CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: IF YOU DON’T WANT TO STAY TOGETHER, THEN LET’S END IT!

"Serena, what’s going on with you?"

Beatrice Sutton frowned as soon as she saw Serena Sinclair, "Why are you arriving at this hour?"

In previous years, whether it was at a restaurant or at home, Serena used to arrive early in the morning on birthdays.

She helped the servants set up the environment.

Assisted her in choosing outfits and jewelry.

As the guests arrived one after another, she’d be busy greeting them.

But today, Serena was the last to arrive.

Before Serena could say a word,

Adrian Lockwood handed over the gift box in his hand, "Mom, happy birthday! Here’s your present."

"Mrs. Lockwood is so lucky! Both son and daughter are so filial, celebrating your birthday differently every year!"

"We really envy you!"

"..."

Voices of admiration filled the room, and Beatrice Sutton, unable to continue picking on Serena, accepted the gifts with joy and arranged for the guests to take their seats.

When Beatrice looked back, she saw that Serena had already sat down with the other guests.

Her expression shifted subtly, and Beatrice almost couldn’t hold back the anger she had bottled up.

Recalling Zoe Lockwood’s whisper earlier that Serena was throwing a tantrum at Adrian Lockwood because of her hospitalization, a couple’s quarrel.

Beatrice swallowed the curse words she was about to let out.

"Miles, come to Grandma..."

With a glance at Serena’s back, Beatrice turned around and called out, leading Miles Lockwood to sit at the top of the table.

The Michelin chef team performed consistently, and as exquisite and delicious dishes were brought to the table, the living room buzzed with activity.

Halfway through the banquet, the guests raised their glasses one by one to wish Beatrice Sutton a happy birthday.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, Serena heard a harsh curse in her ear.

"Serena, don’t be shameless!"

Zoe Lockwood glared with hatred, "Don’t think I don’t know. My brother gave you the money, but you didn’t prepare a gift for my mom."

The two gift boxes Adrian had brought in contained an H-brand bag and a box of imported bird’s nest.

She had secretly peeked earlier, and that H-brand bag was the one she had spotted and taken a picture of at the boutique, which her brother had promised to buy for her.

The bag should have been hers.

And the bird’s nest was something Adrian and Serena would bring every time they visited.

So Adrian gave Serena money, but she didn’t prepare a gift for Beatrice Sutton.

She used the gifts supposed for her to show face,

while the actual benefits all ended up in her pocket.

"Serena, all these years, you’ve been saving personal money through these underhanded means, haven’t you? Serena, aren’t you afraid of hoarding wealth... and not having the life to enjoy it?"

"Zoe!"

Zoe’s words were cut off coldly by Serena, "I’m not in a good mood today, so shut your filthy mouth. Say one more word, and do you believe I’ll turn your mom’s birthday party upside down right here?"

"You..."

Bam!

A tall glass shattered next to Zoe Lockwood’s feet.

You could even feel the sting of glass shards hitting her insteps and calves, and Zoe looked up with disbelief.

Only to see the living room had fallen silent.

"What happened?"

Adrian Lockwood frowned and looked over.

Serena’s expression was calm, "Slipped hand!"

Eyes wide, Zoe stared at Serena with a look as if she’d seen a ghost.

Faced with the displeased expressions of Beatrice Sutton and Adrian Lockwood, she awkwardly said, "Okay."

The maid came over to sweep and clean up.

The living room resumed its lively atmosphere.

Zoe Lockwood kept glancing at Serena, suspecting she was possessed.

She had intended to make Serena cough up that 1 million or at least buy her a replacement bag.

But with Serena smashing that glass, she feared she’d do something crazy again.

If the birthday party was ruined, Serena would be out of luck, but so would she.

Zoe grumbled as she went to another table.

The meal proceeded without incident.

Beatrice Sutton was too busy to pay attention to her.

Adrian Lockwood and Miles Lockwood couldn’t care less about her.

The only one who did, Zoe, had avoided her.

Serena quietly finished her bowl of rice.

As she was about to set her chopsticks down, she overheard her own name.

The relatives around Beatrice Sutton were praising The Lockwood Family.

Praising Adrian Lockwood for being handsome and capable, with The Lockwood Group thriving under his management.

Praising Zoe Lockwood for being graceful and academically successful.

Praising Miles Lockwood for being handsome and well-behaved, implying a capable father breeds a worthy son.

Finally, praising Beatrice Sutton for being rich, leisurely, and blessed with filial children, without a husband to cause trouble, with visible blessings in her later years.

It seemed they had finished praising and remembered they forgot Serena, the noblewoman smiled and added, "And a daughter-in-law, both beautiful and competent..."

Ordinarily, one would respond with "thanks for the compliment" or return the compliment with "you’re even luckier than I am."

But Beatrice Sutton was not ordinary.

As her gaze passed over Serena, remembering that she hadn’t greeted her upon entering nor greeted the guests.

Not only was she not as gentle and obedient as before, but rather like a pig just eating by herself.

Beatrice smiled, "As for this daughter-in-law, she has no other virtues, but her luck is truly unmatched in the world."

"Her family background was a mess, yet she managed to make Adrian see only her, marrying right after graduation."

"She worked for a year, and then got pregnant and enjoyed a leisurely life ever since."

"And no wonder she’s confident in enjoying life, given that she was lucky enough to give birth to a son..."

"But that’s about all she’s good for!"

Everyone present was discerning, anyone could tell Beatrice Sutton was hinting at Serena.

Clearly, Serena must have done something wrong recently.

Otherwise, Beatrice wouldn’t say this in front of so many people.

There was a brief silence in the banquet hall.

Everyone exchanged looks between Beatrice and Serena, all with awkward expressions.

Even the relative who had praised them earlier looked embarrassed.

"Serena..."

In the quiet, Beatrice Sutton looked up at Serena, "Your health should be pretty much recovered, right? Miles is already 5, you and Adrian can consider having a second child. I’m still waiting to have a granddaughter."

"Mrs. Lockwood..."

Serena spoke up.

Beatrice was stunned.

Only hearing Serena say, "Hasn’t Adrian told you? We..."

"Serena!!!"

Adrian walked over from the living room, picked up Miles, glaring coldly at Serena.

Serena wanted to ask Adrian Lockwood, are you doing this for your own pride?

Or, are you really afraid your son will hear?

But wasn’t this a decision you both made as father and son?

"Miles..."

Serena looked at Miles and asked, "If you could have a new mom, who would you want as your mom?"

Everyone was shocked, thinking Serena had gone crazy.

In Adrian’s arms, Miles shouted excitedly, "Chloe, Chloe... I want Chloe to be my new mom!"

The villa was silent.

Miles’ cheering seemed particularly clear.

Serena glanced around, her eyes landing on Beatrice Sutton’s face, "Adrian and I are already divorced, only the divorce certificate remains. ...From now on I have nothing to do with The Lockwood Family."

Zoe Lockwood was stunned.

Adrian Lockwood’s face darkened.

Serena stood up and left.

Behind her, Beatrice Sutton’s hysterical voice echoed, "Nothing to do with us? Serena, your whole life is a steep price to pay, this is your mother’s debt to The Lockwood Family!!!"

"Mom!"

Adrian Lockwood tried to stop her, but it was already too late.

Beatrice’s voice lashed out fiercely, "The debt of the mother is repaid by the daughter, this life of yours belongs to The Lockwood Family, you think you can say it’s over and it’s over?"

Amidst the voices of gossip.

The color drained from Serena’s face.

The pounding of her heart was so loud it made her eardrums buzz.

Serena’s lips curled into a cold smile.

She meant to leave amicably when she came to celebrate her birthday.

If there’s no point in celebrating, then... let’s not celebrate!