CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: YOU SECONDHAND GOODS

After midnight, there might still be people in the bar, but there was no one on the deck.

Except for Serena Jennings.

Serena arrived as promised and saw Jeffrey Lowell.

Jeffrey was that little Lee from the sales department.

After adding her on WeChat, he claimed that he took some photos for her while sightseeing during the day and wanted to send them to her.

Serena always felt this was just an excuse to connect on WeChat.

The two of them chatted aimlessly, and he suggested meeting on the deck to enjoy the sea view.

Serena refused three times, and he initiated a video call, leaving her no choice but to agree.

"You’re insisting on meeting me, is there something you want to talk about?" Serena asked directly.

Jeffrey looked honest and his smile was quite sincere.

"Serena, actually I’ve been noticing you at the company for a long time."

This opening made Serena think Jeffrey was about to confess his feelings.

"I know... I’m no match for President Lockwood..."

When he suddenly mentioned Caleb Lockwood, Serena’s face changed.

"But next month, I’ll be promoted to department manager, with performance bonuses, I can earn about 400,000 a month, enough to support you without any problem."

Serena: ???

At the cabin entrance, Claire had discovered Serena was not in the room. Curious, she came out and unexpectedly saw Serena standing on the deck with Jeffrey.

"President Lockwood marrying Claire Shaw is just a matter of time, you should also plan for yourself earlier. I’ve got a good temper, don’t hit women, no bad habits, as long as you agree to be with me, I’ll give you at least 100,000 as pocket money every month..."

The more Serena listened to Jeffrey, the more she felt something was amiss.

This didn’t sound like a confession, more like...

"So, you’re already married?"

"I’ve been separated from that shrew a long time ago."

Jeffrey’s words made Serena laugh in anger.

Turns out, Jeffrey didn’t like her and wasn’t trying to pursue her.

There were still people in the company who misunderstood her as Caleb Lockwood’s mistress, so Jeffrey thought he could get a piece of the pie.

Seeing Serena turn to leave, Jeffrey panicked and increased his offer:

"Then 200,000, surely 200,000 is fine?"

Serena forcefully shook off Jeffrey.

"Serena, don’t think you’re that attractive, who else would want you, you secondhand goods!"

Behind her, Jeffrey shouted furiously, and Serena returned to her room, too angry to sleep all night.

During the five-day, four-night cruise, Serena felt she did not enjoy the trip, but instead ended up with a mess.

On the first day back to work after the team-building trip, Serena hadn’t even warmed her seat when a stranger barged in.

The woman, with an aggressive demeanor, stormed straight towards her.

"May I ask what you are..."

Before Serena could finish her sentence, the woman slapped her in the face.

"You bitch! How dare you seduce my husband!"

The woman went crazy and started pulling Serena’s hair.

Serena realized this woman must be Jeffrey’s wife.

Even though the whole thing was a misunderstanding, this shrew wouldn’t listen to any explanation now. Serena wasn’t polite either and shoved the woman back with force, slapping her in return.

Probably not expecting the mistress to be so bold, the woman started crying on the ground.

Crying and cursing both Jeffrey and Serena.

Although she was quickly taken away by security, the negative impact had already spread in the company.

Half of Serena’s face burned in pain, and the other half burnt from the colleagues’ pointing.

The design department was surrounded by all the company’s employees until Caleb Lockwood appeared.

"Come with me."

Caleb said to Serena.

His face was still expressionless as always, his gaze just as cold as usual.

Serena, with her swollen face, followed Caleb Lockwood under the scrutiny of the entire company.

Claire hid in the crowd until Christine Warren found her.

"Claire!"

Christine was extremely excited, but Claire held her back.

"Keep your voice down."

"Now that Serena will definitely be fired by President Lockwood, it’s such a relief!"

Claire neither agreed nor disagreed with Christine’s words.

Last night she had sent the photos she secretly took of Jeffrey and Serena to Christine.

On the surface, she was asking Christine, didn’t Jeffrey have a wife? What’s going on with him and Serena?

Sure enough, the next day Jeffrey’s wife came to the company causing a scene with Serena.

Serena’s reputation in the company was getting worse and worse, if she could be fired by Caleb Lockwood because of this, and completely leave the Lockwood Group, that would be perfect.

However...

Claire saw that Caleb didn’t take Serena to the meeting room, but rather to the elevator.

In the elevator, Serena also thought Caleb was going to fire her.

Instead, Caleb took her to the B2 parking garage.

"Where are we going?"

Serena stood beside the black Maybach, not getting in.

Caleb’s gaze fell on her swollen face.

A calm and composed look, not one that would make Serena mistakenly think he was pitying her.

Serena turned her face away.

She knew she looked disheveled and didn’t want Caleb staring.

Caleb opened the passenger door himself.

Whether this was the first time Caleb opened the car door for her, Serena couldn’t remember.

"Are you feeling sorry for me?" Serena asked.

"Do I look that free?"

Caleb went to the driver’s seat, and Serena had no choice but to get in the car.

After driving for a while, suddenly, Caleb spoke:

"Does it hurt a lot?"

Serena turned to look at Caleb, the latter was focused on driving.

This was the first time Caleb spoke to her while driving.

Her face hurt for sure, the woman hit hard.

But more than pain, Serena felt wronged.

She wasn’t a mistress at all, yet always carried the blame.

Her gaze at Caleb was filled with more resentment.

If only Caleb would publicly acknowledge her as his legal wife, no one in the company would dare gossip about her anymore.

But Caleb wouldn’t do it.

Serena’s chest tightened slightly.

To think she still expected Caleb to give her a status now was really foolish.

"President Lockwood, can this be considered a work-related injury?"

Hearing Serena’s feigned indifference, Caleb chuckled a little.

"It can."

The black Maybach parked in the city center hospital’s parking space.

Caleb and Serena got out of the car.

Serena had guessed Caleb might take her to a hospital, but didn’t expect it to be here.

Caleb started walking but noticed Serena didn’t follow.

He turned back and heard Serena say coldly:

"I don’t want to go in."

"Why are you being so stubborn?"

Serena knew Caleb didn’t have much patience for her.

Him willingly bringing her to the hospital today was already something unheard of.

"Just think I’m being stubborn, I’m not going in, I’ll find another place to have my face checked."

Caleb didn’t pressure Serena for long and conceded: "As you wish, but remember to keep the receipt and submit it to HR for the work injury claim."

Serena watched as Caleb got into the car, and the black Maybach drove past her, leaving.

The sky grew overcast.

The cool breeze carried away the heat from her face.

Serena pulled her coat tighter around herself.

The last time she came here, it was the same weather, the same cool breeze.

She was also alone, pulling her coat tighter around herself.

Serena didn’t want to think if Caleb really cared for her.

Maybe he would care the same for another employee who got hit, after all, he had a good reputation as a leader.

But, one thing she surely didn’t get wrong—

Caleb didn’t remember she was diagnosed pregnant in this hospital, nor the miscarriage she had here.