CHAPTER 253: CHAPTER 253: SHE’S ACTING VERY STRANGE

Welcoming Julian Lawson was yet another fist.

"She is free!" Silas Hawthorne roared.

Always calm and composed, Silas Hawthorne felt like he was going crazy at this moment.

From receiving the call from the kindergarten driver to investigating all the way to find out Julian Lawson had abducted Serena, and to their current location, to when he broke through the door with his people.

Then to when he heard her heartrending cries, told the others to wait at the entrance, he rushed in and saw that scene.

All of this made it impossible for him to stay calm.

Julian Lawson actually did this!

Actually wanted to force himself on Serena!

Silas Hawthorne glanced at Julian Lawson’s unbuckled belt; if he was just a little bit later...

Serena was still unconsciously screaming, mixed with a few cries of— "Please..."

Silas Hawthorne finally kicked Julian Lawson in the legs, ensuring he couldn’t move temporarily, then quickly ran back to the bed to untie Serena.

But she seemed not to recognize him.

"Serena!"

Silas Hawthorne cupped her face, trying to make her look at him.

But as soon as he touched her, she screamed hoarsely again.

Silas Hawthorne’s heart was about to break.

"It’s me, Serena, it’s me, Silas Hawthorne." Silas Hawthorne’s eyes were red-rimmed.

Anger, heartache, guilt... all these emotions almost drove him insane.

"I chased him away." Silas Hawthorne reassured, "You’re safe now, Serena."

But Serena still couldn’t recognize him; she was violently trembling, her face full of tears and Julian Lawson’s blood, looking extremely pitiful.

"It’s okay now, Serena, it’s okay." Tears flowed from Silas Hawthorne’s eyes.

"Serena, don’t be afraid, I’m here." he softly comforted, "Serena, I’m Silas Hawthorne, please remember, you have Seraphina, we still have to find out the truth about your father Evan Sheridan’s death, you have to be well..."

Tears kept falling, and it wasn’t until Serena heard the names Seraphina and Evan Sheridan that she paused slightly.

Her chest heaved constantly, and the intense shivering made her teeth chatter.

She turned her head as if sensing something, looking at Silas Hawthorne.

"Silas." Her voice was very low, hoarse.

"It’s me." Silas Hawthorne said with red eyes.

Serena closed her eyes, sobbing helplessly.

"It’s okay, I’m here." Silas Hawthorne choked out, then started rearranging her clothes.

Her body still bore Julian Lawson’s blood, with a circle of bite marks around the mole on her chest.

Seeing this, Silas Hawthorne fiercely kicked Julian Lawson again.

Silas Hawthorne dressed her in her undergarments, adjusted her skirt, but all the buttons on her top were torn off, making it impossible to fix.

Serena was still shaking, and Silas Hawthorne knew that he needed to get her out of here quickly.

Just now she... seemed not herself.

So, he grabbed a bedsheet from the side, wrapped her in it, then lifted her up and was about to walk out.

"You can’t leave!" Julian Lawson rose hobbling to stop them.

And what awaited him was another heavy kick from Silas Hawthorne.

Julian Lawson crashed down onto the floor with a bang.

He looked up, meeting Silas Hawthorne’s icy, bone-chilling gaze.

"This won’t be the end of it!" Silas Hawthorne’s voice was cold.

Yet Julian Lawson was still laughing.

"Truly a madman!" Silas Hawthorne spat the last words, then carried Serena away quickly.

Leaving Julian Lawson alone behind.

He was still laughing, with tears endlessly streaming down.

Maybe.

He had gone mad long ago.

...

Silas Hawthorne carried Serena outside all the way.

The people he brought were waiting at the door.

Although they had heard the commotion inside, none of them dared to enter.

Now watching Silas Hawthorne carry out Serena wrapped in a bedsheet, they all looked down, not daring to make eye contact.

"Deal with the situation here." Silas Hawthorne ordered coldly, looking at the person next to him, emphasizing, "Don’t let him off!"

"Yes!" The few immediately responded.

Silas Hawthorne didn’t stay behind, the person in his arms was still trembling slightly.

He carried Serena all the way to the car, and as soon as the secretary saw the situation, they got flustered.

"Drive, back to Hawthorne Manor." Silas Hawthorne commanded coldly.

"Yes!"

Silas Hawthorne lay Serena gently on the backseat, as if placing a precious, fragile treasure, afraid that a slight force might break her.

As soon as she got into the car, she curled up into a corner, curling tightly into a ball.

Watching her like this, Silas Hawthorne’s heart was breaking.

The secretary did not dare look again, raised the divider, and started the car.

The car began to move forward.

Silas Hawthorne kept comforting her in a low voice, but she continued to tremble.

Unable to stop.

Silas Hawthorne took out his phone and messaged the doctor.

Her condition was very off and needed medical attention.

The car quickly arrived at Hawthorne Manor.

The car drove directly to the entrance of their building, and he carried her inside.

"Uncle Mortimer, how is Aunt Winters?" Seraphina anxiously followed.

Silas Hawthorne shook his head and said, "Aunt Winters isn’t feeling well right now, can you play with Mrs. Walsh first, Seraphina?"

Seraphina noticed something was wrong and nodded, although she kept looking worriedly.

Silas Hawthorne carried Serena all the way to the room, placed her on the bed, and then opened the bedsheet.

"Serena?" Silas Hawthorne called her again.

Serena didn’t raise her head or respond, just hugged herself, curling into a ball.

Silas Hawthorne’s heart ached painfully; he went and brought a basin of warm water, holding a damp cloth, saying, "Serena, let me clean the blood off for you, okay?"

Her face was covered in tears and Julian Lawson’s blood.

Serena finally lifted her head, but still didn’t speak.

Silas Hawthorne gently tried to wipe her face with the cloth.

Serena flinched but didn’t scream again.

Silas Hawthorne wiped her face gently, she didn’t avoid him anymore, just trembled slightly.

He sighed deeply; she’d been shaking all the way from that apartment until now.

With red eyes, Silas Hawthorne cleaned the cloth, wringing it out, and carefully wiped her face again.

After cleaning the blood off her face, he wiped the blood from her neck and chest.

Each time he wiped, she shrank back; she kept watching him, as though only by doing so could she confirm the person in front of her.

When all the blood was cleaned off, Silas Hawthorne handed her a nightgown.

"Have a good sleep." Silas Hawthorne softly reassured, "Forget everything, nothing happened, Serena, it’s all over now."

But Serena didn’t take it.

"I..." Her voice was hoarse, trembling as she said, "I want to take a bath."

Silas Hawthorne nodded with red eyes: "Alright, I’ll run the water for you."

The water was quickly ready, Silas Hawthorne carried Serena into the bathroom.

Serena couldn’t stand steadily, so Silas Hawthorne placed her on the edge of the bathtub.

"I’ll keep watch at the door, don’t be afraid." Silas Hawthorne said, then turned and walked outside.

Serena watched him leave and then undid her clothes, slowly maneuvering into the bathtub.

Hot water engulfed her body, and tears once again fell.

Her wrist was red and encircling, now stinging upon contact with the water, but she seemed unaware.

She continuously scrubbed her body.

With force, scrubbing until her skin turned red, eventually even using the bathing sponge nearby, scrubbing so hard it broke her skin, blood tingeing the water, her skin burning painfully.

"Why would he do this to me..."

Tears kept falling into the water, Serena silently sobbed.