CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: PASSIONATE SCENE UNFOLDS

Caleb Lockwood buried his head in the documents and spoke indifferently, "Claire Shaw isn’t Serena Jennings. She won’t cause trouble without reason."

Outside the office, Serena Jennings, holding a folder, stood stiffly like a pillar.

She was now an employee of the Lockwood Group.

She worked as the general manager’s secretary, assisting Mr. Miller, the special assistant.

This was the condition Caleb proposed last night at the police station.

As long as Serena resigned from FY and joined the Lockwood Group, he would agree to a settlement and not detain Lana Xavier.

Lana Xavier had been adamant about not wanting Serena to agree to Caleb’s terms, even if it meant she herself would be detained.

But Serena agreed without hesitation.

Compared to Lana Xavier’s future, this condition seemed insignificant.

Serena didn’t know why she was secretly eavesdropping outside Caleb Lockwood’s office.

But she just couldn’t help herself.

She didn’t quite understand why Caleb insisted on her working at the Lockwood Group.

Claire Shaw also worked there.

A wife and a mistress working under the same roof—was this some kind of play?

Serena gave a bitter smile.

Just then, Caleb’s voice wafted out from the office.

"Let her work under me, and she’ll eventually realize how easy it is to be a housewife."

Serena felt a chill in her heart.

So... this was the reason...

The unrealistic fantasies deep inside her had turned into disappointment, she let out a sigh.

She should have awakened long ago.

Caleb Lockwood could never have valued her abilities and wanted her in the Lockwood Group for that reason.

In the office, Patrick Rhodes followed Caleb’s words, expressing disdain for housewives.

However, only those who have truly been full-time housewives understand the hardships involved.

Like Serena.

To buy the freshest vegetables, she’d have to get up at five every morning to go to the early market.

Her mother-in-law demanded she buy daily and cook fresh; leftovers were never allowed.

Breakfast must comprise four dishes plus soup, ensuring balanced nutrition.

Dinner was even more demanding—not full banquet size, but required no fewer than fifty kinds of ingredients.

It was just her and Caleb dining, and many times when Caleb had engagements outside and forgot to inform her, she would labor all day to set up a table-full of dishes, none of which Caleb tasted.

She recalled when they first got married, her mother-in-law would frequently visit.

To check if she had neatly folded the clothes in the wardrobe or whether there was dust in the corners of the house.

Serena would be busy from morning till night, almost running herself ragged, sometimes not even getting a chance to drink a sip of water, or having to hold off using the bathroom for ages.

Most crucially, her efforts were not recognized for their social value.

"Wait until that old hag finds herself unable to do anything right, she’ll meekly go back to being a nanny at home."

Patrick’s laughter was crisp.

Caleb responded with a faint "Hmm."

"What are you doing?"

A sudden tap on her shoulder made Serena jump in surprise.

Turning her head, she saw the smiling Claire Shaw.

Claire, though smiling sweetly and expertly made-up as always, had a visible hostility in her eyes.

"Serena, Caleb values privacy greatly. I advise you not to eavesdrop on conversations here next time; it’s for your own good," Claire said.

Claire’s words made Serena scoff.

"Seems you know my husband better than I do!"

Claire’s expression wavered briefly but quickly resumed a subtle smile.

"Well, Caleb is more familiar with me!" Claire said, proceeding to push open Caleb’s office door without knocking, while reminding Serena:

"This is a special privilege Caleb gave just to me; only I can go into his office without knocking. Make sure you don’t imitate this, or if Caleb gets mad, don’t blame me for not warning you."

Once Claire went in, Serena no longer felt like eavesdropping, as if she really cared.

Did she care?

Of course she cared.

Serena returned to her workspace, forcing herself not to care.

Not long after, Patrick came out.

Serena figured Patrick probably didn’t want to be a third-wheel between Caleb and Claire.

"Mistress."

Passing by Serena’s desk, Patrick suddenly uttered this word.

Serena lifted her gaze, looking at Patrick with mild indifference and said:

"Claire Shaw is the mistress."

Patrick was about to leave, but Serena’s words made him turn back.

He stood in front of Serena’s desk, hands on her desk, leaning slightly forward, exerting an innate pressure on Serena sitting there.

In the past, Serena mostly spent her time at home, busy with household chores and thus she only had a vague understanding of the friends surrounding Caleb. She thought his friends felt similarly towards her.

But now she knew—

Patrick really disliked her.

"The one who’s not loved is the mistress."

Patrick spat out venomously, only to see Serena give a bright smile.

"The one who isn’t married is the mistress."

"You!"

Patrick pointed his forefinger at her across the air.

"Let’s see how long you can keep this up."

After Patrick left, Serena’s shoulders drooped.

On the love front, detaching everything else, it seemed true that the unloved one is indeed the mistress.

Just as she was contemplating this, she saw Caleb pull down the blinds in his office.

Generally, it meant something private was about to happen when the blinds were drawn.

And Claire Shaw was still inside Caleb’s office.

Serena had always known Caleb’s desires were intense, so an office drama starring him and his long-time love wasn’t out of the question.

Her heart felt restless as weeds grew, and Serena couldn’t focus on her work, so she took out a notebook to sketch.

She also had conditions for leaving FY.

Peter had truly been kind and was reluctant to see her go, even saying she always helped FY establish a series and then silently faded into the background.

FY-PO was a new series she initiated, so Peter requested she continue designing whenever inspiration struck, not pushing her, merely treating it as a part-time job.

Initially, Serena declined.

After all, FY’s jewelry brand competed directly with Lockwood’s, and designing for FY while at Lockwood didn’t seem appropriate.

But Peter persuaded her, reasoning that she worked as a secretary at Lockwood, not a designer, eventually winning her over.

Immersed in her design, Serena gradually forgot to care about what Caleb and Claire were doing in the office.

Not that she truly forgot.

But she forced herself not to care.

Before she knew it, lunchtime arrived, and Claire emerged from Caleb’s office, deliberately leaving several of her shirt buttons undone.

Upon emerging, she saw Serena had fallen asleep at her desk.

The newly-drawn design drafts lay beside her, catching Claire’s attention.

When Caleb finished work and came out, there was no one outside but Serena.

Serena was still asleep, seemingly exhausted.

Caleb’s lips curled upward.

Each time his lips curled upward, it seemed to convey things he was too lazy to say.

Like this moment, it was as if he were saying, "Just the first day at work, and already overwhelmed?"

Mr. Miller had just finished his tasks and returned, seeing Caleb stand by Serena’s desk, unsure of whether to enter or leave.

"Mr. Miller..."

Caleb walked past him, saying nonchalantly:

"The central air conditioning is too strong."