CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205: THE LOCKWOOD GROUP CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Seeing Caleb Lockwood underneath her building, Serena Jennings was somewhat surprised.

Not seeing Caleb’s flashy luxury car nearby, and with Caleb dressed more warmly than usual, she couldn’t help but suspect that Caleb hadn’t driven but walked here.

Ethan White pulled the car to a stop, just right in front of Caleb.

He and Serena Jennings could see Caleb clearly from inside the car.

Caleb outside the car could see Serena and Ethan clearly as well.

Caleb frowned, the displeasure on his face was evident.

As Serena got out of the car, Ethan also stepped out.

Caleb could tell Ethan was exhibiting a posture as if afraid he’d bully Serena. Caleb couldn’t help but shrug with a smile.

"Not going to invite me up for a sit?"

Serena noticed Caleb’s nose was red from the cold, seeming like he’d waited a long time beneath her building.

She couldn’t help but feel surprised.

Before the divorce, she didn’t recall Caleb actively showing up before her so frequently.

"If there’s something to discuss, just say it here."

Serena’s response was expected by Caleb.

However, imagining her answer and actually hearing it are two different feelings.

Serena’s voice, when actually heard, was even more cold than Caleb had imagined.

"Saying it here is cold."

Caleb calmly uttered these few words.

"Then let’s say it in the car..."

Serena turned her head, looking around for Caleb’s car, only to hear Caleb lightly adding:

"I didn’t drive... I came on foot."

Serena couldn’t help but say in her heart: He really walked here!

From where did he walk?

The Lockwood Group?

Or The Jade Pavilion?

No matter from where he walked, the distance was far.

In the freezing winter, leaving the car unused and choosing to walk...

Serena raised her gaze slightly.

Could it be that Caleb did it deliberately for the reason of creating a situation where she would have to let him in?

Serena and Caleb faced each other, with a kind of awkward stalemate between them.

After a moment, Ethan spoke: "I have a car, you can use mine to talk."

"No need."

Caleb rejected firmly.

Serena gently patted Ethan’s arm.

"It’s okay, you head back first!"

"But..."

"If there’s anything, I’ll call you."

Ethan opened his mouth, inhaled sharply, and didn’t say anything more.

He was resolute in not feeling at ease about Serena being alone with Caleb, especially in Serena’s home.

Yet he didn’t want to protect Serena excessively, making Serena feel not free.

In the end, Ethan silently watched as Serena led Caleb upstairs.

He understood that Serena asked him to leave first because she knew he’d been busy with work lately and wanted him to rest.

But Caleb was currently in Serena’s home, showing no intention of leaving.

Ethan returned to his car without moving it.

Upstairs, Caleb walked into Serena’s home.

This wasn’t his first time in this old building on Vornath Street.

But this time, it was his first time to observe the arrangement and decor inside the house carefully.

Despite being small in size, the house was well-equipped.

Serena hadn’t remodeled it but had arranged it with an air of elegance and taste.

The money spent was minimal, yet the effect was excellent.

This reminded Caleb involuntarily of The Jade Pavilion—

The original marital home he shared with Serena.

The initial décor of the marital home was decided by his mother, leaving Serena without any voice or contention.

But post-marriage, he mentioned once that he disliked the upstart style his mother arranged, hence gradually, the soft décor style began to change.

It became fresher and also cozier.

Just like this house on Vornath Street.

After Serena left, the soft décor style of The Jade Pavilion hasn’t changed, but the previous cozy feeling has been completely lost, becoming both empty and desolate.

Serena originally thought Caleb would get straight to business once he entered the room, but instead, Caleb first took a look around her home and then fixedly stared at her sofa.

Initially his gaze was quite calm but then gradually turned sharp, with his brow furrowing increasingly intensely.

For a time, Serena couldn’t understand why Caleb was fuming at a sofa.

Could it be that her online-ordered sofa was made by a competitor company of the Lockwood Group?

Serena was both crying and laughing.

Finally, Caleb in lengthy silence turned his head to Serena and spoke:

"Not even going to pour me a cup of coffee?"

Serena shrugged, also not knowing what Caleb was delaying about.

Spending one more minute in her house, could the stocks of the Lockwood Group possibly hit another limit up?

Out of politeness, Serena still went to pour Caleb a cup of water.

Caleb thanked her, looking down, it wasn’t coffee in the cup but plain boiled water.

He took a small sip, surprisingly sweet.

Better than coffee.

Serena sat back down on the sofa, quietly observing Caleb as he stood there drinking, savoring the taste.

"The water in my kettle is from yesterday."

Caleb paused his water-drinking gesture.

"What’s the matter, say it quickly!"

Serena felt if she didn’t urge Caleb, he might very well drink yesterday’s water all night.

"Next month... is The Lockwood Group’s centennial celebration, don’t forget to come."

Serena was taken aback, then belatedly realized—

She was still a shareholder of The Lockwood Group!

"Mhm, okay."

After Serena spoke, she watched Caleb continue to drink the overnight water.

Serena tilted her head.

"Do you have anything else?"

"Nothing else."

Serena: ?????

So Caleb rather not drive, braving the cold over a long walk to her building, just to come upstairs and talk about—

Reminding her to attend The Lockwood Group’s centennial celebration?

Was this something that couldn’t be said over the phone or written on WeChat, or mentioned downstairs?

Serena looked at Caleb, her face filled with confusion.

"You sure you have nothing else to say to me?"

"Mhm..."

"Didn’t Claire Shaw tell you I tore up her invitation tonight and had her thrown out by security?"

Caleb paused his water-drinking gesture once more.

"... She mentioned it."

Serena sneered.

She knew Caleb’s visit was a thousand percent still about Claire Shaw.

"Talk of attending a centennial celebration was just bait, the real matter you wanted to discuss is Claire Shaw, right?"

Currently Claire Shaw has been expelled from The Jewelers’ Association, and her existing clients have all disappeared.

Serena’s next move is to find ways to get banks to cut off Claire’s loans, and let all investment parties except Caleb withdraw.

Though with Caleb covering her, Claire may never go bankrupt, but at least Claire will be severely weakened.

Caleb silently observed Serena.

The expression on Serena’s face was still easy to read.

"Claire poses no threat to you now, it’s unnecessary for you to hate her and detest her so viciously because of me. She’s merely trying to be an ordinary jewelry designer. If you keep targeting her like this, her company will sooner or later collapse."