CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: VIXEN VS. INNOCENT TEMPTRESS

"Mom..."

As soon as Serena Sinclair saw Selene Summers, she started to smile.

Selene was taken aback, her eyes quickly reddening, "Serena, what’s... what’s wrong? What happened?"

The mother and daughter had last met three months ago.

In just three short months, Serena seemed to have become a different person, thin to half of her former self.

As if the wind could blow her away.

She didn’t want her mother to know about her divorce; she planned to tell her after she was released from prison.

Serena smiled and said, "Mom, I’m really good, really good! Look..."

She showed off her manicure.

She even stood up and twirled to show her new dress.

"Doesn’t it look good? To be beautiful, you have to be thin!"

Serena said happily, while earnestly examining Selene, "Mom, how about you? Are you alright?"

Selene felt relieved and smiled, "Good, good... I’m really good."

Except for those first few months in prison when she was utterly drained, Selene had gradually pulled herself together.

When Serena gave birth to Miles Lockwood, Selene seemed to have a new hope, longing to be released soon to help Serena with the child.

Her hair was cut short to the ears.

Her skin was fair.

Due to regular routines and moderate labor, she looked quite healthy.

Over the years, it seemed time had stood still.

Selene hadn’t changed much at all.

"Mom, I’ve started the countdown..."

Serena said with a cheerful smile, "88 days until you come home, then we’ll be reunited!"

Selene nodded repeatedly.

Serena hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Mom, now that we’re here, can you finally tell me what really happened back then?"

Selene’s face shifted slightly, "Serena, why are you asking about this?"

"Mom, I’m your flesh and blood, raised by you. No one knows you better than I do; you wouldn’t kill someone unless you were pushed to the brink! ... You must have had your reasons!"

Serena’s expression was steadfast.

Selene hesitated.

There were indeed reasons for what happened back then.

But Beatrice Sutton said that when the truth came out, she’d still be imprisoned for murder, albeit for fewer years.

By that time, The Lockwood Group would surely be affected, with stocks plummeting.

Both sides suffering.

Beatrice also said that if she confessed, it would minimize the damage to The Lockwood Group and The Lockwood Family.

As compensation, she would pay for all of Serena’s university fees, living expenses, and treat her like her own daughter.

At that time, Serena and Adrian Lockwood had already been together for two years.

Selene had seen the kindness shown by Beatrice and Adrian towards Serena.

Selene hesitated only briefly before agreeing.

Time proved she hadn’t misplaced her trust.

Adrian married Serena right after she graduated and they had Miles the following year.

Except for the last months of her pregnancy and the half-year after the birth when Serena didn’t visit, over these years, Serena never missed a monthly prison visit.

Even when she had a fever and looked exceptionally pale, Serena still came.

She knew Adrian was good to her and wouldn’t let her work.

Also, Miles was a sweet boy, both obedient and caring.

Even Beatrice and Zoe Lockwood were kind to her.

Since Beatrice kept her word, the matter from back then should be considered closed.

Even if she felt wronged, the outcome was good.

All the good results eventually fell upon the daughter she loved most.

Thus, it was all worth it!

"Since it’s in the past, let’s not talk about it anymore."

Selene said with a smile, "Serena, as long as you’re okay, I’m content and ask for nothing more."

Serena’s heart sank heavily.

The matter back then indeed had hidden truths.

The hour-long visit ended in reluctant farewells between mother and daughter.

Walking out of the prison gates, Serena looked at the blazing sun overhead, gritting her teeth in hatred.

Something must have happened!

She had seen the lawyer’s collected information; on the night in question, only her mother, Beatrice, and Mason Lockwood were at The Lockwood Villa.

Did Beatrice kill Mason, and her mother took the blame?

That doesn’t add up.

The fingerprints and blood DNA in the police evidence and investigation report matched her mother’s confession exactly.

Not to mention the absence of any enmity between her mother and Mason.

A middle-aged man and a woman have a disparity in physical strength; her mother couldn’t possibly kill him.

Or perhaps Beatrice was an accomplice, and her mother didn’t implicate her?

The car swayed and jolted along the bumpy mountain road on the return journey, and Serena’s thoughts were in disarray.

It was already evening by the time she returned to the attic.

Pushing open the room door, the day’s oppressive heat burst in like an exploding hot air balloon.

Serena stepped forward to open the window.

Cool air rushed in, and Serena sat on the ground, her mind repeatedly turning over her mother’s joyful and composed face.

Her mother said to let it go.

But for her, it wasn’t so simple to let it go.

She would eventually find out!

Her phone chimed lightly, and she saw Une Hutton’s message, [SOS!!!]

Scenes like this had happened occasionally over the years.

Serena skilfully dialed the phone.

"Hello, darling..."

On the other end, Una began to improvise, "I’m having dinner with colleagues, you don’t need to pick me up... Oh, you’re already on your way? Okay, call me when you get here!"

Ending the call, Serena received the address Una sent.

A bar a few kilometers away.

A female colleague wouldn’t invite someone to a bar.

If he was a male colleague, the purpose of inviting her to a bar might not be simple.

Serena decisively got up to head to the bar.

On a Saturday night, the bar street was charming, filled with handsome guys and beautiful gals.

Inside a private room in a bar called Alone at the end of the street, Adrian Lockwood gloomily stared at his phone.

Half an hour ago, he posted a moment, with a location tag.

In the past, even if Serena didn’t call, she would comment half-jokingly, half-seriously asking him who he went to the bar with, advising him to drink less and not get drunk.

But today, so much time had passed, and the comment section was filled with jests from friends, while Serena remained silent.

Thinking about those two slaps, Adrian felt Serena truly didn’t care about him anymore.

She didn’t care about what he did.

She didn’t care about who he was with this late.

But thinking about all the feelings and love over so many years, Adrian couldn’t believe Serena had changed.

"Lockwood, do you hide quickly or go out openly and confess?"

Someone pushed the door open, teasingly looking at Adrian, "I saw your wife arrived, looking everywhere for you."

The originally listless expression brightened instantly as Adrian got up, a flash of triumph in his eyes, "Where?"

The visitor casually pointed, "Just entered the hall..."

"Women are such a nuisance! Don’t rush to marry, once a man marries, he has no freedom at all!"

Adrian shook his head, sighed, and turned to leave.

With just one glance, he saw Serena in the hall, looking around.

In the crowd of flashy and promiscuous people dancing around, Serena’s natural beauty and stunning figure, accentuated by the perfectly tailored chiffon dress, made her look both pure and tempting.

The suppressed anger and resentment throughout the night transformed entirely into desire.

Adrian strode forward, grabbed Serena’s wrist, and pulled her into his arms, "Can’t let go? Chasing me all the way here?"