CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: KISSING SERENA JENNINGS’ LIPS

"Look at our Claire, she’s become a full-time employee at FY with the score from the piano series design master. She’s a white-collar worker at a big company, earning hundreds of thousands annually. And then look at someone else, went from housewife to janitor... Well, I guess that’s progress too?" Lily Sutton laughed so hard she nearly fell over.

"Comparing her to my sister-in-law is an insult to her, don’t you think?" Patrick Rhodes looked at Serena Jennings with disdain.

Serena had been indifferent towards Patrick, but since Claire Shaw returned home, Patrick’s two conversations with Caleb Lockwood had completely changed her impression of him to dislike.

"What, you’re not convinced?" Patrick noticed Serena’s hostility, rolling his eyes.

He and Caleb Lockwood were high school classmates, very close friends, and he knew that Caleb and Claire Shaw were a match made in heaven back then.

Their passionate love story was something he nearly witnessed first-hand, yet in the end, it was Serena Jennings whom Caleb formally married.

Patrick felt Serena was just fortunate.

If it hadn’t been for the cold war between Caleb and Claire, who was abroad at the time, he would have never pursued Serena.

And Serena had no self-awareness, yet she shamelessly married into the Lockwood Family.

Patrick, like Caleb, both appreciated outstanding women.

They were cultivated elites from high society, who would be interested in a woman who only knew how to do laundry and cook!

"Here, let me show you what my sister-in-law designed!"

Patrick showed Serena Claire’s design draft.

"I know you definitely won’t understand her creativity, but at least you’d realize you don’t measure up, right?"

Serena remained silent.

She not only understood Claire’s creativity, she even understood the score in the upper right corner!

It was what she had just graded today.

"Turns out you got third place in FY’s intern evaluation, congratulations."

Serena smiled, her voice calm, yet Claire couldn’t keep her composure after hearing this.

How did Serena know she only got third place?!

Seeing the panic in Claire’s eyes, Serena was puzzled.

Wasn’t she complimenting Claire? She was genuinely giving praise, so why was Claire panicking?

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Owen Warren shouted, "Claire got first place, your jealousy is truly unsightly!"

Serena recalled that if this design draft was indeed Claire’s, it wasn’t the highest score she had graded at the time, she mustn’t be mistaken.

And because she wasn’t mistaken, it precisely explained why Claire was panicking.

"Ignore her, she doesn’t know anything." Caleb glanced at Serena.

That glance chilled Serena to the bone.

Caleb gently patted Claire’s smooth hair, "I know you’re definitely the first place."

"Caleb..." Claire was moved to tears.

Serena felt stung, a suffocating blockage in her chest.

She said nothing because she knew that nothing she said would make a difference.

As long as Caleb believed Claire, then whatever Claire said was the truth.

She turned to leave, only to find a wall had appeared out of thin air, blocking her path.

Serena looked up to find herself face to face with Caleb.

"Take it off."

Serena heard the displeasure and impatience in Caleb’s voice.

Seeing that Serena didn’t move or speak, Caleb’s tone grew heavier.

"I told you to take off this outfit and go home immediately."

Serena knew, Caleb felt embarrassed.

Because she was a janitor.

"Exactly, you’re not ashamed, but Brother Lockwood is!" Patrick fanned the flames on the side.

Serena ignored Patrick, her eyes stared intently at Caleb, who was also staring intently back at her.

This rebellious and condescending gaze was identical to the one he had at the juvenile detention center.

Young Serena, blossoming into love, had no resistance to such a gaze, the memory of her infatuation was still vivid.

But now...

Serena sighed, "If you feel ashamed, sign the divorce papers, and after the divorce, what I do—be it begging on the street or collecting bottles—won’t concern you."

Hearing Serena’s words, Patrick exasperatedly rolled his eyes, "Damn, can you be any more spineless, talking about begging and collecting bottles... You don’t find it disgusting to say it, but Brother Lockwood probably finds it puke-worthy."

Finding Patrick annoying, Caleb pushed him aside, making him stay with Claire and the others.

Stepping forward, Caleb’s imposing figure nearly loomed over Serena.

Serena’s hands, clasped tightly behind her back.

On usual days, she might step back.

But today she felt a bit agitated, she didn’t even know what she was mad about.

Anyhow, she didn’t step back.

The two stood face to face, almost touching, if not for their strained expressions and defiant glares, others might have thought there was something intimate going on.

Claire watched from the sidelines, anxious.

Caleb thinking Serena embarrassed him was fine by her, she wished Caleb would hate Serena.

However, she disliked seeing Caleb so close to Serena, as if he could easily lower his head and press his lips against Serena’s.

Holding herself back, she nearly tore her fishtail dress, fearing that speaking at this moment might upset Caleb.

Caleb’s proximity overwhelmed Serena, her heart flipped in her chest, sweat beading on her forehead and temples.

"You’d rather beg on the street or collect bottles... just to divorce me?!"

Caleb’s voice was low, and although his tone was mild, it gave Serena the impression that he might devour her.

She felt he might slap her at the very next moment.

Of course, Caleb had never hit her.

Caleb wouldn’t lay a hand on a woman.

Serena was sure of that.

Even if Caleb stopped loving her, he wouldn’t become an abusive husband.

The long silence increased the pressure looming over Serena, finally, Caleb smiled, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Even if one day you were truly begging on the streets, collecting bottles, I would still be your husband."

Serena’s skin crawled.

She couldn’t take Caleb’s words as romantic, and of course, Caleb didn’t mean them romantically.

Serena was now certain that Caleb was intentionally preventing the divorce.

He didn’t love her yet refused to grant her freedom.

Serena initially wanted to fight for the divorce a bit more, yet Caleb’s phone rang with a business call. Talking on the phone, Caleb left the hall.

As soon as Caleb left, Serena felt deflated, finally able to relax, though tiredness made her head throb.

Nearby, Lily and Owen exchanged glances, noticing Claire was down due to Caleb and Serena’s relationship, ready to throw some more jabs at Serena for Claire’s sake.

Before they could get close to Serena, a uniformed clerk hurried over.

"Excuse me, are you Miss Serena Jennings?"

Serena nodded, watching as the clerk handed her something.