CHAPTER 835: CHAPTER 835: HOLDING AN UMBRELLA FOR HER

After handling Leah Thorne’s matters, Serena Sterling and Hayden Crawford flew back to The State of Westria.

Just as they arrived in Westria, Serena received a call from her mother-in-law, who said she was feeling unwell. Serena was startled. Over the years, although her mother-in-law had been in good spirits, her advancing age meant she had to be cautious, as illness could strike suddenly. Serena quickly parted ways with Hayden and rushed over.

In the apartment, her mother-in-law lay weakly on the bed. Serena walked in, "Mother-in-law, what’s wrong? Where do you feel unwell? Let me check your pulse."

Serena took her mother-in-law’s pulse and frowned, "Mother-in-law, your pulse is very erratic. Have you been worried about something lately?"

Her mother-in-law leaned against the headboard, holding Serena’s small hand. "Serena, I’m fine, just a bit of a headache recently. Ever since I came to Westria, I can almost constantly smell the blood that was shed when our Alani’s ancestors were killed. Whenever I think of these family and national grudges, I can’t sleep at night."

"Now we’ve heard that the true heir of Westria’s noble blood has appeared, but unfortunately, we have been unable to identify this person. Westria and Alani have an irreconcilable blood feud. We must root it out and make this heir disappear. Serena, is your thinking aligned with mine?"

A realization jolted Serena. Her mother-in-law’s mention brought back the insurmountable chasm between her and Hayden.

Her mother-in-law patted Serena’s small hand, "Serena, why aren’t you speaking? You are the princess of Alani, the future queen. You have a great mission to revive Alani. You mustn’t be ensnared by the fleeting romance before your eyes... you haven’t forgotten, have you?"

Serena clasped her mother-in-law’s hand firmly, saying solemnly, "Mother-in-law, rest assured, I haven’t forgotten. I will definitely revive Alani."

"That’s good." Her mother-in-law nodded. "The medicine should be ready. Serena, please go check on it."

"Okay." Serena walked out.

After Serena left, her mother-in-law’s maid, Irene, approached and whispered, "Madam, despite your probing, the princess still hasn’t revealed Hayden Crawford’s true identity. I think the princess is deeply in love with Hayden."

Her mother-in-law let out a cold snort, looking in the direction Serena had left with deep disappointment. This time, Serena had let her down too much.

Not long ago, she received a note with a few words revealing that Hayden Crawford was the true heir of the noble blood!

Her mother-in-law was shocked and horrified, never imagining that Hayden was the true heir of the noble blood.

Given the blood feud between Westria and Alani, Hayden and Serena could never be together.

"The deeper Serena’s love for Hayden grows, the sooner we must act to save her, ensuring she doesn’t fall too deep!"

"Madam, what are you planning to do?"

Her mother-in-law thought for a moment and then whispered a few words to Irene.

...

Serena fed her mother-in-law the medicine. Her mother-in-law said, "Serena, I need to rest. It’s late; you should go home too."

"Okay, Mother-in-law, I’ll come to see you tomorrow."

Serena left and found herself on the street. A cold breeze blew past, adding an inexplicable chill.

Raindrops fell on the back of her hand. Serena stopped, realizing the sky had started to rain without her noticing.

It was raining.

Serena raised her head, watching the drizzle above.

Suddenly, a black umbrella appeared in her view. Someone had come and was holding a black umbrella over her head.

Who?

Serena quickly turned around and saw a familiar face... it was Zane Crawford.

Zane had arrived.

A luxury limousine quietly parked by the roadside, with an assistant waiting behind. Zane, in a deep blue wool coat, stood cold and elegant beside Serena, holding a black umbrella.

He held the umbrella over her head, getting himself half-soaked, with the incessant raindrops falling on his broad shoulders, forming a layer of chill haze.

Serena’s clear eyes brightened, "Zane, what brings you here?"

Zane looked at Serena, gently curving his thin lips, his voice soft and warm, "I came here for some business. When it started raining, why were you standing in the rain daydreaming, on your mind?"

Earlier, sitting in the car, Zane saw Serena standing elegantly on the street in a long dress, slightly underdressed for the late autumn. The rain started, and she looked up. There was a weight of concern on her flawlessly beautiful face, deep in thought.

Serena didn’t know what to say; the matter was complicated. "I wasn’t thinking about anything."

"Then let me take you home."

"Okay."

Serena walked with Zane to the luxury car. The assistant went to open the rear car door, but Zane’s clean, slender fingers reached out to open it himself.

The assistant paused; he knew his Prof. Crawford, how distinguished he was, how distant from women. Zane, already an illustrious figure in the medical field, frequently visited confidential research bases globally, his medical teams operate across every corner of the world, with him leading Aethelgard’s research institute, renowned as ’Divine Doctor Crawford.’

Many girls admired him, all well-bred girls who blushed when they saw him, yet he never looked at them, not even once.

Sometimes the assistant wondered if his Prof. Crawford was naturally uninterested in women.

Until now, with Serena’s presence.

His Prof. Crawford was entirely different when it came to Serena.

The assistant couldn’t help but glance twice at Serena. This seemed to be... Hayden Crawford’s woman, his Prof. Crawford’s sister-in-law?

The assistant startled, troubled by the notion that Prof. Crawford wouldn’t have feelings for his sister-in-law...

The assistant quickly lowered his head, not daring to watch further.

Zane opened the rear car door. Serena lifted her dress, preparing to get in, but hesitated, stopping suddenly.

"What’s wrong?" Zane asked.

Serena shook her head, pondering. "No, it can’t be... something’s off... I have to go back..."

After leaving her mother-in-law, Serena felt an unsettling premonition, growing stronger, as if something was about to happen.

She had to return.

Serena turned and ran, calling back as she went, "Zane, I have something to deal with; you go ahead!"

...

In the apartment, Hayden Crawford arrived.

Her mother-in-law had just called him, saying Serena was there and was feeling unwell. Hearing this, Hayden quickly came over.