CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: DIVORCED

Today marks the first time since Serena Jennings married Caleb Lockwood over three years ago that she has boarded Caleb’s private jet.

It’s an Airbus ACJ319, with a matte black body and a gold waistline, stable yet undeniably luxurious.

This trip to Meridia seems to be for attending Justin Nash and Cynthia Fulton’s wedding, but there’s much more to be done.

For instance, business negotiations.

Caleb brought along not only Mr. Miller but also several FZZL project executives, related personnel, and two agile bodyguards.

The FZZL project is the AI-assisted diagnostic system previously mentioned by Ian Blackwood, jointly invested in by the Blackwood Group and the Lockwood Group, and primarily researched and developed by CelestiMed.

Nowadays, AI is widely used, commonly applied in various aspects of daily life and production.

AI-based diagnostic systems are not without precedent.

However, due to the immaturity of AI technology and the specificity of the medical field, current AI system applications are not yet precise or widespread.

CelestiMed is an emerging medical technology company dedicated to integrating AI with healthcare.

Caleb had long wanted to delve into this field, but CelestiMed’s partner had always been the Blackwood Group.

CelestiMed is located in Meridia, and Caleb happened to visit Meridia to meet CelestiMed’s newly hired employee.

According to CelestiMed, this new employee is an expert in genetics and can establish genetic algorithms for the FZZL system, which suffers from significant diagnostic data deviation, to enhance its accuracy.

Ian Blackwood didn’t join this trip.

Since Caleb allowed the piece of land in Northriver to go, Ian has shifted his focus there recently.

Besides conducting business in Meridia, Caleb also needs to handle divorce proceedings with Serena.

Divorces in Meridia aren’t as complicated as in Country A, where both parties must go to the civil affairs bureau together.

In Meridia, you only need to submit a divorce agreement signed by both parties to the court to obtain a divorce certificate, serving as proof of the divorce’s validity.

It’s very simple.

Serena had confirmed the divorce process with Caleb.

Before boarding the plane, Caleb extended his hand toward Serena.

Without Caleb saying a word, Serena understood.

She took a triplicate of documents from her briefcase and handed them to Caleb.

They were the signed divorce agreement papers.

The divorce agreement stayed in Caleb’s hand for just a few seconds before it was handed to Mr. Miller.

"Once we arrive in Meridia, I’ll have Mr. Miller submit the divorce agreement to the court. After the divorce certificate is issued, it will go for consular authentication."

"...Alright."

Serena nodded and looked at Mr. Miller, "Thank you for handling it."

Once the consular authentication is complete, the civil affairs bureau’s system will update.

At that time, her marital status with Caleb will change to—

Divorced.

Following Caleb, Serena boarded the plane.

The plane, worthy of being a luxury private jet, had ample internal space with all necessary facilities, even a simple shower.

After the plane took off and climbed above the stratosphere, Caleb held a brief meeting with his staff on the plane.

Serena sat quietly on the side, sketching her designs.

She was still designing the crown for the Queen of Ydris, although Peter hadn’t confirmed the project’s approval.

Her design wasn’t finished yet when Caleb concluded his business.

"I never realized you loved work so much?"

Caleb sat down next to Serena.

Serena thought it was Caleb who really loved work. He always prioritized business above all.

"Stop drawing, take a break."

Caleb suddenly snatched the pen from Serena’s hand.

Caleb held her right hand.

On her right hand’s middle finger was still the daisy ring—

The one Peter gifted her.

Caleb’s dark eyes turned, and he directly removed the ring.

Serena couldn’t help but feel tense.

She felt that if they weren’t on a plane, Caleb might have just thrown the ring out the window.

Serena snatched the ring back from Caleb’s hand and put it away.

Then Caleb grabbed her left hand.

Serena was puzzled.

Soon, she saw Caleb take out a gift box from his trouser pocket.

Judging by the size of the box, it should contain a ring.

When Serena saw Caleb place a diamond ring on her left ring finger, her eyes widened in amazement.

Just a moment ago, Caleb had asked her for the signed divorce agreement, and now he was putting a diamond ring on her finger?

And it was on the left ring finger.

Serena’s chest began to stir with turmoil.

She recalled how Caleb proposed to her three years ago.

At that time, Caleb was so domineering that he slipped the wedding ring on her finger, whether she agreed or not.

In that moment, she was moved to tears.

Serena lowered her gaze to her left ring finger.

On it was a large, dazzling diamond ring.

Not the seven-carat pink diamond ring Caleb used when he proposed.

Now it’s a colorless diamond, princess cut, with a unique hollow setting that allows more light to enter the diamond, refracting richer fire colors.

This diamond ring fits Serena’s aesthetic better than the previous pink diamond wedding ring.

But the heart-pounding excitement from the past was gone.

Serena lifted her gaze to glance at Caleb, noticing his charming smile, half amused, half serious.

She thought of how Jim, the founder of CelestiMed, and his wife Jane built CelestiMed from scratch together, so Jim always attended events with his wife Jane.

Caleb putting the wedding ring on her must be for the role of his wife when facing CelestiMed’s CEO.

But Serena didn’t understand why Caleb couldn’t introduce any female companion as his wife to CelestiMed’s CEO, who didn’t know her anyway.

Like Claire Shaw.

Serena initially thought that Claire Shaw would also board Caleb’s private jet on this trip to Meridia.

Last time, when attending the LD Jewelry Fashion Week, Claire Shaw did just that.

But this time, Caleb didn’t bring Claire Shaw along.

Serena found this surprising.

However, she didn’t ask Caleb for the reason.

She didn’t want Caleb to think she cared about Claire Shaw.

Justin Nash and Cynthia Fulton’s wedding naturally also invited Claire Shaw, but Claire Shaw didn’t have a private jet to catch, so she had to fly commercial alone.

This was the first time Caleb was going abroad for an important event, accompanied not by her, but by Serena.

On the plane, Claire Shaw took her seat.

She sat in first class.

The others wore more or less smiles on their faces, but hers was the expression of a thunderstorm.

Serena, you won’t be smug for long...

"When we reach Meridia..."

Claire Shaw put on her sunglasses, with lenses so large they couldn’t hide the sinister smile on her face.

Meridia isn’t too far from Country A.

A few hours later, the plane landed.