CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: BEGGING THE ONE SHE LEAST WANTS TO BEG

Serena and Justin didn’t even change their clothes and headed straight to the police station.

As soon as they entered the room, Serena saw Lana sitting obediently in front of the desk with a black eye.

"Lana!"

Serena rushed over and hugged Lana tightly.

"How did you end up getting beaten like this!"

Serena’s eyes were blazing with anger.

She already learned from the police that Lana had been in a fight.

And coincidentally, the opponents were Lily and Owen.

As the saying goes, enemies are bound to meet.

After work, when Lana was taking a walk and shopping, she overheard Lily and Owen badmouthing Serena behind her back, using incredibly harsh words. Unable to hold back, she confronted them, and the argument escalated into a physical fight.

The police brought all three back to take statements, but it was Lana who threw the first punch.

Seeing Serena clenching her fists, Lana couldn’t help but laugh, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you, this is the police station."

She knew Serena practiced martial arts and wasn’t usually impulsive, but when she was, she was scarier than anyone.

"Don’t worry, those two bitches are more hurt than I am."

Serena, who initially didn’t believe Lana, thought Lana was just trying to comfort her.

But when Lily and Owen came out, Serena almost burst into laughter.

"You did quite a number on them, turned them into pigs."

Receiving praise, Lana felt proud, even with a panda eye.

"Lily! Owen!"

Suddenly, a familiar shout made Serena and Lana simultaneously stop laughing.

Claire entered the police station, followed by Caleb.

Caleb wasn’t surprised to see Serena.

When Claire told him that Lily and Owen had been beaten by Lana, he had guessed he’d see Serena there.

However, he hadn’t expected Justin to be there too.

Caleb’s gaze lingered between Justin and Serena.

The other day, when he first saw Justin with Serena at the sushi restaurant, he knew Justin was the eldest Nash son.

Their circle was so small, everyone knew who was who even if they hadn’t met.

He even knew Justin was having conflicts with his family at the time.

So, Justin dressed like an ordinary college student, rarely wearing suits.

Now, although he had regained his upper-class status, the formal tailcoat he wore today was clearly for a special occasion—

Like a date.

Looking at Serena again, Caleb’s gaze became more intense.

Caleb had never seen this black sequined dress on Serena before, it wasn’t something he had bought her. He always bought her pink clothes, and Serena never bought clothes for herself.

The reason Caleb always bought pink was because he was used to giving Claire pink clothes back in high school.

He didn’t understand women’s fashion, he only knew Claire’s preferences.

He assumed all women loved wearing pink.

So...

Does Serena like black?

This question lingered in Caleb’s mind for just a few seconds.

Serena’s black dress was not only a color she didn’t usually wear, its style was rare too.

Deep V and backless—if Serena dressed like this before, her mom would have definitely scolded her for being inappropriate.

Yet, on Serena, it exuded a sexy elegance.

Being stared at by Caleb made Serena uncomfortable, forcing her to turn away.

Caleb noticed that even with heavy makeup, Serena couldn’t hide her swollen eyes.

As long as Justin wasn’t blind or stupid, he should be able to guess what Serena and he did last night.

Caleb smiled faintly, feeling better.

Beside him, Claire, seeing Lily and Owen’s pig-headed state, cried pitifully.

Caleb took out a tissue and gently wiped her tears away.

"Caleb, Lily and Owen are my best friends, you have to stand up for them!"

Claire sobbed as she held Caleb’s hand.

"In public, you’re holding the hand of someone else’s husband, have you no shame?"

Lana had long wanted to snap at Claire, and she finally got the chance.

Serena immediately tugged on Lana’s sleeve, shaking her head.

Now wasn’t the time to offend Claire; behind her was Caleb, and the Lockwood Group was influential. She didn’t want Lana to end up with a criminal record because of her.

Claire bit her jelly-like lips, trying to pull her hand back, but Caleb gripped it tightly.

"Jerk!" Lana couldn’t help but mutter.

Caleb held Claire’s hand while talking to the police, but his eyes remained on Serena.

"Sergeant Lee, lock this person up."

"You can’t lock her up!" Serena was anxious, "Officer, we can pay to settle this..."

"How much can you pay?" Caleb asked Serena with a smile, "Whose money are you using?"

"Certainly not yours." Justin slapped a Black Card on the table.

Lana didn’t dare to make a sound beside them, her previous bravado gone.

She was from an ordinary family, if Caleb really demanded a hefty amount, selling both her kidneys wouldn’t suffice.

As for Serena, she’d been a housewife for years, spending only Caleb’s money.

As for Justin, he had money, but his interest lay with Serena.

Lana knew Serena currently had no such feelings for Justin and didn’t want Serena owing him any favors.

Serena bent down, returned the Black Card to Justin, then calmly told Caleb, "I’ve already mailed back all the money and things you gave me before. Now, none of the money I spend is yours... Name your price, how much for a settlement... Whatever you ask, I’ll pay."

The police station suddenly fell silent.

Everyone was staring at Serena.

Including Caleb.

He furrowed his brows slightly, feeling Serena wasn’t just putting up a front.

Serena was calculating in her mind.

Her bank account balance was in the millions—a fortune for ordinary people, but not even a minor target for Caleb.

If Caleb really demanded billions for a settlement...

Serena gritted her teeth.

She’d have to turn to the person she least wanted to beg.

After a long silence, Caleb let out a soft laugh, then asked Claire beside him,

"What do you think? I’ll go with your decision."

Claire delicately wiped her tears and told Caleb, "We don’t lack money. I just want the perpetrator to receive the punishment they deserve."

This righteous statement pleased Caleb, and Serena saw the admiration in Caleb’s eyes for Claire.

"That’s right, we don’t accept a settlement, no matter the amount."

"Caleb..."

"Serena, stop. If being jailed is the decision, so be it. Who says I’m scared?!"

Lana stopped Serena.

But Serena still wanted to try one more time.

"Caleb, locking Lana up won’t benefit you at all. Aren’t businessmen supposed to seek returns?"

As Lana was about to be taken away by the police, Serena picked up her phone.

But before she could make the call, Caleb’s low, indifferent voice came from behind.

"I don’t have to lock her up unless..."

The first ray of morning sunlight awakened City A, as white-collar workers began another busy day.

The Lockwood Group.

CEO’s office.

Patrick was sitting across Caleb, sipping coffee.

"I say, Brother Lockwood, aren’t you afraid of pissing off your wife by bringing that old hag into the company?"