CHAPTER 294: CHAPTER 294: THE RICHEST MAN

Caleb Lockwood’s deep eyes stirred slightly.

He remembered too.

When they first got married, Serena Jennings often asked if the dishes she made suited his taste.

Back then, Serena’s caution and the hopeful glint in her eyes, he only now recalled clearly.

At that time, he didn’t even notice.

Nor did he care.

Several times, he gave offhand comments.

And when he rated them as "average," the light in Serena’s eyes shattered and vanished.

Then, the next time she made the same dish, there would always be some improvements in taste.

Serena had been trying, in her own way, to be the wife he deemed acceptable.

Even though it was Serena who was drinking the coffee, Caleb Lockwood felt his mouth filled with bitterness.

Mouth bitter; the heart even more so.

But back then, it was Serena who was bitter, and he had no right to complain of bitterness.

Whether in the past or now.

"If it doesn’t taste good, don’t drink it; I’ll make you another cup."

"No need."

When Caleb Lockwood reached for Serena’s coffee cup, Serena’s hand extended at the same moment.

Their fingers touched.

In an instant, Caleb inexplicably felt an electric current zap his finger.

The tingling sensation spread through to his chest.

He lifted his gaze to meet Serena’s.

Serena didn’t avoid Caleb Lockwood’s gaze, but her fingers still curled.

Caleb Lockwood’s eyes were beautiful.

These were eyes that didn’t need to smile or lure with their gaze to captivate.

To be stared at by such eyes, it’s hard not to be moved—

If Serena didn’t know Caleb Lockwood.

In Caleb Lockwood’s view, Serena’s eyes were also beautiful.

But their gaze was like cold coffee.

A woman with whom he had shared countless intimate moments was now as unattainable as a flower on a high mountain.

Caleb instinctively reached out his hand, but before touching Serena’s cheek, she stopped him.

"Mr. Reed, I can read palms."

Caleb grabbed Serena’s wrist smoothly, holding it gently in his palm.

Though this gesture seemed domineering, it was tender and gentle.

"Let me see... Your palm says you’ll lead a prosperous life, especially your future husband, who will surely be handsome and wealthy."

Serena pulled her hand back forcefully, retorting to Caleb with a forced smile:

"You’re quite the fortune teller because my future husband will definitely not be a male assistant with a monthly salary of twenty-five hundred."

With that, Serena stood up.

"Notify all department managers for a meeting now."

"Yes, Mr. Reed."

Caleb Lockwood watched Serena as she firmly ordered him around, a larger smile spreading across his face.

In the meeting room, Serena laid out a series of plans for the cooperation with CelestiMed.

She was very serious about her work, though some department managers seemed a bit distracted.

It’s hard to blame them.

Because Caleb Lockwood standing behind Serena was, indeed, too present to ignore.

After all, Caleb Lockwood was once the head of The Lockwood Group, and overnight he became the assistant of the new leader—

Such a plot wouldn’t even appear in books.

Caleb himself wasn’t embarrassed, but others couldn’t help feeling awkward.

The meeting lasted for two hours, with Serena allowing a ten-minute break in between.

At this moment, Caleb, who was standing behind her, spoke to Serena in a volume loud enough for the entire conference room to hear:

"Mr. Reed, may I massage your shoulders?"

Caleb whispered in her ear, yet his voice was loud, as if declaring to everyone.

Serena covered her ears with one hand, turned to Caleb, and smiled brilliantly.

"No."

"Then can I give you a back rub?"

"No need."

"How about a foot massage?"

Serena: ...

Ten minutes later, the meeting resumed.

During the transitional period, Mr. Miller witnessed the successor Caleb Lockwood being personally ushered out of the meeting room by Serena.

"President Lockwood, is the plan going smoothly?"

Mr. Miller approached Caleb Lockwood and asked softly.

Caleb, facing the closed door of the meeting room, remained expressionless.

"Smoothly..."

He glanced at Mr. Miller beside him, his expression becoming increasingly confident.

"At least I haven’t been dismissed yet."

Mr. Miller nodded slightly, making no comment on Caleb’s confidence.

"By the way, President Lockwood, Mr. Reed has put The Jade Pavilion up for auction."

The moment he heard this, Caleb Lockwood’s smile vanished.

The Jade Pavilion... It was his and Serena’s marital home.

After he left with nothing, this house naturally belonged to Serena.

Caleb wasn’t attached to the property itself.

But for The Jade Pavilion, he did have a hard time letting go.

Because it was the marital home—

His and Serena’s marital home.

Caleb had guessed Serena wouldn’t move in after acquiring The Jade Pavilion.

But he hadn’t expected her to list it for auction so soon after the transfer was complete.

As if she didn’t want to own it for even a minute longer.

"Such an unfeeling woman..."

While Caleb criticized Serena, his heart was filled with a sense of loss.

He let out a heavy sigh, feeling as if a weight pressed down on his chest.

"Has the house been sold?"

Mr. Miller glanced at the time and replied, "The auction starts at four in the afternoon."

"Get it back."

Caleb’s instruction was straightforward and clear.

Mr. Miller hesitated for a moment and asked, "What’s the limit?"

Caleb remained silent, answering Mr. Miller with a look.

Mr. Miller instantly realized his question was indeed unnecessary.

"Then, President Lockwood... under what identity should it be bought?"

Caleb paused briefly, then smiled slightly.

When Serena finished her meeting, she received a call from the auction house.

Over the phone, she was informed that The Jade Pavilion had been purchased by a buyer for 173 million.

This nearly two-hundred-million price tag left Serena astonished.

Though The Jade Pavilion was nicely located and well-furnished, it wasn’t a standalone villa, and as a previous marital home, the couple who lived there ended up divorced—it wasn’t a good omen for anyone. Serena initially didn’t expect a high sale price and even thought it might not sell at all.

Yet, the final price was this high, exceeding her expectations.

"...May I ask who bought it?"

Serena was simply curious.

She thought that if the auction house declined to disclose the information, she would let it go.

But the response was surprisingly direct.

"It was Mr. John, the richest man on Halycon Island."

With "John" being such a common name, Serena couldn’t match it to any specific person.

And Halycon Island was a very affluent island, with many global tycoons choosing to set up offshore companies there for tax and privacy benefits.

"Alright, thank you."

Serena hung up, pondering why Halycon Island’s wealthiest would spend so extravagantly on a second-hand house in City A—

What were they thinking!

Meanwhile, on the general manager assistant’s desk, a phone screen was still lit.

On it were WeChat messages Mr. Miller sent to Caleb Lockwood ten minutes ago:

President Lockwood, the house has been purchased for 173 million.