CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: IF YOU WANT TO VENT, GO FIND YOUR CLAIRE SHAW

Seeing Caleb Lockwood was a shock for Serena Jennings.

Caleb Lockwood’s presence was so overwhelming that just standing there made Lana Xavier and Justin Nash silent as if facing a threat.

Serena Jennings could tell Caleb Lockwood wasn’t there accidentally; he seemed to have come specifically to find her.

Caleb Lockwood didn’t speak, just stared at her intensely, his eyes like needles making her anxious.

"You’ve been investigating me..."

Caleb Lockwood’s voice was cold, giving no hint of emotion.

Before Serena Jennings could confirm or deny, he grabbed her arm and pulled her up from the chair.

Lana Xavier and Justin Nash naturally couldn’t just watch as Caleb Lockwood dragged Serena Jennings away.

"I prefer to talk to my wife alone without outsiders present."

Caleb Lockwood countered casually, leaving Lana Xavier and Justin Nash speechless.

The two were increasingly unable to keep up with Caleb Lockwood and Serena Jennings, who were walking ahead.

Serena Jennings was continuously dragged along by Caleb Lockwood into the elevator.

Caleb Lockwood’s grip was strong, and she couldn’t break free.

Even after entering the elevator, Caleb Lockwood held her arm tightly.

Serena Jennings saw Caleb Lockwood press the button for the 77th floor, and she knew that there was a hotel above.

She didn’t ask Caleb Lockwood what he intended to do because she felt he wouldn’t answer; asking would be pointless.

It took a bit of time to reach the 77th floor, where Caleb Lockwood scanned a key card and pushed Serena Jennings into a guest room.

The room was astonishingly large, likely the most expensive presidential suite in this Michelin three-key hotel.

Serena Jennings couldn’t help but sneeze as Caleb Lockwood’s voice emerged beside her:

"FY has incredibly high standards for employees; how did you get in?"

Serena Jennings tilted her head slightly, avoiding Caleb Lockwood’s sharp gaze.

"I applied normally."

Caleb Lockwood chuckled.

"What HR would hire someone with only a high school diploma?"

Serena Jennings’s hands gradually clenched into fists.

Her limited education felt like a blemish on her life.

"Don’t you know why I only have a high school diploma?"

Caleb Lockwood paused for a moment, then inserted his hands in his pockets and shrugged with a smile, "Are you saying your lack of education is my fault?"

"You asked me to give up my studies to marry you, saying you’d take care of me..."

"So did I force you to agree to marry me?"

Caleb Lockwood coldly interrupted Serena Jennings.

"Would you reject my proposal?"

"..."

"Would you disagree when I ask you to quit school?"

"..."

"And, haven’t I provided for you in the three years of marriage?"

Facing Caleb Lockwood’s convincing arguments, Serena Jennings no longer wanted to say anything.

In front of Caleb Lockwood, she seemed never to be in the right.

Yes, Caleb Lockwood had done nothing wrong.

She could only blame her own hopeless romanticism.

Serena Jennings’s long nails dug into her palms, turning them red, but still couldn’t suppress the pain in her heart.

Seeing Serena Jennings’s teary eyes, her slender body trembling, Caleb Lockwood sighed lightly.

"I’m not here to argue with you today..."

His gaze fell to Serena Jennings’s arm; her fair skin made the red marks stand out.

Caleb Lockwood frowned, realizing he had held Serena Jennings too tightly earlier.

Without a word, he walked into the suite and returned with a large bouquet of vibrant red roses.

Serena Jennings now understood why she had sneezed upon entering this suite.

"Since you’ve been investigating me, you should know I haven’t cheated..."

Hugging the bouquet of roses, Caleb Lockwood appeared incredibly romantic, yet his sculpted face remained stern.

"I don’t care whose connections got you into FY, but if you dare betray me, I’ll definitely make you pay."

Despite the harsh words, Caleb Lockwood handed the flowers to Serena Jennings.

"Since you don’t like pink roses, I bought red ones this time... Also, you don’t need to compare yourself to Claire; she got into FY because she’s exceptional. It’s natural that you’re not as good, and I don’t necessarily need an overly exceptional woman as a wife."

Seeing Serena Jennings not accepting the bouquet, Caleb Lockwood forcibly shoved it into her arms and hugged her shoulder, leading her into the suite.

This signal made Serena Jennings’s body stiffen.

She promptly returned the flowers to Caleb Lockwood and turned to leave.

Caleb Lockwood certainly didn’t give her this opportunity.

He pressed Serena Jennings against the wall and bent his head to kiss her.

Serena Jennings struggled fiercely.

In Caleb Lockwood’s memory, Serena Jennings had never resisted him so much.

"Caleb Lockwood, I’ve already asked you for a divorce, you can’t do this to me!"

Hearing the word "divorce" once again from Serena Jennings’s mouth, Caleb Lockwood felt quite annoyed.

"Playing these tactics excessively becomes pointless, Serena. I won’t divorce. Meeting my needs is your duty as my lawful wife."

Caleb Lockwood had said this to her more than once.

Being a housewife was her duty.

Providing him with release was also her duty.

Serena Jennings still remembered the night of her miscarriage; Caleb Lockwood had forced her using "duty."

And then, she lost her child.

Slap!

The presidential suite suddenly fell silent.

Caleb Lockwood was unaware of how he got slapped until the burning sensation slowly crept up his face.

He looked at Serena Jennings, whose eyes were red, in shock.

Serena Jennings’s complexion was a cool white, warm under the redness, and she was gazing angry defiance at him, her eyes bright with stubborn flames.

"Caleb Lockwood, I’m not playing hard to get. Go vent on Claire Shaw, don’t touch me!"

Serena Jennings roared, her voice growing hoarse.

Caleb Lockwood glanced at Serena Jennings’s righteous indignation and smiled after a moment.

This smile tightened Serena Jennings’s chest.

He pulled out his phone and made a call, his charming smile always curled upwards.

"Caleb?"

When the call connected, Caleb Lockwood pressed the speakerphone.

Claire Shaw’s sweet voice came from the phone.

"Didn’t you say you had a business dinner tonight? Why are you calling me?"

"The business is done. Just wanted to know what you’re doing?" Caleb Lockwood spoke to Claire Shaw, yet his eyes remained fixed on Serena Jennings.

Serena Jennings’s face turned pale.

"I’m putting on a face mask right now!" Claire Shaw said on the other end.

"So you’ve already showered?"

The question was asked so naturally by Caleb Lockwood, as if aware of Claire Shaw’s evening routine.

This question seemed very sexually suggestive to Serena Jennings.

After that, Caleb Lockwood and Claire Shaw continued chatting, but Serena Jennings didn’t listen.

"I’ll come over to your place now."

After ending the call, Caleb Lockwood exited the room without looking at Serena Jennings.

The suite was left with only disheveled Serena Jennings and the crushed red rose scattered on the floor.

Serena Jennings crouched down, tightly hugging her knees, her chest ached to the point of suffocation.

Her hands trembled, and the phone on the ground vibrated.

"...Hello?"

She picked the phone up, trying to sound calm.