CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 179: TRULY LETTING GO OF CALEB LOCKWOOD

The morning sunlight made the glass facade of the business building even brighter.

Serena Jennings appeared at FY.

"Is this really okay?"

Serena turned to ask Peter beside her.

Peter smiled wryly, "I can’t help much with anything else, but can’t I at least provide you with a fully equipped workspace?"

"Well, thank you! You’re really doing me a big favor."

The smile on Serena’s face was as bright as the sunshine outside the window.

"Serena..."

"Hmm?"

Serena noticed that Peter wanted to say something but hesitated, as if something was hard for him to bring up.

"What’s wrong?"

Serena asked proactively.

"Nothing..." Peter shook his head and said something unusual for him, "Just thought you’ve become more beautiful."

Serena was taken aback and deliberately flipped her hair.

"Well, you’re not wrong; I have become more beautiful."

Peter was amused by Serena’s deliberate self-mockery.

"Is it because you’re divorced... feeling relieved?"

He asked cautiously.

He was afraid of upsetting Serena.

But he also wanted to test Serena’s attitude.

"Of course, I’m feeling quite relieved now."

Serena gave Peter a very affirmative answer.

The lump in Peter’s throat finally disappeared.

Thank goodness...

It seemed like Serena had really moved on from Caleb Lockwood.

Before seeing Serena today, Peter was actually very nervous.

Even more nervous than when he first founded FY and didn’t know what the future held for the company.

Because Peter felt guilty towards Serena.

When Serena was being criticized and isolated, the only thing he could offer was phone calls and verbal comfort, nothing more.

Regarding his relationship with Serena, there were some rumors within the company, but it hadn’t blown up to the point of trending online.

Moreover, Serena’s status as Caleb Lockwood’s wife hadn’t been exposed, so the impact was minimal.

However, now, the Lockwood Group had distanced itself from Serena first, making her the target for online trolls, while the Nash and Blackwood Groups remained silent.

If he spoke up for Serena, it would confirm to netizens that there was something unusual between them.

Even if he was merely clarifying on her behalf.

The FY board also demanded that he keep distance from Serena, no matter what, to avoid getting involved.

His involvement would mean FY’s involvement.

The board didn’t care about Serena’s fate, nor his reputation.

But the board cared about FY’s interests.

Anything that harmed FY’s interests was strictly forbidden.

Peter had been called into board meetings several times, and Neil, the current FY chairman and largest shareholder who co-founded the company with him, also talked to him.

In the end, he compromised, playing dead when Serena was at her lowest.

The ultimate result was the bankruptcy and closure of Serena’s studio.

Peter had thought about financially supporting Serena to help her reopen her studio.

But he also thought Serena wouldn’t accept it.

He was even worried Serena might misunderstand his intentions as fake or just pity.

Peter considered a lot, and the more he thought about it, the more he feared that he and Serena couldn’t even remain friends.

He was very afraid.

He was afraid Serena would hate him, treat him coldly.

Although he deserved it.

"Peter... Peter?"

Serena called a few times before Peter snapped back to reality.

"What are you thinking about being so absent-minded?"

Peter forced a bitter smile, gazing at Serena.

Serena felt uncomfortable under Peter’s gaze.

His eyes were bright like gemstones washed clean by a spring.

"I want to thank you..."

Serena tilted her head.

"For providing such a great workspace, shouldn’t I be thanking you?"

"No..." Peter shook his head, his tone unwavering, "I should thank you... Thank you for still being willing to be my friend."

Serena could somewhat guess what Peter had been hesitant to say before.

Previously, when she was being cyberbullied with false trending posts, she was indeed isolated and helpless.

But she could understand Peter’s situation.

"Don’t worry, no matter what happens, we’ll always be friends."

Serena held out her fist towards Peter, smiling.

Serena’s smile was striking, like a blooming rose.

Peter also smiled, but his smile was more like a grimace.

He reached out and bumped fists with Serena.

Always friends...

The fist seemed to land on his heart.

With FY’s professional workspace, Serena was twice as efficient in creating the crown.

"Serena, it really is you, I knew I wasn’t mistaken!"

Serena was just making herself a cup of coffee in the break room when she ran into an old acquaintance.

Chantelle Stone and Megan Ross were colleagues of Serena’s when she worked at FY, but in Serena’s memory, they were Claire Shaw’s followers back then, always looking up to her.

"Are you back to work at FY?" Chantelle asked.

"Excuse me, please."

Serena didn’t answer Chantelle’s question, squeezing past Chantelle and Megan.

"Hey Serena..."

Megan still wanted to call out to Serena, but she had already walked away.

Chantelle and Megan watched Serena’s receding figure, and Chantelle first took out her phone to contact Claire.

"Claire, Serena is very wary of Megan and me, giving us a cold shoulder, treating us indifferently. How can we get close to her like this?"

On the other end, Claire rolled her eyes hard.

"You two are useless! You can’t even handle this small matter and still expect me to promote you to executives?"

"Sorry, Claire..."

Chantelle hung her head.

"Apologies are useless, you need to lower your stance, cater to Serena... sincerity can move mountains! As long as you become friends with her before she finishes the crown."

Saying this, Claire couldn’t help but smirk.

She felt it wouldn’t be difficult, even Chantelle and Megan could manage it.

From the day after encountering Chantelle and Megan, Serena didn’t have to make her own coffee anymore.

Because every time, Chantelle and Megan would prepare coffee for her.

Initially, Serena didn’t appreciate it.

But day after day, whether she drank it or not, they would prepare coffee and exquisite desserts for her.

No matter how many times Serena returned them, they still brought them.

Until once, Serena witnessed Chantelle and Megan being scolded to tears by their team leader and crying their hearts out in her workspace, complaining that the team leader was menopausal and didn’t like young girls, especially the two of them, always scolding them.

They always wanted to resign but were reluctant to leave FY, such a large company.

Serena’s presence gave them hope.

"We were bad to you before because we misunderstood you, thought you got into the company through connections without real skills..."

"But now it’s different. Your performance at the LD Jewelry Fashion Week won our utmost respect, we know you have real skills... so, we hope you can lead us, and the three of us can venture on our own."