CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: LOVE BITE

When Lana Xavier and Justin Nash reached the 77th floor, one of the guest room doors was open.

They immediately ran over and, unsurprisingly, saw Serena Jennings.

Serena had already tidied up her clothes and even redone her hair.

However, Lana Xavier and Justin Nash could both tell that something had definitely happened between Serena and Caleb Lockwood; otherwise, they couldn’t explain the scattered rose petals everywhere.

They were worried about Serena, so they called her. Serena told them she was on the 77th floor but hadn’t paid attention to the room number.

Lana had put the call on speakerphone; even though Serena did a good job of pretending, both she and Justin could hear that Serena’s voice had changed.

"Serena, where’s that jerk?" Lana Xavier was ready to fight.

Serena replied nonchalantly, "He left... went to find Claire Shaw."

"Damn!"

On the way down in the elevator, Lana Xavier kept cursing Caleb Lockwood. Serena was afraid Justin Nash might find it annoying, but Justin said he loved hearing people curse Caleb Lockwood and encouraged Lana.

Lana Xavier didn’t go home that night; she stayed at Serena’s place to keep her company. Serena initially said there was no need for Lana to stay. She didn’t want to trouble her friends as an adult.

Serena admitted that Caleb Lockwood had given her a significant fright and hurt her a lot that night. However, she was an adult, not a child, and needed to solve her own problems.

Moreover, Lana Xavier had work the next day, and staying here would be too far for her.

But no matter what Serena said, Lana insisted on staying, and Justin also persuaded her to let Lana stay. Finally, Serena had to compromise.

This old house on Vornath Street wasn’t large; though it was a suite, there was only one bed.

"Sorry to trouble you, Lana."

"What trouble? Sharing a bed with you is no trouble at all."

Serena was amused by Lana Xavier.

Both had work the next day, but neither could sleep. They lay in bed chatting, as if they were back in their high school dorm days.

Back then, Serena often chatted with Lana at night, talking into the early morning hours, and neither of them wanted to get up when the alarm kept ringing the next day.

"Tell me, Serena, what exactly do you like about Caleb Lockwood?"

Lana turned over, curious.

"Besides being especially handsome, tall, fit, wealthy, capable, a CEO of a listed company, and from a good family background... does he have any other merits?"

Serena was caught between laughter and tears.

She didn’t know whether Lana’s words were meant to demean Caleb Lockwood or praise him.

The bedroom was silent. Serena thought for a while and said softly, "Caleb Lockwood... was my first love."

"Didn’t you meet him in college? He had a car accident, and you saved him..."

Lana remembered correctly, "First loves are hard to let go of, but you were already an adult then. Don’t tell me that’s why you’re so devoted to Caleb Lockwood?"

Serena shook her head, a hint of regret and blame in her tone, "I actually knew Caleb Lockwood long ago, but Caleb forgot about me."

"Wow, he’s been a jerk since he was young!"

When Lana said this, even though it was dark around, she saw the bitter smile on Serena’s face.

"He wasn’t a jerk back then... he was rather cool."

As the image of Caleb Lockwood, rebellious yet dignified in the reformatory, flashed in her mind, the bitter smile on Serena’s face grew shyer.

"Girl, you’re in late-stage love brain. How old were you then?"

"About 13, I think!"

"That’s exactly when the love-brain phase attacks."

Serena didn’t deny Lana’s words. She felt she was quite a love-brain; otherwise, she wouldn’t have willingly been a housewife for three years for Caleb Lockwood.

If it weren’t for the accidental discovery of that form, and if Claire Shaw hadn’t returned to the country, she might have continued like that, immersed in the fantasy of Caleb Lockwood deeply loving her, self-satisfied.

"So in high school, you always refused Ethan White. I was wondering why, and now I understand it was because of Caleb Lockwood."

When Lana mentioned Ethan White, Serena felt a bit stuffy inside.

The bedroom went quiet, and Lana patted her forehead.

"Sorry, sorry, my bad, let’s talk about something else... like Justin Nash? He’s not bad-looking; even if he’s no Caleb Lockwood, he’s still a young hunk."

"A married woman seducing a college boy?" Serena couldn’t help but laugh.

"Why not? Your husband’s still out there, not being a decent married man, hanging around with that conniving flirt every day."

Every time Caleb Lockwood was mentioned, Lana had nothing good to say.

Serena picked up her phone to check the time and inadvertently opened her social circle.

Caleb rarely posted in the social circle, but he posted something unprecedented tonight, with a photo. The picture was of a bedroom Serena didn’t recognize with its decor and the conspicuous double bed in the middle.

However, she understood Patrick Rhodes’ reply below.

Patrick Rhodes: "Blew me off for a drink, turns out to be accompanying the wife, prioritizing romance over friendship."

"Your scummy husband again?"

Lana immediately knew it had to do with Caleb Lockwood just from Serena’s expression.

"Nothing much, just Caleb made a post from Claire Shaw’s place."

"Wow, seriously shameless! Taunting you?"

"Probably!"

Serena sighed and briefly recounted to Lana what happened between her and Caleb in the hotel room.

"I was the one who told him to find Claire Shaw, so maybe he posted that for me to see...?"

Serena’s tone became increasingly uncertain.

Saying Caleb made the post for her, but does Caleb really care that much about her feelings?

Maybe not!

"You too, can’t let it go," Lana couldn’t help lightly tapping Serena’s head, "You two aren’t even divorced. With someone as handsome as Caleb, you should be sleeping with him, then throw him two hundred bucks, tell him that’s all his skills were worth."

"Lana, you read too many romance novels." Serena was left speechless, yet amused.

As expected, Serena and Lana both ended up late the next day.

Joining them in tardiness was Claire Shaw.

In the office, Heather Monroe scolded Serena thoroughly, and when Serena returned to her desk, Chantelle Stone and Megan Ross were still mocking her.

Meanwhile, Claire Shaw was also late, yet Heather Monroe only mildly commented, "Even if you’re in love, it shouldn’t interfere with work!"

"Sorry, team leader, I was too tired last night..." Claire Shaw blushed deeply, deliberately tugging at her shirt collar.

Everyone in the office saw the red marks on Claire Shaw’s white skin.

Including Serena.

"Are those love bites?" Chantelle Stone was keen for gossip with Megan Ross, "Seeing how shy and happy Claire looks, her boyfriend must be amazing in that department."

"Amazing and wealthy too. I heard all her branded stuff was gifted by her boyfriend."

"Ah... I want a boyfriend like that too."

Chantelle Stone and Megan Ross were filled with envy.

Meanwhile, the pen in Serena’s hand remained motionless; the design inspiration that had once surged vanished completely.

For the development of the new product line, Heather Monroe had all team members submit ten design drafts each. In the end, Claire Shaw had three designs selected, while everyone else had one draft selected.

Not a single one of Serena’s was chosen.

As soon as it was lunch break, she knocked on Heather Monroe’s office door.