Yeah, Serena was hot point of discussion when that update released and my opinion ultimately shifted to "if option allowed killing Serena, she'd be dead". Her sister is innocent young woman, it would be evil person butchering innocent if I did it.
And yeah, get your point, and that's where my opinion is different (in this VN at least). No 2nd chances. No listening to why: you put my loved ones in danger (which she did), you're gone (as much as dev allows it of course).
Unfortunately (but understanding why from dev perspective), 0 consequences for Pearl and constant MC simping after that just made me completely hate her.
I don't care about Brenda either way, wouldn't choose her for LI anyway, but I'd still pick her over Pearl.