CHAPTER 205: CHAPTER 205: SERENA, MAY I KISS YOU?

"Serena..." While in Silas Hawthorne’s embrace, Serena heard Julian Lawson calling her name.

She turned her head, then she saw Julian Lawson standing there with his lips tightly pressed together.

Behind him was an endless night, his lips tight, and sadness filled his eyes.

No anger, no other emotions, only sadness remained.

A tear rolled down from the corner of his eye.

He blinked, seemingly trying to control his emotions, but it seemed he couldn’t.

His eyebrows furrowed, he took a deep breath and lowered his gaze to the ground.

After realizing her gaze upon him, he looked at her once more.

"Does it really have to be this way?" he asked, his voice carrying a tremble unnoticed by others.

Serena didn’t answer directly, only moved her hand gripped tightly by him.

"Let me go," she said.

Yet still, he wasn’t willing to release her.

As she struggled, a tear from him fell on the back of her hand.

"You’re hurting me," Serena turned away from him, looking back at Silas Hawthorne.

Having made her choice, she would not turn back because of a single tear from Julian Lawson.

She had already made her decision many days before.

Silas forcefully grabbed Julian’s hand, prying open his fingers one by one.

Julian continued to watch her.

But she simply turned her back, not looking back.

Until the last finger was forced open by Silas, Serena withdrew her hand.

Julian wanted to do something, but Silas had already protected her and waved to those nearby.

This was just outside Hawthorne Manor, surrounded by Silas’s people.

Receiving Silas’s order, someone immediately stepped forward to restrain Julian.

"Let’s go," Serena said softly to Silas without looking at him.

"Okay," Silas nodded, tenderly rubbed her wrist reddened by Julian’s grip, and then the two of them went to the nearby Bentley.

The Bentley was parked not far away, Silas walked around to the passenger side, opened the door for Serena, and held onto the car frame to prevent her from bumping into it.

"Nora."

As Serena prepared to sit in the passenger seat, Julian’s voice came once more.

She instinctively lifted her head, looking toward Julian.

These were the nicknames once shared between them.

Julian, Nora.

It represented the closest relationship.

She had once told him that her parents called each other that, so she would call him the same.

After deciding, she never called him that again.

"Vera and I are not as the world sees us."

His voice carried across the distance: "I need time, just over four months..."

But Serena had already withdrawn her gaze and sat in the passenger seat.

Silas closed the car door for her.

Then walked around to open the driver’s door.

He thought for a moment and then smiled gently at Serena, saying, "Give me a moment."

"Okay," Serena nodded.

Then, Silas once again closed the car door and turned back to stand beside Julian.

The two men stared at each other.

Silas took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the tears from Julian’s face, and stuffed it into Julian’s pocket.

"She is my girlfriend now," Silas spoke without a smile, word by word, "If you want to cry, go find Vera, don’t sob in front of my girlfriend."

"Silas!" Julian’s eyes turned red, wanting to rush forward, but he was restrained by Hawthorne’s men, unable to move.

"You said long ago you had many difficulties and needed time," Silas calmly watched Julian.

He spoke word by word: "I don’t care how many difficulties you have, it’s no excuse to hurt her."

Julian continued to struggle.

Silas remained indifferent to his actions.

"Julian, you don’t even know what you’ve done."

"Bidding against her for Tanzanite, assisting Vera repeatedly hurting her on ’Heavenly Sound’, constantly pestering her—these are just a few of the many insignificant things you’ve done."

"Julian, even now, you don’t know what you’ve lost."

"Just wait."

"When you understand everything you’ve done, I think you won’t feel resentful anymore."

"Because you’ll realize, it’s all what you deserve."

After saying all this, Silas didn’t spare another glance at Julian, instead returning to the car.

"I’ll take you back," he said to Serena with a smile.

Then Silas started the car, the Bentley quickly disappearing into the night.

Hawthorne’s men waited a while before releasing Julian.

Julian immediately wanted to get back to his car to chase after them.

Hawthorne’s men stopped him again.

"Young Master Lawson, it’s useless. Our eldest had deployed people everywhere Miss Sheridan might go. With your state now, you’ll just be stopped again."

"Young Master Lawson, I urge you to calm down."

The voices of those speaking nearby reached him, but Julian couldn’t calm down, and he started his car, immediately leaving.

...

Meanwhile.

Speeding down the road in the Bentley.

Serena and Silas remained silent.

The car was enveloped in quiet.

Until a red light appeared ahead, Silas stopped the car.

Inside the car was dim, he looked at her beside him, opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

There seemed to be the lingering warmth of her kiss on his lips, the tender touch causing his heart to race.

Finally, his gaze rested on her wrist, the one Julian had clutched, which was still slightly red.

He felt a bit guilty.

Earlier she said she would handle everything, so he hadn’t interfered much.

He thought Julian at least cared for her, not expecting Julian to be so forceful.

Thinking, he reached over, took her wrist, and rubbed it gently.

Serena looked at Silas, letting out a soft sigh.

Just as she was about to say something, the red light turned green, he cupped her face, saying, "I know you have things you want to tell me, let’s wait until we’re at your place, okay?"

"Beep beep—"

The beep of the car behind urging them on rang out.

Serena nodded her head.

The car drove all the way to the apartment Serena rented, Silas parked the car steadily.

Neither of them got out.

Silas took a deep breath, starting to speak first.

He said, "About just now, I can treat it as..."

"I’m serious," Serena interrupted Silas before he could finish.

He turned to see Serena looking at him.

Serena smiled helplessly, uncertain why it seemed people often doubted her words.

"Not to spite him," Serena said, "If I wanted to upset him, why would I kiss you?"

"You should know, back in the studio, I’d already decided to agree."

"It was only because you asked me to think it over that I postponed a little."

"Even if it’s the next morning, my answer would still be the same."

Serena slightly furrowed her brows, looking at Silas’s deep eyes.

"Or is it..." She hesitated, looking at him, "You changed your mind?"

"How could I?" Silas said immediately, "Serena, I like you, can’t wait for you to agree sooner."

He spoke urgently, fearing she’d suddenly change her mind.

He just felt the happiness came too suddenly, a bit hard to believe.

"Pfft..."

Serena couldn’t help but laugh.

Only then did he realize she was purposely teasing him.

Silas chuckled, reaching out to pinch her cheek.

She glared at him.

Silas didn’t let go of her face, but stopped pinching, instead cradling her face.

"Click!"

His seatbelt unbuckled.

He leaned over, quickly approaching her.

Her face so close, he could even feel her breath, see her long, trembling eyelashes.

Such close distance.

His heartbeats like drumbeats, his voice carried a subtle restrained hoarseness.

"Serena, is this okay?" he asked.