CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: IF YOU CAN’T PROTECT HER, DON’T MESS WITH HER!

"Serena, I’m sorry!"

Evan Cole’s expression was apologetic to the extreme, "I didn’t know my mom came to Aethelgard, nor did I expect her to come looking for you. You..."

His mind was a bit muddled, unsure of what to say or what he should say.

Ever since middle school, he had liked Serena Sinclair.

But initially, what he liked was merely the warm feeling of mutual companionship and care between her and Selene Summers.

His father was a scholar.

His mother was a doctor.

He seldom sat down with them for a meal.

He was even more afraid when the phone suddenly rang at home, as it meant they had urgent business and would be going out again.

That magnificent house felt like a cold cage, devoid of any warmth.

Then, the time for the high school entrance exams came.

With his grades, it was difficult to get into high school.

Either pay to go to a private school.

Or simply go abroad.

Private school meant boarding.

Going abroad would be even farther away.

To Evan Cole at that time, be it private school or going abroad, both were just another cage.

The only difference was which cage was closer to the one at home.

He chose neither, leading to Mrs. Cole asking around, eventually finding Selene Summers.

Selene Summers could tutor in every subject.

And that cramped, shabby rental apartment was the warmest place Evan Cole had felt in over ten years.

Selene was strict during lessons, demanding punishments if someone couldn’t grasp a problem after three explanations.

Yet outside of class, Selene was the most gentle and kind mother on earth.

She would peel apples for him, whip up the best tomato-egg noodles in just a few minutes, and softly chat with him, melting away his adolescent discontent and restlessness with just a few words.

There was also Serena, her quiet profile as she did homework, slipping a thermos next to Selene’s hand while students silently worked on problems and handing him tips on solving them.

Everything made him feel that tiny room was so warm, so happy.

To The Cole Family, he was there for tutoring.

But to Evan Cole at that time, he was there to heal and recuperate.

To this day, Evan Cole remembers calling Selene Summers during rainy days of his first year in Veridia, feeling vexed.

Her delightful voice on the phone, "Evan, good boy, how have you been lately?"

When he called his parents, it was always their assistant picking up, waiting for them to have time to call him back.

But Selene Summers, even after years apart, remembered him, gently reminding him to eat well and dress warmly.

Initially liked the quiet and beautiful Serena.

Then grew fond of the gentle and patient Selene Summers and that rental apartment.

Countless dull nights, yearning for a stable job to propose, to bring Serena home, to let Selene rightfully become his mother, becoming part of the life he once longed for.

This was Evan Cole’s dream.

But the bidder wasn’t only him, there was also Adrian Lockwood.

And Adrian acted much faster than he did.

Finally, Serena divorced, giving him a glimmer of hope.

First came Serena’s indirect refusal.

Then came his mother’s assertive appearance.

Evan Cole knew that the distance between him and Serena, he had barely taken a step before it was blown ten meters away by storms.

He hoped any passing deity could hear his plea, give him another chance, not let him be out of the game.

"Serena, I’m sorry!"

Not knowing what else to say, Evan Cole looked defeated, "I’ll convince my parents on that side. Could you give me some time, please? I just ask you not to disappear from my life, okay?"

If Serena listened to his mom and distanced herself from him, then he really would have no chance left.

"Evan, I..."

"Give you some time? Who do you think you are?"

Serena had just opened her mouth.

But was forcefully interrupted by Wyatt Hawthorne, "Calling you Evan is seeing you as a friend. She gave you respect, did your mom give her any?"

Without waiting for Evan Cole to reply.

Wyatt Hawthorne wrapped an arm around Serena’s shoulders, his attitude domineering, "Get in the car!"

He opened the passenger door and pushed Serena into the car.

As Wyatt was about to move around the front of the car, he saw Evan Cole still standing in place.

Stopping his steps, Wyatt walked back to Evan Cole, his gaze cold, "Do you know what your behavior amounts to now?... Repaying kindness with enmity!"

Evan Cole’s face changed slightly.

Wyatt coldly said, "If you can’t protect her, don’t bother her!!!"

Turned around and left.

Wyatt had barely taken a step when Evan Cole retorted, "Then what are you doing?"

"It’s Young Master Hawthorne, right?"

Evan Cole looked at Wyatt’s retreating figure with resentment, "You certainly can protect her, but since you can’t marry her, it’s just playing around. How are your actions any better than mine? Don’t think just because you have power and influence you can..."

"Who told you I can’t marry her?"

Wyatt turned around.

Faced with Evan Cole’s astonishment directly, "Serena has been divorced."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw the laughter overflowing in Wyatt’s eyes.

Evan Cole immediately realized he had misspoken.

Then Wyatt walked closer to him.

"Evan Cole..."

Seeming to have already found out his identity, Wyatt’s eyebrows and eyes softened, "Give it up. You’re not suitable for Serena Sinclair!"

"I still say, don’t bring up her being divorced twice, even if it’s twenty times, in my heart, she’s a treasure!"

"Regarding me and her, feel free to keep this in mind, remember well... I’ll send you an invitation to our wedding!"

Patting Evan Cole’s shoulder, Wyatt prepared to leave.

Suddenly recalled something, turned and advised Evan Cole, "Listen to your mom, disappear from her life! Otherwise, I don’t mind lending a hand!"

Saying the harshest words with the softest demeanor.

Wyatt said his piece and left.

The car door locked, the Maybach slipped into the night.

Serena, puzzled, asked Wyatt, "What did you say to him?"

"Some encouraging words..."

Wyatt said as he observed Serena’s disbelief, he nodded seriously, "Really! I told him, if you’re fine, then he’ll be golden. Also told him to listen to his mom, be a good kid."

Serena looked unconvinced.

Wyatt maintained his composure.

The car halted at the zebra crossing, Wyatt extended his hand, "Phone!"

Not knowing what he intended, but Serena still handed over her phone.

Wyatt grabbed the phone and also took her hand to unlock it.

Directly went into the contacts and WeChat, blocked Evan Cole, "You wouldn’t want that bothersome mom reappearing at the company next time, do you?"

Serena froze.

Wyatt handed the phone back to her, "From now on, don’t engage with those who can’t even make decisions for themselves, okay?"

Serena looked speechless.

Wanting to say, when did I engage with him?

But Wyatt seemed to have misinterpreted her intention.

With the change of traffic lights, Wyatt slowly started the car, glancing at her through the rearview mirror, "You should engage with younger brothers instead."

Serena’s heart fluttered.

Wyatt chuckled, "My dad doesn’t care for me, and I have no mom... Sister, if you engaged with me, you’d never have today’s trouble, isn’t that great?"

All her attention had been drawn to his words ’dad doesn’t care, and no mom’.

Serena suddenly understood.

Why he lived alone in the big house at Hillcrest Villa.

Why he liked to eat cake when feeling down.

To other kids, cake symbolized birthday tradition.

But he insisted on making cake a staple of his life.

Thus, without a birthday, he wouldn’t mind whether there were parents accompanying him.

On one side was Miles with a cake, Adrian and Chloe bustling beside him.

On the other side was Wyatt quietly sitting alone before the kitchen island, eating cake.

Serena’s heart softened, she blurted out, "For your next birthday, I’ll celebrate with you!"

Screech!

The Maybach came to a stop on the roadside.