CHAPTER 178: CHAPTER 178: GIVING HER A TITLE

Does Serena blame Caleb Lockwood?

Of course she does.

She blames Caleb Lockwood for choosing Claire Shaw over her;

She blames Caleb Lockwood for kicking her when she was down as public opinion fermented;

She blames Caleb Lockwood for not reaching out to her struggling studio;

She blames Caleb Lockwood for many, many things...

She blames him—

Why couldn’t he recognize that she was Ellie from back then!

Serena and Caleb Lockwood exchanged looks for a while, and a touch of sarcasm appeared on her smile.

"You think too highly of yourself."

She once blamed him.

But now, she no longer does.

Because blaming Caleb Lockwood would only add more cracks to her already shattered heart.

The one she should blame most is herself for being blind.

When she saw someone rushing inside from outside, Serena’s eyes lit up, and she proactively greeted them.

Her figure left Caleb Lockwood’s sight, and his hand moved slightly but didn’t reach out.

He had a feeling—

Even if he reached out, he wouldn’t be able to grasp Serena.

When Patrick Rhodes saw that the grand hall of Riverview Imperial was not only occupied by Serena and the bodyguards of the Queen of Ydris but also Caleb Lockwood, Claire Shaw, and Cynthia Fulton, he immediately mouthed to Serena:

Are you setting me up?

Serena only mentioned on the phone about a big project for him, providing hotel and security for the Queen of Ydris.

But she never told him that the project originally belonged to The Lockwood Family and The Fulton Family.

Great, he’s now offended both families in one go.

Serena didn’t intentionally set up Patrick Rhodes.

Among the people she knew, Patrick Rhodes was the only one capable of providing a decent residence and security for Queen Elizabeth.

She still remembers when Felix Shepherd invited her to the hotel, it was Patrick Rhodes who stormed in and drove Felix Shepherd away.

Back then, Patrick Rhodes said that The Violet Hotel was owned by his family.

Patrick Rhodes arrived at Serena’s side, awkwardly greeted Caleb Lockwood, Claire Shaw, and Cynthia Fulton opposite them.

He looked at his current position, as if he had already chosen sides with Serena, openly opposing both The Lockwood Family and The Fulton Family.

Serena looked at Patrick Rhodes’s expression and knew what he was thinking.

"Sorry, if you feel I made it difficult for you, just pretend I never called you," Serena said softly to Patrick Rhodes.

"You’ve truly put me in a tough spot!"

Patrick Rhodes intended to speak softly.

But due to his naturally loud voice, everyone in the hall could hear those words.

Claire Shaw couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

She laughed at Serena.

She thought Serena would contact some impressive network, but it turned out to be their old acquaintance Patrick Rhodes.

Recently, Claire Shaw noticed Patrick Rhodes’s mind was no longer on her.

But regardless, Patrick Rhodes was still Caleb Lockwood’s sidekick, a follower, and even with a hundred guts, he wouldn’t dare steal a project from The Lockwood Group.

"Patrick Rhodes..."

Serena was about to ask Patrick Rhodes if there’s any suitable place for Queen Elizabeth to stay, when Patrick Rhodes courteously bowed to Queen Elizabeth.

"Your Majesty, our Paxton Family’s Violet Hotel is willing to serve you."

Serena couldn’t help but say "Huh."

"Didn’t you say you were in a dilemma?"

"I’d rather be in a dilemma than let Her Majesty the Queen be in one, right?"

The reason Patrick Rhodes gave made Serena feel it wasn’t very convincing.

Just like that, Queen Elizabeth left Riverview Imperial accompanied by Serena and Patrick Rhodes.

Throughout this process, Patrick Rhodes didn’t make eye contact with Caleb Lockwood, Claire Shaw, or Cynthia Fulton even once.

"Serena really is something..."

Claire Shaw stood beside Caleb Lockwood, expressing her admiration:

"She not only managed to win over Queen Elizabeth with just a meal, securing a project for herself, but also enticed Patrick Rhodes with a few words... It seems we’ve been fooled all along; she isn’t as innocent as she appears, maybe after the divorce she ran out of financial means, and needed Patrick Rhodes to maintain her extravagant lifestyle!"

Claire Shaw spoke softly, noticing Caleb Lockwood’s persistent silence, she tried to retract her words.

"But it’s not Serena’s fault either; it’s hard to climb without some cunning these days. At least knowing Patrick Rhodes has her back, we can be at ease... Initially, I thought she was struggling when I saw her working as a waitress here, but now I understand she was just trying to get close to Queen Elizabeth..."

Claire Shaw wasn’t ignorant to the fact her words were a bit much, but Serena calling Patrick Rhodes here to snatch their project was an established fact happening before them, not something she made up.

As long as her words can act like seeds, planted in Caleb Lockwood’s heart, they will eventually take root and grow.

Caleb Lockwood was silent for quite a long time.

His expression was cold, like the snow on a mountaintop that never melts.

Claire Shaw couldn’t guess Caleb Lockwood’s thoughts.

"I’ll go return the medicine box."

Finally, Caleb Lockwood spoke.

A medicine box, something so trivial, could be returned by anyone, yet...

Before Claire Shaw could speak, Caleb Lockwood had already walked away.

Caleb’s hand tightly clutched the handle of the medicine box, never letting go even when he had gripped it until it snapped.

In the restroom, Cynthia Fulton encountered Claire Shaw, and began swearing without any regard for the image of a wealthy heiress.

If it weren’t for Claire Shaw’s little tricks against Serena tonight, Serena wouldn’t have appeared before Queen Elizabeth, and none of the subsequent events would have happened.

Like the butterfly effect.

Was the one who embarrassed tonight Serena?

It was none other than her, Cynthia Fulton!

"Alright, alright, what’s the point in cursing me? Do you think I’m pleased to see Serena get such a big bargain?"

Claire Shaw was at a loss, only fighting back after Cynthia Fulton was done:

"I also lost a project because of Serena... It all comes down to Serena and whatever she said to Queen Elizabeth during dinner, because after the Queen came out, her attitude towards both of us changed immediately..."

Thinking of this matter, Claire Shaw couldn’t help but get angry.

The Queen’s Crown project of Ydris was something she requested Caleb Lockwood to help contact, and Caleb Lockwood pulled quite a few strings.

Though Queen Elizabeth said they would still pay the remaining balance, was this about whether the balance would be paid or not?

The jewelry design circle is so small, and it won’t be long before everyone in the industry knows that the crown designed by Claire Shaw for the Queen of Ydris had missing diamonds, and it was repaired by a designer expelled from the jewelry industry, who then replaced her to remake the crown.

She would be laughed at by her peers!

Claire Shaw’s face was gloomy.

And it wasn’t just her career; she didn’t get what she wanted in terms of her sentiments either.

Clearly, Caleb Lockwood agreed before, after divorcing Serena, he would give her the status.

Now they’re both divorced, but there’s no sign of the promised status.

Claire Shaw was anxious, but dare not inquire.

As Caleb Lockwood’s beloved first love, when did she fall into such a humble position?

Claire Shaw blamed all these on Serena.

"Serena is really redundant..."

The failure to eliminate her last time in Meridia was indeed a misstep...

"Cynthia Fulton, we can’t have internal strife."

Claire Shaw stared intensely at Cynthia Fulton.

"Serena has caused us such misery; we must make her pay the price!"