CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: HELD IN CALEB LOCKWOOD’S PALM

Serena Jennings immediately reached out to Peter after leaving the meeting room.

She wasn’t hoping for Peter to prove anything; she was worried that Claire Shaw might copy her design and cause losses to FY.

However, Peter reassured her.

It was later that she learned Peter had registered the design patent with the intellectual property department upon receiving her draft, which led to The Lockwood Group urgently recalling the new jewelry that had entered the market.

Today, Caleb Lockwood took a day off.

Serena could see the empty office of the president as soon as she looked up.

As Caleb Lockwood’s secretary, she was very clear on his schedule every day.

Including today.

So she knew Caleb had gone to accompany Claire Shaw on a yacht for sea fishing.

For this, he canceled all meetings and business.

Serena still remembers that when she was hospitalized due to miscarriage, Caleb was also on a fishing vacation with Claire and didn’t visit her at all.

"Do you guys think President Lockwood is married to Claire?"

Christine Warren was gossiping with colleagues by the coffee maker.

"They probably aren’t yet! Feels like they’re still in the pursuit phase?"

"Probably almost there, otherwise why would LC’s new model be recalled without President Lockwood saying anything or holding Claire accountable!"

"Not only did he not blame her, I heard from friends in the HR department that President Lockwood plans to give Claire a raise!"

"Wow... That’s called being favored and fearless."

Serena listened nearby, sipping her cold coffee.

If it was her causing The Lockwood Group to recall the new product this time, Caleb might have handled it differently.

Today she didn’t have to work overtime, so after work, Serena wandered through the supermarket alone, unconsciously heading to the refrigerated section.

A yogurt brand that was quite niche caught her eye.

There are countless yogurts, and Serena thinks they all taste pretty similar, but Caleb preferred only this one.

Previously, to buy this brand of yogurt for Caleb, she had to run to several supermarkets every day.

In an inexplicable urge, Serena reached out her hand and grabbed a carton of yogurt, just as another hand clasped hers.

Serena turned her head, and her gaze met Caleb’s eyes unexpectedly.

Caleb was as usual, sharply dressed, looking like someone who wouldn’t be shopping at a supermarket.

Yet here he was, indeed at the supermarket.

Serena saw Caleb pushing a shopping cart with his other hand, filled with items, including a fair amount of fresh produce.

In her impression, Caleb surely couldn’t cook, nor had he ever.

So what was he buying so much fresh food for?

Serena’s first thought was someone else was going to cook for Caleb.

Like Claire.

In the midst of thinking about this, she forgot to pull her hand back, letting Caleb hold it for a long while.

The charming smile on Caleb’s lips deepened.

"Caleb, I bought halibut."

Claire rounded the corner, seeing Serena instantly made her expression constrict.

Caleb was the first to let go of his hand.

It wasn’t until Caleb let go that Serena realized he had been holding her hand.

Her hand was burning with heat, making Serena embarrassed.

She was afraid Caleb might misunderstand her feelings for him.

However, she wouldn’t mind if Claire saw this scene.

"How about we buy some yogurt to drink?" Caleb suggested to Claire.

"But I want to drink milk more." Claire stepped to Caleb’s side and wrapped her arm around his.

"Let’s buy milk then."

Serena watched as Claire picked up a brand of milk Caleb never drank, but Caleb offered no opinions.

This was a brand she once bought, only once, back when they first got married.

But Caleb hadn’t drunk a drop, and she eventually stopped buying it.

Serena pushed her cart, walking past Caleb and Claire.

"How long has it been since you last cooked for me? Tonight, I must indulge."

Claire’s words made Serena halt.

Caleb can cook?

She turned around, watching as their two figures drifted further from her, but the distance between them grew closer.

So, Caleb knows how to cook...

She never knew.

Her hands gripping the cart handle turned white from the pressure.

Serena couldn’t fathom that Claire, despite being firmly accused of plagiarism, was rewarded with yacht fishing, promotion, a raise, and Caleb personally cooking for her.

She had initially thought the forced product recall by The Lockwood Group indirectly proved her innocence, and she planned to cook an extra dish to treat herself tonight.

But now, that mood and appetite were gone.

Serena placed the ingredients back one by one in their original spots, ending up buying just two vegetable buns for dinner.

On the other side, Caleb accompanied Claire back to her house and personally cooked a meal of four dishes and a soup, three meat, two vegetables, very nutritious.

"I haven’t cooked in a while; my skills have gotten rusty." Caleb placed the last dish on the table and said to Claire, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Ellie."

Claire froze for a moment, and Caleb then realized.

During high school, he always called Claire "Ellie," but before graduation, Claire suddenly asked him to call her "Claire" from then on.

"Sorry, it slipped out."

"That’s okay."

Claire’s expression was a bit awkward, but she still sweetly leaned closer to Caleb, reaching both hands around to unfasten his apron.

"The fact that you are willing to believe I was framed by Serena and FY, and offer me so much compensation, I’m already content."

She nestled her face against Caleb’s solid chest.

Caleb replied with a faint "Hmm."

The copyright department could only prove FY registered the design patent first, but could not prove who drew it initially.

Between Claire Shaw and Serena Jennings, Caleb had no reason to believe the latter.

Thinking of Serena, his gaze wandered to the four dishes and soup on the dining table.

Light shone from the old house on Vornath Street.

Serena finished her vegetable buns and received an audio message from Zhao Sister.

Zhao Sister was the store manager of the emerging brand ZM and also a designer herself.

"Your group is having a year-end party next week; stop by after work tomorrow to try the new gown, Ellie."

Serena, as an employee of The Lockwood Group, didn’t even know about the year-end party next week, but Zhao seemed to have more insider information.

Picking up her phone, she replied:

Call me by that name again and I’ll cry for you.

The next second, Zhao Sister withdrew the audio message.

Serena couldn’t hold back a chuckle, chatting with Zhao Sister on WeChat while also tapping on Lana Xavier’s avatar.

In the friend list, Caleb’s avatar had been pushed way down.

Even though this avatar used to be at the top for her.

Serena hadn’t blocked Caleb.

Caleb hadn’t blocked Serena either.

But Caleb’s avatar probably won’t appear on her main screen on WeChat in the future, and she’s quite alright with that.

After finishing voice chats with Zhao Sister and Lana Xavier, just as Serena was about to sleep, someone else messaged her on WeChat.

It was Caleb’s avatar appearing on the top screen.