CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 86: FORTY-NINE DAYS AFTER THE DIVORCE, HE... REGRETTED IT!

Adrian Lockwood’s business trip was remarkably smooth.

The anticipated difficulties were nonexistent.

The other party’s straightforwardness was even more unexpected.

The collaboration was thus achieved.

Yet, Adrian’s mood wasn’t as good as anticipated.

At work, without Ian Young, he had to repeat every sentence several times before the new assistant general manager could fully grasp his meaning.

Before, a single glance would be enough for Ian to understand him.

Life was even more chaotic.

The suitcase was packed by Chloe Lynch.

She used the packing checklist he had sent her.

And that checklist was originally recorded by Serena Sinclair.

For a one-week business trip, how many shirts and pairs of socks to prepare, which tie to match which suit, which cufflinks to use, Serena listed everything clearly.

Once at the hotel, Ian Young would categorize and organize everything according to the list Serena had printed out.

Open the wardrobe, and everything would be neatly displayed.

But now, everything was a mess.

Early in the morning, opening the wardrobe, the shirts and suits arranged neatly yet randomly would instantly ignite his inner rage.

In just a few days, he was forced to become a fashion stylist.

Every day he had to not only strain his mind over business negotiations but also think about how to dress more formally or more amiably.

And before, none of these ever required his attention.

What frustrated him even more, every call from Chloe Lynch, aside from the initial "Honey, was your day successful?", was full of deliberate or unintentional probing.

Probing whether he had any dates at night, any exotic blond bedmates.

Or, whether he had time to go to the boutique to help her choose a desired purse today.

While Serena never did this.

She only cared if his meetings went well, whether he had his meals on time, and if his stomach felt uncomfortable.

Besides that, she would just grasp their son’s little hand and say: Daddy, I miss you!

A child’s innocent voice.

A gentle gaze.

It was all her longing and concern for him.

It made him know that all his travel and hard work were worthwhile!

But this time, Adrian Lockwood wasn’t even sure what he was working so hard for.

The vice president could have secured this collaboration too.

He could have controlled it remotely, and the outcome would have been the same.

Yet as if avoiding something, he came without hesitation.

In the end, what he tried to escape from couldn’t be escaped at all, and it just made him more irritable.

Over ten hours of flight time, Adrian slept and woke intermittently.

The airplane jostled as it landed, outside was the bright sky of Aethelgard.

The phone started ringing incessantly.

Beatrice Sutton’s cheerful voice, "Adrian, I’m playing cards, transfer some money to me."

Zoe Lockwood couldn’t hide her joy, "Brother, you came back early? Did you buy the bag I wanted?"

Chloe Lynch spoke tenderly, "Honey, what time will you be home?"

The car drove out of the airport, and Adrian Lockwood instructed the driver, "To the company."

By the time he finished, it was already past eight. When Adrian Lockwood left, he encountered Julia Dalton in the elevator.

In the secretary capability ranking report submitted by Ian Young, Julia Dalton was ranked first.

But Chloe Lynch had a big opinion about this, insisting that Ian did it on purpose.

She even coquettishly asked if he didn’t like her anymore and intended to let Julia Dalton replace her.

Helplessly, he replaced her with the male assistant general manager who ranked second.

But facts proved that, even as men, the gap between the new assistant and Ian Young was as vast as between worlds.

"President Lockwood..."

The exclusive elevator arrived, Julia Dalton watched Adrian Lockwood walk into the elevator without any intention of following along, "Happy Birthday!"

Adrian was taken aback, "Thank you!"

The elevator descended steadily.

Adrian fished out his phone, his gaze pausing.

Today was indeed his birthday.

But he had forgotten.

Beatrice Sutton, Zoe Lockwood, and Chloe Lynch...

Everyone had forgotten.

As if this day was just an ordinary day.

But it wasn’t like this in the past.

Right at midnight, Serena Sinclair’s phone would light up on the bedside table.

Awake or half asleep doesn’t matter.

Serena would snuggle into his arms, give him a soft kiss on the lips, "Honey, happy birthday!"

He would reciprocate the kiss.

As they kissed, the temperature in the bedroom would rise with it.

Waking up at dawn, there would be nothing uncomfortable in body or mood.

Waking up to long-life noodles personally cooked by Serena and Miles’ sweet "Happy birthday, daddy."

The whole day, the entire secretary’s office would feel like a celebration, everyone would greet him with a unique blessing when they saw him.

Dinner would be at Beatrice Sutton’s place.

But it would certainly be organized by Serena.

A feast.

A cake.

A birthday song.

The people he loved most and those who loved him most, all were by his side.

After a meal, he’d attend friends’ gatherings, being flattered round after round, pushing the birthday day’s happiness to the highest point.

Not even 30 yet, so young.

With the thriving Lockwood Group, a successful career.

A beautiful, virtuous wife, and a sweet, obedient son, a harmonious family.

He was, in their words, the epitome of success.

Yet in the blink of an eye, from the epitome of success, he had become alone.

Today, how many days has it been since he and Serena’s divorce?

days? 50 days?

He thought he’d long forgotten.

But recalling now, Adrian could clearly remember the date he saw the divorce agreement letter.

Counting from when Serena walked out of The Lockwood Villa with her suitcase, it had been 49 days.

Looking at the myriad of lights through the window, Adrian found himself, somewhat... regretting.

Screech!

The car came to a halt, Adrian abruptly snapped back to reality.

In his line of sight was the dimly lit The Lockwood Villa.

He was home!

Taking a breath, he suppressed the inexplicable emotions that just surfaced.

Adrian got out of the car and entered the house.

The living room was silent.

The children’s room was tidy, but Miles Lockwood wasn’t there.

The dining table was empty.

Only the stairway lights were on, as if silently guiding him upstairs to the master bedroom.

Adrian pressed on his aching stomach, loosened his tie, and headed upstairs.

On the big bed in the bedroom, Chloe Lynch lay on her side like a flower fairy in her white lace set.

It’s often said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Though she and Adrian weren’t newlyweds yet, it didn’t stop her from giving him a wonderful experience of a wedding night.

The footsteps grew nearer.

They stopped at the bedroom door.

The door was pushed open, and Chloe Lynch looked back as if startled awake.

But she didn’t see the expected joy in Adrian’s eyes.

"Honey..."

Four eyes met, but there wasn’t the blazing passion one would expect, only a slowly rising awkwardness.

After a few moments’ standoff, Chloe Lynch got up and approached, "You must be exhausted, let me..."

She didn’t finish saying the word "massage" before Adrian grabbed her wrist and firmly pulled her away.

"Where’s Miles?"

"Today is Friday, and I thought your mom would want to see her grandson, so I sent him over to your mom’s. I even had Ms. Warren go with him."

"Did you have dinner?"

"I did..."

"I haven’t. And... do you remember what day today is?"

After a brief hesitation.

Chloe Lynch seemed to remember, a flash of panic in her eyes.

Adrian saw it clearly, and his anger grew.

Chloe stood on tiptoe to kiss him, "It’s because I knew, that’s why I specially prepared a surprise for you!"

"Honey..."

She blew a puff of air into his ear and reached to undo his suit jacket.

But Adrian pushed her away harshly.

The bedroom was dark, the bay window, the coffee table, the bedside table... countless candles flickered, casting a hazy and dreamy light.

In her white lace, Chloe Lynch sat on the carpet, looking pitiful.

Adrian was indifferent.

"Adrian..."

In Chloe’s anxious call.

Adrian turned and left.

The car drove out of the villa grounds, Adrian looked out at the dark night, instructing the driver, "To The Serenity Apartments..."