CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: WHAT IF... I INSIST ON FORCING IT?

"Thank you, Serena!"

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for having dinner with me!"

"What’s there to thank for? It’s just a small favor..."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Serena Sinclair suddenly paused.

When she was little, her mom would prepare dinner, and the two of them would eagerly wait for her biological father to come home.

The meal would be reheated over and over, but they never saw him.

Later on, they no longer had to wait for him.

It became her waiting for her mom.

Even though her mom always said there was no need to wait, to go ahead and eat, Serena couldn’t bear to.

Watching her mom tirelessly explain things to students, not even taking a sip of water, how could she have the heart to eat first?

Besides, dining together with her mom, chatting about anything and everything, were the most cherished moments in her childhood memories.

Later on, going to college, graduating, getting married.

Once again, she awaited Adrian Lockwood.

The meal would be reheated time and again, yet he never returned.

In the end, there were only two possible outcomes.

Either he came back and the carefully prepared meal would no longer be delicious.

Or he didn’t come back, and it would turn into a heap of kitchen waste.

Serena detested that feeling immensely.

This was also the reason why she was willing to stay and have dinner with Wyatt Hawthorne.

But once the words were out, Serena realized again how foolish she had been in the past.

Her waiting was indeed because of love.

But after one, two, three, four times... Adrian had disappointed her so many times.

Was coming home for dinner really such a difficult task?

And yet, her former self was foolish enough to be willing to persist in her delusion.

"Serena..."

Wyatt’s voice rang out.

Serena snapped back to reality.

She saw Wyatt scooping another bowl of porridge and returning, "If it’s convenient, can you write down the porridge recipe for me later? I’ll have the chef try it, to keep from troubling you all the time!"

"Okay!"

Serena nodded.

She watched as Wyatt elegantly and contently took bite after bite.

It was as if a breeze blew across, carrying along a patch of sand over the cratered surface of her moon-like heart, smoothing out some of the larger and smaller pits.

Her heart softened, and Serena gently said, "You like porridge, right? Then... next time I’ll make seafood porridge for you."

Next time.

Wyatt lifted his eyes. "Will it be too much trouble?"

Her hands should be used for sketching.

Or perhaps to caress those dazzling jewels, luxurious silks.

Not buried in a kitchen, wasting her time on those damp vegetables and fruits.

Otherwise, would he be any different from that bastard Adrian Lockwood?

"How could it be?"

Serena’s smile was soft and tender. "I love cooking the most."

Especially cooking for someone she cares about.

Seeing the fatigue on her mom’s face replaced by surprise, touching her head, saying, "My Serena is the best."

Watching Adrian eat with a contented expression, marveling, "What more could a husband ask for with a wife like this."

Those were her happiest moments in the past.

Unfortunately, time has changed everything.

"That’s good."

The empty stomach was filled, and the heart filled too.

Wyatt felt much better. "I saw you after work, was that... your boyfriend?"

Serena was taken aback, then laughed, "No. He’s my mom’s student. We haven’t seen each other in years."

"Is he pursuing you?"

Wyatt asked.

Serena paused, thinking about Evan Cole’s unsaid words that she had blocked.

She shook her head, "It’s impossible between him and me."

"Why?"

Wyatt pressed on.

Serena smiled, "Because I don’t want to. Because we’re not suitable. Because I don’t like him."

She gave many reasons in one breath.

Every reason was genuine.

Serena sighed softly, "Wyatt, right now I don’t have the time to deal with anything or anyone outside of work."

Especially after experiencing a failed marriage.

She wouldn’t easily invest her feelings in someone else again.

"Feelings cannot be forced, and I don’t even want to let things happen naturally."

Serena smiled and stood up to collect the bowls.

When the sound of the water running was heard, both of them lifted their eyes, only to see rain starting to fall outside the window.

In her heart, she hoped this rain would last forever.

Wyatt spoke, reassuring Serena, "It should stop soon."

Serena nodded.

Slowly, she put the dishes into the dishwasher.

She opened the fridge and pulled out many fruits, red, yellow, purple, and green, washed a plate, and placed it on the kitchen island.

Wyatt was nowhere to be seen.

Serena looked at the rain pouring down outside the window, grabbed a ball of yarn, and went up to the third floor.

After playing with 2S for a while, Serena sat in the massage chair and started watching an old movie.

Wyatt finished bathing and changed into loungewear, and when he came out, the living room was filled with a subtle fruit aroma.

He instantly spotted the vibrant fruit platter on the island, matching his restored good mood.

Wyatt turned and went upstairs to the media room.

"Serena..."

The word escaped his lips just as he saw Serena’s head tilted and the cat’s head rising from her lap.

Wyatt fell silent.

2S stood up, stretching lazily on Serena’s lap.

Then jumped onto the carpet.

Serena remained asleep.

Wyatt approached slowly.

The large screen flickered, casting alternating light and darkness across Serena’s tranquil sleeping face.

He crouched down, quietly gazing at Serena’s face.

In Wyatt’s mind, her clear voice echoed.

She said, I don’t have time for anything else right now.

She said, feelings cannot be forced.

But, Serena...

His fingertips traced along her hair at her forehead, skimming over her cheek, then landing on her lips.

Wyatt gently rubbed her lips with his thumb, "What if... I insist?"

The hidden feelings were like intertwined branches.

Endlessly spanning and twisting in the darkness.

Wyatt lowered his head, drawing near.

His lips almost touched hers.

Softness was so close, tangible.

He could even hear his own heart pounding furiously.

Wyatt suddenly pulled back and walked away.

Ping!

A light note sounded, and Serena woke up startled from her dream.

Only then did she realize she had fallen asleep.

After glancing at her phone, she saw it was already 11 o’clock.

Serena hurried down the stairs.

In the first-floor living room, Wyatt was playing games.

Holding the game controller in both hands, Wyatt focused entirely on the racing game on the big screen.

2S was curled up in a ball, cuddled against Wyatt’s leg.

It was a harmonious scene.

Hearing footsteps, Wyatt turned his head to glance back.

He put down the game controller and got up, "Are you leaving? Or..."

"Let’s head back."

The rain had stopped.

The time wasn’t too late.

Serena stepped forward to change her shoes, "Is the driver here?"

"I’ll take you."

Wyatt scooped up 2S and followed Serena into the elevator.

The nighttime road was clear, and in less than half an hour, they arrived at the alley’s entrance.

Serena unbuckled the seatbelt, and Wyatt reached for 2S.

Holding one cat paw, he waved at her, "Say goodbye to mom..."

2S looked confused.

Serena reached out to rub the cat’s head, got out of the car.

As she walked to the door and looked back, she could still see the bright car lights and Wyatt in the driver’s seat, holding the cat, quietly watching her.

After waving her hand, Serena turned and entered the house.

As the Maybach drove away from Old Town Lane.

The Benz slowly came to a stop in front of The Lockwood Villa.

Opening the backseat door, Adrian Lockwood stepped out with unsteady steps.

Raising his eyes, he saw the lights on in the living room.

Leaning against the car door, he waited for a long time, but did not see the villa door open, nor the familiar figure rushing to him.

Adrian frowned, instructing the driver to come later the next day to pick him up.

Swaying, he entered the house.

Pushing the door open, he saw the form sleeping on the couch.

Exhaling, Adrian felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Serena..."