CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER 261: YOUR MOM IS JUST A WHORE

"Please... don’t go..."

"Why? Why... won’t you look at me?"

"Don’t leave me alone..."

In a blur, Caleb Lockwood saw a child around three or four years old.

It was a little boy.

But he couldn’t see the boy’s face clearly.

The little boy lived in a very large house.

But aside from him, there was no one else there.

The empty mansion felt like a haunted house.

How long had it been since he last saw his father?

He didn’t know.

How long had it been since he last saw his mother?

He didn’t know either.

The only person he could see was the servant hired by his parents.

He wouldn’t go hungry; the servant would cook for him.

But when it thundered and rained, he couldn’t snuggle into his parents’ embrace.

He reached out his small, powerless hands as if seeking rescue from the servant.

He hoped the servant would pick him up, kiss him, and comfort him.

"Little master, if you stay inside the house, you won’t be afraid of the thunder."

The servant held the little boy’s hand, led him to the bedroom, sat him on the bed, checked the windows, and then closed the door tightly.

No matter how soundproof the house was, the thunder still roared beside the little boy’s ears. He curled up under the blanket, his small body trembling.

...

Today was the little boy’s birthday.

Usually, the servant would make three dishes, but today she made five.

No cake.

No candles.

Even though their family could afford it.

But no one prepared it for him.

So there was no wish-making.

The little boy knew that even if he wished, it wouldn’t come true.

"Little master, take your time eating!"

The large dining table was filled with dishes; the small boy ate—

All alone.

The little boy ate silently, shedding silent tears.

Every dish tasted a bit bitter.

...

"Auntie, where’s my daddy?"

"Little master, President Lockwood is very busy with work. You need to be understanding and obedient."

...

"Mommy, I miss you..."

"Who’s your mom? Get lost."

...

"Daddy, I want mommy..."

"Want what mommy? Your mom’s just a bitch!"

...

In the dark, the little boy cried out loud.

When he lowered his hands from his reddened eyes, Caleb Lockwood finally saw the little boy’s face clearly.

Suddenly opening his eyes wide, Caleb Lockwood’s terrified gaze reflected a familiar face.

This face made him almost think he was still dreaming.

Serena Jennings had never seen Caleb Lockwood display such an expression.

What kind of dream was it to scare him like this?

She and Caleb Lockwood locked eyes; their gazes met for a long time before the fear in Caleb Lockwood’s eyes gradually faded away.

Caleb Lockwood didn’t ask Serena Jennings why she was here.

More important than the reason was the fact that Serena Jennings appeared before him.

Caleb Lockwood’s memory was actually fragmented.

The final recollection stayed in his mind as the juvenile detention center on a stormy night.

So had he fainted?

Caleb Lockwood couldn’t recall.

He only knew he felt parched, weak, and very uncomfortable.

Without touching his forehead, he knew he must have a fever now.

An IV was administered to his right hand, several medicine bottles hung.

"Thank you... for coming to take care of me..."

Caleb Lockwood rasped as he thanked Serena Jennings.

Serena Jennings looked at Caleb Lockwood’s pale and haggard face, her eyes impassive and devoid of joy or sorrow.

"You don’t need to thank me, you should thank Mr. Miller."

As Serena said this, she handed Caleb Lockwood the thermometer she had flicked ready.

Whether it was due to Caleb Lockwood’s illness or simply the vulnerability of people when sick, Caleb’s eyes were full of gratitude, as though his feelings for her ran deep.

Yet all she did was hand him a thermometer.

Serena Jennings was originally planning to go to the Lockwood Group, but received a call from Mr. Miller saying Caleb Lockwood had been caught in the rain all night and the fever wouldn’t subside.

"So his fever won’t go down, and instead of finding a doctor, you call me for what?"

Serena’s question was direct, her tone also quite rude.

"Miss Jennings... President Lockwood needs you."

After hearing Mr. Miller’s earnest words, Serena replied:

"Oh."

Then she hung up.

Whether Caleb Lockwood truly needed her, she wasn’t sure.

Even if he did need her, why should she go?

She, unlike Mr. Miller, wasn’t Caleb Lockwood’s assistant, ready at his beck and call.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, Serena shrugged and sneered.

In the past, whenever Caleb Lockwood fell ill, she was always anxious, tense and at a loss for what to do, as though if she didn’t do something for Caleb Lockwood, he would die.

Serena was just about to start the car when the phone rang again.

As expected, it was Mr. Miller calling again.

Serena didn’t answer; she shut off the phone.

In her mind flashed the image of Caleb Lockwood seeking reconciliation with her in the pouring rain.

Surely Caleb Lockwood’s fever was genuine.

This time it was right to test, to see if not taking care of Caleb Lockwood meant he would actually die.

Serena pressed the gas pedal and drove away.

If Caleb Lockwood were seriously ill, he wouldn’t be able to attend the board meeting. Serena decided to head to her studio.

But the car hadn’t gone far when suddenly, someone rushed out from the side and stopped right in front of her.

If it weren’t for Serena’s advanced driving skills, the person seeking death would already be dead by now.

Serena narrowed her eyes and discovered the person was none other than Mr. Miller.

Mr. Miller’s expression was one of determined resignation. It seemed as if if Serena didn’t visit the sick Caleb Lockwood today, Mr. Miller would die under her car wheels.

Under Mr. Miller’s pressure, Serena eventually compromised.

She wanted to leave a good impression on Mr. Miller.

Because when she officially takes over the Lockwood Group, she plans to hire Mr. Miller as her assistant.

According to Mr. Miller, Caleb Lockwood was seriously ill, heart-sick.

However, when Serena arrived at The Jade Pavilion, Caleb Lockwood’s temperature was high enough to fry an egg.

At such a time, surely a doctor was more useful than she was.

So she had Mr. Miller contact the Lockwood Family’s private doctor to administer Caleb Lockwood with antipyretics first.

After three bottles of medicine, Caleb Lockwood’s fever finally subsided, and Serena assisted Caleb Lockwood by removing the needle.

"Have you been here with me for long?"

Caleb Lockwood’s soft, magnetic voice brushed against her eardrum.

"I just got here."

Caleb Lockwood seemed momentarily disappointed to hear Serena say that.

But his gaze unintentionally fell on the ashtray by the window.

There were several smoked cigarette butts there.

The kind ladies liked, the slim cigarettes.

The presence of these cigarettes here meant they must be Serena’s.

Back on the Victoria Royal Cruise was the first time Caleb saw Serena smoke, the first time he learned she could smoke.

The number of cigarette butts showed Serena couldn’t have just arrived.

Caleb Lockwood’s naturally smiling lips slowly rose, his chest warming.

"You never smoked before..."

Caleb Lockwood referred to the time after he and Serena Jennings married.

He was tempted to ask Serena if she quit smoking for him back then.

But the words retreated when they reached his lips.

He feared upsetting Serena.

At last, he saw Serena again; at last, Serena was willing to take care of him. He wanted to cherish these moments.

To cherish...

These two words stirred ripples in Caleb Lockwood’s heart.

Serena Jennings initially didn’t understand why Caleb Lockwood mentioned smoking until she saw the cigarette butts in the ashtray.

Those cigarettes were hers.

She realized Caleb Lockwood already knew she wasn’t just arriving, but had been there a long time.