CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79: WEDDING INVITATION

The restaurant staff really brought over alcohol wipes and gauze. After Patrick Rhodes bandaged Serena Jennings’ injured finger, he quickly went back to his seat.

He didn’t understand why he was so nervous about Serena just now, as if possessed.

And it was right in front of Caleb Lockwood.

No matter how much Caleb didn’t like Serena, she was still the wife on his marriage certificate.

Patrick felt uneasy, so to cover it up, he buried his head in eating lobster.

Claire Shaw felt relieved seeing that Patrick didn’t take further action towards Serena.

She might not like Patrick, but Patrick couldn’t dislike her.

Even if he really developed feelings for someone else, it definitely couldn’t be Serena.

In Claire’s eyes, Serena was undeserving of anything, only fit to serve as her contrast, showcasing her own excellence to everyone.

The meal went on, with Serena eating absent-mindedly.

In the end, she still couldn’t secure the last spot for the LD Jewelry Fashion Week.

All her efforts went to waste.

To say she wasn’t a bit discouraged would absolutely be a lie.

However, compared to Caleb eventually giving the raw stone to Claire, the blow now seemed much lighter on her.

After the meal, Serena paid the bill.

She only paid for her own and Patrick Rhodes’ share.

Caleb paid for the rest.

"Now, I’ve returned the favor," said Serena, turning to leave.

Patrick wanted to catch up to her.

He himself didn’t even know what he wanted to do once he caught up.

Maybe he wanted to apologize to Serena, as he didn’t mean for her to spend so much.

Or maybe he wanted to find an opportunity to treat her back next time.

However, Patrick ultimately didn’t catch up to Serena.

It was Claire Shaw who called him to a stop.

"Patrick, what favor does Serena owe you?"

"Well..."

Caleb Lockwood saw Patrick dragging out his words and gave him a glance first.

"We ran into each other on the street by chance before. Her tire was flat, and I just helped out a bit. It’s nothing major."

Patrick spoke quickly, unsure if his demeanor appeared natural.

Claire couldn’t discern truth from falsehood, just responded blandly, "I see..."

She subconsciously glanced at Caleb Lockwood.

Caleb was expressionless, his deep black eyes seemed either to fully believe Patrick’s words or not care at all.

Claire thought she was probably overthinking it.

Neither Caleb nor Patrick truly cared about Serena.

Serena didn’t drive home but returned to her studio instead.

She was not in a good mood tonight, having just missed out on the only spot for the LD Jewelry Fashion Week.

However, compared to her birthday night, she was much calmer now.

Returning to the studio, she wanted to complete the unfinished design. Even though it was no longer necessary, she still wanted to be responsible for her work.

The lights were on in the office.

The finished design quietly lay next to Serena’s hand.

Now she was asleep.

These days, she’d been exhausted trying to prove herself in design. She originally intended to take a short nap, but she ended up sleeping until daylight.

Peter’s face appeared in Serena’s sleepy eyes.

"Good morning!" Peter greeted her with a smile.

Serena stood up, realizing there was still Peter’s suit jacket draped over her shoulders.

"Sorry for making a fool of myself."

Serena returned the suit jacket to Peter.

"Didn’t see any fool, just some drool."

Hearing this, Serena quickly wiped her mouth, only to see Peter grinning from ear to ear.

"What are we going to do if you’re this easily tricked?"

Serena realized Peter was just teasing her!

"Peter..." Serena smiled bitterly, "Do you know your image now doesn’t match your past image at all..."

"What was my image in your eyes before?" Peter said, offering Serena the breakfast he had bought, "A stiff and boring vampire capitalist who only knew how to push you for FY’s performance?"

Peter’s self-mockery made Serena laugh.

Though not as exaggerated as Peter said, the Peter in her memory indeed wasn’t as fun and relaxed as he is now.

"Let’s eat. I’ll tell you something once we’re done." Peter’s hand casually rested on Serena’s shoulder.

The two of them shared a simple breakfast in the office, and afterward, Peter informed Serena that the list of designers and brands for this year’s LD Jewelry Fashion Week had been released.

Claire Shaw was on the list.

Serena Jennings was not.

Serena realized that Peter came over early in the morning, bought her breakfast, and tried to amuse her probably because of this.

Peter was worried she would be sad.

However, she had known about this for a long time and had made peace with herself.

"Don’t worry, I’m not that fragile."

Seeing Serena was still able to smile, Peter breathed a sigh of relief.

"It’s good you’re not beaten down," Peter said, giving Serena’s shoulder a gentle pat.

"I’m carrying the pressure from the investors, I don’t have the luxury to be down," Serena smiled wryly.

Even if Peter hadn’t come today, she would have gone to seek guidance from him.

Now that Leo Grant’s recommendation was off the table, she had to find another way.

A week later, Serena rented the lawn outside the White Palace Gardens to hold the opening ceremony of her studio.

Her studio temporarily hired three employees. Although it still looked like a makeshift team, the basic conditions were well in place.

Peter advised her to hold the opening ceremony because if she wanted to be invited to the LD Jewelry Fashion Week under special circumstances, her brand’s influence needed to reach a certain level in the industry.

Hosting an opening ceremony would help expand influence, increase exposure, and maintain clients.

Serena believed Peter’s reasoning, so she and her three employees, along with Lana Xavier who came to help, prepared for a week.

With Peter present, the stream of visitors to her event was endless.

Yet Peter didn’t look pleased.

The attendance could have been higher.

"I’m sorry, Serena. It’s my fault..."

Seeing Peter’s bitter face, Serena handed over a glass of soda water.

"Why are you like me, always taking the blame on yourself?"

Serena sat down beside Peter.

Prepared chairs actually only filled up two-thirds of the way.

Because Claire Shaw also held an opening ceremony the same day.

In terms of influence in the business world, Peter indeed couldn’t compare with Caleb Lockwood.

But Serena would never blame Peter.

As for whether Caleb and Claire did it deliberately, Serena didn’t want to delve deeper; even if they did, she was powerless to stop it.

"Serena, guess who sent you a congratulatory gift?" Lana Xavier excitedly ran over to Serena, presenting her with an exquisite and expensive gold pixiu ornament.

Serena took the ornament and saw Justin Nash’s name on it.

She hadn’t actually informed Justin Nash about her studio’s opening.

That night at the banquet hall, running into Justin was purely by chance, an act of fate.

Since she had promised Justin’s mother not to contact him anymore, she couldn’t break her promise.

Moreover, she had received fifty million from them!

Serena smiled at her own irony, noticing that the ornament also bore Cynthia Fulton’s name alongside Justin Nash’s.

Now she knew—

Cynthia Fulton was Justin Nash’s fiancée.

Serena wondered, next time she received something from Justin, would it be a wedding invitation with Cynthia?

The opening ceremony proceeded smoothly, except for the fewer guests and fields covered as compared to the original plan.

Someone arrived late, only after the ceremony was halfway through.