CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: INTERNET TROLLS FOUND HER CURRENT ADDRESS

"President Lockwood..."

Mr. Miller handed a document to Caleb Lockwood.

"Those photos circulating online were taken by a tabloid photographer. He must have had his eyes on Miss Jennings for a while..."

While saying this, Mr. Miller kept sneaking glances at Caleb Lockwood’s reaction.

Caleb Lockwood didn’t react.

So Mr. Miller had to make it clearer.

"Do you want to suppress this matter?"

"Why?"

Caleb Lockwood finally lifted his gaze.

Mr. Miller felt as if he was being pricked by needles under Caleb Lockwood’s sharp eyes.

"Serena Jennings has nothing to do with me now."

Caleb Lockwood’s voice was indifferent; any colder, it would be ruthless.

Mr. Miller opened his mouth, inhaling some cold air.

Caleb Lockwood and Serena Jennings had completed their divorce procedures in Meridia, but the divorce certificate had not been consular certified upon their return home.

In other words, that divorce certificate was not effective in City A.

Seeing Mr. Miller hesitant to speak, Caleb Lockwood let out a cold laugh.

"Even if it needs to be suppressed, it’s not for me to intervene. Isn’t Justin Nash still around? Didn’t he run away from his own wedding for Serena Jennings?"

Mr. Miller felt that Caleb Lockwood’s words sounded more like mockery than a question.

"President Lockwood, now the entire internet knows you’ve divorced Miss Jennings."

"Hmm..."

Caleb Lockwood nodded, without further comment.

He knew that when Serena Jennings was exposed for having complicated male relations and branded as cheating within the marriage, Arthur Lockwood seized the opportunity to fan the flames from behind, publicly severing ties with Serena to gain attention and good reviews, thus driving up the stock price.

Seeing that Mr. Miller hadn’t left yet and was stammering, Caleb Lockwood proactively asked:

"Anything else?"

"It’s just... if President Lockwood needs, I can make another trip to Meridia to get that divorce..."

"Mr. Miller..."

Before Mr. Miller could finish, Caleb Lockwood coldly interrupted him.

"Do you know why I hired you as my assistant?"

This abrupt question left Mr. Miller dumbfounded.

Seeing Mr. Miller shake his head, Caleb Lockwood answered blandly:

"Because you’re smart and have strong comprehension skills."

"Thank you for your compliment, President Lockwood..."

"So, don’t ask foolish questions."

Only after hearing this did Mr. Miller understand the deeper meaning behind Caleb Lockwood’s words.

"I’m sorry, President Lockwood, I spoke out of turn."

Mr. Miller apologized respectfully and then left Caleb Lockwood’s office.

Caleb Lockwood picked up his phone buried in the documents; the screen was lit up, filled with netizens’ curses towards Serena Jennings.

Caleb Lockwood stared at the phone, the bright screen only made his eyes seem darker, like an abyss.

Serena Jennings, following Peter’s advice, hadn’t left her house all day.

She finally understood what it meant for trouble to come raining down on an already leaking house.

Even though she hadn’t left home, she’d managed quite some work.

First was the breach of contract.

Her personal jewelry brand J Jewelry had signed many orders and collaborations, all thanks to Radiance’s coverage of her outstanding performance at the LD Jewelry Fashion Week, and later the revelation that she was married to Caleb Lockwood.

In one night, her reputation was in ruins, she was insulted online and branded a fallen woman, with previous collaborators rescinding their contracts and demanding high breach fees, claiming she had damaged the brand’s reputation.

Every single one of them.

Serena Jennings paid until she felt exhausted, and her liquidity began to dry up.

Next was the withdrawal of investment.

Serena admitted she never expected that investor Matthew Lowell, who approached her initially, was actually Justin Nash’s subordinate.

Justin Nash had quietly helped her in many ways, for which she was grateful.

But the help had now become a double-edged sword.

When she was close to draining her savings, Matthew Lowell’s withdrawal of funds left her studio in dire straits.

Those high-profile clients had long blocked her, and the jewelry association had expelled her.

At the same time, Cynthia Fulton, as the primary victim of Justin Nash’s runaway wedding, published a long article online, where not a single word blamed Justin but instead accused Serena of being unfaithful, seducing Justin while married, and even providing fake jewelry for her wedding.

Even without a video, Cynthia’s words painted a picture of a heartbroken victim, tearfully accusing Serena of ruining her life.

Serena could understand Cynthia’s anger towards her.

There was indeed a degree of responsibility on Serena’s part for Justin’s desertion.

However, what she gave Cynthia at that time was, in truth, not fake goods.

She couldn’t accept Cynthia framing and defaming her with such claims.

But she was already beyond defense.

What is the truth?

The truth is what people firmly believe it to be.

As night fell, Serena made herself a cup of instant noodles.

The whole day, she couldn’t afford to eat nothing.

She still had to survive.

While eating the noodles, she received calls from Sharon Sanders and Nancy Young.

Both opened with similar lines, expressing trust and sympathy towards her.

But Serena knew very well why they made those calls.

Sharon Sanders and Nancy Young wanted to resign.

Serena had anticipated this.

And she agreed.

Quentin Xavier also called, however, he didn’t directly mention resignation but asked if the studio could continue operating. If it could, he’d stay on.

Serena was quite grateful that Quentin was willing to say this, though whether the studio could keep going was something she couldn’t say.

No investment, no orders, only penalties and debts, alongside various unfavorable messages from the bank and the court.

After finishing the entire box of noodles, Serena realized she hadn’t tasted anything.

Then the doorbell rang.

Serena jumped in fright.

Surely it couldn’t be those online threats coming to track her down to where she lived?

Or the media figuring out her address?

Serena clenched her fists and approached the door.

Saying she wasn’t nervous or scared would be an absolute lie.

When she saw Lana Xavier’s face through the peephole, she finally relaxed.

"Lana!"

Serena opened the door and immediately embraced Lana Xavier.

"Come on, let’s talk inside."

After closing the door, Lana Xavier took off her sunglasses.

Serena blinked in confusion.

"Lana, your outfit..."

"I was worried someone might follow me and find you, so I went in disguise."

Serena couldn’t help but laugh.

She thought her current scandal was intense, but it shouldn’t have escalated to the point where even Lana Xavier would be followed.

Being cautious never hurt, Serena was deeply touched by Lana Xavier personally coming to see her and considering her at every turn.

Lana Xavier didn’t come empty-handed; she bought beer, fried chicken, and some side dishes for drinking.

"Come on! Tonight, we drink till we drop!"

Serena didn’t really intend to drown her sorrows in alcohol, but sharing some drinks with her best friend to vent her pent-up emotions seemed nice.

Hardly had they started drinking when Lana Xavier began to rant drunkenly, cursing Caleb Lockwood, Justin Nash, Ian Blackwood, and even Peter.

"Honestly! Why? Why is it that only you’re vilified online, while those damned men get away with it?"