CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147: IN THAT KIND OF MOOD

Serena saw that Ben’s initial target probably wasn’t her.

But the moment their eyes met, Ben immediately turned and charged straight at her.

"You dare mess with me, I’ll stab you to death!"

Ben rushed at Serena, wielding a knife as if he had gone mad.

Serena intended to grab the fruit knife from Ben’s hand, but before she could act, she was suddenly knocked to the ground.

"Careful!"

The person who tackled her was Justin Nash.

Serena knew Justin was genuinely trying to protect her, but by exposing his back to Ben, he was in even greater danger.

Ben seemed unstable, and Serena couldn’t predict what he might do.

"I hoped to make some money off you, but now my company collapsed, the money’s gone, and there’s high-interest loan..."

Ben rambled deliriously to himself.

The fruit knife in his hand was originally bought to deal with the loansharks.

"You won’t let me have peace? Fine, then we’ll both go down together!"

Seeing Ben about to strike, Justin held Serena tightly behind him.

Not far away, Cynthia watched the scene unfold, her bridal makeup making her face appear ghostly pale.

At this moment, a few cars scattered the crowd.

The headlights were blinding, all black Audi A8s, from which emerged a group of people, all dressed in black suits and sunglasses.

They surrounded Ben, Serena, and Justin.

Serena had some impression of these people.

Ben had never seen such a formation before and was scared; his legs wobbled, unable to muster any tough words.

Soon, a man stepped out from the center of the group in black.

He was also dressed in a black suit, but the quality outclassed the others.

His looks and demeanor distinctly set him apart from the others.

His appearance stirred whispers among the onlookers:

"Isn’t he the president of The Lockwood Group?"

"It’s Caleb Lockwood..."

"Wow, he’s so handsome..."

Caleb casually instructed The Lockwood Family’s bodyguards, "Take him away, hand him over to the police."

Then, he approached Serena, or more precisely, he approached Justin.

Because Justin had Serena shielded behind him.

Although brief, Caleb’s gaze first landed on Justin.

Justin appeared extremely tense, but his protective embrace around Serena was solid.

Caleb lowered his gaze.

"Move aside."

Softly spoken, he saw Justin frown, full of defiance, without budging.

"Justin, your fiancée is watching from the side!"

Caleb spoke with a smile, and Justin knew he was mocking him.

Glancing at Cynthia, Justin reluctantly stepped aside.

Serena lifted her head, meeting Caleb’s frosty gaze, and was suddenly scooped up in his arms.

"Put me down."

There were many idle bystanders around, and Serena’s voice was not loud.

But she knew Caleb definitely heard her.

He simply didn’t comply.

Caleb carried her like that, through The Lockwood Family’s bodyguards, gradually fading from people’s view.

Serena was placed inside a royal blue Bentley by Caleb.

Serena wanted to leave, but Caleb fastened the seatbelt next to her and started the car.

It had been a long time since Serena sat in Caleb’s passenger seat; she couldn’t remember.

The two remained silent until the car arrived at The Jade Pavilion.

"Why did you bring me here?" Serena asked, wary.

Caleb smiled faintly, retorting, "Aren’t you ’returning’?"

The word triggered a subtle stir within Serena.

Returning...

Once, The Jade Pavilion was her and Caleb’s marital home.

She thought it was a love nest.

It turned out to be shackles.

"This is your home."

Serena stated.

Caleb didn’t argue, allowing Serena to get out of the car.

"I have something to discuss with you, come inside!"

After a long time, Serena returned to her former home, where the furnishings were exactly as they were upon her marriage.

Serena lifted her gaze, surprised and puzzled.

If she recalled accurately, this home had long been transformed to a burst of pink by Claire.

"Claire doesn’t live here."

Caleb abruptly remarked.

Serena felt Caleb seemed to have read her thoughts.

Judging by the home’s decor, Caleb probably wasn’t lying; Claire no longer lived there.

"Whether she lives here or not has nothing to do with me."

Serena replied softly.

"Would you like a drink to calm your nerves?"

Caleb asked.

Serena shook her head.

"No need, I’m not scared.

"Hmm."

Caleb saw Serena’s calm expression, unlike someone pretending to be brave, so he only poured himself a drink.

Serena saw Caleb pick up an ice cube.

"It’s so cold and you still add ice? Isn’t your stomach painful?"

After speaking, Serena wished she could slap herself.

She had spoken too much again.

Caleb put the ice cube down.

"Sure, I’ll listen to you."

Serena noticed Caleb’s charming smile, his lips always slightly curled, as if deliberately testing her.

"So, what’s the reason for bringing me here?"

Caleb took a sip of his drink.

"Your uncle... that Ben, he embezzled public funds, accumulated gambling debts, and borrowed many high-interest loans, now it’s all come to light, the bank cut off his loans, the company has gone bankrupt, and he’s facing imprisonment... I’m wondering what you plan to do?"

"Me?"

Serena tilted her head.

"He brought it upon himself, deserves what’s coming, being imprisoned isn’t bad, at least he won’t harass me anymore."

This surprised Caleb.

"I never knew you were this cold-hearted?"

Serena frowned, arms crossed.

"I never knew you were this benevolent?"

Caleb paused, smiling silently.

Serena didn’t consider herself cold-hearted.

This was inevitably Ben’s own doing.

Besides, Ben wasn’t her real uncle, with absolutely no blood relation, how could she be called cold-hearted?

On her way back to The Jade Pavilion, Serena had been checking her phone.

She saw Ben’s news trending.

After Ben bought trending posts to slander her, online sentiment reversed, exposing his embezzlement, gambling debts, and high-interest loans.

In one night, Ben’s credit collapsed, the company went bankrupt, all his properties and cars were repossessed by the bank, and he faced detention.

Serena couldn’t help but be struck by the ups and downs of Ben’s life.

Now that Caleb had discussed everything he wanted with her, she wished to leave.

"Where do you want to go this late? Just stay here tonight!"

Caleb said, and went to change into sleepwear, then handed Serena a brand new set of sleepwear.

Serena noticed the new sleepwear wasn’t pink but black.

"What, don’t you like it?"

"It’s fine..."

Serena held the new sleepwear, not moving.

She didn’t want to stay at The Jade Pavilion.

She didn’t want to stay with Caleb.

Caleb’s eyes chilled as he realized what Serena was concerned about.

"Rest assured, I won’t touch you."

Then he returned to the master bedroom on his own.

Serena sensed Caleb wasn’t pleased.

But it’s better to make Caleb unhappy than to spark his interest in that aspect.

After showering and changing into the new sleepwear, Serena lay down.

The bed seemed sufficiently large when they bought it for marriage, but with two people it felt much less spacious, Caleb’s body heat seemed to bake her back.