CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: DESIRE FOR HER BODY, OBSESSION IN HIS HEART

The Lawson Estate is situated on the gold-laden edge of The Northgate Loop in Aeston.

This area is exclusively designated as the address for the Lawson Estate.

On the map, there’s a full moon-shaped large lake, which serves as the main feature of the Lawson Estate.

The manor encompassing the entirety of Moon Lake is the Lawson Estate, Moonlight Manor.

Moonlight Manor adopts a pale moon-yellow as its base hue, and when the lights come on at night, the manor resembles a full moon from above, possessing a beauty of completeness.

The villa is located by the large lake, tranquil and lovely.

Serena Sterling looked up at the manor, her eyes calm.

Usually, she’d drive straight in, but this time she didn’t want to, and thus stopped outside the manor, arriving as a visitor.

The security guard noticed her and quickly came out to greet her.

"Madam, you’ve arrived. The old master and mistress have been waiting for your return," said the guard, pressing a button to immediately open the heavy manor gate.

Serena nodded slightly and said, "Today I’ll take the shuttle bus in."

"Ah? Oh, alright!" The guard was surprised but didn’t ask further and made the arrangements.

In just a moment, someone came driving the shuttle bus to pick her up.

"Madam." It was Butler Wyatt, the manor’s head of operations, who alighted and opened the door of the shuttle bus for Serena, "Welcome home."

Serena nodded and got into the car.

With the car’s start, Serena formally entered Moonlight Manor.

"Madam, the mistress has been talking about you lately."

Butler Wyatt drove while speaking, "The mistress has been saying that without your recent visits, the house feels empty; she’s not used to it."

"And the old master, he’s been grumbling, claiming he wants to break the master’s legs."

"The old master also mentioned that Vera Hansen is insignificant and should never surpass you, Madam. He’s ready to stand up for you this time."

Butler Wyatt continued to chatter.

Serena listened half-heartedly.

She suspected this might be the old master and mistress instructing Butler Wyatt to say this.

The night wind blew strongly; Serena tightened her coat.

The shuttle bus drove along the edge of Moon Lake, where the entire lake came into view. The gentle breeze brushed over the lake, the water rippling with fractured moonlight, breathtakingly beautiful.

In the center of the lake, there’s a bridge leading directly to the villa. At this moment, a Bentley was driving from there to the villa.

It was Julian Lawson’s car.

He was here too.

With the wind catching her hair, Serena thought for a moment, pulling out a hair tie to pin up her previously cut hair.

She paused slightly, then asked, "Has anything happened at the estate recently?"

The butler thought for a moment and then said, "The old master hasn’t been in good health recently, and the mistress’s spirits aren’t great either."

"The master has visited several times, but the visits nearly always end in discord."

"The master and madam are still abroad."

"There have been other visitors for the elderly couple, but otherwise, nothing significant has occurred."

Serena nodded.

That seemed calm enough.

Except...

Serena glanced at the spot ahead where the Bentley was parked, standing beside the car was a man.

Julian Lawson.

This night was destined not to be calm.

The shuttle bus soon stopped at the designated location, and Serena got off carrying her bag.

As she steadied herself, a figure had already approached beside her.

Without looking up, Serena knew it was Julian Lawson.

"Master," Butler Wyatt called out.

Julian waved his hand, gesturing for Butler Wyatt to leave.

Serena said nothing, and Julian didn’t either; they just stood in quiet stillness.

Beneath the moonlight, the once closest pair now seemed to have an ocean between them.

Julian looked at the Serena before him.

Her hair was tied up, no longer hanging by her side as obediently as it once did. Her perfume had changed, not the scent familiar to him. Her feet bore stilettos rather than her usual shoes.

Julian frowned slightly; it was already late April, yet she still wore a light coat.

Much time had passed; she had changed significantly.

"Are you cold?" Julian suddenly asked after a while, reaching to grip her arm.

But she stepped back, his hand grazing her arm only briefly before slipping off.

This made him frown more deeply.

Why did it feel empty inside the coat?

Had she lost weight?

A closer look revealed it; her face was naturally small, and now, thinner, it appeared even more pitiable.

Serena pressed her lips together without responding to Julian’s query, seizing control of the conversation, "What is it?"

Julian then remembered why he was waiting here.

Thinking, he stepped forward.

"What’s the story with that child?" Julian asked, "I got the news from a paparazzo that she calls you ’Mom.’ When did you have a child?"

As he spoke, his gaze instinctively swept over her abdomen.

"That’s not your concern," Serena did not answer directly.

But Julian was angry.

"Serena," he called her name coldly, "We haven’t finalized the divorce yet, and you’re telling me you have a child that’s nothing to do with me?"

Serena turned her face to the side, avoiding his gaze.

"Where did the child come from?" Julian pressed further, "Over the years, we’ve had so many moments, yet never any children; now..."

"Enough," Serena cut him off.

Julian wanted to say more, but he saw the moisture in her eyes.

She said, "You don’t know why there weren’t any children all those years?"

Julian stopped.

His lips pressed tightly.

He remembered years ago, they once had a child.

Back then, they were still young, and he was enamored with her body, coaxing her into nightly indulgence.

He hadn’t noticed the signs of pregnancy; with her health issues, she didn’t think much of her inconsistent cycles.

While negotiating in Frelia, the opponent tricked him into a bet, risking life, risking death. She unhesitatingly plunged into icy water, fully soaked, and the child was lost.

When he pulled her from the ice, there was a crimson pool beneath her. The timing was swift, but the child was gone.

While held by him, her eyes locked onto the opponent.

"You promised me," she said.

The opponent nodded.

He recalled it was a late autumn night; the child was gone, she blamed herself, crying in his arms sorrowfully, shattering his heart.

After that, her health was severely damaged. In the following years, their mutual affection led to frequent indulgence, yet conception remained elusive.

Over the years, his yearning to have a child with her was fervent, tirelessly devoted in intimate moments — part desire for her body, part remedy for past regret, and part unending obsession.

Yet, Julian would never know.

In reality, after their marriage, they once had a child.

But later, it was lost again.