CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: DISAPPEAR FROM HIS LIFE

The guest room was given to Una Hutton, but that night, neither of them went back to their rooms to sleep.

Nightfall descended, outside the window was the myriad lights of Aethelgard.

Each with a can of beer in hand.

The two leaned by the floor-to-ceiling windows, chatting until they fell asleep.

The alarm rang, Serena Sinclair opened her eyes, and Una Hutton had already gone back to the bedroom.

Her head rested on a pillow, with a blanket covering her.

Outside the window within her line of sight, were the smog-blue community greenery, and in the distance stood Hawthorne Tower in the fish-belly white.

Made soybean milk.

Made sandwiches.

Left a portion for Una Hutton.

After finishing her own portion, Serena Sinclair quietly headed out.

It was a 15-minute walk from the apartment to Hawthorne Tower.

In the bright morning light, everything felt dreamily beautiful.

At ten in the morning, Serena Sinclair received a call from HR asking her to come by.

Knocking on the door and entering, Director Quincy smiled and pushed forward a contract, "Serena, congratulations on your successful promotion!"

Serena Sinclair was stunned.

Director Quincy seemed to have guessed, "Manager Lynch did mention before about extending your probation period. Later, she withdrew the application and clarified, saying it was her personal mistake that caused it."

Since it was a misunderstanding, everything proceeded as per the regulations.

Serena Sinclair’s promotion was a matter of course.

In the labor contract, Serena’s salary was increased once again.

All benefits and treatment were upgraded accordingly.

Returning to her department, Serena was about to order morning tea to treat her colleagues.

The receptionist knocked, clicking her tongue and pointing at the desk, "Three portions of morning tea for each person, please claim them yourselves!"

Three... three portions?

One from the President’s Office, reason unknown.

One from Claire Carson, congratulating her senior on the promotion.

Another from Clara Lynch, for the same reason, congratulating Serena Sinclair on the promotion.

Serena Sinclair thanked each one.

The next day, she reordered morning tea for everyone.

The joyful atmosphere continued for several days, so much so that Serena would leave with a smile on her face every day after work.

"Serena..."

She left work early that day, and as soon as Serena stepped out of Hawthorne, someone called out to her.

Turning around, she saw a middle-aged woman a few steps away.

In her forties or fifties, wearing a champagne white qipao.

A gentle aunt with an air of elegance was noticeable.

"Auntie, did you... call me?"

"It’s true that girls change by eighteen. Serena, it’s been so many years, you’ve become more and more beautiful. You probably don’t remember me, do you? I’m Evan’s mother."

Mrs. Cole introduced herself.

Serena was surprised, quickly smiling, "Hello, Auntie!"

"Do you have time? Let’s find a place to sit down."

Mrs. Cole suggested.

Serena nodded, pointing to the coffee shop across the street, "Let’s go there."

Mrs. Cole appeared suddenly.

But as they walked, Serena felt like she had already guessed Mrs. Cole’s intentions.

Sure enough, after sitting down and ordering, Mrs. Cole got straight to the point, "I’m here for Evan."

Saying that, Mrs. Cole opened a video on her phone and pushed it in front of Serena.

A short video.

The noisy scene was full of people.

But at a glance, one could tell it was the incident that happened at that pearl counter on Saturday afternoon.

Beatrice Sutton went crazy, Evan Cole stood in front of her.

The ex-daughter-in-law, wild man.

Along with the eye-catching title by the poster, "Can’t bear to see my son being cuckolded, mother-in-law publicly punches Lola Monroe and kicks Sterling Westgate."

In just a few days, it had been shared over ten thousand times.

The scrolling comments were unbearable.

It was as if she and Evan Cole were adulterous lovers.

And Beatrice Sutton, a righteous entity acting on behalf of heaven.

"Auntie, you’ve misunderstood!"

Serena politely spoke, solemnly explaining, "Evan said you were having a birthday soon and asked me to help pick a gift for you. That’s why I..."

"I know!"

Mrs. Cole nodded, interrupting Serena, "Evan has already explained it to me. And he also said, you are divorced, now single?"

Serena froze.

Mrs. Cole smiled and said, "Serena, I’ll speak frankly. Although both you and Evan are single now, you’re not suitable for each other! Evan’s father and I have a unanimous opinion on this matter, we hope you... stop it here!"

The Cole Family is a scholarly family, Evan’s father is a university professor, and his mother is a doctor.

When Evan was little, every time he finished his tutoring session at home, it was Mrs. Cole who picked him up.

More than ten years have passed, but Serena still remembers the disdain on Mrs. Cole’s face and the doubt in her eyes the first time she came to inspect their home environment.

A one-bedroom rental, simply furnished.

The closed bedroom was a private space for the mother and daughter.

The living room was arranged like a classroom, just desks, chairs, and a huge blackboard sticker.

If it weren’t for Selene Summers’ widespread fame at that time, just based on that environment, Serena believed that Mrs. Cole would never have agreed to let Evan be tutored at her house.

Evidence proved that Selene Summers lived up to her reputation.

After just a few lessons, Evan’s grades skyrocketed.

Only then did Mrs. Cole trustfully allow Evan to have tutoring sessions at her house.

But except for the first time, Mrs. Cole never set foot in her house again.

The car parked far at the end of the street, as soon as Evan was picked up, they left without even exchanging pleasantries.

As if giving them one more friendly smile, they would cling to them without knowing their place.

A parting lasting for years.

Mrs. Cole’s caution remained unchanged as before.

"Auntie, you really misunderstood!"

Serena said seriously, "I haven’t seen Evan in over ten years, it wasn’t until last week at the hospital check-up that I knew, the doctor who performed surgery on me was him. The day of buying gifts was only our third meeting, just helping as friends. We are simply ordinary friends."

"Serena, do you believe that argument yourself? It’s just to coax someone like Evan who doesn’t have much romantic experience and is a naive straight guy."

Mrs. Cole still wore that gentle smile.

But looking at Serena, that superior, piercing gaze made one inexplicably uncomfortable.

As if she had seen many green tea bitches like Serena, heard many such arguments.

Serena was stunned.

Opening her mouth, her voice was cool, "Auntie, then your purpose in finding me is..."

"To disappear from his life!"

Mrs. Cole bluntly said, "Regardless of the past or the future, you and Evan are not part of the same circle. You young people have a saying, different circles do not need to forcibly merge. With Evan’s current conditions, he can find a much better girl. By the way, do you know, during his time in Veridia, what kind of women were arranged for blind dates with Evan?"

"Female PhDs who returned from overseas..."

"Daughters of deans, attending physicians from the same hospital..."

"Also wealthy heiresses from Veridia’s elite families..."

Each word was said exceptionally clearly, Mrs. Cole looked at Serena and said, "Evan is sentimental, he often can’t tell those twists and turns in relationships. But Serena, you’ve already been married once, you understand, right? So you better not..."

"Mom!"

A rapid voice accompanied by footsteps.

Evan Cole appeared, abruptly interrupting Mrs. Cole’s unfinished words.

But Serena understood.

Mrs. Cole said very clearly, even without a prior marriage, with her conditions, she couldn’t reach Evan’s level.

So, she should have some self-awareness, not be a harm to Evan.

"Mom, how did you find this place? What have you said to Serena?"

Evan looked breathlessly at Mrs. Cole, his face not looking too good.

Mrs. Cole’s gaze was angry, "It’s never too late to mend, but some mistakes, Dad and I, having been through it, since it’s clear, should help you avoid it early to prevent trouble."

"Mom, don’t say anymore!"

Evan interjected, turning to Serena, "Serena, I’m sorry! Today’s incident is all my fault, I’ll explain it to you another day, please leave for now, okay?"

"Leave? To where?"

Hearing "another day", Mrs. Cole was immediately anxious.

Looking at Serena, she no longer had the friendly face from before, "If today’s words aren’t clarified, no one is leaving!"

Serena rose to leave.

But Mrs. Cole bypassed Evan, who was blocking her, and grabbed her wrist.

In the quiet café, the movements of the three of them immediately attracted frequent glances from surrounding customers.

"Oh, such excitement?"

A cool voice sounded from behind Serena.

With a grip of cool fingers, Wyatt Hawthorne held her wrist.

Wyatt looked up at Mrs. Cole, "Let go!"