CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: IF YOU LOVE ME, PROMISE ME

Silas Hawthorne glanced at the room once more before turning off the light and carefully closing the door.

He walked down the stairs step by step and sat at a table on the side, watching Orion Hawthorne play with the cat.

The overweight ragdoll was currently learning how to play hide and seek.

"No scratching," Orion patiently instructed the ragdoll, "Understand?"

"Meow~"

The chubby ragdoll obediently sat upright.

Seeing Silas come down, Orion immediately stood up and brought the ragdoll over.

"Bro," he said, "I’ve recently found a place and plan to move out. When are you going to bring Seraphina and sister-in-law over to live?"

Orion being the youngest brother was why he had always lived with Silas.

Silas reached out to scratch the ragdoll’s chin, saying, "It might still take a while; Serena still needs some time."

Orion nodded as if he understood, but wasn’t quite sure.

"How are things with Miss Chaucer?" Silas casually asked.

Orion immediately shook his head in resistance.

"There’s nothing going on; people are just talking nonsense," Orion muttered.

But Silas simply gave him a deep look, smiled, and said nothing.

...

Elsewhere.

At the hotel.

Xander Linton had just returned when he heard the receptionist say, "Mr. Linton, you have a visitor today who’s been waiting for you upstairs."

Xander found it odd. His visitor?

Thinking about it, he nodded and then took the elevator upstairs.

As he arrived at the suite’s door, he saw his visitor.

Isla Lawson.

Thinking about it, Xander didn’t open the door but instead asked, "What do you need from me?"

Isla stood up; today she was dressed very beautifully.

She held a box, which she now opened.

Inside lay a bottle of red wine.

"I came to give this to you," Isla said, "It’s homemade from my family’s vineyard. I like it very much and wanted you to try it."

Xander looked at the bottle of wine and accepted it.

"Alright, I’ll take it," Xander said. "Thanks, you can go back now."

Then he turned around to open the door to go back inside.

"Xander," Isla, however, became anxious and reached out to block his way.

"Is there anything else?" Xander slightly furrowed his brow, looking at Isla standing to the side.

"Are you still angry?" Isla asked, "About me taking that bottle of wine back."

Xander did not answer; he merely looked down at her.

"Xander, she’s already married," Isla said.

Xander didn’t want to listen anymore and turned to leave.

"Even if she’s separated from my brother now, she already has someone new. You can’t win her over!" Isla said unwillingly.

"Xander, everything you’re doing now is meaningless."

Isla rushed in front of Xander, looking up at him.

"Can’t you look at me?" Isla’s eyes were filled with sadness. "I can do everything she can."

Xander sighed deeply, then returned the bottle of wine to Isla’s hands.

"This is just pointless now." Xander said, then opened the door to close it.

But Isla held the door in place.

"Then why did you save me back then?" she cried. "Wouldn’t it have been better to let me die?"

Xander forcefully pushed her out and closed the door.

Back then...

It was just a misunderstanding.

He thought the representative from The Lawson Corporation was Serena, so when he learned she was in danger, he went himself.

But there was no need to tell Isla about any of this.

...

The night gradually deepened.

The Blue series from the Hawthorne Group ignited a passion to check in among everyone.

Many went between the two large screens to check in.

Luckily, the area was a dead-end road, with almost no traffic on the other side.

Additionally, a partial block was implemented for two hours.

In reality, it was alright, as the entire area was within the Hawthorne Group’s scope.

The check-in with the Blue series was the most beautiful; under the night lights reflecting off the gemstone, it emitted a blue glow, as if those holding the gemstone stood amidst a temporal rift.

Accompanied by the ocean and the large screens on each side, it invoked a sense of time travel.

Even those who hadn’t bought the Blue series went to check in, with some effect, though the light effect was not as good as for buyers.

For a moment, all major platforms were flooded with related videos or images, sparking widespread discussion.

"I heard this was entirely Serena’s idea; the whole design was her creation!"

"It’s just genius, much more interesting than the previous Christmas brand event check-in!"

"Yeah, and the song that goes with it is great too. I feel Serena might have participated as well!"

"Speaking of that, Yan, to be honest, I’ve always thought she had great luck, like before with Vera Hansen."

"What about Vera? Vera just wanted a wedding."

...

Amidst the discussions, suddenly, a message emerged — #Vera Hansen’s Luxury Villa Floral Series#

Originally, Serena and Vera were at the center of the topic discourse, and now with Vera’s news out, it shot straight to the top of the hot search list.

Everyone was talking about it.

By this time, Serena had finished her shower and came out.

She looked at the news and let out a cold smile.

As expected, Vera made a move.

As she thought about it, another piece of news popped up; Vera had started a live stream.

The live stream’s background was entirely white, and Vera’s face appeared pale.

She "reluctantly" smiled at the camera, saying, "I heard from my assistant that netizens are very concerned about my situation, so I specifically started a live stream."

"Cough, cough..."

Vera coughed, looking quite unwell, her eyes red from coughing.

She smiled and said, "All of you are my supporters, and you can even be considered shareholders of mine."

"Today I see that everyone is very concerned about my rivalry with Serena, and now I’d like to update everyone on my recent progress."

"Firstly, ’Micro Love’ is currently going through the distribution process, and it might be a while before it meets the audience."

"Secondly, I remembered the initial reason for knowing all of you, which is my luxury villa floral series. I will resume it until the end of my life."

"Lastly, some might’ve already heard; The Lawson Corporation has completely cut ties with ’Micro Love,’ making me reflect a lot, and I won’t have support in this area anymore. For this duel, I have a clear conscience."

Saying this, she seemed to think of something and looked despondent.

"Actually, it was just wishful thinking on my part; I simply wanted a wedding..."

"But it’s okay, Serena and I, we’ll both rely on our own skills."

She smiled, "Lastly, I’d like everyone to support my luxury villa floral series."

After finishing all this, Vera said she was tired and went offline.

Seeing the skyrocketing popularity, her eyes were filled with satisfaction.

Earlier, Julian Lawson had given her two choices.

She chose nothing, but in the end, she made a request.

"’Micro Love,’ Julian, you don’t need to bother with it as it’s already been completely severed, but for my luxury villa floral series, Julian, you have to assist me."

"Julian, you want me to win, don’t you?"

"If you want me to win, if you love me, you’ll agree to my request."

At that time, Julian said nothing and in the end, only instructed her to contact Secretary Chaucer.

Vera chuckled, knowing Julian was still favoring her. Julian couldn’t say no to her.