CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196: HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE’S IRREPLACEABLE TO ME?

This was the first time they met alone after their last intense conflict.

This time, Julian Lawson appeared much calmer than before.

The two just stared at each other from afar, and then Silas Hawthorne smiled slightly, saying, "Want a drink?"

Inside the PIH private room.

Silas Hawthorne held a wine glass, looking at Julian Lawson sitting aside with his head lowered, having already drunk a full glass.

Neither of them spoke.

To be precise, Silas Hawthorne was waiting for Julian Lawson to speak.

Julian Lawson poured himself another glass, and just as he was about to finish it, he asked, "Why did you do this?"

"What do you mean?" Silas Hawthorne asked.

"Serena Sterling." Julian Lawson uttered a name, looking at Silas Hawthorne.

"I thought I expressed myself quite clearly last time. I like her, and I’m pursuing her now," Silas Hawthorne replied.

Julian Lawson frowned slightly, seriously scrutinizing Silas Hawthorne.

Unlike the last time with a big quarrel, he examined thoroughly, as if trying to see through Silas Hawthorne’s heart.

"Silas Hawthorne," Julian Lawson finally spoke, "As far as I know you, you wouldn’t like her."

But Silas Hawthorne just chuckled softly, "There are many things you don’t understand."

"Did you come to the conclusion that you like her after being exiled for all those years at sea?" Julian Lawson retorted sharply.

Silas Hawthorne gently lowered his eyes.

Indeed, those years at sea were a family banishment for him.

Only a few people knew about this.

At that time, those in power weren’t their branch, but others.

He forcibly opened up sea routes, gaining many resources; his establishment basis was indeed in shipping.

Various routes, ports, and corresponding local forces and resources connected into a massive network.

The gem business was just one of many sources.

In fact, he was involved in many things; as long as it involved freight export, he always took his share.

Yet all of this, few people knew.

Even Julian Lawson only knew he was exiled back then.

Those years at sea, he had been betrayed many times, learned countless bloody lessons, and at times almost thought there wouldn’t be real trust or genuine handovers of hearts in this world.

Until he saw her, Serena Sterling.

Saw her wholeheartedly loving another man.

Saw her risking herself for him.

He went from observing to envying to jealousy.

Jealousy that went on day and night, tossing and turning.

He finally realized he actually wanted to possess her, wanted her to be entirely his.

He fell in love with her.

While she was wholeheartedly in love with another man.

"What? Hard to answer?" Julian Lawson’s voice pulled Silas Hawthorne’s thoughts back.

"Julian, you and I are both complicated people," he said, "There’s no need to ask me such juvenile questions."

"If you must have an answer, all I can say is that I like her, I haven’t lied to you about that."

Silas Hawthorne put down the cup in his hand, looking at the unsatisfied Julian Lawson.

"Haven’t you already chosen Vera Hansen?" Silas Hawthorne said, "In those nights you abandoned her, she cried many times, did you know?"

Julian Lawson stared directly at Silas Hawthorne.

"Once you’ve made a decision, don’t look back," Silas Hawthorne said, "Let go, don’t hurt her anymore."

"I can’t let go." Julian Lawson’s eyes turned red, "I can’t live without her."

Silas Hawthorne remained silent, frowning at Julian Lawson.

"Silas Hawthorne," Julian Lawson spoke, softly, "You can still choose another woman, there are many who want to be with you, it’s not like she has to be the one..."

"How do you know she doesn’t have to be the one?" Silas Hawthorne interrupted before Julian Lawson could finish.

Julian Lawson was slightly stunned, looking at Silas Hawthorne’s intense gaze.

He suddenly realized, as never before, that Silas Hawthorne was serious.

He truly liked Serena Sterling.

Wanted Serena Sterling.

And insisted on her.

...

The night, slightly cool.

Serena Sterling lay alone in the bathtub.

The hot water enveloping her, allowing her whole body to relax.

Watching the rising mist, she thought of many things.

Everything that happened recently, everything from before.

Her life, only 25 years passed, yet already full of ups and downs.

Her marriage with Julian Lawson has completely broken down.

She didn’t like looking back, she wanted to keep moving forward.

The image of Silas Hawthorne’s eyes full of emotion floated into her mind.

She gently lowered her eyes, looking at her reflection in the water.

Actually, in that moment, it wasn’t just him, she herself also sensed that feeling.

She wondered if the steam was making her heart beat faster.

Should she just accept him?

Just accept his confession and be with him?

Her mind felt a bit confused.

...

PIH.

Silas Hawthorne had already left.

Julian Lawson continued drinking one glass after another here.

His heart was filled with unresolved gloom.

Stuck there, feeling uncomfortable.

So, he kept drinking.

Only in this way could he find some moments of dizziness and confusion.

Yet the more he drank, the clearer Serena Sterling’s face appeared before him.

Silas Hawthorne wanted her.

Xander Linton was watching like a hawk.

Jasper Ford, Ethan Lynch were also waiting.

His heart grew even more bitter.

He couldn’t let go; she was his.

...

In the nighttime road, Silas Hawthorne sat in the backseat of the Bentley, letting the driver take him back to Hawthorne Manor.

He looked at the scenery outside the car window.

The weather was great today.

He was in a good mood too.

In his mind appeared Serena Sterling’s momentarily moved eyes, and he smiled slightly, feeling a softness in his heart.

The car drove all the way into Hawthorne Manor.

Orion Hawthorne was still playing with Mimi, and greeted him when he saw him.

Silas Hawthorne responded and then returned to the study.

He spread out the paper, picked up the brush.

Stroke by stroke.

Soon, on the paper, he sketched out the eyes Serena Sterling looked at him with today.

The eyes filled with emotion.

He gazed at these eyes, with gentleness in his own.

After a long time, he packed up the drawing, then turned to another room.

Opened the door to the room.

"Clack!"

With the light on, he saw rows of bookshelves there.

Silas Hawthorne took his latest artwork and walked slowly to an empty shelf.

He carefully inscribed today’s date in the corner of the drawing, then hung it on the shelf.

Next to this shelf was another painting depicting her squatting, feeding a cat with freeze-dried food.

After hanging it, Silas Hawthorne slowly walked out, sweeping his gaze over the room before leaving.

The room was filled with countless shelves, countless drawings.

And in all of these drawings, without exception, there was the same person.

Serena Sterling.