CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 259: THE SECURITY HE PROVIDES

In the latter half of the night, Serena still woke up startled, but it happened much less frequently than before.

Moreover, every time she awoke, she felt a sense of safety.

Because when she opened her eyes, she would see Silas Hawthorne.

His aura surrounded her, and she could feel his presence.

The two of them held each other like this until dawn.

When she opened her eyes again, the sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting light onto Silas Hawthorne’s face beside her.

This time, Serena woke up naturally, not in shock, so Silas hadn’t noticed.

This was the best night’s sleep she’d had in days.

Ever since that day at the apartment, she was afraid of meeting strangers and scared of physical contact.

Every night, as soon as she closed her eyes, endless nightmares would ensue.

She knew she couldn’t go on like this, but she was helpless.

But last night, things were slightly better.

Although she still woke up startled.

Overall, she was improving.

Serena extended her hand, her fingers touching Silas Hawthorne’s eyebrows, then his tall nose.

It felt quite amusing.

Her lips curved slightly, and just as she was about to move her fingers away, Silas Hawthorne grabbed her hand and slowly opened his eyes.

Upon waking, there was an unusual look in his eyes, making her feel a bit embarrassed, so she turned her head away.

But Silas just laughed.

His voice was soft, tinged with the unique huskiness of the morning.

"Serena, good morning," he said.

Serena lifted her gaze, looked at him, and said, "Good morning."

His hand was still on her waist, and when she looked at him, she noticed he was still looking at her.

So, she quickly diverted her gaze, too shy to look at him again.

His hand moved up, tidying her disheveled hair.

Then, holding her face, he leaned closer to her.

Serena’s body tensed as his lips touched her forehead.

Serena secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but in the next moment, his lips descended on hers, kissing her.

She instinctively wanted to push him away, but the next moment he had already let her go.

A gentle kiss.

"Morning kiss," he said, looking at her stunned expression, and chuckled softly.

He patted her back again.

Serena nodded absently, then turned over and got up to wash up.

Silas followed behind, and they stood in front of the mirror together, brushing their teeth.

In the mirror, the two of them, one tall and one short, looked particularly harmonious standing together.

Silas looked at her beside him, warmth evident in his eyes.

...

On the other side.

Julian Lawson hadn’t slept all night.

His injuries from various beatings were mostly healed, but the leg dislocated by Silas Hawthorne was still hurting, preventing him from standing.

Silas Hawthorne’s devilish words from that day still echoed in his ears, making him restless.

Having not slept all night, he was extremely irritable and on edge.

He felt certain that something must have happened last night, but he didn’t know what.

Time and again, he recalled Silas Hawthorne’s wretched face.

And Serena’s tearful, pleading eyes.

All these emotions were nearly driving him to an explosion.

He couldn’t just lie here.

Julian Lawson thought.

When the caregiver came in, he was just about to sit in the wheelchair.

"President Lawson, where are you going?" the caregiver immediately came over to support him.

Julian Lawson didn’t speak, his bloodshot eyes made him look quite crazed.

In a while, Jude Chaucer had already arrived.

"President Lawson," Jude said, coming over to push the wheelchair.

They went downstairs, then into the car.

As the car started, Julian Lawson watched the scenery on both sides of the road retreat continuously, waves of emotion surged in his eyes.

Jude Chaucer occasionally glanced at Julian Lawson in the rearview mirror.

He only found out later about Julian Lawson’s attempt to force Serena at the apartment.

And once he knew, Jude didn’t say anything.

After all, Julian was his boss.

But as an ordinary person, he saw things clearly.

The more President Lawson acted like this, the more he tried to hold tightly, the more frantically he pushed Serena further away.

The current situation was entirely of Julian Lawson’s own making.

But Jude didn’t dare to say it, so he kept silent.

The car sped along the road, and soon, they arrived at their destination.

Aeston’s First Prison.

A bit earlier, upon receiving Julian Lawson’s call, Jude had already completed the procedures.

Now, they could directly meet the person they wanted to see.

Jude Chaucer pushed Julian Lawson’s wheelchair inside, then turned and left.

After a while, William Wyatt arrived.

William Wyatt was a bit surprised to see Julian Lawson sitting in a wheelchair.

Julian Lawson watched as William Wyatt sat down but didn’t immediately pick up the phone.

He just stared at William Wyatt.

Everything started because of William Wyatt.

If not for him...

This time, William Wyatt was the first to pick up the phone, knocking on the glass.

Only then did Julian Lawson lower his eyes slightly and reach for the phone.

"Julian Lawson, what happened to you? Did you break your leg?" William Wyatt’s voice was full of glee at his misfortune.

Julian Lawson didn’t respond, just stared at William Wyatt, madness evident in his bloodshot eyes.

"Why are you here this time?" William Wyatt continued to ask.

Julian Lawson, his eyes red, wanted to imprint this man deeply in his mind.

The secret he had painstakingly kept for so many years.

The reason Vera Hansen went to the date that day.

Everything stemmed from this man.

"That thing back then, who else did you give it to?" After a long time, Julian Lawson finally asked.

William Wyatt was momentarily stunned, then realized what Julian Lawson was talking about.

He burst out in wild laughter.

"You’ve finally realized!" William Wyatt laughed heartily, "Who saw it, how much has been released? Is it spreading everywhere? Has Serena gone mad, hahaha!"

Julian Lawson gritted his teeth, slamming a fist on the table, making a loud "bang."

But William Wyatt showed no fear, glaring viciously at Julian Lawson: "Hahaha, Julian Lawson, you deceived me back then, and I deceived you too!"

"Did you really think that with those things in my hands, I didn’t give them to anyone?" William Wyatt laughed uproariously, "I don’t know if you’re lucky or naive!"

William Wyatt laughed, revealing his teeth, making him look like a bloodthirsty beast.

"That day, when you knelt in front of me, begging me to let her go, I hesitated for just a moment."

"If I had known from the start you were stalling for time, I wouldn’t have just humiliated you by stepping on your head, but I would have destroyed her directly!"

William Wyatt continued to laugh wildly, pounding the table beside him, making noise.

"I’ve been waiting for this day all these years!"

"To let you know, the secret you worked so hard to keep had been known by a third party long ago."

"Now that day has finally come, hahaha, how are things outside now?"

"Shut up!" Julian Lawson shouted angrily.

William Wyatt continued to laugh, but Julian Lawson could hardly bear it; if it weren’t for him, if it weren’t for that secret... nothing would have turned out this way!

Hatred!

The bone-deep hatred gnawed at Julian Lawson’s insides.

He wished he could tear William Wyatt apart!