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Chapter 22: Serina Lends a Hand
Kaitlin stood there, smug in her belief that Ainsley was nothing more than a cleaner, someone she could easily push around. But as she stood there, ready to mock Ainsley further, a voice cut through the tension like a sharp knife.
“Why don’t you explain yourself, Kaitlin?” The voice was calm, but authoritative—Serina’s.
Serina, who had been standing at the back of the crowd, stepped forward. She had been watching the interaction between Kaitlin and Ainsley from a distance, and the sight of Kaitlin’s bullying made her frown in displeasure. Though the Baldry family wasn’t the wealthiest, they were certainly influential, and Kaitlin had long used her family name to assert dominance over others. Serina knew how her reputation worked—calm, poised, and detached—never causing drama, never getting involved. But this time, Serina couldn’t stand by while Kaitlin tried to tear down Ainsley.
Kaitlin’s eyes widened when she saw Serina move toward them. She didn’t expect this. The Gage family, especially Serina, was a big deal in Seattle. Kaitlin had always tried to ingratiate herself with Serina, hoping to win her favor, but Serina had always kept her distance. Now, here was Serina, stepping up to defend Ainsley. Kaitlin couldn’t understand it.
“Why are you so protective of her?” Kaitlin sneered, glancing between Serina and Ainsley. “Ainsley? The ex-wife of my brother? What did she do to deserve your protection?”
Ainsley wasn’t one to engage in petty arguments, but Serina wasn’t going to let Kaitlin go unchecked.
“Enough,” Serina said, her tone cold but controlled. “Ainsley doesn’t need to explain herself to you. And as for your brother, let me remind you: He married Ainsley when he had someone else in his heart, and then discarded her when the ‘true love’ came back. If anyone is to be looked down upon, it’s him.”
Serina’s words hit Kaitlin hard, and for a brief moment, there was silence.
“You think you know everything, don’t you?” Kaitlin hissed, her voice laced with venom. “Just because you’re protected by the Gage name doesn’t mean you can act like this.”
Serina’s gaze didn’t waver. She stood firm in front of Ainsley, blocking Kaitlin’s line of sight. “I don’t need to be protected by anyone. And don’t ever think you can bully people just because they’re not in your circle. Ainsley is someone who deserves respect, not your childish taunts.”
Kaitlin opened her mouth to say something, but Serina wasn’t finished.
“Let me make something clear, Kaitlin. Ainsley earned her position at the University of Washington through hard work and merit. It wasn’t because of me, and certainly not because of any man. It’s her accomplishments that speak for her, not the family name. So, before you throw out insults, maybe you should look at your own actions and realize how pathetic you sound.”
Kaitlin, who had been expecting to throw Ainsley off balance, now stood frozen, unsure of what to say. Serina’s words were a punch to her pride, and she knew there was no coming back from them.
Ainsley, who had been silent throughout the exchange, felt a strange warmth in her chest. She hadn’t expected Serina to stand up for her like this, especially not when they had only met once. But Serina’s defense felt sincere, and it touched Ainsley more than she could admit.
“Thank you,” Ainsley murmured, her voice soft.
Serina gave her a small smile, stepping back slightly. “No need to thank me. You don’t deserve any of the crap Kaitlin is throwing at you.”
Kaitlin’s face turned an ugly shade of red as she realized she had no way to retort. She huffed in frustration, clearly humiliated.
“Whatever. You think you’re better than me, don’t you?” Kaitlin snapped, her anger bubbling to the surface. “Just wait! I’ll make sure you regret this. I’ll talk to Cason, and you’ll be out of this place before you know it.”
Serina raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “You think Cason can still control anything in Ainsley’s life? He already showed his true colors, Kaitlin. And we both know it.”
With that, Serina turned her back to Kaitlin, signaling the end of the conversation. Kaitlin, still fuming, watched helplessly as Serina walked away with Ainsley by her side.
As they left the scene, Serina leaned toward Ainsley and gave her a teasing look. “You should have seen your face when I stepped in. I didn’t think you had it in you to handle her like that.”
Ainsley smiled lightly. “Honestly, I didn’t expect you to step in either. But I’m glad you did.”
Serina shrugged, her usual quiet demeanor returning. “I don’t like bullies. And I can see you’re not the type to start a fight, but you certainly don’t deserve to be treated like that.”
Ainsley felt a sense of gratitude and camaraderie that she hadn’t expected. It was rare for someone to step into her defense, especially someone who didn’t know her that well.
“You’re not like the others,” Ainsley said, more to herself than to Serina.
Serina glanced at her, offering a smile. “I guess we’re both a bit different from the crowd.”
As they walked toward the entrance of the university, Ainsley couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. For once, someone had stood by her, and she hadn’t had to face the storm alone.
