Chapter 116 A Chance to Reach
Serena nodded helplessly.
Jessica immediately tensed. "He didn't try anything, did he?"
"No, he just kept pestering me for my contact info."
Jessica looked furious. "You've been away from New Valley so long you don't know—the Mole family's been living large these past few years. Word is Stuart's father is up for another promotion this year, and as his only son, Stuart's been acting like he owns the place."
Serena sighed. "Isn't that just how the world works? People who work hard and play by the rules struggle to get by, while the ones gaming the system are thriving."
The Jones family was like that. So was the Mole family. In recent years, plenty of companies had skyrocketed to success, while others had crashed and burned just as fast. Companies like the Locke family that stood the test of time? Those were few and far between.
Jessica looked regretful. "I never should've brought you here today. That Stuart had a thing for you back in school... you didn't give him your number, did you?"
Serena shook her head. "Of course not. It's not just about a phone number. If I'd given it to him, it would've been like admitting defeat. My sister would have an even harder time going forward."
"So how'd you get away from him?" Jessica asked curiously.
"Mr. Locke happened to show up. If he hadn't helped me out, I wouldn't have been able to escape."
"Who?" Jessica looked shocked. "Mr. Locke? Like, the Mr. Locke I'm thinking of?"
Serena nodded.
Jessica's eyes immediately lit up with gossip. She nudged Serena's arm with her elbow, her tone suggestive. "Talk about fate working in mysterious ways. Running into him like that? I'm telling you, you should just go for it."
Serena shook her head helplessly. "Stop talking nonsense. He's like some unreachable flower blooming on a frozen mountaintop. Even if I wanted to go for it, I couldn't reach him. Come on, let's head back. I'm starving."
Serena hooked her arm through Jessica's and they headed back to the private room. But just as they rounded the corner in the hallway, they nearly collided with someone coming the other way.
Serena's heart dropped.
Jessica nearly jumped out of her skin, stuttering out, "A-Adrian."
Adrian acknowledged them coolly, then glanced at Serena.
Serena wanted to die. She had no idea if Adrian had heard what they'd just been saying. She couldn't even look at him, grabbing Jessica's arm to make a run for it.
But as they passed him, Adrian's low, pleasant voice suddenly rang out. "Report to the Locke Group tomorrow."
Jessica had no idea what was going on.
Serena stopped dead in her tracks, taking a few seconds to process what Adrian had just said. Then her eyes lit up, bright as stars, as she looked at him. "Thank you, Mr. Locke."
Adrian leaned down slightly, his voice dropping to a volume only she could hear as he murmured in her ear, "Giving you a chance to reach."
A shiver ran through Serena's ear. Tingling and electric.
A slight smile curved Adrian's lips before he walked away.
Serena stood frozen in place.
Oh god. He'd actually heard them.
How did he have such good hearing?
Jessica hadn't caught what Adrian said, but she'd definitely seen Serena's face turn bright red. She asked curiously, "What did Adrian just say to you?"
"Nothing."
Jessica wasn't buying it. "Nothing and your face is that red?"
"He humiliated me and I couldn't fight back. I'm mad about it."
Jessica's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Is that so?"
"What else would it be?"
"I thought maybe Adrian was into you or something."
Serena's expression froze. "How is that possible? You're reading way too much into it."
If Adrian were actually interested in her, he wouldn't have said what he did back then.
Jessica looked confused and wanted to press further, but Serena pushed away those messy thoughts and hooked her arm again. "Come on, let's get back. I'm seriously starving."
After all that chaos, the food they'd ordered earlier had gone completely cold. Jessica had the servers take everything away and bring fresh dishes. She even pulled out a bottle of premium liquor her brother Jake kept stashed at the club, saying they should celebrate Serena's return to New Valley after twelve years.
Her words stirred a melancholy feeling in Serena's chest. Twelve years was such a long span of time—long enough that Serena had forgotten so many things. It was only when Jessica brought them up again that those distant memories gradually came into focus.
They talked freely, enjoying themselves, and in their excitement, they drank. A lot. Enough that the alcohol started going to their heads.
Jessica leaned her head on Serena's shoulder and asked curiously, "Serena, tell me the truth. Do you really not regret breaking off the engagement with Adrian?"
Serena's fuzzy brain suddenly sharpened at the question. "No regrets!"
The answer came out firm and decisive.
"But you two grew up together, and Adrian's so amazing. You really don't have even the tiniest bit of feelings for him?"
Serena fell silent.
Did she have feelings for him?
She'd never really thought about it. When she left New Valley, she hadn't even turned fifteen yet. She'd never experienced romantic feelings before. Later, after everything that happened in Sweetwater City, the distance between her and Adrian had only grown. That's when she realized she wasn't good enough for him anymore.
Jessica watched her silence, and her own mind seemed to clear a bit. She spoke seriously. "If you do regret it, you should say so now while there's still time. Any later and it really might be too late."
"What do you mean?"
"For the past couple years, his grandfather's been setting him up with potential matches. Recently I heard they settled on someone—that Carrington family daughter, Elizabeth Carrington."
Serena froze for a moment, then gave a faint smile. "That sounds perfect for him. They're well-matched."
"Yeah." Jessica nodded. "The Locke family and the Carrington family joining together? That's like a power couple merger. If this were ancient times, regular people like you and me would have to bow when we saw someone from the Carrington family. Elizabeth might as well be royalty."
Then Jessica suddenly turned to look at Serena. "So what's your answer, Serena? Are you planning to fight a princess for her man?"