On the other end of the phone, Lauren added, her tone full of concern: "Serena, I'm not asking you this as your superior. If there's something you don't want to talk about, I won't force you."
"But as a friend, I have to give you a heads-up. There are some very unpleasant rumors coming from Peter Pangbourne's side. He claims Mr. Shaw used even harsher tactics to snatch you away from him—a classic case of taking what he wants by force."
Hearing this, Serena's brows knitted; her grip on the phone tightened. "What else did he say?"
"He said you didn't have a good time at school back then. To escape your predicament, you deliberately approached him, used him to achieve your goal, and then cast him aside without hesitation. But he cared deeply for you. No matter how you used him, he didn't regret it. Ten years ago, he tried to win you back, wanted to get you back, but he discovered you were already with Mr. Shaw."
