Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 35

35 /65

Seren headed upstairs and told Nadine she'd decided, at the last minute, to move in with Lennon.

The walls were thick, and Nadine had no idea what had just happened downstairs. Still, even though Seren's face looked calm, Nadine could sense that something unpleasant must've gone down—why else would Seren make such a sudden change of plans?

Nadine didn't press for details. She just watched as Seren packed her things.

Seren didn't have much—just some clothes, toiletries, and her cherished art supplies. Sketchbooks, brushes, charcoal pencils—these were her treasures, always within reach, always handled with care.

Before coming to Riverbend City, her life had been simple: drawing, and more drawing. Only after did she pick up little luxuries—makeup, perfume, the kinds of things she'd never bothered with before.

Now, with her departure from Riverbend City, all those extras, along with Sheridan, were being erased from her world, leaving not a trace behind.

Seren always felt love should be just that simple. When you love, burn bright, give everything, even if it means flying headlong into the flame. But once the love is gone, cut it off—clean and final, as if that person had never existed.

While she packed, Seren was careful to keep her left sleeve pinched between her fingers, hiding the bruised patch on her arm from Nadine's view. If Nadine spotted it—well, knowing her hotheaded, fiercely loyal friend, she'd probably call Swain and chew him out, or worse, go into full doctor mode and drag Seren to the hospital for a late-night checkup.

Seren remembered once, late at night, when she'd dropped her inkwell and it landed squarely on her foot. Everyone else in the Bradley household had already gone off to bed, not paying her any mind. But Nadine, who happened to be staying over, panicked—she tossed her things into the car and sped Seren to the ER like her life depended on it. The ER doctor joked that if Nadine had waited any longer, Seren could've just slept through it at home. All Nadine could do was trail behind Seren, fussing nonstop.

"Listen, if things don't work out at Lennon's place, call me. Don't bottle everything up inside. If you can't bring yourself to talk, just shoot me a text. Even a status update would do."

Nadine remembered that, once upon a time, Seren used to post little updates—quiet reflections, photos, the rare peek into her thoughts. She was reserved, but you could read between the lines and see hints of joy or sorrow. Somewhere along the way, though, the updates stopped. A year might go by without a single post, as if she'd locked her world away and thrown out the key.