CHAPTER 76: CHAPTER 76: REMEMBERING THEIR PAST

It’s deep into the night.

There are only stars in the night sky, no fireworks.

Outside The Lockwood Estate, a hot air balloon lands on the ground.

The old mansion is lit up.

Caleb Lockwood just finished his shower and stepped out in a bathrobe.

On the highway leading to City C, a white BMW 3-Series speeds by, leaving streetlights and forest behind.

Serena Jennings is driving.

Time is running out.

She calls someone from AOD using her Bluetooth headset.

"I want that raw stone, I’m on my way, I’ll be there soon."

"Sorry, Miss Jennings, we’ve already sold that raw stone."

"What?!"

Serena almost hits the brakes.

"Wasn’t it supposed to be reserved for me until today?"

"Your husband bought it, he said it was a gift for you."

In Serena’s mind, images of Caleb Lockwood’s unusual demeanor tonight flash by.

She doesn’t know if Caleb suddenly had a change of heart or was pressured by his grandfather.

All she knows is, Caleb was very kind to her tonight.

Gentlemanly, considerate, romantic.

When Caleb asked her to stay at the mansion overnight, she thought all his actions were for this request tonight.

Caleb hasn’t touched her for quite a while.

But Caleb doesn’t lack outlets for his desires, especially when he’s living with Claire Shaw.

Serena isn’t sure if Caleb really wants to sleep with her, dedicating all these efforts for it.

In the end, she didn’t agree to Caleb’s request.

Given Caleb’s temper and ways, she thought Caleb would force her, and she remained wary until the hot air balloon landed.

However, Caleb didn’t.

Caleb only told her to drive carefully, pay attention to safety, and didn’t say anything else.

Serena exits the highway and pulls the car over to the side.

Her mind was in chaos.

She couldn’t figure out what Caleb truly wanted.

Could it be... Caleb remembered her?

Remembered her from the juvenile detention center...

Serena carefully took out the gift box Caleb gave her and unpacked it.

Although Caleb’s behavior didn’t seem as though he remembered the past, if what AOD said was true, then the birthday gift Caleb gave her should be that ruby raw stone with a heart-shaped fracture she fancied.

Serena felt her breath quaver.

If... Caleb really remembered her, remembered the promise from back then...

The packaging was unwrapped, revealing a jewelry box, palm-sized, just enough to fit a raw stone.

Serena’s anticipation reached its peak.

She opened the jewelry box.

Inside was a raw stone.

But it wasn’t the ruby raw stone with a heart-shaped fracture.

Serena was stunned.

She felt something was off and decided to contact Caleb before reaching out to AOD.

The call rang for a while before it was answered.

"Hello, Caleb Lockwood..."

"Why, changed your mind?"

On the other end, Caleb’s voice showed no sign of sleepiness, very awake.

"You can still make it if you come back now."

This remark irritated Serena, but she didn’t want to divert the topic.

"I heard from AOD’s people you bought the raw stone I reserved..."

"Yes."

Caleb only gave this single-word response.

Serena was growing anxious.

"They said you bought it as a gift for me."

There was a long silence, and finally, Serena heard Caleb’s voice again.

A chuckle.

"Claire fancied that raw stone too."

When Serena heard Caleb say this, it felt like she was struck by a thunderbolt.

"I was the one who fancied it first..."

"But you didn’t buy it."

"But I reserved it."

"So what?"

Caleb’s retort left Serena speechless.

In the old mansion, he lay on the bed, talking to Serena while glancing at the antique clock on the bedroom wall.

It was past midnight.

It was no longer Serena’s birthday.

"Serena, now that you’ve opened a studio, you’re the boss now. Consider this raw stone a lesson from me; in business, there is no first come, first served, no fairness, no reason, only competition. Don’t be naive."

Caleb’s voice returned to its usual coldness.

Serena sat in the car with the windows closed, her fingers cold from gripping her phone.

"Besides, I’ve given you compensation."

After saying this, Caleb hung up.

The word "compensation" suddenly made Serena sober up—

It dawned on her that Caleb’s elaborate efforts to celebrate her birthday were neither due to grandfather’s pressure nor him remembering their past.

But because Caleb took the raw stone she fancied.

Gave it to Claire Shaw.

"Compensation..."

Serena fiercely gripped the steering wheel, the veins on the back of her hands standing out clearly.

In City A, the bar district.

Patrick Rhodes never imagined he would see Serena here when he stepped out of the private room.

Serena seemed to have drunk a lot, already too intoxicated to be aware.

If she was on the table instead of lying on the sofa, he wouldn’t have noticed.

The thought to call Caleb flickered through his mind and vanished.

"I’m sick, aren’t I?"

He couldn’t help but curse himself.

Even if Serena was legally Caleb’s wife, so what.

Caleb doesn’t care for her.

Perhaps Caleb is heatedly involved with Claire Shaw right now!

Patrick shook his head, trying to pretend he didn’t see.

After all, Serena drank herself into this state; he didn’t get her drunk, so he wasn’t responsible.

Patrick started to walk past the drunken Serena.

Then he returned.

With an annoyed look, he helped Serena up.

Serena was lighter than he expected, it wasn’t hard to support her.

"You’re lucky to have run into me, really... Why do I always meddle in others’ business?"

Patrick muttered to himself, supporting Serena out of the bar.

His attention was fully on Serena, missing Mr. Miller who had already stood up when Serena passed out in the dimly lit corner of the bar.

Watching Patrick take Serena away, Mr. Miller pulled out his phone to report to Caleb.

"Follow them."

Caleb instructed Mr. Miller this way.

Patrick had driven there but had drank, so he ordered a driver service for the trip back.

He knew where Serena lived now, so he instructed the driver to head to Vornath.

While helping Serena, Patrick rummaged through her bag for the keys, opened the door, and entered.

Originally, he planned to toss Serena on the bed and leave.

Patrick turned on the bedroom light and laid Serena flat on the bed.

After a slight hesitation, he helped Serena take off her shoes.

The bedroom wasn’t large, and most of the space was filled with books.

He was surprised that people still loved reading physical books in this day and age.

Casually flipping through them, they were all related to design.

"Is it necessary to work so hard..."

Patrick muttered to himself.

He knew Serena had opened her jewelry design studio.

However, he thought Serena was just putting in appearances, trying to prove to Caleb she was as excellent as Claire, merely imitating her.

Yet...

Patrick sat down at Serena’s desk.

There were many drawings, all hand-drawn designs.

There were some designs Patrick found familiar, similar to the new blockbuster pieces launched by Lockwood Group; he had praised Claire for her role in salvaging the performance of Lockwood Group’s gold product line.

"Could these have been drawn by Serena?"

Patrick thought it impossible.

Serena must be plagiarizing Claire’s designs.