CHAPTER 300: CHAPTER 300: MAKING ME THE SECOND CHOICE

Julian Lawson was still kneeling over there.

His head was bowed low, tears dampening the ground in front of him.

Just as Serena Sterling and Silas Hawthorne were about to leave the tea room.

Julian suddenly spoke up, "Make me your second choice."

"When he doesn’t have the time to care for you, let me take care of you... stay by your side."

He looked up, gazing at the backs of the two people.

He couldn’t lose her.

Even if she wanted to be with Silas Hawthorne.

As long as she left a little space in her heart for him, he would be willing.

"Even if it’s out of pity," Julian said.

Silas Hawthorne paused slightly, turning back to glance at Julian.

Did this mean he wanted to share Serena with him?

To be the concubine without a formal title?

Silas Hawthorne certainly wouldn’t agree.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Serena.

But Serena did not speak. She looked up at Silas for a moment, then led him out of the tea room.

Without giving Julian a single glance.

As the door to the tea room closed, Julian Lawson sat on the ground.

He looked at the closed door, crying and laughing, his emotions collapsing.

Even as a second choice, she was unwilling?

The shadows of the trees outside fell upon him as Julian Lawson closed his eyes in anguish.

...

Silas Hawthorne accompanied Serena back to the car.

The two sat in the back seat, as the driver headed to Hawthorne Manor.

Serena felt a bit tired, so she leaned back to rest her eyes.

Silas looked at her, words forming but left unspoken.

He was a little worried.

Because he knew that Julian had once treated her well too.

He knew that she and Julian shared seven years together, something he could never compete with.

There were even two children between them once.

He was worried that she might soften and agree to Julian’s proposal.

He started wanting more and more.

Years ago, it was enough just to be able to see her.

Later, realizing Julian wasn’t good to her, he wanted to take care of her.

Then he wanted to replace him.

Now, he wanted to possess her entirely.

But what would he do if she really agreed to Julian’s proposal?

As he thought, Silas fell into turmoil.

Just then, Silas noticed Serena open her eyes, looking at him.

"Is something the matter?" Serena asked in confusion.

Silas didn’t know what to say, these were the unseemly thoughts in his mind.

Seeing Silas’s expression, Serena recalled what Julian had said earlier.

"I had no intention of agreeing with him," Serena said softly.

Silas’s gaze was somewhat evasive.

Serena found it somewhat amusing.

"Silas, are you... jealous?" Serena teased him.

The divider had been raised in front, allowing them to speak freely.

Silas tightened his grip on Serena’s hand.

"I am indeed jealous," Silas confessed.

Now it was Serena’s turn to be a little embarrassed.

Silas looked earnestly at Serena, saying, "I’m always afraid that you don’t like me as much."

"I’m afraid I can’t compare to your seven years."

"I’m jealous of him."

Seeing the seriousness in Silas’s eyes, Serena was slightly taken aback.

She could feel his unease in this moment.

After a moment’s thought, Serena took his hand, placing it over her heart.

Then she leaned over and kissed his lips.

Silas kissed her back, and after a long while, they parted.

Silas looked at her, not understanding her gesture.

Serena smiled, patting his hand on her heart.

"Do you feel my heartbeat?" she asked.

"It’s over between him and me," Serena said, "Silas, now it’s us together."

Silas smiled, the ice in his eyes melting away.

He embraced Serena and kissed her.

The car drove all the way towards Hawthorne Manor.

...

Meanwhile.

Julian Lawson had already been helped out of the tea room by his assistant.

The assistant, noticing that Serena and Silas had left a long time ago without any sound, cautiously knocked on the door, eventually pushing it open in a panic to find Julian sitting on the floor with his head bowed.

In utter dejection.

"President Lawson, what’s wrong?" The assistant was anxious, leaving the wheelchair to rush to Julian’s side, waving a hand in front of his eyes.

The assistant didn’t know what happened in the tea room, but seeing Julian’s dazed expression, he had some suspicion that Julian had been numbed.

"President Lawson? President Lawson, answer me!"

But Julian just stared blankly at a spot on the ground, his eyes void.

The assistant grew more anxious and reached out to shake Julian.

Still, Julian did not react, prompting the assistant to immediately take out his phone to dial 911.

In the process, the assistant accidentally knocked over the tea cup that Serena hadn’t finished.

The cup toppled over, spilling tea onto the table.

Cold.

Julian looked at the cup, a self-deprecating smile on his face.

A cup of cold tea.

Just like himself right now.

She would rather knock it over than choose him.

As the assistant was about to make the call, Julian extended his hand to cover the assistant’s phone.

Seeing Julian move, the assistant finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"President Lawson, let me help you up," the assistant said, bringing the wheelchair over before assisting Julian to sit in it.

Julian remained in his desolate state, as the assistant pushed him back to the car, placing him inside.

"President Lawson, where to now?" the assistant asked.

"Back to the apartment," Julian said.

The car drove all the way back to the apartment building.

Julian returned to the apartment under the assistant’s escort.

He lay back on the bed, looking at the neatly folded blanket, overwhelmed by sorrow.

She didn’t want him anymore, not even as a second choice.

What was he to do?

Julian sorrowfully reached to open the bedside drawer.

Inside were their wedding rings.

He had strung the pair of rings together, one large and one small, resting against each other like two people together.

He had always treasured them here.

But they weren’t together.

She had Silas Hawthorne now.

They had already been together.

They might even have children afterward...

The afternoon sunlight slanted into the room, shining into the open drawer.

It illuminated another object in there.

A piece of Tanzanite.

The Tanzanite reflected light under the sun’s rays.

Julian reached to pick up the Tanzanite.

Suddenly, he remembered witnessing when Serena purchased this Tanzanite.

Calculating the time, Julian suddenly realized...

When she bought this Tanzanite, she was already pregnant.

So, she had bought this Tanzanite specifically for their child.

If their child had been born successfully, then this Tanzanite would have been the birthstone.

Julian’s hand holding the Tanzanite trembled slightly.

She had brought this Tanzanite out for a charity auction because the child was gone.

Coming to a delayed realization.

Julian recalled the charity auction dinner again.

Remembering her repeated bids.

Recalling the way she looked at him through the mask.

So, in her eyes at that time, he was the one who killed their child, yet for Vera Hansen, wished to take their child’s birthstone.

Late-arriving pain and sorrow engulfed him.

Tears fell, dripping onto the Tanzanite.

His heart seemed about to break.

What had he... actually done?