CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: HE CAN’T BEAR TO LET GO EITHER

Serena Jennings’ steps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds as she walked out; she suddenly felt she was being too presumptuous, that perhaps it would have been better if she didn’t show up.

Turning around to leave, her wrist was abruptly grabbed by Caleb Lockwood.

"Caleb, you’re hurting me..."

Caleb finally relaxed his grip a little when he saw Serena’s features contorted in pain.

"You can still feel pain, Serena? My mom was so upset by you that she ended up in the hospital..."

"I’m sorry."

Serena apologized of her own accord.

She truly hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point.

Caleb stood in front of her, glaring at her with such sharp eyes that it seemed he wanted to tear her apart.

"If anything happens to my mom, I’ll make sure you pay for it."

Caleb’s threat wasn’t maliciously harsh, but it weighed so heavily on Serena’s mind that she couldn’t breathe.

"Caleb!"

At this moment, Claire Shaw arrived.

She was hurried and flustered, clearly very anxious; her makeup was simple and elegant compared to usual, and she held her Hermès bag in her hand rather than wearing it, the strap swinging from her running strides.

Caleb immediately released Serena, the hand that was just gripping Serena’s arm now being held by Claire.

"Caleb, how is Aunt Young? I heard she fainted and immediately took leave to come over."

"She’s fine. The doctor said she was just a bit shocked, and a few days of rest will do. Don’t worry," Caleb reassured, patting Claire on the shoulder.

Serena watched from the side, observing the stark contrast in Caleb’s demeanor when facing her versus Claire, silently turning away.

"Who said you could leave?"

Caleb’s low voice sounded behind her, and Serena turned her head.

Their eyes met, and disappointment lingered in both their gazes.

"Didn’t you say I upset your mom so much she was hospitalized and wanted me to pay for it...am I staying here without the fear of worsening her condition?"

"She’s your mom too."

Caleb’s words left Serena stunned.

"Serena, was it you who upset Aunt Young so much that she fainted?" Claire was shocked, "You really need to be more careful; Aunt Young is your mother-in-law after all, and as a daughter-in-law, you should be more considerate and not so selfish..."

"I don’t need you to lecture me." Serena glared at Claire, whose eyes instantly reddened.

"Sorry, I spoke too much...I...I just wanted to help you reconcile..."

Claire was on the verge of tears, snuggling into Caleb’s embrace as he held her shoulder and said to Serena:

"You shocked my mom just now and now you’ve made Claire cry. Serena, I never knew you had such an impressive skill!"

Under Caleb’s fierce gaze, Serena opened her mouth with no words to utter.

What more could she say?

All the trouble was caused by her, and all the mistakes were hers.

At least, that’s how Caleb saw things.

Relatives from the Lockwood family gradually arrived, and Claire ordered delivery of various fruits and snacks, earning praises from the entire Lockwood clan.

Serena stood aside, feeling like an outsider.

When discussing who would stay at the hospital that night, the relatives suddenly thought of her.

"I know Caleb is filial, but in times like this, it must be the daughter-in-law’s duty to stay!"

"Yeah, if the daughter-in-law doesn’t step up, what’s the point of the Lockwood family raising her all these years?"

"She was the one who made little Young ill. It’s only right she takes on the responsibility of caregiving."

The hospital room was full of chatter, while Lilian Young lay silently eating the apple Claire fed her, tacitly agreeing.

"Aunt Young, how about...I stay to take care of you?"

As soon as Claire said this, Lilian Young was moved to tears.

"Look, look how considerate and understanding Claire is...someone else should really learn from her."

Even with Serena’s low presence, she couldn’t escape Lilian Young’s scornful look.

"But you have work, taking care at night would be too tiring, and if you don’t sleep well, how would you go to work the next day?" Caleb’s tone might still be indifferent, but everyone could sense his concern for Claire.

"You see, Claire, even if you want to, Caleb can’t bear it." Lucy Warren chimed in, and several relatives showered Claire with praise, leaving Claire blushing.

The atmosphere in the hospital room was harmonious until Caleb’s tall figure stood before Serena.

Everyone instinctively fell silent, focusing their attention on Caleb and Serena.

Claire, who was peeling an apple, slowly tightened her grip on the fruit knife.

She knew Caleb cared for her, but she genuinely wanted to stay to take care, not wanting to miss this opportunity to present herself well.

Serena raised her face to see Caleb’s deep eyes, like tequila with ice.

"You’re staying tonight."

It wasn’t a question, nor a negotiation; Caleb used a commanding tone.

Serena clenched her fist.

"I have a job too, and I need to work tomorrow."

"Then quit."

Seeing Serena’s eyes widen in disbelief, Caleb shrugged with a smile.

"You wouldn’t think your job is as important as Claire’s, right?"

Many of the Lockwood relatives weren’t aware that Serena was also a jewelry designer at FY.

Though the trending news mentioned it, their focus was on the ambiguous photos of Serena and Justin Nash.

Serena really wanted to remind Caleb that she and Claire worked in the same company, doing the same job.

But the words remained stuck in her throat.

Caleb couldn’t possibly not know.

It meant that in Caleb’s eyes, even though she and Claire were doing identical jobs, only Claire was considered important.

Claire’s work was indeed work, while hers could simply be resigned from.

Serena felt suffocated.

It’s not like she refused to stay.

After all, Lilian Young was hospitalized, and Serena had a responsibility; if Caleb and the Lockwood family weren’t so biased, she would’ve probably agreed.

"I don’t have time. You have plenty of money; hiring a caregiver is not difficult."

Leaving those words behind, Serena turned and walked away.

The entire corridor was filled with Lilian Young’s dissatisfaction: "Listen to that, is that even human speech? Our Lockwood family must be cursed for eight lifetimes to marry such a heartless thing!"

Serena didn’t look back, speeding up as she walked, unaware that Caleb was chasing her from behind.

Caleb was about to catch up with Serena in a few steps when suddenly he stopped.

He saw his grandfather arriving.

Lance Lockwood only gave him one look, and Caleb understood what his grandfather meant.

Serena didn’t expect Lance Lockwood to come.

However, with Lilian Young hospitalized, Lance Lockwood was obligated to visit her.

Sitting together on the bench outside the hospital wing, Serena and Lance Lockwood sat.

Though Lance Lockwood’s hair was white, he always wore suits, possessing an aura stronger than Caleb’s.

Serena guessed that Lance must have learned of the trending news involving her and Justin Nash. Lance was likely aware of the proposal of divorce that led Lilian Young to faint.

Her hands were clenched tightly.

Serena knew that Lance had heart problems, and feared upsetting him, so she merely explained that she and Caleb had quarreled and didn’t expect things to escalate so much.

After hearing Serena’s vague explanation, Lance Lockwood sighed: "Young people shouldn’t be too impulsive."

"Yes...Grandfather is right..."

Serena knew she had disappointed Lance Lockwood.

"There’s no marriage without arguments; it’s all part of the process of adapting...I know you work hard to take care of Caleb, and Caleb, this child, he has a strong sense of career ambition. Busy with work, he might have neglected you at times, but try to understand him..."