CHAPTER 245: CHAPTER 245: ACCOMPLICE

Maybe... this new mine tender itself is a trap—

A trap Serena dug for Claire.

Even though Caleb had already reached this conclusion, he never told anyone.

The result was—

This possibility became reality.

Caleb shut his eyes tightly, his brows twisted in anguish.

This wasn’t the pain caused by his stomach.

It was the agony of realizing he had become Serena’s accomplice in ruining Claire.

But in Serena’s eyes, he had always been Claire’s accomplice.

Caleb curled up in pain, sweat trickling down his high nose bridge.

However...

The woman who used to decoct herbs for him on time and carried him down eight flights of stairs when he had stomach pain—

was no longer by his side.

Would never care for him again.

Caleb suddenly felt that maybe he should just let the pain kill him.

After Serena left the Lockwood Group, she drove to Country C.

Although she didn’t want to go, in order to completely ruin Claire, she sought help through Chance Bell from two people she thought she’d never contact again.

Aaron Linton and Jade Shaw were waiting for Serena at the restaurant.

Upon seeing Serena appear safely before them, Jade couldn’t help but burst into tears.

Back then, Aaron and Jade had heard about Serena’s disappearance and subsequent hospital stay, and wanted to visit her immediately.

However, Serena told them through Chance Bell that she didn’t want to see them.

Ultimately, for the sake of Serena’s recovery, Aaron and Jade did not show up but learned of Serena’s condition through Chance Bell.

When they found out Serena needed their help, they were ecstatic.

Because what they feared most was Serena cutting ties with them forever, never to communicate until death.

If possible, Serena wouldn’t want to ask Aaron and Jade for help at all.

But to lure Claire in, the credibility of the Country C government was indispensable.

And The Linton Family was synonymous with the Country C government.

Serena sat across from Aaron and Jade.

Jade used a tissue to wipe away tears of joy from the corner of her eyes.

Serena knew Jade wasn’t pretending or being fake.

But late-arriving family ties were no better than dirt.

Back then, when she was framed and thrown into the juvenile detention center, even if Jade and Aaron weren’t the instigators, they were accomplices.

Later, she was forced to become Serena, also instigated by these two people.

When Chloe could no longer live as Chloe and had to accept becoming Serena, she no longer wanted to see these two people.

She thought they wouldn’t want to see her either.

At least until the day of their reunion, they had never appeared in her life.

Now pretending to miss her deeply, Serena merely felt disgusted.

Still, Serena obediently dined with Aaron and Jade, listening to them endlessly talk about the recent affairs of The Linton Family.

Initially, she didn’t want to be involved with The Linton Family or with Aaron and Jade anymore.

But if one meal could lead to Claire’s bankruptcy, why not?

"By the way, Ellie..."

"Please call me Serena."

Serena raised her head and glanced at Jade indifferently.

Jade appeared embarrassed.

Serena’s expression was too aloof, causing her heart to ache.

But she had no right to blame Serena.

Because the emotional wounds Serena suffered would only be deeper and more painful.

"Serena..."

Jade corrected herself.

"About your ex-husband Caleb Lockwood... what kind of person is he really?"

Serena’s grip on the knife and fork tightened.

So... this was the real purpose of Jade and Aaron inviting her for a meal?

To pry information about Caleb from her, in order to decide whether to marry off their foster daughter Wendy Linton to him.

Serena curled her lips coldly.

She thought after all these years, her biological parents had finally awakened their conscience!

Serena couldn’t help but feel suffocated.

After all, both her parents and Caleb had approached her for the sake of others.

"Caleb Lockwood is handsome and talented, anyone who marries him will be happy."

Serena said casually, hearing Jade continue to ask:

"Then why did you divorce him if he’s so good?"

Because Caleb didn’t love her.

Because Caleb personally aborted their child.

"You could easily find out... back then in Country A, I was vilified online, accused of having extramarital affairs, being promiscuous... The Lockwood Family naturally cut ties with me..."

"Mom believes you are definitely not that kind of person."

Jade tried to hold Serena’s hand, but Serena quickly dodged.

Believe?

No one in The Linton Family ever believed her.

"Mrs. Linton, you and I have no relation by registry."

Serena solemnly reminded, and Jade immediately lowered her head in tears.

Beside her, Aaron timely changed the topic.

"There’s a project over here by the Country C government, are you interested?"

"Oh?"

Serena raised a brow, "What kind of project?"

Seeing Serena’s interest sparked, Jade felt relieved.

She had been too hasty.

She wanted to show concern for her daughter’s love life, but Serena maintained a distant and rejecting attitude.

Luckily, her husband had a way.

Fostering their relationship with Serena by discussing business projects seemed to be effective.

After dining with Aaron and Jade, Serena returned to City A.

She initially thought the meal was meaningless, just repaying a favor, but unexpectedly made a new discovery.

Upon returning to the country, she received a message from her staff saying the acquisition was complete.

Serena curled her lips and abruptly turned the steering wheel, her white BMW 3 Series quickly veered onto another road.

Meanwhile, at Claire’s studio.

The bank’s collections manager, along with a notary, had come to enforce liquidation.

"No... This is my company, my life’s work... you can’t take them!"

Claire tried to block the collections manager but was pulled away.

"Of course he can take them."

Claire turned at the voice, seeing Serena with a radiant smile.

"Because you’re bankrupt."

Serena spoke with casual indifference, but the impact on Claire was devastating.

Claire glared with fiery eyes, gritting her teeth, but could only watch as Serena basked in her triumph.

This time, the collections manager wasn’t Quincy Aldrin; he didn’t know Claire, but he knew Serena.

"Chairwoman Jennings..."

Just then, two more people arrived.

Claire recognized them, but they had been brought by Serena.

Lily Sutton and Owen Warren’s faces flushed alternatingly as they saw Claire’s studio being seized.

Though they were Claire’s friends, none dared to speak to Serena as boldly as before.

"Chairwoman Jennings, here are all the design drafts."

The collections manager handed all the design drafts from Claire’s studio to Serena.

Claire’s expression changed instantly.

"Those are my drafts!"

Claire tried to snatch them but was casually pushed down by Serena.