CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 111: BECAME A CRIPPLE

Caleb Lockwood found Audrey Jennings as twilight approached.

Audrey had lost her way and was calling out "Serena," receiving quizzical looks from passersby who thought she might be mentally deranged.

Caleb didn’t send someone else to find her, but came himself because when dementia hits, other people might not be able to take her away smoothly, and forcing might hurt Audrey.

Fortunately, seeing Caleb cleared Audrey’s mind a bit, and she realized she should be at Serene Meadows Nursing Home, wondering how she had wandered out.

Caleb drove Audrey back to the nursing home and got her settled in. He was about to return to the hospital, but Mr. Miller told him that Justin Nash, Lana Xavier, Peter, and Patrick Rhodes were there, so he dropped the idea.

"President Lockwood, don’t mind me gossiping, but your friend... are you pursuing her?" Gordon Lloyd, happily tipsy from the Maotai, began speaking more.

"No."

Seeing Caleb’s swift denial, Gordon sighed regretfully, "President Lockwood, you’re not young anymore, even though you look youthful, a good man settles down in both work and family. You’ve been established in work for many years; shouldn’t you consider starting a family?"

Caleb kept silent.

Gordon had been retired for years and wasn’t closely connected with the business world. He hadn’t known about Caleb’s marriage to Serena Jennings.

But Caleb had no plans to inform him.

After all, he and Serena were about to divorce.

"By the way, is it really okay for you to be here drinking leisurely with me? Not going to accompany your friend? You’ve done so much for her, don’t tell me you don’t care about her!"

Caleb took a small sip of Maotai and whispered, "She already has enough people there. I don’t like crowds."

Gordon felt there was something more to Caleb’s words, a hidden meaning, and poured himself another glass, sighing, "Your personality... just stubborn, not straightforward enough."

Caleb couldn’t help but smile, more or less acknowledging it.

After finishing the meal with Gordon, it was late, and Caleb prepared to drive to the City Center Hospital.

He actually wasn’t as negligent as Gordon thought, never visiting Serena.

It’s just that he went so late when everyone was asleep, even the duty doctor didn’t always encounter him.

The imperial blue Bentley swiped the streetlights behind it.

Not far ahead, the City Center Hospital was coming into view.

Suddenly, Caleb received a phone call.

"What’s up, Claire?" Caleb asked.

"Sorry, Caleb, can you do me a favor?"

Claire Shaw’s voice came from the car’s system, sounding anxious.

"Go ahead, what is it?"

"My parents have arrived here."

"Oh?"

"They didn’t inform me in advance, they’ve just landed from the flight... I have unfinished work at hand, can you help me pick them up?"

The imperial blue Bentley was strangely silent.

"Okay, have them send me their location. I’ll head over right now."

"Great, thank you, Caleb. I knew you were the best!"

"Mm."

As the imperial blue Bentley was about to enter the City Center Hospital, it suddenly turned and headed down another street.

Since Serena Jennings regained consciousness, Peter hadn’t been staying in the hospital room.

Peter originally wanted to stay, but Serena felt it was too much trouble for him, plus FY needed Peter to return for oversight.

Lana Xavier took time off but Serena also felt she was troubling Lana too much and wanted her to go back.

"I won’t go back! I want to be joined at the hip with you."

In the hospital room, Lana’s joke made Serena laugh.

"You can visit me when you have time, no need to stay in the hospital. I can hire a caregiver."

"I know you care, but I don’t trust caregivers; no one looks after you as well as I do!"

Lana’s words moved Serena deeply.

Serena had mostly recovered by now, except her left leg, post-operation, necessitated wheelchair assistance for movement.

"I can’t believe I’ve become such a cripple."

Hearing Serena’s self-reflection, Lana immediately comforted her: "It’s not forever; healing takes time. It hasn’t been long yet!"

"Mm, you’re right..."

Lana’s words encouraged Serena.

"Let me tell you, don’t lose heart. Heal well, then bounce to the civil affairs bureau and get divorced, find a few young handsome guys, and truly enjoy life!"

Lana’s grand words left Serena amused yet resigned.

"I want to heal well too; without recovering my leg, how can I participate in LD Jewelry Fashion Week?"

Time was pressing, and Serena felt urgency.

But as Lana mentioned, healing takes time; her impatience was futile.

Today, Caleb didn’t visit her.

But Patrick Rhodes did.

Serena was surprisingly taken aback by Patrick’s visit.

"You may not know, but I visited on the day of your accident. When you were comatose, I stood guard for three days. But the hospital allows only two caregivers, so I went home at night."

Patrick’s words surprised Serena even further.

After waking, Lana had recounted many things that occurred during Serena’s coma but hadn’t mentioned Patrick at all.

Serena reflexively glanced at Lana, who cleared her throat guiltily.

She had done it on purpose.

Lana disliked Patrick.

In fact, she disliked all of Caleb’s raucous friends.

Among them, Patrick was her least favorite.

In Lana’s mind, Patrick had always been Claire’s accomplice, so during Serena’s accident, his frantic arrival and diligent care nearly made Lana think she was hallucinating.

Although Patrick behaved well during Serena’s hospital stay, Lana remembered the grudges, so when Serena woke, she intentionally didn’t say a word of praise about Patrick.

In the hospital room, Patrick was peeling an apple for Serena.

Lana leaned into Serena’s ear, whispering, "I guess Patrick’s been possessed or something."

Serena chuckled.

"Lana, have you switched to reading fantasy novels lately?"

"How did you know?"

Lana asked in surprise.

Serena laughed even more.

Patrick finished peeling the apple, and as Lana took it, she casually remarked:

"Anyway, you’re better than Serena’s scumbag husband."

Though Lana’s intention wasn’t to praise Patrick.

Patrick, however, shyly smiled upon hearing, scratching the back of his head.

"Really? Am I that great?"

Lana rolled her eyes.

"Anyway, Caleb is busy accompanying Claire’s parents, he probably doesn’t have time to visit, but I can come every day."

Patrick spoke with pride.

Serena listened, unconcerned whether Patrick could visit daily; rather, she was curious that Claire’s parents were in City A.

Could it be they thought their daughter’s wedding was near?

Serena glanced at her plastered left leg.

If not for the accident, her leg wouldn’t be in such a state, and she and Caleb might already have their divorce papers so quickly that Caleb could’ve already set his marriage date with Claire.

Just as she pondered this, Serena heard a knock on the door.