CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: LU’S DOWNFALL – ONCE TWO, NOW ONLY HIM

Tears seemed endless as they kept falling.

Why couldn’t she hold onto what she wanted to keep?

Her family, her lover, the Sheridan Family, and... her child.

She couldn’t hold onto any of them.

She tried every means to grasp everything, but just like sand through her fingers, no matter how tightly she held on, they eventually disappeared.

So powerless.

Serena’s hand rested on her stomach, finally forming a fist.

Still not strong enough.

She couldn’t temporarily stay by anyone’s side, couldn’t rely on anyone to be her haven.

She had to strive.

Her career, she must hold in her hand.

The Sheridan Family, she must restore.

The truth of her father’s death, she must uncover.

And her mother...

She would give all her effort, so she wouldn’t hurt anymore.

Serena cried for a long time, until there were no more tears.

The pain seemed to have vanished too; her whole being had become numb.

No joy and no sorrow also felt good.

With this thought, Serena felt she could continue to persist.

When Bianca and Jasper returned, Serena had already composed herself.

"Here, Serena, have this porridge." Bianca opened the thermal container, smiling warmly, "See if you like it."

Serena took it; it was vegetable meat porridge, very fragrant.

Under Bianca’s expectant gaze, she took a bite, the fragrance lingered in her mouth.

"It’s delicious." Serena said.

"If it’s good, eat more." Bianca looked at Serena’s pale face and said, "Get well soon."

Serena nodded firmly.

She would get better.

Jasper, on the side, also told her some insights from his recent communication.

Here, while the few were discussing, on the other side.

Julian opened his eyes while on the sofa.

Covering him was yesterday’s suit jacket, on the side table’s ashtray were the stubs of cigarettes smoked.

This was his apartment near the company, where he occasionally stayed when work was busy; after marrying Serena, he rarely lived here.

The dullness in his head made him uncomfortable; instinctively, he picked up the phone beside him.

Scrolling through the messages unconsciously, he bypassed countless messages, flipping through several pages to find Serena’s dialog box.

The only message up there was the one he sent her initially—[I told Grandpa yesterday that you’re not feeling well to avoid going there. This weekend, you must come back with me to the old house.]

Frowning slightly, he tossed the phone aside.

Julian sat up, rubbed his temples, then stood up, barefoot on the floor, making his way to the bathroom.

He turned on the faucet and cupped cold water to splash on his face.

Trying to quickly sober up.

But inexplicably, what flashed through his mind were memories from years ago, when he stayed up for several nights handling company matters, seeming similarly dazed.

Back then, Serena was by his side, enduring hardships together, assisting him with company affairs, and witnessing the company’s transformations together.

He remembered that day too, when he tried to wake up quickly by splashing cold water, with Serena standing beside him holding a clean towel.

Seeing him turn around, she wiped his face dry like she was tending to a small dog and tousled his hair wet from the cold water.

When he frowned and removed the towel, she reached out to gently massage his temples.

"Does it feel better?" Her gentle voice lingered in his ears.

Listening to her, his weary heart seemed to calm a bit.

"There should be results today, right?" she said then, "Julian, what do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you tonight."

Despite having tasted various Michelin restaurants worldwide due to social engagements or other reasons, what he liked best remained her homemade meals.

Simple, homely, yet warm.

That day, before he could say what he wanted to eat, a call came in.

The news was unexpectedly good.

Better than he had imagined.

He set down the phone, spun around, and embraced her right at the sink.

His sudden movement startled her, and as he set her down, her eyes were like a startled deer.

Very cute.

He chuckled softly and bent to kiss her.

"The sound of rushing water..."

The faucet water continued to pour into the sink.

Years later, Julian lifted his head, gazing at his reflection in the mirror.

His face was covered in water spots, and droplets hung from the tips of his hair.

His eyes were red with bloodshot lines; he looked weary and forlorn.

Now standing by that sink, only he remained alone.

Frowning slightly, Julian turned off the faucet, took a clean towel from the cabinet, and dried himself.

The towel was tossed into the dirty clothes basket as he walked to the wardrobe, picking out the day’s attire.

A shirt, pants, suit, but when reaching for a tie, he paused.

This apartment had no spare ties.

When Serena was around, such things were never overlooked.

Julian pressed his lips tightly together.

What flashed before his eyes was the hurt disbelief in Serena’s gaze when she fell down the stairs last night.

"Ding-dong!"

Just then, the apartment’s doorbell rang.

Julian opened the door to see Vera standing there.

Vera smiled weakly but sweetly upon seeing him.

"Good morning, Brother Julian. I brought fresh flowers for you, look!"

She presented the flowers she had just arranged, beautifully fragrant, complementing her delicate smile, exuding a beauty fragile and ephemeral.

Eliciting protection.

What flashed through his mind was Ethan speaking to him in the early morning wind—

"If you like Vera, then exclusively be with her. Regardless of Serena, you shouldn’t care."

"Julian, the only thing you can do now is let her go."

Julian pressed his lips lightly.

Ethan’s patronizing lecturing expression irked him.

Was Serena using this to pressure him to bow?

Being stubborn, acting, and now trying to provoke him through associating closely with Ethan?

He hated this uncontrollable feeling.

"What’s wrong, Brother Julian, don’t you like this bouquet?" Vera whispered beside him.

His thoughts returned, and Julian reached out to take the bouquet.

"No." he replied.

If Serena intended to pressure him this way, then he would show her that he, Julian, wasn’t one easily coerced!

"I like it very much." Julian told Vera.

Vera only had half a year left.

The reason for her illness involved him, he needed to take care of her; it was his responsibility.

"That’s good." Vera smiled once more.

Subsequently, the two went out together.

Paparazzi captured them.

Not long after, a sensational tweet stormed the trending list—

"Julian Lawson and Vera Hansen walked out together from the apartment, the usually meticulous President Lawson was unexpectedly without a tie. Forgot or eh eh?"

Paired with photos of Vera delivering flowers to Julian at the apartment and the two exiting together.

In an instant, it piqued the curiosity and scrutiny of netizens.

The online chatter varied, but this time, Serena formally responded.