CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: PUTTING ON A SHOW FOR GRANDPA

Serena Jennings froze.

She didn’t expect Caleb Lockwood to discuss personal matters with her at the company.

"Caleb Lockwood, we are already..."

"We’re not divorced yet, and surely you haven’t forgotten what day Saturday is!"

Caleb Lockwood didn’t even look up.

Of course Serena remembered what Saturday meant—

Saturday was Grandpa’s seventieth birthday.

Without Caleb explaining, she understood exactly what he meant.

Every time Lance Lockwood celebrated his birthday, his old comrades and friends would always come, and what they praised most was Serena’s cooking.

"Okay, I understand."

Knowing that with Grandpa’s birthday, Serena would never refuse, Caleb smiled slightly.

"There’s nothing else, you can leave!"

Serena left Caleb’s office.

Returning to her desk, her mood remained complex.

Even though she’d decided on divorcing Caleb, she still couldn’t escape him, couldn’t escape the Lockwood family.

On Friday night after work, Serena prepared to return to the Lockwood old estate.

After all, it was Lance Lockwood’s seventieth birthday, the Lockwood family valued it, and so did she.

During her lunch break, Serena drafted a menu. For some of the ingredients not needed from morning market shopping, she went to the big supermarket after work.

With two large bags of ingredients in each hand, Serena stood by the roadside to hail a cab.

A black Maybach pulled up in front of her.

The window lowered, as Serena expected, it was Caleb Lockwood.

"I’m heading there too, let’s go together!"

Caleb knew where Serena was going—the Lockwood Estate.

Every year for Grandpa’s birthday, Serena always prepared in advance.

Serena stood there for a while, then decided to get in the car.

Since Caleb was also returning to the estate, going separately would make Grandpa worry more.

At least at the crux of Lance Lockwood’s birthday celebration, Serena didn’t want to make him unhappy.

Originally, Serena put the groceries into the car trunk and habitually walked to the passenger seat, but after opening the door, she didn’t sit down.

She remembered how naturally she opened the passenger door before, only to find Claire Shaw sitting inside.

Though no one was in the passenger seat this time, she still closed it and obediently sat in the back seat.

She thought that Caleb’s current passenger seat should be Claire Shaw’s exclusive spot.

Whether it was or wasn’t, Serena inexplicably didn’t want to sit there.

Caleb watched silently as Serena opened and closed the car door and finally sat at the back without saying a word, merely curling his lips slightly.

The car started; their destination was the Lockwood Estate.

Serena remained as silent as usual because Mr. Miller had told her before that Caleb didn’t like distractions when driving.

Claire Shaw could chat with Caleb, that was Claire’s privilege.

Serena did not have that privilege.

The drive from downtown to the Lockwood Estate was long.

The low pressure in the car made Serena uncomfortable and bored, not even absorbed in her phone.

From time to time, her gaze would drift to Caleb driving.

As expected, Caleb remained silent the whole time, as if the person previously chatting effortlessly with Claire in the car wasn’t him.

Serena dozed off briefly, and when she woke up, the car had already stopped steadily.

She noticed an additional blanket draped over her that she didn’t know when it appeared.

The blanket was gray-black, made of thin wool, soft to the touch.

This blanket seemed very familiar to Serena.

Before, when taking a nap at her desk, she woke up covered with a blanket identical to this one.

So, was this Caleb’s blanket?

Serena’s heart couldn’t help but race.

But then she considered she might be overthinking.

Perhaps the company had previously issued such blankets, one for each employee.

Taking a deep breath, Serena stopped herself from overthinking and got out of the car.

Caleb had already removed all the groceries she bought from the trunk.

"Let me carry that!"

Serena approached Caleb, reaching out her hand.

Three years of marriage, the groceries were always her responsibility, no matter how many she bought, she carried them all.

Caleb glanced at her but ignored her.

The two walked side by side into the estate, where Lance Lockwood was watering his garden vegetables.

Seeing Caleb and Serena arrive together, and Caleb helping with the groceries, Lance’s face showed a gratified smile.

Serena greeted Lance voluntarily, realizing from his smile why Caleb suddenly became considerate.

It was all for show for Grandpa.

Serena and Caleb stayed to chat with Lance a bit, then Serena went to the kitchen to get busy.

Although the birthday feast required lots of dishes with various styles, the old estate had chefs and servants to help her, making it easier than cooking at her own home.

Of course, that home was no longer hers now.

While Serena was busy in the kitchen, Caleb was accompanying Lance with chess.

"This is right, treat Serena well, girls like her are hard to find these days."

Caleb quietly let Grandpa make an extra move on the board, calmly replied, "Yes."

Busy until ten at night, Serena prepared everything needed for the next day’s feast.

She emerged from the kitchen to find Lance surprisingly still awake, still playing chess with Caleb.

"Grandpa, have you taken your medicine?" Serena reminded.

The caregiver nearby looked upset.

Seeing the caregiver’s expression, Serena realized Grandpa again refused his medication.

Lance, besides having a heart condition, had various ailments typical of old age, and according to the doctor’s instructions, he was supposed to take many medications daily.

But as people age, their mindset changes too, and Lance often thought taking too many medicines would shorten his life, so sometimes he would throw tantrums, refusing to take them.

No amount of persuasion from the Lockwood family would succeed.

Yet the old man listened to Serena.

"Let me finish this round of chess with Grandpa!"

Upon hearing Serena’s words, Lance eagerly waved Caleb away.

"Quick, quick, quick, let Serena replace, Caleb can’t play well at all."

Serena smiled wryly.

She knew Caleb always intentionally allowed Grandpa to win.

"Grandpa, I’ll play chess with you, but if you lose, you have to promise me one thing."

"No problem, Serena, I’ll agree to whatever you say."

Lance agreed readily, and lost just as readily.

Whenever playing chess with Lance, Serena never showed mercy.

Lance wasn’t as skilled as Caleb, but he wasn’t bad either.

Caleb was unexpectedly astonished not only could Serena play chess, but she played quite well.

"I lost, Serena, you didn’t even let Grandpa have a chance."

Lance might have said this, but he was genuinely pleased inside.

Serena understood Lance didn’t like being treated softly.

According to their agreement, Lance obediently took his medicine and went to sleep.

A satisfied smile hung on Serena’s face.

If there was anywhere within the Lockwood family where Serena felt at ease, it was solely with Lance.

The clock showed it nearing midnight, Serena had to sleep, otherwise she feared she couldn’t wake up tomorrow.

Previously staying overnight at the old estate, she always slept alone.

However, tonight, Caleb was there too.

Of course, Caleb and she shared a bedroom.

The bedroom came with its own closet and bathroom.

"You go wash up first!"

Caleb, working on his laptop, said this to Serena.