Game Over No Second Chances

Right now, Serena was everyone's lucky star. And Sarah? She was the curse no one wanted around. Why was it that everything Serena touched turned to gold, while nothing ever worked out for her?

"All you did was seduce a man, that's all. If you could convince Hugh to back you, then I can convince Cole to do the same," Sarah said bitterly.

Jealousy twisted in her chest, blooming dark and fast like poison ivy in her eyes.

For two days straight, Sarah searched for Cole. She went from Larson Group's offices to the nightclubs his friends hung out in.

But everywhere she went, she got the same answer-a shake of the head. "Cole's not here. Maybe he was called back to the Larson residence."

But he wasn't there either.

She even tried sneaking into the family chapel again, hoping to recreate the night they'd shared. But there was no sign of him. Worse, she was nearly caught and had to flee in a panic.

She nearly twisted her ankle in the process. Sarah was so shaken that night, she didn't sleep a wink.

By the time she stumbled out of yet another bar, her eyes were swollen from crying, red and raw all over again.

"Cole, you bastard! Why won't you see me?" Her earlier bravado had completely crumbled.

Sarah dragged herself home, hollow-eyed and exhausted. The moment she stepped through the door, she headed straight for Rachel's room.

As she pushed the door open, she caught a glimpse of Rachel hurriedly slamming

a drawer shut. But Sarah didn't care. She threw herself into Rachel's arms and sobbed like a child.

"Mom! I can't find Cole anywhere! Without him to help me, Dad won't even let me step foot in the company. My life is over. What am I supposed to do?"

Rachel froze for a second.

Then, quietly, she reached behind her and pushed the drawer closed until it clicked. Only then did she wrap her arms around Sarah.

"Howard has already told me about it. If things with Cole aren't going anywhere, why don't you help your dad take over Amber Group instead?

"Amber Group has deep pockets. In the worst-case scenario, we can set up a shell company and use Jansen Group's cash flow to make it look legitimate, drain Amber Group's funds, then pin everything on some dummy CEO.

"We can then declare the shell bankrupt, wipe the books clean, and walk away with the money. Easy, right?"noveldrama

Rachel had gone so far as to consult the Lloyd family to come up with that plan.

Sarah blinked, then lit up like a switch had flipped.

"That could work! If I can plug the funding hole, Dad will have to let me back in. And anyway, Amber Group should've been his to begin with. I'll head over right now!"

She practically skipped out the door.

Rachel, on the other hand, quietly opened the drawer again. Inside were stacks of herbal remedies and fertility pills. Every last one was meant to help her conceive.

She pulled out two more negative pregnancy tests and threw theman the trash with a growl. "Why the hell am I still not pregnant? I've been with Howard every night. What more does it take?"

She clutched her head, teetering on the edge.

Bryan had left her to clean up this mess, and now Serena-some gir half her age-was calling the shots. Even her own daughter, Sarah, was

more of a liability than an asset.

Her only hope now was a new child. But night after night, despite everything, despite practically draining Howard dry, there was still no sign of life inside her.

Bitter and furious, Rachel watched the last rays of daylight disappear beyond the horizon.

She picked up her phone and dialed Howard's number. "Howard, I bought that outfit you love. I'll be waiting for you tonight."