CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: DIVORCE IS SET IN STONE

Patrick Rhodes found Serena Jennings quite repulsive. He initially wanted to put down the design draft he was holding, but he inadvertently glanced at it a few more times and noticed traces of multiple revisions. It didn’t look like plagiarism but rather seemed to complement and refine his own inspiration.

"No way..."

Could it be that the recent hits by the Lockwood Group were really all designed by Serena Jennings?

Patrick drew a question mark in his mind, not feeling as strongly disgusted by Serena as before.

After a night of heavy drinking, Serena woke up with a splitting headache and a memory gap.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on her familiar bed at home, not even having changed her clothes.

Although everything around her indicated she hadn’t encountered any danger after getting drunk, now that she was sober, Serena still felt somewhat frightened.

Last night, she was too impulsive and emotional.

Just because Caleb Lockwood threw her a romantic birthday party as compensation for taking her original gemstone, she drank to drown her sorrows in a fit of rage.

It really wasn’t worth it.

If she had run into bad people...

The consequences would have been unimaginable.

Serena rubbed her aching head and stepped out of her bedroom to pour herself a glass of water.

When she turned her head, she saw Patrick Rhodes snoring on the sofa.

Serena was taken aback.

Patrick also woke up and briefly explained what happened last night to Serena.

"So be grateful! If it weren’t for me last night, who knows what could have happened to you! Why on earth were you drinking so much? Trying to make Brother Lockwood feel sorry for you?"

Patrick’s tone with Serena was as fierce as ever, with an attitude of looking down on her.

Usually, Serena would retort to Patrick, but since he had sent her home last night, she felt both emotionally and rationally that she should thank him.

"Patrick, thank you for not abandoning me last night."

As she thanked him, Serena poured two glasses of water, one for herself and one for Patrick.

"Don’t get it wrong, I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for Brother Lockwood. You’re his wife, and if anything happened to you, it would affect his reputation."

Serena believed Patrick was telling the truth.

She wouldn’t fool herself into thinking Patrick took her home because he cared about her.

"Still, thank you. In the end, you did help me..."

Patrick took the water from Serena’s hand. It was just plain water, but when he drank it, it tasted a little sweet.

Patrick couldn’t help but take a few more sips, listening to Serena say, "I don’t like being indebted to anyone, especially you. If there’s something you want, or if you want me to treat you to a meal, just say so."

Serena, standing in front of him, had a flushed face from the hangover, as if she had applied blush. Her naturally fair skin now looked even more radiant and smooth.

Her eyes were a bit swollen but didn’t look bad at all; they appeared moist and endearing, unlike her usual self.

Patrick couldn’t understand why he was staring at Serena.

In his eyes, Serena had always been a dull and unattractive woman.

But even though Patrick mocked Serena as being dull, deep down, he knew clearly...

Serena was very beautiful.

Extremely beautiful.

Based on looks alone, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, in a league of her own.

But he just couldn’t stand Serena.

Because Serena had taken the place that rightfully belonged to Claire Shaw.

His dislike for Serena was justified.

But what about Caleb Lockwood?

After all, they had shared the same bed for three years, so why did Caleb also dislike Serena so much?

"I think you, as a woman, should learn how to charm a man. Look at our sister-in-law..."

Patrick’s comparison of Serena to Claire Shaw made her uncomfortable. Serena walked to the door and opened it.

"You can leave now."

Patrick realized Serena was kicking him out.

"Didn’t you just say you didn’t want to owe me and wanted to repay me? How come now..."

Before Patrick could finish, Serena had already pushed him out the door.

"Call me when you’ve decided. I won’t owe you."

Serena slammed the door shut, leaving Patrick outside scratching his head, feeling a bit disappointed.

He drove back to the company and, on the way, stopped at a small market to buy a Chinese pancake for sustenance.

He felt like he had done a good deed, yet Serena wasn’t appreciative and he didn’t gain anything.

Having skipped breakfast and having such a simple lunch, Patrick returned to the company intending to have his secretary arrange a dinner reservation. But his secretary informed him that Caleb Lockwood was waiting in his office.

"Brother Lockwood, what brings you here?"

Seeing Caleb Lockwood, Patrick inexplicably felt a bit guilty.

He had spent the night alone with Serena in the same house, and Serena was indeed Caleb’s wife.

But he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Besides, Caleb’s marriage to Serena had long been a façade, with divorce imminent.

Patrick cleared his throat, pretending to be calm.

Caleb set down his coffee and casually asked, "Zachary Aldrin said you were out messing around last night and ignored his calls, so he asked me to check up on you today."

"Zachary’s really got some nerve, hasn’t he? Even dares to order you around, Brother Lockwood?" Patrick sat across from Caleb, pretending to look at some files.

"I was out on business last night, had some social engagements."

"Our unorthodox Mr. Rhodes finally seeing the light?"

Teased by Caleb, Patrick clicked his tongue, "I do have a company to manage, you know? If you’re the talented heir, Brother Lockwood, I should at least count as the hardworking type!"

Caleb gave a faint smile, the mirth not reaching his eyes.

His phone was right in front of him.

An hour ago, he had received a WeChat message from Mr. Miller.

Last night, Mr. Miller had stayed outside Serena’s apartment all night.

He hadn’t seen Patrick come out.

It wasn’t until noon today that he saw Patrick leave Serena’s apartment.

Caleb didn’t remain at Patrick’s office long. After sending Caleb off, Patrick turned to ask his secretary.

"So what exactly was Brother Lockwood’s visit all about?"

Serena hadn’t eaten all day.

Though she wouldn’t be getting the heart-shaped cracked Ruby, that didn’t mean she was giving up on the opportunity Leo Grant provided.

Now she regretted going to drink at the bar, thinking she should have used that time to find other gemstones.

But after looking around, even as the sun set, she hadn’t found a gemstone to spark her inspiration.

Or rather, her inspiration was still fixated on that heart-shaped cracked Ruby.

Serena fretted in her studio.

She thought about her wedding anniversary.

Every time, Caleb would give her jewelry.

But every piece, whether necklace, earrings, or bracelet, was encrusted with pink diamonds.

If Serena received such a gift now, she would sell it.

But back then, she genuinely cherished it and was moved.

So it wasn’t the jewelry that was important, but the love.

Serena suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Over the next three days, she buried herself in her studio, working on her design. Just as she was nearing completion, she received a call from Patrick Rhodes.

"Sister, I’ve waited three days for your repayment. Surely, you haven’t forgotten?"

"I..."

"Tonight at nine, Heart of the Ocean, your treat, don’t be late."

Serena was exasperated but didn’t decline Patrick’s request.

She also wanted to quickly repay the favor Patrick did for her last time.

In a suitable outfit, Serena arrived punctually at Heart of the Ocean — a seafood restaurant surrounded by a 360-degree undersea tunnel.

The reservation was made by Patrick, and when Serena arrived, Patrick was already seated, but he wasn’t alone.