CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: COMING OUT NAKED

These days, Serena Jennings was so busy that she felt as if she were running in circles.

She was either rushing to the hospital or commuting between the police station and the courthouse.

As the perpetrator, even though there were reasons behind it, she had indeed injured Laura Sanders quite severely.

Laura had hired a lawyer and was demanding an apology plus compensation from her.

An apology was fine, but Serena refused to compensate.

After all, the cause of the incident was Dylan Quinn harassing her first.

Dylan and Laura had some influence, but not enough to control everything; legally, evidence was still required.

However, the same didn’t hold true on the internet.

Serena had disconnected her internet these days.

She knew full well how viciously she was being cursed online, with unspeakable words. Although part of it was due to internet trolls hired by Laura, idle netizens who didn’t care about the truth also excelled at adding fuel to the fire.

She hadn’t taken leave from the company.

The Lockwood Group’s policy was that being absent for three days could lead to the termination of an employment contract.

She was waiting for Caleb Lockwood to passively fire her.

Since this incident hit the trending topics, Caleb Lockwood seemed to have vanished from her life.

He neither scolded her for being impulsive nor stood up for her, not even sending a single WeChat message.

Serena suspected Caleb was using this way to distance himself from her.

Whether it was Caleb’s own thoughts or those of the Lockwood family, in any case, this time, the family wanted a clean break from her.

After all, previously, when the internet dug up past issues between her and Justin Nash, Nash Group’s stock hit the limit down on that day.

Serena felt quite sorry for Justin Nash; even though they had cut all ties, he still got implicated by her.

Today was already her fifth day of absence, yet there was still no dismissal notice from the HR department.

Feeling restless, Serena took her resignation application to the company in person.

"It’s her, it’s her!"

A group of middle-aged women swarmed towards her, throwing rotten eggs and pebbles at Serena.

Upstairs, Claire Shaw stood in her office by the window, holding a steaming cup of coffee.

With her professional lotus pink outfit and exquisite makeup, she looked every part the successful and privileged woman.

The scene of Serena being pelted with rotten eggs reflected in her eyes, pleasing her view.

After watching for a while, she returned to her seat, picked up her phone, and sent a WeChat message to joker:

You did quite well this time.

Downstairs, Serena removed her outerwear stained with the stinking egg liquid and tossed it directly into the trash bin.

However, it wasn’t easy to clean the dirt from her face and hair; even with wet wipes, it wasn’t enough.

With people bustling around the company, she didn’t want to be ogled in such a sorry state. Just as she turned around, she saw a black Maybach parked by the roadside.

She didn’t know when the car arrived or how long it had been there.

But she knew exactly who was inside.

"Get in the car."

Caleb Lockwood rolled down the window.

At this moment, the last person Serena wanted to see was Caleb Lockwood.

Yet she always seemed to be seen by him at her most miserable.

"I’ll only say it once."

Serena hesitated but heard Caleb start the car engine.

It wasn’t the time for her to insist on saving face; staying here would only attract more onlookers.

Serena got into the car and sat in the passenger seat.

She hung her head, avoiding eye contact with Caleb.

She feared seeing disdain and mockery in his eyes.

"Not afraid of me dirtying your car?"

Serena knew she didn’t smell good at that moment.

"If it gets dirty, I’ll just switch cars."

Caleb replied while driving.

Serena stayed silent.

The car was filled with the stench radiating from her, a smell so foul even she couldn’t stand it, so she opened the window.

"My dad wants us to get a divorce."

The noise of the wind made Caleb’s calm voice unclear.

Serena turned her head, unsure if she had misheard.

Caleb fixed his gaze ahead, his striking face like a calm, windless sea.

Serena opened her mouth and took a breath of fresh air.

In the end, she asked nothing.

Caleb drove to The Jade Pavilion.

Right now, in her current state, there was really nothing to fuss over. Although she didn’t want to return here, since she was already there, she might as well clean up.

She recalled that Claire Shaw and Caleb were living together.

In this very new house of hers and Caleb’s.

As expected, when the door opened, she saw that splash of pink that didn’t belong there.

Piercingly pink.

Caleb observed the resistance in Serena’s eyes but said nothing, handing her a pink nightgown.

The nightgown wasn’t one of Serena’s.

It seemed Claire Shaw didn’t want to see any clothes that belonged to Serena in here.

"I don’t want to wear it." Serena outright refused.

"It’s new, I just bought it."

"I still don’t want to wear it."

"Then just come out naked!"

Caleb withdrew the pink nightgown.

Serena dashed into the bathroom, realizing there were only two bathrobes: one male and one female.

One belonged to Caleb, so the other must have been Claire Shaw’s.

Her stomach turned more than when she smelled rotten eggs; with each second she stayed here, the more nauseous she felt.

She finished her shower as fast as she could, only to find she couldn’t get out.

"Caleb, are you there?"

There was no response from outside the bathroom.

"Caleb?"

Serena gingerly opened the door.

Outside, there was no Caleb, and the curtains were all drawn.

Serena breathed a sigh of relief, stepped out completely naked.

However, her original clothes weren’t wearable anymore; Caleb had thrown them away.

Even though she and Caleb weren’t officially divorced yet, the home had become so alien, there was not even a single piece of her clothing left.

As Serena was distressed, the sound of the door opening made her shudder.

Caleb walked in, holding new clothes, with her naked body reflected in his eyes.

Serena froze.

Just as she was about to turn, her shoulder was suddenly gripped by Caleb.

Caleb deliberately lowered his gaze, sweeping it over Serena’s body.

Serena felt her face burning.

"Afraid of me seeing? We’re an old married couple..."

"We’re about to be divorced, aren’t we?"

Serena spoke resolutely, and the teasing in Caleb’s eyes turned cold instantly.

"So, you orchestrated everything, let Dylan Quinn harass you, to blow things up for a divorce, right?"

Serena angrily broke free from Caleb, her eyes reddening.

"Being put on the trending list, being cursed non-stop, getting pelted with rotten eggs just for a divorce?"

She snatched the clothes from Caleb, turned, and headed for the dressing room. Once dressed, she emerged looking presentable at last.

This time, Serena had her hair up in a bun, making the wound on her forehead even more visible.

She only discovered the cut on her forehead while looking in the mirror.

It must have been caused by the stones those women threw.

"Thanks for your help..."

No matter what, this time, thanks to Caleb’s appearance, Serena took the initiative to thank him and turned to leave.

As she reached the door, Caleb suddenly said:

"Don’t you want the divorce papers?"

Seeing Serena’s surprise, Caleb shrugged with one hand in his pocket and laughed.

"Serena, haven’t you brought all this up just for this? Why aren’t you interested now?"

Caleb tossed the three copies of the divorce agreement to Serena.

"I’ve already signed them, just waiting for yours."