CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: THE NIGHT BEFORE THEY SLEPT TOGETHER

The strong wind howled past, seemingly blowing from seven years ago to the present.

The fallen leaves in the forest sparsely fell, as if urging her to answer since she hadn’t responded. Julian Lawson prompted, "Speak."

Looking at Julian Lawson’s long shadow on the ground, Serena Sterling said, "You should ask her what she said to me."

Julian Lawson’s brow furrowed slightly: "Vera Hansen doesn’t know you."

The implication being that she was fabricating things.

"Mr. Lawson." Serena Sterling looked up at Julian Lawson’s dark eyes, "Do you trust her that much?"

Julian Lawson didn’t answer immediately, only that familiar feeling in his heart resurfaced.

"Mr. Lawson, I have no benefit in targeting Vera Hansen."

She said, "Vera Hansen is your person, Mr. Lawson, with your reputation and status in Aeston, I am just a nameless nobody unable to compete."

"Unless there is a reason..."

She smiled, "Why would I bring about my own downfall?"

Julian Lawson’s brow furrowed even more.

The words of the woman in front of him made sense indeed.

But with only half a year left to live, what reason would Vera Hansen have to target someone she doesn’t know?

In the end, his inner balance still tilted towards Vera Hansen.

"Irene, no matter what happened between you two, I hope you consider that she’s a patient with only half a year left."

"Her participation in this program is partly to give strength to those tormented by illness like her."

Serena Sterling looked at Julian Lawson, seeing his furrowed brow, his dark eyes, his earnest words, she recalled what Vera Hansen had told her earlier today.

-

"This era is all about marketing."

"You joined this program, but is it really just to compete in singing and songwriting?"

"Ford Entertainment’s investment in you is for returns, for commercial value, for monetization, understand?"

-

Is Vera Hansen really so capable to deceive him, or does he willingly believe?

She didn’t understand.

Nor did she want to guess.

So, Serena Sterling pulled back her gaze.

"Mr. Lawson, sometimes, a leaf can hide the view. What you consider beautiful may not be as you think." This was her final advice.

Julian Lawson’s eyes turned stern.

She had guessed his thoughts.

From asking him to come to the forest, to just now the questioning and answering, to the latest sentence, she seemed to see through his hesitations, wavers, and uncertainties, all his mental trails.

Even being able to guide his thinking with her words, influence his judgment.

Only someone extremely familiar with him could accomplish all this!

"Who exactly are you?"

The mask on the woman before him suddenly seemed unbearably obstructive.

He reached out wanting to remove it.

Serena Sterling instinctively took a step back, but the forest’s grassy ground made her stiletto heel sink, she sprained her foot.

Julian Lawson instinctively reached out to support the woman’s arm.

A flash of lightning tore through the sky, thunder rumbled.

The lightning illuminated the forest, the woman, due to her unstable stance, dropped the long coat she was wearing.

He held her slender arm, the lightning illuminated the patches connected on her snow-white skin.

Heavier than they appeared on stage.

"Rumble..."

The delayed thunder exploded in Julian Lawson’s heart.

In his memory, there was once someone with similar scars.

Severe injuries.

It was Serena seven years ago.

The sorrowful eyes of Serena from seven years ago were still vivid in his memory.

"You..."

Julian Lawson wanted to say something, but in the next moment, the woman already withdrew her arm from his grasp.

She put the long coat back on steadily: "Thank you, President Lawson, for supporting me."

"President Lawson" woke Julian Lawson up.

Indeed, Serena always called him "Julian."

She said that it made her feel very close because her father always called her mother that before he died.

The woman in front was much thinner than Serena.

Moreover, this woman was Jasper Ford’s kept canary, having had a miscarriage for Jasper Ford ten days ago.

He and Serena went to the civil affairs bureau six days ago, the day before they went to the bureau, they had even spent the night together.

So, she couldn’t be Serena.

Over there, Jasper Ford watching things going amiss was already walking over.

"Being hurt so badly, and yet Jasper Ford still lets you join a variety show?" Julian Lawson spoke for unknown reasons.

Unclear even to himself why he spoke.

"That’s nothing you, President Lawson, should be concerned about." Serena replied.

Julian Lawson’s brow furrowed tightly, he wanted to say more, but Jasper Ford had already arrived.

Serena was feeling faint, couldn’t withstand it, she leaned against Jasper Ford.

"Sh... Irene!" Jasper Ford was almost frantic, immediately reaching out to steady Serena, then glared fiercely at Julian Lawson.

Jasper Ford wanted to say something, but Serena merely waved her hand.

Julian Lawson pressed his lips tightly.

Looking at the two’s intimate demeanor, inexplicably, he spoke again: "How could you let her work when she’s so seriously injured?"

Jasper Ford rolled his eyes.

Her injuries were all caused by Julian Lawson, weren’t they?

On the day he visited Serena at the hospital, he had heard Bianca Lynch talk about it.

Originally, Serena had a mild concussion from the collision, and the baby could still be saved if she rested in bed.

But Julian Lawson, to protect Vera Hansen, pushed Serena down the stairs.

The baby was lost, and more bruises and injuries were added. Not having fractures was already lucky!

Just when they were about to return to the limo, wasn’t it Julian Lawson insisting on talking to Serena?

Now what qualifications does he have to say these things?

Jasper Ford really wanted to curse Julian Lawson thoroughly, to let him know what the number one bad temper in Aeston, Ford Three, means!

But seeing Serena feeling so unwell, he only threw out a line: "Not your damn business!"

Then he picked up Serena, striding towards the limo.

Julian Lawson frowned watching the two leave, the woman’s dark hair draped over Jasper Ford’s long arm, giving him a strange sense of jealousy.

The wind continued to blow, leaves fell from the wind, one landed in Julian Lawson’s palm.

He lowered his head looking at that leaf.

A leaf blocking the view.

Is it really like that?

Before he could figure it out, the sky had already started to rain.

Raindrops fell on the leaf in his palm.

Like someone’s tears.

...

The limo drove for a distance, then they switched to another vehicle, heading towards the hospital.

Serena had recovered somewhat, she looked outside the car window.

Jasper Ford was still cursing about Julian Lawson, but she no longer wanted to think about it.

Julian Lawson’s position in Aeston was unbeatable; even together with Jasper Ford, they couldn’t threaten him in the slightest.

So, why bother?

What she needed to do was hold onto what she could, accomplish what she intended to do.

That would be enough.

"Buzz buzz."

The phone vibrated once more.

Serena glancing at it, it was a message from Julian Lawson.

...

The rain was pouring heavily.

After leaving the "Heavenly Sound" variety recording site, people departed using various modes of transportation.

For the sake of live broadcast effect, electronic devices were not allowed inside the recording site.

Thus, only after coming out could they use their phones.

The entire day, the trending search was monopolized by "Heavenly Sound," with many live audience members clicking in to watch.

Many were engaging in gossip, but a few raised questions.

Why did "Yesterday Once More" not have the same effect as the live performance?