CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: WHAT IS HE SO TROUBLED ABOUT?

Serena Sinclair had a fulfilling weekend.

She slept in on Saturday, and when she opened her eyes, she could still hear Mrs. Vance in the courtyard downstairs, beating the bedding.

Serena pushed open the window.

In the courtyard, Mrs. Vance looked up and smiled, "Serena, it’s a nice day today, you can take your blankets and pillows up to the roof to dry..."

"Okay!"

Serena responded, she carried her blankets upstairs while still drowsy.

Someone nearby must own pigeons, because a large flock of peace doves flew overhead, gliding through the blue sky.

The weather was unbelievably good.

At noon, she arranged to have lunch with Clara Lynch.

During the meal, she learned about Clara’s relationship with Chloe Lynch.

Serena reconfirmed that Clara Lynch and Chloe Lynch were not of the same kind.

When Una Hutton called, Serena had just said goodbye to Clara Lynch and stepped out of the elevator.

Una’s voice on the other end was mysterious, "Come to Aethelgard University, I’ll wait for you at the subway entrance."

No matter how Serena tried to pry, Una only said, "You’ll know soon enough."

After switching subway lines twice, Serena walked out of the subway entrance and immediately spotted Una.

Una’s smile was like a flower, "Guess what good opportunity has fallen upon us?"

Won 5 million dollars?

But Una never buys lottery tickets, claiming she does not believe she has such good luck.

Got a promotion in her title?

But that had nothing to do with her.

Serena’s gaze swept over Una’s sparkling eyes, "Did the department assign you an apartment?"

!!!

Surprise turned into vexation, Una grumbled with displeasure, "How unbelievably spot-on you are! It’s a shame you don’t have a fortune-telling booth on the bridge!"

Without any connections or background, Una achieved what she has today solely through her own merit.

Colleagues of similar age had been promoted to associate professor or professor years ago.

Only she remained a lecturer, miserably squeezing in single apartments for staff like newly-arrived female teachers.

"Thanks to dear President Hawthorne, both an accomplished graduate and a successful businessperson, who glanced at me amid the crowd..."

Una linked arms with Serena, walking to the newly assigned apartment, smiling, "And then, I ascended to heaven."

Wasn’t it such a coincidence?

Una’s eyes brightly displayed five large characters.

Plus a bold, enlarged, glowing, and swaying question mark.

Serena thought of the news notification on her phone saying Wyatt Hawthorne had appeared at Aethelgard, donating 200 million to its research laboratories like in previous years.

Serena looked incredulous, "Just a coincidence..."

Ha-ha.

Una pushed open the door, "Do you believe it?"

A two-bedroom apartment meant for employees.

A benefit only available to professors.

Yet she had been nothing more than a lecturer.

"Director Ford from logistics personally contacted me, saying it wasn’t until someone reported it and Warren inspected the rooms that he belatedly realized I had been living in the single apartments for six years - it was all his oversight."

"Though my rank isn’t high, my tenure is long..."

Una continued with exaggerated flair, "And the funniest part is, all the single-bedroom apartments are full, only two-bedroom and three-bedroom ones remain, so they had to assign me a two-bedroom. You never know, what if suddenly I am not single anymore? Right? Preparing for a rainy day this is!"

"Dearie!"

Una threw a charming glance at Serena, "A woman’s intuition tells me my associate professor position is locked in this year!"

Serena: ...

Una continued boasting, "Once I get my promotion, sis, I’ll spare no expense and gift you a pretty young model so you can know sis is a thousand times more reliable than any man!"

First off, Serena had already known this for a long time.

Secondly, what is the connection between proving the reliability of sisters and a pretty young model!!!

Serena chuckled helplessly.

The single apartments were not far from the staff family building.

Una also did not have many things.

She had received the keys yesterday noon, cleaned, and moved in.

By evening, the first meal in the new home started amid their joyful hustle and bustle.

Serena returned to her little loft on the second evening.

Perhaps because she got up too late in the morning, she was well-rested.

Or perhaps she was preoccupied with thoughts of something and grew sleepless.

Watching the tiny fireflies on the vines by the window, Serena’s mind wandered aimlessly, unaware when she had fallen asleep herself.

A dreamless night.

The alarm rang, and Serena opened her eyes, instantly awake.

...

In the Lockwood Group President’s office, Adrian Lockwood looked at the blue sky and white clouds outside, his mind inexplicably agitated.

Even he could not say exactly what he was bothered by.

The company was steadily developing.

Life went smoothly.

Yet he had not known when one thing after another had begun muddling his mind.

At that moment, the anxiety reached its peak.

Overlooking the main road of the city with cars traveling east and west, his fret gradually calmed down.

Adrian remembered.

It all began when Serena initiated the divorce.

Even during her illness, everything at the company and home was in perfect order.

But Serena was dissatisfied and caused disturbances upon returning home.

First, she created a scene at his mother’s birthday with so many relatives and friends around.

Then showed up at the kindergarten, causing gossip for him and Chloe, as well as their son.

The most infuriating was her audacity to apply to work at the Hawthorne Corporation.

Using her status as an employee there, she brought Quentin Xavier against Beatrice Sutton.

One after another.

None resembled the gentle and virtuous woman she had been before.

Adrian vehemently despised the feeling of things spiraling out of control.

Two contrasting voices blared in his mind.

One cruelly: The only leverage she has over you is this marriage! After all, it’s her sole bargaining chip! As she forces every move, simply fulfill her demand and let her deal with the aftermath!

The other one, restrained: What’s the point? At the end of the day, won’t it still affect the Lockwood Group? For the company, for the greater good, be the bigger person and bring peace for all!

He focused on the company.

She played the role of a good wife and devoted mother as before.

He handled external affairs; she took care of the home. Wouldn’t it be better for both company and family harmony?

Not to mention he and Chloe Lynch were not involved romantically.

Even if they were, compared to the vast high-society empires of Aethelgard, those Directors or Presidents, who doesn’t indulge more than him?

He didn’t cheat or keep mistresses.

Only maintained some ambiguous ties with Chloe Lynch; what about that did she find unacceptable?

"Have the driver pick up the madam at the alley entrance in 10 minutes."

Ian Young knocked and entered, Adrian Lockwood seemed to have made up his mind, "Isn’t she fond of the morning tea at The Hibiscus Pavilion? Make sure a reservation is made, have the driver take her there."

Ian Young raised his gaze.

Adrian Lockwood’s phone rang suddenly.

Seeing Serena Sinclair’s name on the screen, a flicker of joy appeared in Adrian Lockwood’s eyes.

He knew.

It would definitely be like this!

Except for those years when he pursued her and the two years together after confessing his feelings, he was the one to coax.

Ever since, she had been the one to coax him.

Knowing he was picky, she even cooked his favorite dishes personally despite being heavy with pregnancy.

Aware of his gastric issues, she placed his commonly taken medicine on the nightstand closest to him.

Over the years, whenever they quarreled.

Whenever they had cold wars.

She always was the first to yield and make peace, or actively find a compromise.

This time was no different!

The pent-up anger in his heart over the past months showed signs of dissipating instantly.

Adrian Lockwood answered the phone, "Serena..."

His face suddenly changed.