CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: SHE’S GOING TO FIGHT BACK

Mentioning Justin Hawthorne.

Allen Shaw’s lips curled into a slight smile, eyes sparkling with the colors of the city’s neon lights.

"Growing up together, if Justin has any trouble she doesn’t dare to go to the Hawthorne Family, she comes to me for backup."

The attitude was taken for granted.

Serena Sutton’s fingers subconsciously tightened on the dress on her knees.

She didn’t know why she was so nervous.

The mechanical female voice from the navigation gently prompted, "Turn left at the upcoming intersection."

Allen Shaw turned the steering wheel, whistling.

Generally, when people whistle, it can come off as flippant and frivolous.

But as Allen Shaw whistled, it turned into a melody, like the tune from a piano piece, familiar to the ear.

Serena asked, "Did you learn piano as a kid?"

"No, Justin did. As a child, she was forced to learn piano and insisted I accompany her. In the end, I learned the skills, but she couldn’t even master the basics."

Talking about childhood memories, Allen Shaw couldn’t help but feel nostalgic.

"Justin showed your brother a direct cold face today; I guess when you get back, you’ll have to listen to your brother rant."

So the navigation pointed to Serena’s own apartment.

Not taking her back to the Sutton Family home, at least tonight she wouldn’t have to face the troublesome family.

Seeing Serena clutching her dress all this while, during a wait at a red light, Allen Shaw took a blanket from the back seat and placed it on Serena’s legs.

He adjusted the car’s interior temperature to be warmer.

"Next time, don’t wear a short skirt outside; it’s cold."

Sweet, gentlemanly, and extremely considerate.

Serena couldn’t help but glance sideways.

"Are you this considerate to everyone?"

"Oh, not really. If one of the guys in the car complained about cold, I’d tell them to freeze for all I care."

Serena remembered someone telling her before, that if a man is considerate and understands women’s needs, either he grew up surrounded by female family members, learning by example,

or he’s had too many relationships, benefiting future ones.

Serena was startled by her own thoughts.

Benefiting future ones, what did that have to do with her?

But if Allen Shaw had many past partners, someone as proud as Fifth Miss Hawthorne would likely not accept him.

So, chances are, he naturally became considerate by living with female elders from a young age.

At Serena’s doorstep, Allen Shaw reminded her.

"If your brother gives you a hard time, just come to me, I’ll take you out to hide for a bit."

Serena looked back.

The man leaned out from the car, speaking while gesturing towards his collar, making a tightening scarf motion.

"Hurry back, it’s cold outside."

Serena wrapped her scarf tightly, "You go first, I’ll watch until you leave."

"Alright then."

The car started and soon disappeared from Serena’s sight.

She looked down at her phone’s messages.

Ethan Sutton urging her to return to the Sutton Family house.

She flagged a taxi, and upon entering, said emotionlessly, "Driver, to Glenwood Road Villas."

-

By the time she returned to the Sutton Family house, it was already ten in the evening.

The housemaid pointed upwards, "The eldest young master and third young master are in the study upstairs; they asked for you to go in as soon as you return."

"Understood."

Going upstairs, before reaching the study, Serena heard Ethan’s furious cursing.

"That bitch Justin Hawthorne, does she really think she’s something special! I wanted to matchmake with her, and it’s her good fortune!"

"Embarrassing me in front of so many people, that damn woman, it’s best she never falls into my hands!"

Serena lowered her eyes, idly twisting the bracelet on her wrist, and activated the recording function on her phone.

She didn’t rush in, listening to Ethan curse until he’d insulted eighteen generations of the Hawthorne Family.

Ethan took a sip of water.

"How on earth did you handle it? Didn’t I tell you to push everything onto Rachel Rivers?"

Matthew Sutton was nonchalant.

"It wasn’t a big deal anyway, I bought some game data and made a new game. Does it really have to blow up like this?"

Ethan was exasperated, "Now the Hawthorne Group claims they incurred losses and demands compensation, otherwise they’ll have you locked up!"

Matthew yawned.

"Bro, first, I didn’t steal the game data, and second, I’m not the main developer of the game. If Declan Hawthorne wants to sue, that’s fine with me."

He didn’t think it was a major issue.

"Isn’t my sister currently at the Hawthorne Group? If necessary, just say she stole the data for me, and I wasn’t aware of it. What can they do to me?"

Ethan paused.

He actually considered Matthew’s suggestion.

But he soon rejected it.

"No way, if there’s a chance for Serena to get together with Young Mr. Shaw, she can’t have any blemishes; the Shaw Family wouldn’t accept such a daughter-in-law."

Matthew grunted.

"Who’d you say? Young Mr. Shaw interested in my sister, as dull as she is? But I did recall, last time I was at the bar, I think I saw my sister with some guy who seemed familiar."

"Bro, if Young Mr. Shaw is indeed interested in my sister, then it’s even simpler! Young Mr. Shaw and the Hawthorne Family are practically one family, right? He could just talk to Declan Hawthorne and wrap this up."

Ethan shared the same thought.

He glanced at his phone.

"Where’s your sister? How come she’s not back yet?"

Outside the door, Serena felt weak in her limbs, trembling badly.

She forced herself to calm down, taking several deep breaths, stopped the phone recording, encrypted the file, saved it in multiple places, and then put her phone away.

She pushed the door open to enter.

Her face pale, her palms sweaty.

Ethan didn’t notice her expression and directly asked, "Are you in contact with Young Mr. Shaw?"

Serena shook her head.

"No, Young Mr. Shaw is good to everyone."

"No? Then why did he stand up for you before?"

Serena said indifferently, "He just saw you hitting me, didn’t know about our relationship, thought I was being wronged, so he stepped in to help."

Ethan awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"The last time, it was my fault, I was overly anxious about the third young master, that’s why. Have dinner with Young Mr. Shaw tomorrow and explain properly; I’ll cover the expenses."

Serena calmly nodded.

"Okay, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head out first."

"Rest well."

Exiting the study, Serena didn’t rush off.

She heard Matthew say, "Bro, I just found out that Justin Hawthorne is currently dabbling in jewelry design; want to mess with her?"

Ethan sneered sinisterly.

"Do it discreetly."

Serena’s eyelids twitched.

She stepped away from the study.

Back in her room, Serena’s heart raced persistently, her back wet with cold sweat.

Should she approach Justin Hawthorne? No, they weren’t familiar, plus she was a Sutton.

If she went to Justin Hawthorne with this information, Justin might not even believe her.

Forget it.

Strangely, Poppy Hale suddenly came to Serena’s mind.

Just the thought of her made Serena uneasy.

Poppy Hale probably wouldn’t believe her either.

Serena took several deep breaths.

Every time she closed her eyes, her mind would conjure the image of the arrow shot by Poppy Hale.

Serena suddenly snapped awake, like being shot by something in her mind, she gained a clear consciousness.

Sitting up on her bed, she breathed heavily.

She couldn’t sit by and do nothing.

She had to fight back.

-

The next day.

Riley Thorne knocked and entered Poppy Hale’s office.

"President Hale, there’s a lady by the last name Sutton here for an interview."

"Let her in."