena glanced over at Brian and the rest of her brothers. Their stares were frigid, devoid of warmth.

This olive branch Albert claimed to offer was no mercy—it was merely a chance for him to salvage his pride.

They would never truly let any of this slide.

Before Serena could reply, Tina's voice wavered with feigned sorrow. "Serena, your brothers love you so deeply, yet they haven't laid a finger on you even after all you've done. I truly envy you, having six brothers who cherish you this much."

Haven't laid a finger on her?

She'd tumbled down the stairs, bleeding heavily, and none of them had spared her a single glance of concern.

If she hadn't blocked Brian's strike, his palm would have crashed hard into her face. Men possessed far greater strength; that blow would have sent her crashing to the marble floor.

Serena let out a cold huff. "They're your brothers now, aren't they? Cut the fake pity act."

"I—I…" Tina stumbled over her words, thrown completely off balance.

Panic and resentment bubbled inside her. Serena had always been soft and compliant before, and she'd offered no resistance when Albert first proposed adopting her as their sister.

What had turned Serena into this unrecognizable person overnight?

"I'm not very clever with words, Serena. I don't always express myself right—please don't take my words to heart." Tina hurried to her side, reaching to loop an arm through Serena's.

Before her fingers could make contact, Serena shoved her away hard. "Don't touch me. You disgust me."

Tina crumpled to the floor on cue, letting out a shrill cry of pain as fat tears streamed down her cheeks. "Serena, every word I said was genuine. Why do you harbor such hatred toward me?"

In an instant, Albert and the others surged forward in alarm.

But one guest beat them to lifting Tina to her feet, his gaze dark and murderous, as if he wished to carve Serena to pieces.

"Serena, what do you think you're doing?"