"Boo hoo, boo hoo..." Overcast sky, the moon blocked by heavy clouds. Darkness envelops the world. A low growl mixes with the sound of approaching footsteps. As the sack over his head is pulled off, David Sinclair is rendered speechless. The silhouette of the man a few steps away is tall and familiar. Seems like they’ve met somewhere. Before David Sinclair can recall, the man turns around. The hopeful gleam in David Sinclair’s eyes extinguishes the moment they meet Adrian Lockwood’s grim expression. The rag in his mouth is pulled out, and David Sinclair falls to his knees with a thud, "President Lockwood, President Lockwood, I know I was wrong... I know I shouldn’t have deceived you, but I was desperate, I..." Adrian Lockwood steps forward and kicks David Sinclair fiercely in the chest. David Sinclair couldn’t even scream in agony before collapsing. Adrian Lockwood’s eyes glowed crimson, like blood. He wants to ask David Sinclair, how dare you? How dare you deceive me? How dare you treat Serena like that? But Adrian doesn’t want to say a single word. All he can think about is Serena’s glance. She must be very disappointed in him! Love and hate are equally blind. She loathes David Sinclair so much, and he should’ve been standing with her on the same side. The intel from his subordinates was barely a page. Yet, every word was evidence of David Sinclair’s unworthiness as a husband, as a father, even as a human. "President, President Lockwood..." Finally catching his breath, he feels pain in his chest, every inhale makes his whole body hurt. David Sinclair pleads painfully, "I, I truly recognize my mistake... Please, I beg you, show mercy, grant me a way out. I, I’m Serena’s father, your..." The word ’father-in-law’ never leaves his lips. Just as he hears Adrian Lockwood’s cold command. David Sinclair’s eyes widen. The next moment, excruciating pain hits. It feels like steel pipes. Or maybe baseball bats. Adrian Lockwood’s men, following orders, seem intent on beating him to death. But he can’t even pass out. His whole body aches so much he can’t even lift his arms. Blood flows down from his forehead, blurring his vision. Through it, he sees Adrian Lockwood approach. The most update n0vels are published on N0v3l.Fiɾe.net The stick falls on the ground. David Sinclair’s face is ground under Adrian Lockwood’s foot, crushed agonizingly, "You should be grateful we live in a society governed by the rule of law... Otherwise, you’d have died a thousand deaths by now!" The footsteps move away, leaving David Sinclair twitching on the ground. His breaths short and long. As a shadow emerges from the darkness, David Sinclair’s heart flickers, numbed by pain. His voice weak and faint. Struggling to open his eyes glued shut by blood, he sees a team of figures approaching. Under the pallid moonlight, the figures in black stretch into infinity. David Sinclair continues to plead, "Save, save me..." David Sinclair’s eyes freeze. How does he know him? Before he can respond, someone strides forward, grabbing his collar and lifting him up. In the crimson-tinted vision, David Sinclair sees a handsome face twisted into a sinister smile. Wyatt Hawthorne looks regretful, glancing at the direction Adrian Lockwood vanished, a flicker of malignance passing through his eyes. He can’t even ask who he is. David Sinclair hopes this person will grant him a quick end. Hearing Wyatt inquire of the man holding him, "How is he? Badly hurt?" "His arm is broken, his leg too..." The man holding him shakes him a few times, then presses his limp chest and back, "Three ribs broken as well." "Going a bit overboard..." Wyatt looks disapproving. David Sinclair’s eyes twitch. Wyatt asks, "You can’t survive in Aethelgard anymore, how about I send you abroad?" Is there such a good thing? David Sinclair’s eyes flashed with hope, "You, you are..." "Do you know Serena Sinclair?" David Sinclair’s face froze. Wyatt Hawthorne showed a warm smile on his face, "She belongs to me!" His whole body hurt all over. But David Sinclair struggled desperately to get up, as if knowing that if he didn’t escape, he’d never get away in this lifetime. Then Wyatt Hawthorne ordered coldly, "Take him to Northern Myanmar, watch over him carefully... Remember to let him live a long, long life..." "I, I am Serena’s..." The piercing voice abruptly stopped. The clouds slowly scattered, and the cold moonlight bathed the earth. The Maybach was parked under the apartment, and Wyatt Hawthorne carried a heavy air of anger even as he walked into the elevator. Angry for being one step too late. Angry that Serena gave up so easily. But as the door buzzed open and the familiar scent wafted from the living room, Wyatt’s anger gradually dissipated. If everyone in the world knew she was the one Wyatt Hawthorne held dear. Whether employees of Hawthorne Corporation or idle gossipers on the forums. No one would dare to slander her so recklessly, right? The master bedroom door was half-open, and 2S quietly sneaked out, but suddenly turned its head and walked away when about to leap up. Instinctively sniffed the air. Everything seemed normal, but Wyatt knew that 2S smelled the blood on him. Retreating was wrong. Wyatt stood at the door for quite a while without moving. The short scream was muffled in the palm covering her mouth, Una Hutton looked at the shadow standing in the doorway, slowly released her hand, patting her chest in fright as she walked forward, "Young Master Hawthorne... you scared me!" Wanted to say why don’t you just go look yourself? But facing Wyatt’s gloomy and cold gaze, Una refrained from saying it, and turned around ghost-like into the master bedroom. Came out again, holding the phone in front of Wyatt. Seemed even in her dreams she couldn’t relax, the sleeping Serena furrowed her brows lightly. After finishing, as Wyatt turned to leave, he turned back and told Una, "David Sinclair has already left Aethelgard, and will never return in his lifetime. Let her know she can be at ease." Una nodded, watched Wyatt turn away, and the door buzzed closed. Then looked down, seeing the WeChat message Wyatt had sent. Quickly sent the Sleeping Beauty photo to him. The chat box showed a huge transfer red packet. Serena slept fitfully that night. Got up before the alarm went off. But after washing up and opening the door, an aroma filled the room. Una Hutton was bustling in the kitchen. On the dining table were soy milk, fried dough sticks, steamed buns, milk, and American-style sandwiches. At a glance, it was a visually appealing blend of East and West. Watching Una buzzing around like a busy bee, Serena looked puzzled, "Aren’t you the one who loves to sleep in the most?" The capitalist gave too much!!! Doing nothing felt kind of guilty. Una smiled as she brought over a fruit plate, adding color to breakfast. Getting straight to it, "President Hawthorne said David Sinclair has left Aethelgard, he won’t bother you anymore. He wanted you to know you can rest easy." Serena was stunned, "When did he tell you this?" Una was prepared, "Last night, told me over WeChat." At once thinking she should’ve known, this was indeed Wyatt’s style. And feeling helpless at the same time. Serena didn’t know what to do. After all, she’d already deleted him, contacting him again just to say thanks seemed odd. Besides, she’d made herself clear yesterday. This is where it ends. Between them, it was already over. An ideal ex should be as good as dead. Though she and Wyatt technically weren’t each other’s ex, silence and quiet seemed the only way to handle this. That’s what Serena thought. But when she walked into the large conference room at ten o’clock and saw the figure in the armchair at the head of the table. Serena still felt her heart skip, unsure how to face it all.