CHAPTER 13: CHAPTER 13: STRIP HER BARE

After all, the power of The Lockwood Group is immense. Even if Justin Nash has friends in the court, they might not dare to help her. If they really helped her, they might offend Caleb Lockwood, which would mean she implicated them.

Serena Jennings thought these things in her heart but didn’t say them out loud. However, just by looking at Serena’s expression, Justin Nash could guess a bit. He didn’t give Serena any promises, only said he would consult someone after meeting tomorrow, telling her not to feel burdened.

The next day, Justin Nash didn’t even go to work at the juvenile facility. Serena asked the director, who said Justin Nash took leave to go to the court for a matter concerning his life’s happiness, which left Serena amused and frustrated.

In the office, Serena organized the forms until lunch break, as the thunderstorm outside intensified.

She wasn’t afraid of thunder, but her office was rather isolated, at the end of the second-floor corridor, and since it was lunch break, almost all the teachers had left. After all, the juvenile facility was essentially half a prison, quite oppressive, so even a short break was made use of by the teachers to get outside.

Only two instructors stayed behind, but based on Serena’s experience, they were likely taking a nap, which made the whole building eerily empty, so an unexpected thunderclap was quite startling.

Serena, as a counselor, needed to be on call at all times, so she didn’t leave and ordered takeout for lunch.

Checking the app, her delivery should have arrived.

Serena was about to contact the delivery person when the office door suddenly knocked.

"Delivery."

Serena immediately opened the door, but the person standing outside wasn’t the delivery man.

At the same time, Claire Shaw had taken leave today and was heading to The Lockwood Group.

The thunderstorm made the already unsmooth traffic even more congested. Claire Shaw drove while occasionally checking her WeChat, but the chat wasn’t with Caleb Lockwood.

joker: Everything is arranged, you can head over anytime.

Claire Shaw replied with "Okay," put down her phone, stepped on the gas, and sped through the storm in her pink sports car.

Juvenile facility.

Serena Jennings was being cornered by a group of troubled students in her office.

The leader was Sean Sanders, who had previously bullied Justin Nash.

Sean Sanders was tall and sturdy, looking menacing even at age 16.

As the counselor here, Serena had some understanding of these troubled students.

Those in the juvenile facility were all minors who had committed offenses.

Sean Sanders was among the worst of them; he had raped two classmates at age 14, one of whom didn’t even dare report it.

Even after entering the facility, he frequently fought and formed gangs.

Because of some influence at home, many in the facility turned a blind eye to his atrocities.

Sean Sanders threw Serena’s ordered takeout straight into the trash, then smirked malevolently at her.

"Hello, Miss Jennings!"

The last one to enter locked the office door with a click.

It was clear these people had ill intentions. Serena was forced to the windows, silently gripping the thermos on her desk.

"What do you want?"

Serena glared at them, but as a girl, she had no authority over a group of strong boys.

"Nothing much; just wanted to ask if Miss Jennings has a boyfriend? How about considering me?"

Sean Sanders pointed at his nose.

Serena tried to maintain her composure and said decisively, "I’m already married."

"Being a married woman is even better! We lack experience, maybe Miss Jennings can teach us..."

Before Sean Sanders could finish talking, Serena swung the thermos hitting Sean’s temple.

Sean screamed in pain, and his followers immediately surged forward to try to subdue Serena.

Serena had learned Sanda and self-defense techniques for a while as a child, so she could fend them off to some extent. Initially, Sean’s followers couldn’t gain much advantage over her.

However, as a woman, she was inherently at a disadvantage in terms of strength and size, coupled with being outnumbered, it didn’t take long for Serena to be bruised, her clothes torn, looking utterly humiliated.

"Damn it, get her, beat her up!"

Sean Sanders cursed, pulling Serena’s hair and pressing her head against the window frame.

"Quick, strip her!"

Even with such commotion from the office, no one came to check; Serena realized she couldn’t rely on anyone to save her and had to save herself.

She kicked Sean hard in the groin, swiftly opened the window, and without thinking, jumped straight down from the second floor.

Outside, amidst thunderstorm, the sky was dark like a tipped-over pot.

Serena didn’t know how she escaped the facility, terrified, running aimlessly, her mind blank.

By the time she limped onto the main road, she noticed she was drenched from head to toe, looking like a wet chick.

Fear and grievance made Serena cry, but mixed with the pouring rain, no one could tell.

At this moment, a black Maybach drove past, stopped, and splashed water all over Serena.

The familiar license plate number wouldn’t be mistaken by Serena even amidst the rainstorm.

The car window lowered, and Serena saw Caleb Lockwood sitting in the back seat.

In an instant, she held her breath.

Caleb Lockwood still looked the same, wearing a suit, exuding elite aura, with deep eyes like the sea, instantly engulfing her disheveled appearance.

Serena felt fate was really playing tricks on her, letting her run into Caleb Lockwood at such a moment.

Caleb Lockwood sized her up, his gaze like a snake crawling over her whole body, leaving slime.

Neither disdain nor dislike, no surprise nor compassion, Serena couldn’t understand Caleb’s gaze, only realizing that she looked very embarrassing right now.

She wavered between explaining and staying silent, Serena ultimately missed the chance to speak.

"Get in!"

Caleb’s voice was gentler than expected.

Serena stood in the storm, her silhouette blurred and frail, trembling.

Her long hair, wet and clinging to her scalp, looked even darker, making her makeup-free face particularly pale, her lips a worrying faint hue, her professional outfit visibly damaged, skin abraded.

Caleb quietly regarded Serena; it was the first time he noticed how soaking wet Serena had a unique allure.

Serena had no other option, was about to open the car door, when someone from the back seat suddenly leaned forward.

"Serena, why are you so wet? Get in quickly!"

Claire Shaw appeared genuinely concerned.

Seeing Claire Shaw in Caleb’s car, Serena shouldn’t be surprised.

Yet, looking as she did, she really didn’t want to be contrasted with Claire Shaw.

Claire Shaw still wore her pink suit, the collar of her shirt intentionally unbuttoned one more notch, Serena didn’t want to wonder who unbuttoned it.

Claire Shaw’s makeup was always meticulously sweet, but at this moment, her lipstick was smudged; Serena didn’t want to wonder who smudged Claire’s lipstick.

"What are you hesitating for? You’ll catch a cold if you stay in the rain any longer." Claire Shaw invited again, "Come on, Caleb won’t mind you dirtying his car, there’s space between us."