CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 56: TAINTED WOMAN

He just wanted to know if Serena Jennings would feel guilty after mistakenly thinking he had been with another man.

Serena threw the photo of the bed onto Caleb Lockwood’s face and turned to enter the building.

Tears only streamed down after she entered the building.

Back home, Serena’s chaotic emotions gradually calmed down.

Although that photographer took on the task of secretly photographing for money.

And she did indeed pay him a high price of fifty million.

Logically, he wouldn’t expose the photos.

Otherwise, how would he extort money from others through secret photography in the future?

However, not exposing the photos doesn’t mean he won’t keep backups.

After much contemplation, Serena still dialed someone’s number.

"Ellie?"

The voice from the receiver was a man’s, very pleasant, like the clear sound of a spring.

After Serena remained silent, the man changed his address:

"Serena, what’s wrong?"

Only then did Serena begin to make her request.

After listening to Serena’s words, the man didn’t ask a single unnecessary question.

"If you’re tired, rest first. If not, wait for me for half an hour."

Serena chose to wait.

Half an hour later, she received his call.

"I’ve hacked into all his electronic devices, including his phone, computer, and camera. He did keep backups on his home computer. Rest assured, I’ve deleted all of them, and I didn’t look at the contents."

Serena believed the man wasn’t lying.

"Thank you."

"Are you... alright?"

"I’m fine."

"Actually, you could come back..."

Before he could finish, Serena hung up the phone.

The issue with the photos was completely resolved. Although she spent fifty million and owed someone a favor, the matter didn’t escalate, and her reputation wasn’t harmed. Serena believed the money wasn’t wasted.

The problem is...

Dylan Quinn didn’t succeed this time, and she’s unsure if he’ll try to repeat the scheme in the future.

Serena tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, and eventually thought of Caleb Lockwood.

Her heart was not only chaotic but also began to ache. She didn’t want to think about it anymore, so she played a lullaby to force herself to sleep.

The next day, Serena Jennings went to work as usual, while Claire Shaw was still on sick leave.

The office was abuzz with stories about Caleb Lockwood tirelessly caring for Claire Shaw in the hospital.

Serena didn’t care.

But during lunch break, Mr. Miller suddenly came looking for her, inviting her to lunch together.

Seeing Mr. Miller’s serious expression, Serena guessed he wanted to discuss matters not convenient to talk about at the company.

So she chose a restaurant slightly far from the company, with prices ordinary workers couldn’t afford.

"I’m sorry, Miss Jennings."

Mr. Miller solemnly apologized to Serena Jennings.

That night, he was so drunk by Dylan Quinn that he didn’t even know how he got home.

He woke up only the next morning.

Even now, he doesn’t know what happened after that dinner.

Especially between Serena and Dylan Quinn.

Mr. Miller’s self-reproach surprised Serena.

She waved her hand and said, "It’s not your fault..."

"No, it’s my fault for failing to fulfill the responsibility assigned to me by President Lockwood."

"The responsibility given to you by President Lockwood?"

Serena found it amusing.

That night, Caleb Lockwood was preoccupied with worrying about Claire Shaw, even indifferent to drunk driving.

She knew well that Mr. Miller was Caleb Lockwood’s most trusted assistant, so she didn’t badmouth Caleb in front of him.

Since Mr. Miller apologized, she accepted it.

During their meal, Mr. Miller said "sorry" or "apologize" more than ten times. Serena noticed that Mr. Miller was indeed exceptionally responsible.

However, she also realized that Mr. Miller was subtly probing about what happened that night and whether anything transpired between her and Dylan Quinn.

Serena didn’t divulge anything.

Even to Mr. Miller, there was no need to mention past events.

The meal ended with Serena footing the bill.

She knew Caleb Lockwood paid Mr. Miller well.

However, since she chose this expensive restaurant, a meal cost several tens of thousands, and she didn’t want Mr. Miller to spend so much.

"Let’s consider you owe me a meal! You can invite me next time when you get a chance."

Mr. Miller couldn’t refuse Serena.

Though he always called Serena "Miss Jennings," it didn’t mean he didn’t recognize her as Mrs. Lockwood.

Watching Serena swipe her card to pay, Mr. Miller wondered:

Where did Serena get the money?

She and Caleb Lockwood were embroiled in a divorce, and Caleb hadn’t given her any money since.

Even though she worked at the Lockwood Group, her salary was that of an ordinary designer.

But seeing Serena pay a hefty bill with ease, it didn’t look like she was pretending to be rich.

Caleb Lockwood also had questions about Serena’s assets.

Serena could afford a three-million dress and own a billion-dollar collection of violins, even spending fifty million to buy photos.

Previously, he assumed Serena got the money from Justin Nash.

But now Justin Nash was in confinement, completely cut off from Serena.

How could he give Serena money?

If not Justin Nash, where did Serena get her money?

After accompanying Claire Shaw at the hospital, Caleb Lockwood had someone investigate Serena’s bank accounts en route back to the company.

But Serena’s personal account had the highest level of protection, and even he had no authority to inquire.

After three years of marriage, this was the first time Caleb Lockwood found Serena intriguing.

However, this curiosity was soon washed away by his own conclusions.

Sitting in the office, Caleb Lockwood looked at the quarterly sales report.

The Lockwood Group’s new brand was once again overshadowed by FY.

"Peter..."

He took a sip of coffee.

The coffee tasted blander than usual.

At the hospital, Claire Shaw had been discharged, looking even worse than when she was admitted.

After Caleb Lockwood left, she threw an enormous fit in the hospital room.

Initially, her scheme was flawless.

Riverbend Properties and the Lockwood Group had a project collaboration. She contacted Dylan Quinn via joker, asking him to insist Caleb bring Serena to a dinner under the guise of business talks, secretly drug Serena’s papaya and snow hashirma soup, and while Serena was under its effects, fake a car accident, knowing Caleb would surely rush to the hospital in panic over her well-being.

This way, Dylan would have the chance to assault Serena.

Moreover, she had joker arrange a photographer in advance to take candid shots of Serena and Dylan.

Once the scandalous photos were exposed, Serena would no longer have the face to be Caleb’s wife, and the Lockwood Family would never accept a tarnished woman like her.

Everything proceeded smoothly, and the incriminating photos were taken.

But the photographer suddenly demanded a high price, increased from the agreed million to ten million.

The photographer discovered Serena and Caleb’s scandal and assumed the photos were worth more than the original price.

Claire only hesitated for a single night.

Suddenly, joker informed her that the photographer’s computer malfunctioned, and all photos were lost.

With no photos, there was no weapon to bring Serena to ruin, and all her efforts were in vain.

Claire was furious.

She wanted to curse, asking what kind of useless individuals joker found!

But knowing she would still need joker for future tasks, she could only vent her anger alone in the hospital room.

She contacted her colleagues, who told her that Serena was at work, behaving normally.

Although she enjoyed Caleb’s care while she was hospitalized, he still spent more time at the company, which made her uneasy.

The next day, Claire returned to work, and everyone in the office scrambled to offer her well-wishes. The gifts included flowers and some rather expensive items, like luxury perfumes and jewelry, more like opportunistic flattery than mere condolences.

Serena didn’t gift anything.

The whole office knew the two didn’t get along, so she didn’t bother with pointless pretense.

In the pantry.

Serena had just walked in when she saw Claire follow.