David's 60th birthday party ended on an absurd, if not chaotic, note. The directors who came barely ate before getting up and leaving. In the end, only Serena and Wilson remained at the table.Wilson peeled shrimp for Serena, who felt uneasy. "No one's eating anymore…""That shouldn't stop us from enjoying our dinner," Wilson replied casually."Forget it," Serena replied. The atmosphere around her felt too heavy for her to stomach food."Alright, let's forget about dinner." Wilson rose and slowly wiped his fingers with a wet napkin. "Mr. Smith, you seem to have some household affairs to straighten out, so I won't be staying. Goodbye."David looked sullen but said nothing.Wilson exchanged a look with Jacob, then wrapped his arm around Serena's shoulders and left the Smith residence. It didn't take long for the sound of a car driving away to come from the outside.The moment all the guests left, Marcus threw a maniacal fit. "Dad, how could you sign that agreement? What do I get n
Sitting on the hospital corridor bench, Serena Judd trembled uncontrollably.She had just encountered a creep.She had worked overtime until midnight. Exhausted, she dragged her weary body back to her rented apartment. Just as she was about to take out her keys, someone suddenly covered her mouth and nose from behind.Serena struggled with everything she had, but her attacker dragged her toward the stairwell.A warm, repulsive breath brushed against her ear. "You smell amazing."That revolting voice coiled around her like a venomous snake, suffocating her with every word.In sheer terror, Serena had thrown herself backward, dragging the man down the stairs with her.She was lucky—only a few scrapes and bruises.However, the creep wasn't so fortunate. He cracked his head on the way down and lay motionless long enough for her to escape.After giving her statement at the police station, Serena went to the hospital herself. She kept glancing at her phone, which displayed the messa
Serena didn't go back to her apartment. Instead, she found a hotel nearby.She scrubbed her fair skin in the bathroom until it turned red, then crawled into bed.The soft yellow glow of the bedside lamp lit the room. She curled up under the thin blanket. Gradually, the unease in her heart began to fade, and she fell asleep.But her rest wasn't peaceful. She had all kinds of strange dreams.One moment, Justin, as a boy, stood protectively in front of her, saying, "I'll always watch out for her. No one's allowed to bully her."Then, she was in a dark stairwell. A strange man pinned her down, greedily inhaling her scent.The final image was Candice's innocent-looking face. As she leaned against Justin, her eyes mockingly locked on Serena. "You look like a dog, Serena."She drifted in and out of a restless sleep until a phone call abruptly woke her up.She picked up the phone and heard Justin's cold, detached voice on the other end. "Make some oatmeal and bring it to the office."
Serena walked out of Farrow Corporation.She had never left early before. With plenty of time on her hands, she wasn't sure where to go. Eventually, she headed to a nearby café she frequented.The café brewed beans imported from abroad, offering a rich and energizing coffee that perfectly suited her taste.The owner, recognizing her, handed her a freshly brewed latte. "Is your boyfriend not coming today?"Boyfriend? Was she talking about Justin?They had come here together often in the past.Serena forced a smile. "He won't be coming anymore.""Did you two break up?""He's dead."Sitting in a wicker chair, Serena slowly stirred her latte. Just as she was ready to take a sip, her phone rang."Rina, I've called you a million times. Why haven't you picked up?" It was her best friend, Lauren Steele.Nocturna was a huge city, but Lauren was the only real friend she had.Serena's tone softened considerably. "I was busy. I didn't notice.""What were you so busy with? Is that scum
"Sorry, Rina. I got so worked up. I thought you were heartbroken and that Scumstin had hit you." After returning to her place and getting the full story, Lauren finally managed to stop crying."But he's still horrible. You encountered a creep, and he was hanging around with his mistress? This kind of scumbag should be castrated and thrown into the sea!""Candice is his girlfriend," Serena said calmly."That's bullshit! She's Justin's girlfriend, so what does that make you?"Serena's face looked faintly melancholic under the light. "Yeah, what does that make me? Probably just a pet he doesn't care about."One he could call whenever and dismiss without a second thought. When he was done with her, he didn't even need to formally let her know."Forget Scumstin. Just think of it as all those years of real love wasted. There are plenty of men out there. You'll find someone new for sure."Serena gave a faint smile. Right now, she had no desire to think about a new relationship.After
Justin turned and saw Candice's red, swollen eyes. At once, the anger in his chest subsided. "It's not your fault. You're new. It's normal not to know everything.""Justin..." Candice threw herself into his arms, sobbing like her heart was breaking.A wave of irritation surged through Justin.If Serena were here, this kind of rookie mistake wouldn't have happened. Even if it did, she'd own it silently, fix the problem, and figure out a solution.Back at the office, Justin skipped dinner and personally called Daniel. After hours of negotiation, Daniel finally agreed to give them another chance.The new meeting was set for a few days later.Once the situation was resolved, Justin felt a touch better. Stepping out of the CEO's office, he noticed Candice still at her desk. "Justin, is everything okay now?""It's all sorted out now," Justin replied."Really? That's amazing! You're incredible!" Candice's eyes sparkled with admiration.Justin's mood lifted. He enjoyed the way Candice
Serena hailed a cab and headed straight for Farrow Corporation.On the way, she got a call from Lauren, who asked where she was. Serena casually mentioned where she was going.Lauren immediately insisted on coming over, claiming that as her best friend, she couldn't let her go through this alone. She'd come to help Serena deal with Justin.Serena tried to talk her out of it, but in the end, she couldn't stop her.An hour later, the cab pulled up to the entrance of Farrow Corporation's towering building.The sun blazed off the glass and steel, making her squint as she stepped out.The headquarters of Farrow Corporation wasn't located here before. This was the new building.Five years ago, when it had just been completed, Justin had been in a great mood. He had drunk heavily to celebrate and ended up passing out in the CEO's office.Serena had stayed by his side the whole time.She stood in front of the massive windows to enjoy the night view. Suddenly, she felt someone lean in
At that moment, Serena felt a profound sense of emptiness.Lauren was so angry that she was about to charge at Justin. "Did your mouth get glued shut before? Why didn't you say all this crap before?"Justin was equally furious. His eyes darkened, and a sharp energy radiated from him. "Lauren, this is Farrow Corporation. Try making another scene and see what happens!"Lauren used to be afraid of him. But she was about to explode this time, so she didn't back down. She rolled up her sleeves and pushed Zane aside, ready to hit Justin.The latter immediately called security.In moments, a couple of security guards roughly grabbed Lauren and tried to drag her away.Serena quickly stepped forward, protecting Lauren. "Let go of her!"She glared at Justin. "If you dare lay a finger on Laurie, I'll ruin you, Justin! I've been your assistant for years. I know everything about you. You sure you want Farrow Corporation in the news tomorrow for all the wrong reasons?""Are you threatening m
David's 60th birthday party ended on an absurd, if not chaotic, note. The directors who came barely ate before getting up and leaving. In the end, only Serena and Wilson remained at the table.Wilson peeled shrimp for Serena, who felt uneasy. "No one's eating anymore…""That shouldn't stop us from enjoying our dinner," Wilson replied casually."Forget it," Serena replied. The atmosphere around her felt too heavy for her to stomach food."Alright, let's forget about dinner." Wilson rose and slowly wiped his fingers with a wet napkin. "Mr. Smith, you seem to have some household affairs to straighten out, so I won't be staying. Goodbye."David looked sullen but said nothing.Wilson exchanged a look with Jacob, then wrapped his arm around Serena's shoulders and left the Smith residence. It didn't take long for the sound of a car driving away to come from the outside.The moment all the guests left, Marcus threw a maniacal fit. "Dad, how could you sign that agreement? What do I get n
Louis snorted. "The facts speak louder than words!""Shut your damn mouth! My dad should never have trusted a bunch of ungrateful old farts like you!" Marcus thundered.The directors' faces darkened at Marcus's scathing remark, but for the sake of their friendship with David, they said nothing.Wilson lightly tapped his fingers against the table. "Mr. Smith, this is the son you're so proud of? He behaves like a rabid dog. You may want to put him on a tighter leash before he gets put down."Marcus turned to him and snapped, "Stay out of our family business!"A deadly look flashed in Wilson's eyes. David smacked the table again and barked, "Pipe down, Marcus! This isn't the place for one of your tantrums!""But Dad—""Scram to the side and stay in line!" David was nervous. The worst that could happen if they pissed off the directors was a heated argument followed by a fallout. But if they crossed Wilson, there was no telling what would happen.David glanced at Wilson. He was secr
With the truth out in the open, David saw no need to carry on with his pretenses. "So, you refuse to step down as CEO, is that it?"Jacob crossed his legs and lit a cigarette. "That's right.""Don't force my hand, Jacob. You'll be thrown out of Smith Group at the board meeting tomorrow!" David warned."You don't need to wait until tomorrow to throw me out. The executive directors are here today, so we may as well let them vote on the matter now. Once they've made their decision, you won't need the other directors to weigh in anymore," Jacob suggested."I'll hold you to that!" David swept his gaze over the directors at the table, signaling them to talk.For a while, there was only silence at the table. Then, Louis Callaghan said, "I… am in favor of Mr. Jacob remaining as the CEO.""What did you say?" David looked aghast.Marcus panicked as well. "Mr. Callaghan, do you have any idea what you just said?"Louis repeated, "I said—I am in favor of Mr. Jacob remaining as the CEO of Sm
Serena remembered now. Marcus was born out of David's second marriage.Marcus wheeled the birthday cake toward David. He stopped beside David and grinned. "Happy birthday, Dad! May you have a long and healthy life ahead of you!""Looks like you've pulled yourself together, Marcus," David praised, smiling. He'd never smiled like that when Jacob was around.David paid no mind to Jacob's darkened expression as he pulled Marcus closer and launched into introductions. "Everyone, this is Marcus. He's been majoring in finance abroad and flew home especially for my birthday today!"A few guests at the table recognized Marcus. "Goodness, it's Marcus! I haven't seen him in years! He sure looks different now.""Yes, he looks a lot like a younger Mr. David."Jacob lifted his gaze. "Dad, why didn't you tell me Marcus was coming home today?"David's smile slipped. "You should have known he was coming home, Jacob. You're the older brother, so don't go blaming me for not keeping you up to date
A loud cough suddenly sounded behind Jacob and the others. David was making his way down the stairs with Natasha's help."Mr. Smith," Wilson greeted.A shadow fell over David's face. "Wilson, I wasn't expecting you to come.""It's your birthday today, Mr. Smith. It's only right that I come over and celebrate with you out of respect, wouldn't you say?" Wilson said congenially. He snaked an arm around Serena's shoulders as he approached David. "Mr. Smith, allow me to introduce my girlfriend, Serena Judd."David made a noise of approval. "She's got a decent face and build, that much I'll say. You got lucky, Wilson.""Oh, my luck with the ladies is nothing compared to yours, Mr. Smith." Wilson grinned.Beside David, Natasha looked a little uneasy. She clutched David's arm and asked, "Would you like to sit, Mr. Smith?""Bring me to the couch so I may catch my breath."Natasha did as she was told and helped David to the couch, whereupon they sat.Jacob and Wilson sauntered to one si
Serena wished she could sew Wilson's mouth shut. He helped her put on her clothes and said, "We're going to the Smith residence tonight. It's Jacob's father's birthday."Serena considered her plans for the day. The patisserie was doing all right recently, and she had nothing urgent to take care of. As such, she agreed to be Wilson's plus-one.…Serena and Wilson arrived downstairs to find that Elsa had already prepared a meal for them. Under Elsa's curious and meaningful gaze, Serena finished her food and headed out with Wilson.They dropped by an upscale women's boutique. Serena was about to leave after picking out a dress when Wilson grabbed her wrist. "You may as well pick out a few more outfits now that we're here. With that killer figure of yours, you'll look good in anything."It was still early, so Serena decided to stay and shop a little while longer. It would have been foolish of her to decline Wilson's generous offer of new clothes. She tried on a dozen outfits, and Wils
Waking up late the next day, Serena's eyes slowly blinked open, her thoughts still hazy and unfocused. She stared at the blackout curtains that had been drawn over the window, and the memories from last night flashed through her mind.As the hand on her side gently shifted, a voice rumbled, "Are you up?"Serena hummed in response, her throat a little dry. Last night had been wild; she'd behaved nothing like her usual self. She blushed slightly at the thought.Wilson gently pinched the soft flesh of her waist and kissed her. "Lie in for a bit."With that, he lifted the blanket and got out of bed. The soft glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the room a second later, and he handed Serena a glass of water. "To quench your thirst."Wilson's tone was warm and mild, but the way his alluring eyes fixed on Serena turned his sentence into a double entendre. Diffident, she took the glass from him and had a few gulps of water.Wilson then set the glass down and began putting on his clothes.
Wilson brought Serena back to his villa.Serena was greeted by the feast on the table when she entered the door and noted her favorite dishes among the food. Wilson explained, "When I came home earlier, I told Elsa to make dinner. We'll be eating here tonight."Serena nodded. She took a seat at the table, only to see Elsa Rosenburg bustling around to tend to her needs. She served Serena soup, brought her a wine glass, and even warmly asked Serena if she could have cold drinks.Wilson narrowed his eyes from across the table. "Elsa, if you'd like to take a look at my girlfriend, you may do so openly without buzzing around her like a bee."An awkward chuckle escaped Elsa. Oh, well, so much for being subtle. But could Wilson blame her? He'd only ever brought men home, and this was the first time he'd brought a woman over—and she was his girlfriend, no less!It was a rare sight for Elsa, indeed. Before this, she thought Wilson and Jacob were dating.Elsa stared at Serena for a moment,
Damian's eyes darkened. He strode over to Wilson. "Mr. Quade."Wilson appraised him from head to toe. "What is your purpose of getting close to Serena?"Damian looked baffled. "I've known Serena for years, and we've always been on good terms. What do you mean by that question, Mr. Quade?""The next time you act dumb and naïve, try to be more convincing. Who are you trying to fool when you can't even keep the scheming look out of your eyes?" Wilson drawled.Damian froze, then flashed Wilson a smile. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Quade. Serena may be your girlfriend, but she has the freedom to be friends with whomever she wants."Wilson took a drag of his cigarette. "You sabotaged the security camera at Serena's place previously, didn't you?"Damian's smile vanished.Contempt gleamed in Wilson's narrowed eyes as he added, "Stay in line if you don't want Serena to find out just how despicable you are. I don't want to see you anywhere near Serena after this."With a