CHAPTER 66: CHAPTER 66: I DON’T WANT TO LIE TO YOU

Adrian Lockwood found out about the incident only when he went to Old Town Lane early in the morning to eat wontons.

The door of the small courtyard was kicked open.

The room in the attic was in chaos.

The old gray-haired lady shouted that a thief had broken into the house.

The neighbors were chattering incessantly, saying they heard the sound of police sirens last night.

The moment the call connected.

He heard Serena Sinclair’s calm voice.

Adrian Lockwood’s heart settled, "Serena, where are you now? Are you okay?"

"Do you need something?"

On the other end, Serena responded with another question.

Adrian was taken aback.

These days, he seemed to have no right to ask about her whereabouts.

But she was still Miles’ mother, the mother of his child.

Surely, he was justified in showing some concern for her.

"You..."

Bzzz.

Bzzz bzzz.

Before Adrian could speak again, the call was already disconnected.

Downstairs was in a mess; Adrian came to his senses and looked around the small attic of less than ten square meters, feeling all wooden.

He never wanted to hurt Serena.

Even in the moment he was shouting for Serena to leave with nothing, he never intended to harm her.

He just hoped she would soften as before and give him a bridge to mend things.

But Serena left without a backward glance.

At the moment he received the divorce certificate, he was even impatiently wishing time would pass faster and faster.

So that Serena would have no home, no place to go.

Clothed in rags, kneeling at his feet begging him: Adrian, I was wrong!

By then, even with disdain in his eyes, he would be happy in his heart.

Finally.

She was finally back by his side.

He and her, plus Miles, their family of three were just like before.

But at this moment, looking at this narrow room, the mottled old desk and wardrobe that seemed to be scavenged from the last century.

And that bed that looked hard and thin at first glance.

Thinking of Serena living in such a place after leaving.

Adrian Lockwood felt anything but relieved.

Instead, there was a trace of indescribable panic.

Such an environment, let alone during the years as Mrs. Lockwood.

Even the rental house Serena and Selene Summers lived in back then was much cozier and more comfortable than this.

But Serena didn’t even call him once and stayed here just like that.

"The company is yours..."

"...I’ll take the villa, you can have the apartment on the east side..."

A vague voice sounded from deep in his mind.

But Adrian had no impression, not knowing when Serena had said those words.

And in the end, he was ruthless enough not to give her even that apartment.

Leaving her in such a state.

The room looked as though a fight had occurred, the bed was in disarray.

The lamp on the desk had its cord yanked out.

Yet the wardrobe was empty, and the drawers were empty too, nothing of Serena’s was left in the room.

Had she... moved out?

What exactly happened last night?

"Lawyer Yates..."

In a hurry, he dialed a number and turned to go downstairs.

He called Serena again.

...

The phone rang with a jingle.

Disconnected.

Rang again.

Hadn’t even had time to block, and it rang again.

Serena’s patience was worn thin by Adrian’s relentless pestering, "Adrian Lockwood, enough already! We’re already divorced, none of my matters have anything to do with you, please respect some boundaries, will you?"

"I’ll give you the apartment on the east side."

On the other end, Adrian’s voice was calm and steady, "That apartment is closer to... your workplace; it will be more convenient for you to commute."

From his tone alone, it was clear he already knew what happened last night.

Serena fell silent.

A voice, composed and poised: If he gives it to you, take it; it was meant to be yours anyway.

Another voice, derisive: Think things through! Forgot about that dress? Today, he’s in a good mood, giving you the house and letting you move in. Tomorrow, if he flips out and has the butler kick you out, you’ll be like a mouse trapped by the tail, forced to live at his whim every day. Isn’t that fun? How’s this any different from before?

"No need!"

Serena coldly refused, "No need to trouble yourself, President Lockwood!"

Hung up.

Blocked and deleted.

Serena looked down at the lush greenery outside the window to calm her mood.

A fluffy being rubbed against her leg, and Serena looked down to see 2S nudging its head against her calf.

As if it knew she wasn’t feeling great.

"Wyatt, could I trouble the driver to take me back?"

Serena turned around and saw Wyatt putting on his outdoor clothes.

He picked up the car keys, "Let’s go, I’ll take you somewhere."

"Go... where?"

She wanted to say she had no time today, with a pile of tasks at hand.

Also wanted to say, how about another day?

But when met with Wyatt’s handsome profile, it perfectly overlapped with the scene from when she opened her eyes this morning.

Her palm, previously entwined, felt searing.

Serena looked away, feeling a bit tongue-tied.

The Maybach whizzed out.

Circled around the mountain road, passing Old Town Lane.

In half an hour, the car drove past the CBD and into a skyscraper-lined residential area.

The elevator went all the way up, stopping on the 19th floor.

Opening the door, Serena looked over, puzzled.

Her gaze halted.

A 150-square-meter fully furnished large flat with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Looking afar, she could even see the nearby Hawthorne Tower.

Looking down, by the shoe cabinet at the entrance, her suitcase, handbag...

Even the small pot of green vine she placed on the desk was packed and placed on the entrance shelf.

Serena was dumbfounded, "Wyatt..."

"I don’t want to lie to you, saying it’s a friend’s vacant house, or some company welfare apartment, or whatever."

Wyatt was busy fiddling with the code lock on the door, pulling Serena’s hand to input her fingerprint and image, "Consider it a loan from me. If you want to pay rent or simply buy it when you have the money in the future, I’m fine with that."

The door lock beeped softly, indicating successful input.

Wyatt then looked up at Serena, "Senior, can I come in?"

Serena: ...

The house was brand new, seemingly never lived in.

But it was thoroughly cleaned, with the air filled with a rich scent from air freshener.

A three-bedroom, one living room layout.

Besides the master and guest rooms, there was another empty room that could be used as a study or yoga room.

But...

Serena didn’t believe there was such a thing as a free lunch in this world.

Thinking back, recently, she and Wyatt seemed indeed to have gotten quite close.

To her, she regarded Wyatt as a younger brother.

That junior at Aethelgard University who was always running after her, calling her senior, with endless questions.

But that inexplicable hand-holding at dawn stirred unease in Serena’s heart.

Quickly running through the words she wanted to say in her mind.

Serena stepped forward.

"Wyatt..."

Serena went straight to the point, "I don’t know if it’s just my being overly sensitive, but recently we... have been getting a bit too close."

Wyatt suddenly turned around.

Serena clasped her hand, continuing, "If you don’t mind, can we stay as we were before? You know, I’ve always seen you as a younger brother."

Wanted to say, is this you burning bridges after taking advantage?

Used up, now hurrying to distance yourself, is it?

But in his mind, her words that feelings cannot be forced lingered persistently.

If he disagrees.

The next second she would probably grab her suitcase and leave, avoiding him from then on, wouldn’t she?

Directly facing Serena’s calm eyes, it seemed a wall took root between them.

Wyatt curled his lips.

"A younger brother, huh? Alright then..."

Wyatt approached Serena, looking down into her eyes, "Does this mean I don’t have to call you Senior anymore?"

Serena was slightly stunned.

Wyatt’s face lit up with a smile, "Sister..."

A crisp sound resonated in Serena’s heart.