CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: A GLAMOROUS SPRING DREAM

Serena Sinclair found herself surrounded by a blazing heat.

It felt like stepping into a cave just after a rainstorm.

Both wet and hot.

And a bit suffocating.

Trapped in the endless darkness.

Making one want to delve deeper into the cool abysses.

"Sister..."

The hoarse voice seemed to come from a distant horizon.

Then it fell beside her ear.

Serena awoke with a start.

In the depths of her mind, there was a silverish aftertaste; Serena stared blankly at the snow-white ceiling above, unable to return to her senses for a long time.

The voice calling "sister" was so clear, as if right by her ear.

Even though she hadn’t seen the face in the dream.

Serena was certain it was Wyatt Hawthorne.

She had a glamorous dream.

And the leading man in that dream was... Wyatt Hawthorne???

She rose in shock, the room brightened.

Under the covers, she was wearing a silky strappy nightgown.

One of the straps seemed to be ravaged, loosely hanging over her shoulder.

Serena froze.

Can someone tell her what exactly happened last night?

The last memory she had was Una Hutton dragging her to the dance floor, but she refused.

Looking helpless, Una advised her not to wander off and turned to the dance floor.

Amidst the wild music, Una Hutton danced like seaweed swaying deep under the sea.

Free and unrestrained.

Then...

Wyatt’s smiling face appeared.

And then... there was nothing.

She grabbed her phone; it was 11:19 a.m.

Her body felt weak yet comfortable, as if all the fatigue from the past days had been eased by last night’s dream.

The lips she touched in the dream were cool.

But her palms were scorching.

Serena raised her hand, even feeling the hardness at her fingertips.

A lazy, husky voice echoed at her ear, "Let me count abs with you..."

Beyond that, she couldn’t remember anything.

To the extent that Serena couldn’t discern whether anything really happened.

Or if it was just an unspeakable dream.

She went out.

Turned the corner.

Knocked on the door.

Serena pushed the door open and saw Una Hutton just awakening on the large bed, her hair disheveled like a bird’s nest.

Subconsciously relieved, Serena tentatively asked, "What time did we get back last night?"

"I don’t remember..."

Una lay back in bed, "It definitely wasn’t past midnight. My abs guy, my wire goddess, ah ah ah... all Wyatt’s fault!!!"

???

Was Wyatt really involved?

Serena was stunned, "What does Wyatt have to do with it? He’s not the one who stopped you from admiring your abs guy!"

"If not him, then who?"

Una sprang up, aiming at Serena, "It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t gotten drunk and he hadn’t been eager to take you home, why would I have become collateral damage?"

"So, Wyatt brought us home?"

Serena looked puzzled.

How come she couldn’t remember a thing?

"Not us..."

Una corrected Serena, "You were brought home by him, and I was brought home by his bodyguard!"

"..."

Serena’s mind went blank for a moment, "He, he brought me home?"

Just seeing Serena’s expression indicated what she was thinking.

Una suddenly became alert.

"Dear, do you think he might be... not up to it?"

Serena choked.

Una raised her chin slightly, "If you say he’s not up to it, he knows how to be the hero saving the beauty. If you say he’s up to it, he didn’t care at all."

"When I entered, you were sprawled on the bed like an octopus, almost smothering yourself. Tsk tsk tsk..."

Remembering what she saw last night.

Thinking about Wyatt’s disappearing whereabouts.

Una murmured, "I’m starting to believe what you said might be true."

"What?"

"Brother and sister."

Faced with Serena’s confusion, Una sighed, "Like you said, maybe he really sees you as a sister?"

Wyatt seeing her as a sister.

But she dreamt of sleeping with him.

Heavens!!!

She didn’t dare linger even for a second.

Afraid Una would see through her.

Serena turned and left.

Warm water sprayed from the shower head, steam spreading.

Serena let out a long sigh of relief.

Good news, it really was a dream.

She hadn’t done anything irreparable with reckless courage.

Bad news, the dream was too real.

To the extent that now when she heard Wyatt’s name, images from the dream would uncontrollably appear in her mind.

Then, a blush.

Serena really couldn’t imagine how she would face Wyatt when she returned to the office on Monday.

The most disastrous part was that she had invited him to dinner every day.

The entire afternoon was spent in distraction.

Whenever her phone rang, Serena flinched as if electrocuted.

Afraid of receiving Wyatt’s inquiry: Sister, how could you do that to me?

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

Serena’s anxiety ended by Monday morning.

a.m. department meeting.

On the big screen’s monthly plan execution task list, the climax was the newly approved land inspection projects.

"One of these three projects will soon be built after winning the bid. The other two are pending drawings."

Claire Carson surveyed the room, "The design department needs to discuss internally who will take responsibility. By next week’s meeting, sketch and preliminary ideas should be ready."

The two pending drawing projects, one in Syburg, and one in Lindenhall.

This meant business trips.

Back at her workstation, Serena saw everyone chatting eagerly.

Some were willing to travel, after all, the Hawthorne Corporation’s business trip allowances were generous.

But more were unwilling, as it was just initial inspection and drawing; whether the designs were spectacular enough to win the land was unknown.

"Manager Lynch, I’ll take the Syburg project?"

Serena volunteered.

Clara Lynch said she’d consider it.

The department’s group chat sounded for half an hour, settling the decision.

Serena and Engineer Grant would head to Syburg.

Two other architects would go to Lindenhall.

Agreed to meet Engineer Grant in the Syburg Grand Hotel lobby at 9 a.m. the next day.

Serena clocked out to pack her luggage, heading straight to the airport.

At least a three-day business trip.

Three days should be enough for her to forget that dream.

Returning in three days, she’d be able to face Wyatt as usual.

Perfect!

The plane rocked and fell into the golden clouds, Serena lowered her eye mask, sweetly sleeping.

In the Hawthorne Corporation’s top-floor office, listening to the shutdown notification on the other end, Wyatt picked up the landline to call internally.

The phone rang for a long time before a crisp, unfamiliar voice answered, "Hello? Who is this?"

"Where’s Serena Sinclair?"

"Serena went on a business trip."

Business trip?

So... slipped away?

Expected her to avoid him.

But didn’t expect her to flee so swiftly.

For a moment, Wyatt had an urgent desire to appear before Serena.

To look into her eyes and ask her, "Do you recall anything?"

Remember his kiss?

Or remember him holding her hand, leading her to count those abs?

And... does she know the abs she counted are his?

Blue skies and white clouds outside the window.

Lightning and thunder in his heart.

Wyatt couldn’t wait another minute.

"Ryan Rhodes..."

Calling Ryan Rhodes in to rearrange the schedule, Wyatt looked up, "Heading to Syburg tomorrow."

The Syburg project is crucial for the fourth quarter.

Whether Wyatt goes or not.

The outcome will vary greatly.

Ryan Rhodes responded quickly, "Okay, I’ll arrange it right away."

Turning to leave but stopped by Wyatt’s call, "You keep working as usual, I’ll take that... Ian Young, yes, I’ll take him."

The sudden change of schedule.

Caught off guard with changes.

In a flash, a thought occurred.

Ryan Rhodes felt like he might have uncovered a big secret.