CHAPTER 175: CHAPTER 175: WHO WILL MARRY YOU

Cynthia Fulton turned her head and looked at Claire Shaw coldly.

Riverview Imperial is now the property of the Fulton Family, and tonight’s dinner was hosted by her, to entertain Queen Elizabeth of Ydris.

That top-notch Emperor Crab from the Bering Sea cost her a lot, just to please Queen Elizabeth and increase investment in the undersea tunnel.

In the end, it wasn’t a professional who came to dismantle the crab, but Serena Jennings.

The most crucial point was, there were no prepared tools for dismantling.

Cynthia Fulton wasn’t stupid; this arrangement was definitely Claire Shaw’s doing.

On dealing with Serena Jennings, she and Claire Shaw were on a unified front, after all, an enemy’s enemy is a friend.

But she didn’t trust Claire Shaw.

If not for leaning on Caleb Lockwood, with the Shaw family’s background, she wouldn’t even deserve to share a table with her.

Claire Shaw pretended not to notice the icy gaze Cynthia Fulton directed at her, her smile was like an unremovable mask.

Indeed, it was she who had the manager arrange for Serena Jennings to dismantle the crab.

It was also she who secretly told the kitchen to remove all the crab dismantling tools.

Even if Serena Jennings turned to ask the kitchen now, they would tell her the tools couldn’t be found.

Claire Shaw just wanted to make things difficult for Serena Jennings, to see Serena make a fool of herself.

Anyway, even if Serena annoyed Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth would only take it out on Cynthia Fulton.

Seeing Serena standing stunned at the table, Caleb Lockwood stood up.

"Let me do it!"

Caleb Lockwood’s words shocked Claire Shaw to the core.

Is Caleb Lockwood feeling sorry for Serena again?

"As the only male here, it’s my duty to dismantle the crab."

Caleb Lockwood spoke softly, with gentlemanly manners.

Queen Elizabeth couldn’t help but applaud.

"No wonder President Lockwood, such gentlemanly grace!"

Caleb Lockwood held the dining knife, with his strength, even with a dining knife, he could dismantle the crab.

"There’s no need to trouble yourself."

Serena looked at Caleb Lockwood and made a formal gesture of "please."

"Sir, please have a seat."

Caleb Lockwood’s gaze turned cold, and he softly said:

"Don’t be stubborn."

Queen Elizabeth silently watched, her gaze becoming increasingly intrigued.

She always felt that Caleb Lockwood seemed to know this female server.

Serena gave Caleb Lockwood a calm and confident smile.

Caleb Lockwood sighed lightly and handed the dining knife to Serena.

Serena didn’t take it.

Caleb Lockwood had no choice but to sit down, his brows still furrowed.

Serena’s gaze moved from Caleb Lockwood to Claire Shaw.

She understood that it was Claire Shaw who was setting her up.

Because Cynthia Fulton, as the host, wouldn’t make a joke of this dinner.

Claire Shaw rested her cheek on her hand, waiting to see the show.

She just wanted to see how Serena would dismantle the crab barehanded.

Serena turned to face Queen Elizabeth and borrowed two dining knives, one of which was a very sharp steak knife, speaking fluently in a foreign language.

"You can speak our Ydris language, how impressive."

Queen Elizabeth was thrilled.

The native language of Ydris is actually quite niche, usually they speak English abroad.

Caleb Lockwood, Claire Shaw, and Cynthia Fulton looked at Serena with eyes full of amazement.

Especially Caleb Lockwood.

Claire Shaw, sitting beside Caleb Lockwood, couldn’t ignore the surprise in his eyes.

"Miss Fulton has been thoughtful, even training the staff in Ydris language."

After Claire Shaw spoke, Queen Elizabeth suddenly realized.

"So that’s it, Miss Fulton has put in effort."

"No, no, it’s what should be done."

Cynthia Fulton glanced at Claire Shaw, who wore a smile of accomplishment.

Serena silently dismantled her crab.

Although a woman’s strength is not as great as a man’s, the leverage principle could be applied using two dining knives to pry open the crab shell, and the sharp steak knife could be used to slice open the membranes of the crab legs. As for the crab pincers, a bit more effort was needed, requiring precision strikes with the knife handle on the weak joints.

Fortunately, Ethan White had taught her how to dismantle Emperor Crab with a fruit knife before.

It was back in high school, her first time skipping class, guided by the top student Ethan White, sneaking away to a private party.

Generally, the more people at a party, the better the fun.

But on that occasion, it was just her and Ethan White.

Ethan White got hold of a gigantic Emperor Crab.

As a child, Serena ate a lot of Emperor Crab, but all in restaurants.

It was her first time dismantling a crab herself.

Ethan White was truly a good teacher, teaching her well, and she learned quickly.

Serena still remembered what Ethan White said to her back then:

"You’re very talented in cooking, one day you’ll surely be a very virtuous wife, whoever marries you will be the happiest man in the world."

Back then, Ethan White’s smile was incredibly radiant.

However...

Serena reminisced about her high school days with Ethan White while slowly setting down the dining knife.

The Emperor Crab was dismantled, the crab meat was intact, preserving its deliciousness.

Queen Elizabeth couldn’t help but exclaim, "Such beautiful technique, it’s like magic... Miss Fulton, is this lady one of your chefs here?"

Cynthia Fulton forced a smile, her lips twitching.

With Queen Elizabeth praising Serena excessively, Cynthia Fulton and Claire Shaw had no choice but to concur.

Only Caleb Lockwood remained silent.

During Serena’s crab dismantling, he stared intently at Serena, intrigued at first.

He was curious how Serena would dismantle such a large Emperor Crab with dining knives.

But gradually, his focus shifted.

Serena, while dismantling the crab, wore a smile.

It was as if she was recalling something joyous, lost in memories, unable to extricate herself.

The brighter Serena’s smile became, the more discomfort Caleb Lockwood felt.

He had a feeling:

What Serena was recalling, what brought her happiness—

had nothing to do with him.

Caleb Lockwood didn’t know what Serena was reminiscing about.

Or rather, who she was reminiscing about.

This unknown left him uneasy.

At the end of dismantling, Serena’s smile faded, replaced by sadness in her eyes.

Caleb Lockwood, taking in these expressions, stood up.

"Sorry, I need to excuse myself for a moment."

He spoke to Queen Elizabeth, then turned and left the private room.

At the room’s entrance, he paused briefly, casting a sidelong glance at Serena.

Serena didn’t look back at him.

After Caleb Lockwood left the private room, Queen Elizabeth suddenly let out a gasp.

"Oh dear, the diamond fell off this crown!"

Claire Shaw stood up as if struck by lightning.

"That’s impossible!"

She immediately picked up the crown to inspect, finding indeed that the round diamonds used to create the angel wings beside the main stone had fallen off, and more than one.

Claire Shaw’s face went pale instantly.

Queen Elizabeth didn’t look pleased either.

She had admired Claire Shaw’s design, but a newly acquired crown losing diamonds could only prove Claire Shaw’s craftsmanship was lacking.

At this moment, Serena’s voice sounded slowly and coldly from behind Claire Shaw:

"You used round diamonds... and still wanted to do invisible setting?"