CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 223: SERENA IS NOW MY FIANCÉE

Tears and blood soaked Silas Hawthorne’s hand as he held Julian Lawson, who now appeared incredibly weak as he stood there.

Ian Yates was stunned.

He had known Julian Lawson since they were children, and Julian had always been the leader among them.

His knowledge and abilities were exceptional, and he led The Lawson Corporation’s successful transformation, making it the top of the three giants in Aeston.

In Ian’s memory, Julian was always unflappable, calm, and dignified.

But now...

For the first time, he saw Julian Lawson like this!

Ian Yates looked left and right.

And then at Silas Hawthorne.

For the first time, he realized that this always smiling, seemingly gentle and elegant First Young Master Hawthorne was actually so terrifying!

The way Silas had swept his gaze at him just now had truly startled him.

Turns out, Silas Hawthorne’s usual gentle demeanor was all an act!

And when it came to violence, he didn’t hesitate at all!

What exactly was going on?

How did things suddenly turn out like this?

Instinctively, Ian Yates looked back at the car parked in the distance.

Was it because of Serena?

As Ian Yates was thinking, Silas Hawthorne had already let out a cold laugh.

"Julian Lawson, a few words, a few tears, and you want me to return her to you? You’re really daydreaming."

"Moreover."

Silas Hawthorne’s voice was icy, "She is not an object; there’s no concept of returning her or not."

"Julian Lawson, it seems you’ve never learned to respect her. You never consider her feelings, her sorrows, and happiness."

Julian Lawson suppressed the sadness in his heart and looked at Silas Hawthorne: "But what if she says she likes me and wants to be with me, Silas Hawthorne, would you let go?"

The two stared at each other, and the parking lot fell into silence.

Finally, Silas Hawthorne said, "Hasn’t it always been like this over the years?"

Because the person in Serena’s heart was Julian Lawson, he willingly guarded her silently from afar all this time.

He had watched from a distance, never interrupting.

He just wanted her to be happy.

But later, he found that she was not happy, she was always crying, and he no longer wanted to see her cry.

Julian Lawson couldn’t speak for a moment; he slightly lowered his eyes, as if lost in thought.

Finally, he said, "I saw that photo, in Zetania, many years ago."

Silas Hawthorne chuckled softly, "Long before that."

"I’m begging you," he said, ignoring the surprised and wide-eyed Ian Yates beside him.

Silas Hawthorne did not answer, only coldly gazed at Julian Lawson.

Julian Lawson looked up, and saw the seriousness and determination in Silas Hawthorne’s eyes.

At that moment, Julian Lawson understood what his opponent meant.

Silas Hawthorne would not let go.

"Heh..." Julian Lawson laughed lowly.

He couldn’t understand why things had turned out this way, everything had developed out of his control.

And he was powerless.

"I won’t let her go," Julian Lawson said lowly, allowing tears and blood to mix and flow.

"Silas Hawthorne, I absolutely won’t let go!" he said.

Silas Hawthorne coldly looked at the disheveled Julian Lawson, then finally released his hold on Julian.

Retrieving the hand that was controlling Ian Yates, Silas Hawthorne took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his hand, then tossed it onto Julian Lawson.

"Letting go or not isn’t up to you," Silas Hawthorne said coldly, "You need to understand, she is now my girlfriend... no."

Silas Hawthorne paused slightly and said, "Serena is now my fiancée."

"She has already agreed to my marriage proposal, she wears the ring I gave her, and we will live, marry, raise children together, and grow old together."

"And you..." Silas Hawthorne frowned slightly, looking Julian Lawson up and down with disdain, "Go live your life with Vera Hansen."

There were still some things Silas Hawthorne hadn’t said.

All that Vera Hansen had done to Serena hadn’t been settled.

However, he didn’t need Julian Lawson to know about his plans.

After speaking, Silas Hawthorne glanced at Ian Yates.

Ian Yates immediately understood and stepped aside.

Silas Hawthorne turned and walked toward the car.

Ian Yates immediately went to support Julian Lawson.

They turned around just in time to see Silas Hawthorne carrying Serena out of the car.

She stirred slightly from his movement.

"Where is this?" she asked groggily.

"Parking lot," Silas answered, smiling; his profile looked very gentle as he closed the door with his other hand and said, "It’s okay, just keep sleeping, I’ll carry you upstairs."

"Mm."

She murmured in response, wrapping her arms around his neck and snuggling into his embrace.

Silas Hawthorne, holding Serena, looked back at Julian Lawson and Ian Yates one last time, then turned and carried Serena into the elevator.

Julian Lawson was furious.

Ian Yates saw it and sighed softly.

"Julian, let’s sort things out," Ian Yates said.

But Julian Lawson didn’t want to; he wanted to stay, he wanted to talk things over with Serena.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

Just then, Secretary Chaucer’s call came through.

Secretary Chaucer was with Vera Hansen, and Julian frowned slightly, feeling a sense of resistance.

But in the end, he answered.

"President Lawson, something bad happened..." Secretary Chaucer’s voice was hesitant.

"What is it?" Julian Lawson asked as he wiped the dirt off his face.

"Miss Vera had a depressive episode and cut her wrist again, sigh..." Secretary Chaucer sighed helplessly, "I’m at the same sanatorium as before."

"I know you’re very busy, but she said..." Secretary Chaucer paused slightly and continued, "She said if you don’t come, she’ll take that incident from a year ago to her death."

Ian Yates, standing very close, understood immediately what that meant.

"That’s blackmail!" Ian Yates said angrily.

Today’s events made Ian Yates very displeased with Vera Hansen; he had kindly lent his family’s villa to Vera for livestreaming, and now it had turned into this.

He suspected that the burst water pipe in his home was caused by Vera!

"Julian," Ian Yates gritted his teeth, "You can’t soften just because she cut her wrist without asking how she got into The Hillside Villa."

"My place is still flooded," Ian Yates added, feeling somewhat aggrieved.

Julian Lawson clenched the tissues in his hand.

He looked at the elevator on the side, his gaze reaching upward, seemingly wanting to penetrate the wall to see Silas Hawthorne and Serena at this moment.

"President Lawson?" Secretary Chaucer was urging on the other end.

"I understand," Julian Lawson finally said.

He had to first resolve Vera Hansen’s issue.

Depression?

Julian Lawson chuckled coldly.

The last time he visited the sanatorium and overheard discussions, he investigated the doctor who diagnosed Vera.

He later obtained their collusion results.

He was merely considering Vera’s feelings and hadn’t exposed her. But now, she dared to use the same trick again?

Also, he needed to find out how Vera got into The Hillside Villa!

With this in mind, he and Ian Yates got into the car and headed toward the sanatorium.