CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 328: BEING FOLLOWED

Ethan White opened his mouth, lost for words.

At that moment, he heard Caleb Lockwood continue to speak:

"Don’t worry, I won’t disturb Serena Jennings and Lana Xavier, because I’m here... waiting for a man."

With those last few words, Caleb saw Ethan White immediately choke on his saliva.

"Suit yourself!"

After Ethan White drove away, Caleb Lockwood finally saw the man he was waiting for.

Or to be precise, the men.

Serena and Lana talked all night in the hospital room, just like those sleepless nights in high school when they got more and more excited as they chatted.

Sometimes Serena wondered, if Julian Xavier hadn’t appeared, there wouldn’t have been even a hint of a rift between her and Lana Xavier.

They also talked about Julian Xavier, recalling his pretentiousness during their group date at the amusement park.

Now Serena knew that Lana had long misunderstood her as trying to seduce Julian Xavier.

Because Julian Xavier was guiding things in that direction.

That’s why Lana didn’t ask her beforehand back then, because she already harbored resentment towards her.

And Lana finally understood that Serena never threw herself at Julian Xavier.

It was all Julian Xavier’s self-directed performance.

Although this first love brought her immense hurt, it also taught her a valuable lesson.

"Actually... it’s partly my fault too... As your best friend, I didn’t properly look out for you."

Serena was genuinely feeling guilty.

She knew well that Lana had no experience in love, yet she never thought to remind her to discern the sweet talk of men.

"Don’t take all the responsibility onto yourself..."

Lana used her needle-free hand to flick Serena’s forehead lightly.

"Ouch, it hurts!"

Serena cried out in pain, looking pitiful.

Lana grinned broadly.

"At that time, I was just acting on a lovesick impulse. Even if you had reminded me, I probably wouldn’t have listened, and I’d have blamed you for meddling..."

As she spoke, Lana let out a sigh.

People really do lose their clarity when in the throes of love.

"By the way, what about that fake Julian Xavier... Have the police not caught him yet?"

Lana asked with a furrowed brow.

She used to want to find Julian Xavier to get some answers.

But later, she came to terms with it and accepted it.

She had been deceived and used.

If she were to actually find Julian Xavier, the first thing she’d do is punch him a few times to vent her anger.

"Lana, actually when you were caught in the rain, I went to your house to find you..."

"Huh?"

"Caleb Lockwood found some information about Julian Xavier... Do you want to hear it?"

"Yes, I want to hear it."

Lana nodded, her expression resolute.

So Serena told Lana everything Caleb Lockwood had found, in full detail.

Lana was left speechless.

Joker...

The gang...

Assassin...

"It sounds like he was actually targeting you, right? Do you two have a personal grudge?"

Lana’s question was something Caleb Lockwood had also asked her.

But Serena truly had no clue.

Late at night, after Lana had fallen asleep, Serena left the hospital room and stood in the hallway to make a phone call.

The call was to Chance Bell.

"What’s up, Chloe?"

"Ahem..."

Serena cleared her throat, immediately hearing Chance Bell’s wry laugh through the receiver.

"What’s up, Serena?"

"Are you free? I want to ask you something..."

"I am, go ahead and ask!"

"Has The Wyrmfang Gang in Meridia... ever had any issues with The Linton Family?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, Serena holding her phone, feeling somewhat tense in her chest.

"...There shouldn’t be any."

Chance Bell’s answer to Serena was uncertain, but it was the most truthful answer he could give at the moment.

"As far as I can recall, after so many years with The Linton Family... there hasn’t been. But whether Mr. Linton has had any secret dealings with such gangs, I can’t say."

"Alright, thank you, Chance Bell."

"I didn’t really help you much... Oh right, did you know that Mr. Linton was hospitalized?"

Hospitalized?

Serena was taken aback.

"Why is he hospitalized?"

Serena used "he" instead of "grandpa."

On the other end, Chance Bell sighed silently.

He knew Serena still harbored resentment towards Jasper Linton.

"Mr. Linton was hospitalized out of anger because of your ex-husband."

"Caleb Lockwood?"

Serena was shocked.

"Though he didn’t know that Mr. Linton had a bad heart, so it’s not really his fault... He did accompany him to the hospital that day, and Mr. Linton’s condition stabilized quickly, but the doctor suggested a period of hospitalization... The minister should have called you before."

Chance Bell’s words reminded Serena that Aaron Linton had indeed tried to call her a few times before, probably stopping because she hadn’t picked up.

"So that’s what happened..."

Serena muttered to herself.

She had thought Caleb Lockwood was being held by Jasper Linton up on Mount Linton!

Since Serena didn’t have much to say on the matter, Chance Bell continued:

"Aren’t you curious?"

"Curious about what?"

"About what your ex-husband said that day that made Mr. Linton so angry he ended up in the hospital!"

"...Not interested."

Serena’s response was very indifferent.

She remembered it was Jasper Linton’s seventieth birthday that day, and he had gone to the trouble of summoning Caleb Lockwood to his private residence, likely to match him with Wendy Linton.

Serena could guess that Caleb’s words had infuriated Jasper Linton, and it probably had something to do with her.

Otherwise, Chance Bell wouldn’t have been so mysteriously evasive.

Since it was related to her.

She didn’t want to hear about it even more.

Serena didn’t want to discuss emotional matters, nor did she want to concern herself with Jasper Linton’s health.

Having failed to find any clues about a connection between The Linton Family and The Wyrmfang Gang, Serena quickly ended the call with Chance Bell.

She returned to Lana’s hospital room, and unknowingly fell asleep on the companion bed.

The next day, she sensed something was off.

From the moment she started processing Lana’s discharge, Serena felt like someone was watching her.

Or rather, surveiling her.

Moreover, there were some new faces in the hospital.

In a place where patients came and went every day, new faces should be normal.

But intuition told Serena, those people weren’t there for treatment.

Serena accompanied Lana out of the hospital.

She hadn’t driven her car there, so they stood at the hospital entrance waiting for Ethan White to drive up.

Even though they were in such an open space, Serena still felt she was being followed and watched.

A white Lexus slowly came into view, and Serena let Lana get in first.

"Ethan White, take Lana home, I have something to attend to..."

Ethan White saw the serious expression on Serena’s face and felt a sense of foreboding.

"What’s the matter?"

He knew Serena didn’t want to talk, but he couldn’t help but ask.

Serena remained silent for a moment, forcing a slight smile.

"It’s a secret."

Ethan White realized that no matter how much he asked, Serena wouldn’t tell him.

And so, Ethan White drove off with Lana.

Serena walked out of the hospital alone, not taking a cab, but blending into the crowd on foot.

The people trailing and watching her—

were still there.