Chapter 3

The day I left, the sky was a dull gray, and the sea breeze carried a salty sting.

I stood at the entrance of the B&B with my suitcase in tow, waiting for Vincent and Louisa to send me off.

Ryan was leaning against his sports car, scrolling through his phone, while Sophia was hanging onto his arm, the two of them all lovey-dovey.

Louisa showed up late as usual, carrying a fruit basket and wearing a big smile. "Serena, I'm really going to miss you. Don't forget to come back and visit whenever you can."

She pressed the fruit basket into my hands, then pulled out an envelope from her pocket. "Here's a little something from me. Take it."

I took the envelope and gave it a squeeze—it was so thin, it felt almost empty.

When I opened it, there were just two crisp bills—two hundred dollars.

Those notes looked almost harsh in the sunlight, their color glaring and out of place.

"Aunt, this is way too generous. I really can't accept it," I said, handing the envelope back, my voice flat and unreadable.

Louisa's smile twitched, but she shoved it back at me anyway. "Just take it. You've done so much for this family—I haven't forgotten."

She made it sound sweet, but the disdain in her eyes was impossible to hide.

It was like those two hundred dollars were supposed to be some grand gesture, as if I should be grateful for their generosity.

"Serena, let me drive you to the station." Ryan finally put his phone down and popped open the car door. "I've got some errands to run in the city anyway," he added, like it was no big deal.

I tossed my suitcase into the trunk and climbed into the passenger seat.

As soon as we pulled away from the B&B, Ryan wasted no time laying into me.

"Serena, I know you're upset, but we're family. No need to make things so tense.

"Come back and visit whenever you can. The B&B will always be your home," he said, as if he was the wise elder, schooling me on how things should be.

I stared out the window at the scenery flashing by, not saying a word.

Ryan continued, "You're not getting any younger, you know. It's time to think about your own future. Stop drifting around by yourself—a girl should find someone to marry if she wants a stable life."

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, like my whole life was supposed to follow the path he'd laid out for me.

"I'll talk to Mom and Dad for you, make sure they don't blame you. You did it all for the B&B anyway," Ryan said.

I turned to look at him—his profile was bathed in sunlight, all smug and self-satisfied.

It was the face of someone who'd been spoiled rotten, every line etched with a sense of entitlement and selfishness.

The car pulled up in front of the station.

I opened the door and dragged my suitcase out.

"Serena, text me when you get there, and stay safe," Ryan called out, waving with that air of benevolent authority, like he was doing me a favor.

I nodded and walked toward the station.

Behind me, the sports car's engine roared as Ryan sped away.

I stood at the station entrance, glanced at my phone for the time, then turned and walked away from the station, suitcase in tow.

Home wasn't where I was headed.

Instead, I headed to the café where I was supposed to meet Mark Carter.

Mark was already there, sitting by the window with two cups of coffee waiting.

When he saw me walk in, he stood up and took my suitcase. "How did it go? All good?"

"Couldn't have gone better," I said, sitting down and taking a sip of coffee. "They think I'm heading back home."

Mark chuckled, saying, "Your cousin really couldn't be dumber."

"Good, the dumber the better. If he had half a brain, pulling off my plan would be way more trouble," I said as I set down my coffee cup.

Mark pulled a folder from his briefcase and slid it over. "I checked out a few spots for you. Take a look, see if any catch your eye."

I opened it up—inside were details on three potential B&B locations.

All the details were right there: location, size, rent, what was nearby—everything spelled out clear as day.

I flipped through the pages, and my eyes lingered on the second one.

"This one. The location's perfect—right by the beach, surrounded by luxury hotels. We'll get quality guests for sure," I said, pointing at the page.

"I think this is the best option, too." Mark nodded. "Rent's double what you paid before, but it's totally worth it."

I said, pulling a bank card from my bag and setting it on the table, "Money's not a problem. There's 60 grand on this card, plus my savings from the past few years. That's plenty to get things rolling."

Mark stared at the card for a few seconds, then looked up at me. "Serena, are you really sure about this?"

"I'm sure. This time, I'm starting something that's truly my own," I said, meeting his eyes, my voice steady.

Mark smiled, a look of genuine satisfaction on his face. "Now I can relax. My travel agency's got your back—high-end clients are no problem."

"Thanks," I said sincerely.

"Come on, don't be so polite." Mark waved it off. "Back when I was just starting out, you helped me design my first promo plan. I still remember what you did for me."

We clinked our coffee cups together.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, warming my face.

At that moment, I realized leaving that bloodsucking family was hands down the best decision I'd ever made.

Over the next few days, Mark and I went out to check out the space, talked about renovations, and hammered out the plans.

I named the new B&B "Serenity Haven."

Serenity—echoing my own name, Serena. It was more than just peace and calmness; it was an attitude, a choice.

I might have started late, but I would embrace every challenge of this entrepreneurial journey with a steady heart.

I poured my heart and soul into getting the new inn ready, making sure I was hands-on with every single detail.

For the design, I went for a minimalist aesthetic—natural wood furniture, crisp white fabrics, and floor-to-ceiling windows that let the ocean view steal the show.

I overhauled the service process from start to finish, making sure every step, from booking to checkout, was all about giving guests the best possible experience.

However, trouble was already brewing for Ryan.

He posted a shot of the lobby on social media with the caption: [Big upgrade coming—stay tuned!]

Someone asked in the comments: [Where's Ms. Lane? Why can't I reach her?]

Another person chimed in: [I only came for Ms. Lane's service. If she's gone, I'm out.]

Ryan jumped in, sounding a little desperate: [Serena's just busy with other stuff, but the service is still the same. Don't worry!]

But the guests clearly weren't buying it.

Bookings were already starting to drop.

I glanced at those comments, a cold smirk appearing on my face.

This was just the beginning.