CHAPTER 248: CHAPTER 248: JULIAN LAWSON SEES THEM LIVING TOGETHER

All the way downstairs, then came to the building opposite.

Just now, Julian Lawson was pondering, how Silas Hawthorne’s people had previously been guarding here, but recently they have been unseen. Now, even as he walked into the hallway, no one came to stop him.

This discovery made Julian Lawson even more uneasy.

He had only stayed at that apartment across for a few days, but how... it seemed like everything had changed, and he was the only one left unaware.

Thinking about this, Julian Lawson stepped into the elevator. As the elevator kept ascending, his heart grew more tense.

"Ding!"

With the sound of the elevator, Julian Lawson arrived on the floor where Serena Sterling had previously rented her apartment.

He walked straight to the door of the apartment she had rented.

The door was open.

Julian Lawson walked straight in.

"...Yes, the ventilation is great, the previous tenant loved it, if not for..." said a male voice.

"Where is she?" The agent was introducing the apartment to a prospective tenant when Julian Lawson interrupted them.

The agent turned his head in confusion, looking at Julian Lawson.

"May I ask who you are?" The agent was momentarily stunned, then seemed to recognize Julian Lawson.

The woman beside him also widened her eyes: "You are..."

But Julian Lawson didn’t care what they thought, his eyes were fixed intensely on the agent.

The agent thought for a moment, then understood what Julian Lawson was referring to.

"Do you mean the previous tenant who lived here?" the agent asked.

Julian Lawson nodded, his gaze still locked on the agent.

"President Lawson, I am not sure about that, I’m just an agent, and I only know that the apartment became vacant recently, so I’ve been showing it," the agent said.

"Vacant?" Julian Lawson repeated the agent’s words, his emotions surging.

"Yes." The agent exchanged a look with the woman, then said, "The previous tenant moved out."

Julian Lawson seemed to take a moment to grasp the meaning of the agent’s words.

She moved away.

Did she find out about his presence and move on purpose?

Or was it due to something else?

Julian Lawson’s mind flashed with Silas Hawthorne’s face.

Could it be related to Silas Hawthorne?

Recalling the times he had seen the closeness between Silas Hawthorne and her.

The scenes of them kissing replayed in his mind, Silas Hawthorne’s yearnings, her lack of rejection... this led him to a dark suspicion.

His heart pounded, blood rushed furiously through his veins.

Could it be...

This possibility almost destroyed him.

"President Lawson?" Perhaps because Julian Lawson had been standing there in silence for so long, the agent attempted to speak.

Julian Lawson snapped back to reality, his eyes already red-rimmed.

He suppressed the surging emotions: "Sorry."

He pulled out all the cash he had and stuffed it into the agent’s hands, then turned and left.

"President Lawson, this..." The agent looked at the wad of cash in his hands, unsure what to do, and wanted to chase after him to ask, but Julian Lawson had already disappeared at the end of the corridor without looking back.

Leaving the agent and the woman to look at each other in confusion.

"Should we... split it in half?" the agent tentatively asked, "It looks like compensation for the two of us."

"Okay." The woman nodded.

...

Meanwhile, Julian Lawson had already gone downstairs.

The night breeze was blowing.

He strode toward the parking lot.

Something in his chest felt like it was swelling endlessly, almost bursting his heart.

Where is she?

Is she with Silas Hawthorne?

It’s so late now...

Julian Lawson got into the driver’s seat of the car, started it, and drove out quickly.

Julian Lawson first drove to the office building she rented.

He rushed up, only to find she was not working late, the office lights were already off, dark.

Julian Lawson pressed his lips tightly.

All the way downstairs, he drove to Aeston First Hospital.

Inquiring about Ethan Lynch attending a conference abroad, he then went all the way to Bianca Lynch’s office.

Confirming she was on night duty, Serena Sterling was not there.

Unwilling to give up.

Julian Lawson sought out Ian Yates for news on Jasper Ford’s whereabouts.

Learning he was drinking at PIH, with no one else around.

Julian Lawson then went to the Hawthorne Group, Silas Hawthorne and Serena Sterling were not there.

Julian Lawson checked every place Serena Sterling might have been.

But at every location, she was not there.

Up ahead, was the second to the last location.

The place he found out, where Sheila Jenkins lived.

But the news was that Sheila Jenkins had already left.

When he asked one more question, hotel staff said, "Previously someone helped her move her belongings, heard she moved to a big estate, they said it’s likely in the east."

East, big estate.

Julian Lawson sat back in the car, he closed his eyes.

That was the location of Hawthorne Manor.

Having searched everywhere, this was the last place left.

The car drove all the way to the outside of Hawthorne Manor.

Julian Lawson looked up at this estate.

Beautiful scenery, a quiet retreat amid the hustle and bustle.

Is she really here?

Did she really... move in with Silas Hawthorne?

Before, he purposely moved in across Serena Sterling’s rental to ensure she wasn’t letting Silas Hawthorne in.

Constant checks, lingering hopes, until this time she moved out, causing him immense panic.

Julian Lawson’s eyes were red as he thought, no, until he saw for himself, it wasn’t confirmed.

She might have just left with Seraphina.

Not... moved in with Silas Hawthorne...

Julian Lawson sat alone in the car, eyes red, staring fixedly at this estate.

...

This was Hawthorne Manor.

Nearby security was tight.

Inside the estate, Silas Hawthorne soon got the news.

But he didn’t tell Serena Sterling.

He just stood quietly in front of the large bedroom window, looking out in the direction he knew Julian Lawson was.

Waiting outside the estate?

Did Julian Lawson ever think, once, when Serena Sterling found out he and Vera Hansen were together, whether she waited outside through the night too?

...

Time slowly passed.

The sun slowly rose the next morning.

When Serena Sterling opened her eyes, it was already bright outside.

She blinked and only then realized where she was now.

Then, she smiled, put on slippers, and got up to wash.

People in the estate were already busy.

Mrs. Walsh was leading the morning cleaning duties.

Seeing Serena Sterling, Mrs. Walsh smiled and said, "Miss Sheridan, breakfast is ready, wash up first, and I’ll go wake the young miss."

Serena Sterling nodded and thus, a new day began.

When Serena Sterling went out with Silas Hawthorne holding Seraphina, she suddenly felt someone watching her.

She looked back in confusion, but saw nothing.

Strange.

Serena Sterling slightly frowned and withdrew her gaze.

On the other side, Julian Lawson and his car had already been controlled by people from the Hawthorne Group.

He could only watch, eyes wide, as the family of three, talking and laughing, got into the car.

Happy, intimate.