CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: WIFE-PAMPERING MANIAC

Serena looked wide-eyed as Lana Xavier shrugged helplessly.

"I might come off as loose and carefree, but I’m not stupid... did Ethan White’s mom just let you go without some perks?"

Mentioning this matter made Lana Xavier furious.

"Ethan White’s car accident was never your fault. You weren’t even the driver; why should you pay for the medical expenses!"

The more Lana thought about it, the angrier she got, unable to hold back her indignation for Serena.

"You didn’t tell me, so I don’t know how much you paid for Ethan White’s medical bills, but knowing you, it’s definitely not a small amount, five thousand, maybe ten thousand... Surely they can let go of the medical bills given your situation! Ethan White’s family isn’t short on money..."

Lana thought her words were reasonable.

Serena smiled silently.

In fact, the medical bills she paid for Ethan White were not at all as low as tens of thousands.

But a yearly ten million.

If it weren’t for FY’s dividends, she wouldn’t be able to afford such an amount.

Just before she went to Meridia, Ethan White’s mother contacted her, demanding the medical bills be increased to twenty million annually, paid twice a year.

So in these few days, she had to send another ten million to Ethan White’s mom.

Such being the case, her studio had no option but to file for bankruptcy.

Serena didn’t talk much about Ethan White, knowing Lana Xavier didn’t want to talk about it, she changed the subject, eventually leading to cursing Caleb Lockwood.

The next morning, Serena and Lana slept in until late morning, both sleeping on the floor, fortunately with underfloor heating to avoid a cold.

Lana took a day off to accompany Serena to relax.

Being cooped up indoors would definitely drive anyone crazy.

Serena, however, felt that the current situation required handling serious matters first.

So, accompanied by Lana, she went to the court first.

As it turned out, before she could file for bankruptcy voluntarily, the bank had already applied for a compulsory liquidation in court.

By the time she and Lana reached the company, the bank’s collecting manager had already brought a notary to inventory the assets in her studio.

"Well, look at who it is!"

A snide voice suddenly sounded behind them.

Serena and Lana turned their heads simultaneously to see Claire Shaw, accompanied by Lily Sutton and Owen Warren, walking over with an arrogant demeanor.

Compared to the thin and pale Serena, Claire Shaw looked vibrant and glowing.

"Isn’t this Serena Jennings, the global top fashion magazine ’Radiance’ designer! Why is the studio... sealed up?"

"Exactly! Serena is so talented; having affairs during marriage and seducing a few men isn’t much, how did it lead to bankruptcy and forced liquidation?"

Lily Sutton and Owen Warren echoed sarcastically.

"Where are those big shots you slept with? Why isn’t anyone helping you now?"

If Serena hadn’t held Lana back, Lana would’ve rushed to slap Lily Sutton and Owen Warren across their faces.

"Senior!"

Claire Shaw approached the collection manager.

"I didn’t expect to meet you here."

Quincy Aldrin brightened upon seeing Claire Shaw.

He was a year ahead of Claire Shaw in junior high.

Serena watched Claire Shaw cozy up to Quincy Aldrin and speculated Claire was eyeing something from her studio.

As expected, Quincy Aldrin liquidated everything but handed a complete set of Serena’s design drawings to Claire Shaw.

"Those drawings can’t be given to her."

Serena argued, "They are intangible assets that can be evaluated and auctioned."

"Hehe!" Quincy Aldrin sneered and unceremoniously pushed Serena aside.

"Who do you think you are? Already bankrupt and still acting like the boss? Let me tell you, everything in your studio belongs to our bank. If I say it can be given away, it can be given away."

Quincy Aldrin glared at Serena with malice, then turned to smile at Claire Shaw.

"Here, take them, even selling them as scrap paper is fine."

Claire Shaw cooed thanks to Quincy Aldrin, shoving all of Serena’s finished and half-finished design drawings into her briefcase.

Ultimately, Serena’s studio completely went bankrupt and was sealed by the court.

Watching helplessly as her hand-crafted studio succumbed to foreclosure, Serena pursed her thin lips, her chest aching as though pierced.

Serena didn’t shed tears.

Lana Xavier couldn’t help but tear up.

Claire Shaw, Lily Sutton, and Owen Warren were still present; Lana didn’t want them to see her cry and quickly wiped her tears with tissue.

Claire Shaw, Lily Sutton, and Owen Warren left the Azure Tower laughing triumphantly.

The emperor blue Bentley on the roadside caught everyone’s attention.

The car window rolled down, and everyone saw Caleb Lockwood seated in the driver’s seat.

"Claire, you’re too lucky! President Lockwood personally came to pick you up!"

"Oh, come on, Claire will be the future hostess of The Lockwood Group, of course, President Lockwood has to pick her up; he’s crazy about his wife."

"Oh, yes, yes."

Lily Sutton and Owen Warren echoed each other.

Lana almost burst with anger.

But Caleb Lockwood had indeed divorced Serena, so him being with Claire Shaw was none of her business.

Claire Shaw walked coquettishly towards Caleb’s car, yet Caleb Lockwood’s gaze remained fixed on Serena.

"Your company went bankrupt?"

Caleb Lockwood asked.

"Thanks to you."

Serena replied.

Caleb Lockwood paused, his charming smile forming a hint of coldness.

"Obviously, it’s you messing around with men and being exploited and made a scandal, what’s it to me?"

Serena silently gazed at Caleb Lockwood.

Caleb’s face was indeed handsome.

His heart was truly ruthless.

At this juncture, Serena couldn’t help wondering if Caleb had chosen to save her instead of Claire during the kidnapping, would Justin Nash still have jilted her?

Would the online rumors about her not have escalated to such a level?

Would she not have lost her savings, and her studio not face compulsory liquidation?

But reality doesn’t entertain ’what ifs’.

In reality, Caleb Lockwood wouldn’t choose to save her.

"You’re right."

Serena smiled at Caleb Lockwood.

Though her smile was a self-deprecating one, it was also a smile of relief.

This smile, Caleb Lockwood did not like.

"Lana, what do you want for lunch?"

Serena turned to ask Lana, who looked confused.

Serena’s studio was just sealed off, and she was humiliated by Claire Shaw, yet she still had an appetite for lunch?

"How about hotpot at Spicy Aroma Pavilion? My treat."

Serena beamed.

The mention of Spicy Aroma Pavilion triggered a reflexive stomach pang in Caleb Lockwood.

"Serena, are you alright?"

Lana softly asked, grasping Serena’s arm.

She feared Serena was forcing a smile.

"Companies are like husbands, out with the old, in with the new."

Serena’s words were quiet, not intended for Caleb Lockwood to hear.

But Caleb Lockwood did hear.

"Caleb? Caleb, what’s wrong?"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Claire Shaw called out to Caleb Lockwood several times, but he did not respond, his stern face growing ever grimmer.