CHAPTER 258: CHAPTER 258: WE CAN START OVER

Caleb Lockwood spoke these words with utmost seriousness.

If he were to kneel right then, it would be a classic proposal.

If it were someone else, Caleb Lockwood wouldn’t need to kneel; just a glimpse of that dazzling diamond ring would be enough to move anyone to tears.

However, Serena Jennings’ eyes remained calm.

The dazzling jewels—

To her, they were merely a part of the job, nothing more.

"Is this for me?"

She asked calmly.

"Yes."

Caleb affirmed decisively.

Next, he saw Serena displaying a brilliant yet strange smile.

"Is it because Claire became a disgrace and you couldn’t give her the ring, or are you congratulating me for successfully taking over the Lockwood Group?"

With that, Serena pushed Caleb aside and walked into the pouring rain, despite not having an umbrella.

Caleb discarded his umbrella and quickly caught up with Serena.

"That’s not what I meant!"

He grabbed Serena’s arm only to have her fiercely shake him off.

Standing in the torrential rain, both of them were instantly drenched.

The thunder and rain drowned out most sounds around, forcing Caleb to shout.

"Serena, you can have the Lockwood Group. We can start over."

Caleb’s words made Serena’s face immediately turn cold.

"You speak as if the Lockwood Group is a gift from you... but I gained it through my own efforts."

Faced with Serena’s imposing presence, Caleb hesitated.

Did Serena really acquire the Lockwood Group by herself?

Yes...

And no.

When Caleb noticed "Star of Tomorrow," a newly established company in Country C, absorbing shares from their Lockwood Group, he secretly investigated.

As expected, the company’s legal representative was Serena.

He saw that Serena wanted to seize control of his Lockwood Group.

Just like Justin Nash and another company.

Caleb’s poison pill strategy effectively prevented other companies from hostile takeover attempts, including Serena’s "Star of Tomorrow."

However, before initiating the poison pill, he included "Star of Tomorrow" on the whitelist.

Thus, Serena was able to acquire so many shares of the Lockwood Group.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that he handed the Lockwood Group over to Serena.

This ring was never meant for Claire but was meticulously chosen for Serena.

If the incident with Claire being assaulted hadn’t happened, he would have carefully arranged a romantic candlelit dinner to formally ask Serena to give him another chance.

Instead of in such a storm.

But Caleb couldn’t wait any longer.

The longer he delayed, the further he felt Serena was drifting away from him.

Just as he realized Serena wanted the Lockwood Group, he decided to package the company and the ring together for her.

Perhaps...

It could win Serena back.

"Serena, my words about no longer loving Claire Shaw were sincere... without Claire... we could start over..."

No sooner had Caleb finished speaking than the ring in his hand was slapped to the ground by Serena.

"Start over?"

Serena’s eyes widened, tinged with red, her voice slightly trembling.

"You deliberately caused the demise of our child..."

Like a blow to the head, Caleb’s eyes widened.

"You pursued me initially just to get back at Claire Shaw. Once she returned from abroad, you favored her in everything, supported her, stood by her... simply because she was your first love? So I made it easier for both of you by divorcing you... and now you realized Claire Shaw isn’t a good woman, and I’ve become the largest shareholder of the Lockwood Group... so now you come to pursue me again? Or is this another directive from your dad? To reclaim the shares after winning me back?"

These words seemed ridiculous even to Serena herself.

Caleb Lockwood... when did he become so calculating and self-serving?

Or was she wrong about him from the very beginning?

Was it just the nostalgia of a first love and the thrill of the chase?

Serena didn’t know.

She felt she didn’t understand Caleb Lockwood anymore.

And she no longer wanted to understand.

"I’m not your fallback option, Caleb Lockwood... a broken mirror won’t be restored, that’s just a novel plot."

Along with the cold rainwater filling her ears was Serena’s even colder voice.

A broken mirror won’t be restored, that’s just a novel plot—

Ethan White had said the exact same thing to him before.

Caleb clenched his fists, watching helplessly as Serena walked away and got into the white BMW Series 3.

As the parking space emptied, it was soon occupied by another car.

A red Ferrari sports car.

Even on a rainy day, its unique paint was eye-catching.

Caleb saw the car and frowned.

When the driver got out, his frown deepened, his gaze fierce.

Justin Nash walked up to Caleb, umbrella in hand, standing before him.

"Are you here to laugh at me?"

Caleb asked coldly.

"Yes."

Justin answered straightforwardly.

In fact, he was here to congratulate Serena.

Congratulate her for becoming the largest shareholder of the Lockwood Group.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving at Serena’s company, he witnessed Serena and Caleb arguing in the rain.

Though he couldn’t hear the specifics, it was clear Caleb was the one being rejected.

Justin really wanted to laugh, so he did.

"Caleb Lockwood, even you’ve fallen to this day..."

Company takeover, relationship setback—

It’s truly a cause for celebration.

In stark contrast to Justin’s smiling face, was Caleb’s expression.

Caleb’s expression was filled with hatred—

The object of hatred was Justin.

Caleb clearly remembered when Serena, right after their divorce in Meridia, had gone to be with Justin.

So when Serena was suffering from online vitriol, bankrupt, and isolated, he hadn’t extended a helping hand.

At that time, he intended for Serena to hit rock bottom.

Only then might Serena regret the divorce.

He had always believed... Serena couldn’t possibly leave him...

But...

Caleb clenched his teeth tightly.

"Justin Nash, if it weren’t for you, I’d have never treated Serena that way, and she wouldn’t hate me so much..."

Justin shrugged with a mocking smile.

"Caleb Lockwood, not wanting to admit you’re a jerk is one thing, but blaming me is another... I truly can’t fathom what Serena saw in you back then? She even said I couldn’t compare to you... without me, Serena would have died at the abandoned pier in Meridia!"

"What did you say?"

Caleb stepped forward.

"What do you mean, died at the abandoned pier? Tell me clearly, why was Serena at the abandoned pier?"

"How would I know?"

Justin was still puzzled by the mystery surrounding that incident.

But in any case, he did save Serena’s life.

"Someone sent me a photo of Serena’s phone, the background was the abandoned pier. I feared for Serena’s safety and went to look for her, only to find her passed out, drenched, as if she climbed up from the sea... and her hand was injured, her wrists were all bruised, looking like they were tied by a rope..."

As Justin spoke, images from the video call Dylan Quinn had made during Claire’s kidnapping flashed through Caleb’s mind.