Serena Sterling didn’t expect that the scene at the hotel was orchestrated by Caden and Hayden Crawford as a father-son duo, so she was quite surprised. Now, listening to little Caden Crawford’s cute yet serious voice telling her, "From now on, let me and Daddy protect you," Serena Sterling’s delicate nose suddenly turned red. She felt as though everything she had experienced in the ancient kingdom of Alani — all the confusion, hardship, helplessness, loneliness, the cycle of life and death... — had been healed. Serena Sterling reached out to hug little Caden Crawford and nodded forcefully, "Okay, from now on Mommy will be protected by Caden." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NovelHub(.)net Little Caden Crawford had a very calm personality and wasn’t one to speak sweetly; he just extended his little hand to Serena Sterling’s slender back and gently patted her. He already knew how much suffering his mommy had endured to give birth to him because Daddy had shown him the videos on the USB drive. He had grown up, and from now on, no one would be allowed to bully his mommy; little Caden Crawford thought this in his heart. Watching the warm, loving scene between Serena Sterling and her son, Melody Ashworth was filled with bitter jealousy. Why, why is heaven so unfair? Hayden Crawford had already given all his love to Serena Sterling, so why did he also give Serena a son who was terrifyingly perceptive? This was truly envy-inducing! Melody Ashworth withdrew her gaze and looked at Hayden Crawford, "Have you known all along that I wasn’t Serena Sterling?" Serena Sterling also looked at Hayden Crawford. Honestly, she was curious about when Hayden had seen through the Bewitching Technique of the Merfolk Clan and recognized her. Hayden Crawford pressed his thin lips together, "At first I didn’t recognize who you were, but that didn’t stop me from distancing myself from you. Although my eyes always saw Serena’s exquisite face, my body rejected you; it didn’t want to be close to you and even felt disgusted and repulsed." "Serena turned into a little handmaiden, and the first time I saw her, my gaze stopped, as if there was something in the heavens attracting me, making me unable to move my gaze away. My body and heart were led step by step by that little handmaiden, and every time I saw her, I felt my heart flutter." "That time at The Manor of the Ninth Spire, I heard her call, and that was when I recognized her." Melody Ashworth was unwilling to concede, wanting to hear more, but now that she heard it, she regretted it. She shouldn’t have listened, as it was self-humiliation. What Bewitching Technique? This whole drama about the true and false Serena Sterling hadn’t trapped Hayden Crawford at all, and she was still feeling complacent. It was merely a one-person performance, like a clown. At this moment, Serena Sterling stood up, led little Caden Crawford to Hayden’s side, and her radiant eyes fell upon Melody Ashworth’s pale face. She calmly said, "Melody Ashworth, the Bewitching Technique and the so-called curse of the Merfolk Clan are nothing more than a mirage. Your show of the true and false Serena Sterling serves as the best proof." Melody Ashworth looked at the family of three standing before her now; Hayden Crawford was the first man to break the Bewitching Technique of the Merfolk Clan, shattering this mirage and illusion. "Heh, Serena Sterling, you’ve won. Of course, now whatever you say is right. Just remember how confidently you promised a grand gamble with us. You bet everything that Hayden Crawford would win." Hayden Crawford turned his gaze to Serena Sterling, and his heart softened, reaching out a large hand to hold her soft little hand, "Did you once make such a bet?" Serena Sterling turned her head, her bright eyes smiling at him, "Yes, it was the biggest bet I’ve ever made." "Were you ever afraid?" Serena Sterling gently shook her head, "Never. I knew you would never let me lose." The determined heart of Hayden Crawford softened like water, and he tightened his grip on her soft little hand, never wanting to let go. Serena Sterling looked again at Melody Ashworth, "Back then, the ancestors of Westria and Alani were lovers who had been in love. Unfortunately, our ancestor of Alani was too dazzling and gradually overshadowed the ancestor of Westria. From then on, the heart of the ancestor of Westria began to drift away." "Our ancestor of Alani was so strong, capable of almost anything, but unfortunately, she didn’t know how to tame and handle men. Therefore, the direct reason for the demise of that relationship was not the Bewitching Technique of the Merfolk Clan but the human heart. When the heart left and scattered, only when our ancestor of Alani lay dying could she perhaps understand that the greatest tragedy in love is planning a beautiful future while he has already turned and walked away." Melody Ashworth blankly looked at Serena Sterling; she had once seen the portrait of the ancestor of Alani in a painting, and now, gradually, Serena Sterling’s exquisite face overlapped with that of the ancestor of Alani. However, Serena Sterling was craftier, softer, and wiser than the ancestor of Alani. Men are the greatest weapon in this world; women should understand how to command men, letting them fight for you on the battlefield, expand the territory. Suddenly, Melody Ashworth felt a bit of respect for Serena Sterling. "Serena, shall we go?" Hayden Crawford said. Serena Sterling nodded, "Alright." The family of three turned around, disappearing from sight. On the way out, Serena Sterling looked at Hayden Crawford, "Now that Melody Ashworth has been captured, but Consort Willow is still on the run. I suspect she’s definitely fled to the Merfolk Clan. That’s good; the Merfolk Clan has been hidden for a century. It’s time for them to resurface." Hayden Crawford gazed at Serena, his handsome eyes filled with tenderness and love. He squeezed her little hand, "Serena, the wedding is still ongoing. Don’t you have anything else to say to me at this wedding?" Serena suddenly realized, "Oh right, now that Melody Ashworth has been caught, this wedding is considered a great success; it’s time to end it." What she thought of was ending the wedding. Hayden Crawford, "..." Looking at Hayden Crawford’s increasingly difficult expression, Serena hesitated, "Did I say something wrong?" Hayden Crawford immediately let go of her little hand, "What did you say wrong, what should you say, go and figure it out yourself." Having said that, he strode off. Looking at his upright back, Serena, "..." This man has too many mood swings, right? Where did she offend him? Just then, little Caden beside her exclaimed in admiration, "Wow, Mommy, look quickly, that wedding dress is so beautiful." Serena promptly raised her head and immediately saw a fiery red wedding dress in the display window ahead. The fiery red gown and headdress, the extremely intense color, made one’s pupils shrink involuntarily. Serena paused, isn’t this the wedding dress she saw at the Fringe Pavilion, the ancient wedding dress of Westria’s and Alani’s ancestors!