CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: SERENA JENNINGS IS A JINX

The Mount Corvus during the day isn’t as grim and terrifying as it is at night.

However, the winding mountain road is still treacherous and hard to race on.

"Hey, Patrick, are you serious?"

Serena Jennings sat in a sunset orange BMW sportscar, lowered the window, and asked Patrick Rhodes.

This car was provided by Patrick Rhodes.

Patrick was also driving a BMW sportscar, identical in customization to hers.

Except his was matte gray.

In fact, Serena felt that in terms of personality, she was better suited to drive matte gray, while Patrick was more fitting for sunset orange.

"A true man stands by his word!"

Patrick thumbed up at Serena.

Using an app-generated start signal, they raced forward simultaneously.

Initially, they were neck and neck.

But soon, Patrick’s matte gray sportscar was far left behind by Serena’s sunset orange.

After reaching the finish line, Serena got out of the car and stood by the car, waiting for Patrick, waiting till her legs felt sore.

Finally, Patrick reached the finish line too.

"Alright, I thought given your recent mood, your driving skills would be affected, and maybe I’d actually beat you this time!"

Patrick’s words made Serena chuckle speechlessly.

"Driving skills might indeed be influenced by one’s mood, but... who said I’m in a bad mood recently?"

"It’s because of..."

Patrick started but then covered his mouth.

Serena’s scandal spread so widely that everyone in the business circle knew about it.

Patrick had long wanted to contact Serena, but his dad wouldn’t allow it.

Now the business community generally viewed Serena as a jinx, believing anyone associated with her would face misfortune.

Patrick knew Caleb Lockwood divorced Serena and also heard that Serena’s company went bankrupt.

He waited and waited, planning to contact Serena after the negative news cooled down. But as soon as the trending searches disappeared, he hurriedly called Serena, inviting her for a race.

"Forget about that, let’s talk about our race!"

Serena smiled wryly.

What was there to talk about their race?

She won it without a hitch!

"Eh..."

Patrick cleared his throat before speaking seriously, "In this race, I lost, you won. As agreed before the race, I owe you a five million bonus."

Serena was stunned.

"We didn’t say that before the race."

"I said it in my heart," Patrick argued, "Anyway, take this five million."

Patrick tried to hand a bank card with five million stored in it to Serena.

Serena avoided it and didn’t take it.

She realized that Patrick’s sudden call for a race was just a guise.

What Patrick really intended was to give her money.

"You’ve won, so there’s no reason to be afraid of taking a bonus," Patrick’s face turned red, "Or consider it as an apology for my previous behavior..."

Serena noticed Patrick was determined to give her the five million no matter what.

"Think of it as a personal investment, and when you make money, I’ll just take a share!"

Patrick’s face was flushed, feeling flustered and anxious after being rejected by Serena.

He knew Serena needed money now.

This money was his pocket money; he couldn’t use company or family funds, so he could only put out five million.

"Is it because you think it’s too little?"

"No, no."

Serena quickly waved her hand, fearing Patrick might misunderstand.

She simply didn’t want Patrick’s help.

Because Patrick—

was Caleb Lockwood’s friend.

Serena could see that Patrick’s initiative to help her had nothing to do with Caleb.

But she still couldn’t get over the hurdle in her heart, always feeling that once she accepted Patrick’s investment, she’d sooner or later be mocked by Caleb.

Patrick stared at Serena’s face without blinking.

Compared to before going to Meridia, Serena had lost quite a bit of weight.

Without any makeup, she looked naturally beautiful.

Patrick couldn’t help but think that Serena must have suffered these past few days.

The online abuse towards Serena made Patrick feel suffocated just reading it.

Patrick deeply regretted and was angry with himself.

Because he couldn’t help Serena.

This five million was also a form of compensation to Serena.

"I didn’t mean to make things difficult for you..."

Patrick mumbled softly.

To some extent, he guessed Serena’s thoughts.

Serena’s refusal to take his money was likely related to Caleb.

Because whenever Caleb was involved, Serena showed expressions like now.

Patrick unconsciously frowned.

In the past, seeing Serena so obsessed with and worried over Caleb, he only felt disdain for her, thinking she was shamelessly clinging.

But now...

As long as Serena’s feelings had any link to Caleb, Patrick would feel irritated.

They’re divorced; why should she care about him!

The words were held back by Patrick.

"So what do you plan to do next?"

"Find a job!" Serena turned her head and smiled.

Though the smile was forced, Patrick was mesmerized.

In the end, Serena agreed with Patrick that if someday she really needed that five million, she would come to him anytime for it.

Only then did Patrick agree to take back the bank card.

Of course, Serena preferred to venture on her own rather than find a job.

If Patrick truly appreciated her design skills and invested in her, she wouldn’t have refused.

But unfortunately, Patrick wasn’t.

These days, it’s hard to find a job, especially in jewelry design.

The industry isn’t substantial, and Serena is a "popular figure."

Infamy is still fame.

Most companies aren’t willing to hire her.

Currently, her reputation is tainted by accusations of indiscreet private life, being cut off by business moguls, and Cynthia Fulton exposing her for using fakes in jewelry making.

With so many debuffs affecting her, finding a designer job smoothly is unlikely.

Peter did contact her, but considering her current "status," joining FY could harm Peter’s reputation, so she turned it down.

Riverview Imperial.

Serena wore a server’s uniform, serving tea and drinks to guests.

She was now a server here.

Before the racing season started, relying on winning racing prizes for her first bucket of gold was just a daydream; besides, she didn’t even have her own car now.

Although she could borrow Patrick’s customized race car, she only needed to do odd jobs for a month to get through this tough period.

Serena recalled her previous visit to Riverview Imperial as a pianist.

The lobby manager initially wanted her to continue as a pianist, but Serena chose to work as a server.

She could play the dual keyboard but not the grand piano.

While carrying two glasses of red wine over to guests, Serena’s peripheral vision caught sight of two people walking in through the revolving doors.

Two women.

Both ladies wore haute couture evening gowns, dressed lavishly, indicating wealth and status.

Serena immediately felt she might have chosen the wrong place to work.

"No wonder Newcross Real Estate is so wealthy, actually purchasing our City A’s most grand hotel."

"That’s nothing! Miss Shaw is the one; once you marry President Lockwood, you’ll be the mistress of the Lockwood Group, not any less grand than us at Newcross Real Estate!"

Claire Shaw and Cynthia Fulton entered the opulent hall of Riverview Imperial, chatting and laughing.