Chapter 338 The Tenderest Farewell

Chapter 338 The Tenderest Farewell

Serena mumbled something.

Adrian didn't quite catch it—only words like "love" and "past."

He didn't disturb her sleep anymore.

By the moonlight streaming through the window, he read through her diary again from beginning to end.

When he reached the last page, there was a single sentence that matched what Serena had mumbled:

'Some love is just meant to stay in the past.'

It had nothing to do with Chase.

This was Serena's gentlest farewell—to Adrian, to her past self.

Because life had to go on. She had to learn to reconcile with herself, to say goodbye to the past, to find peace in solitude.

And then, through the quiet years ahead, to walk the long road of life without joy or sorrow, alone...

Each time Adrian read it, his heart ached.

He put the diary in the drawer, then turned to hold her in his arms, his fingers gently tracing the scars on her back.

Even though those scars were barely visible now—only under the light, if you looked carefully, could you see faint traces.

But those scars seemed carved into her heart.

He lowered his head and softly kissed her peacefully sleeping face...

The confidence and light her mother had beaten out of her—he would restore them.

Even if it was difficult, it didn't matter. They had a lifetime...

...

Every day after that, they went to work together and came home together.

Serena stopped deliberately hiding their relationship.

When Adrian wanted to hold her hand in public, she didn't refuse.

The entire company speculated about their relationship. Rumors flew everywhere.

The women in the executive office were consumed with envy, wondering how Serena had gotten so lucky—barely at Locke Group and she'd already captured Mr. Locke's heart.

Only Lilith treated Serena with respectful deference.

She'd long since regarded Serena as the future boss's wife.

Until half a month later, at the anniversary gala, Adrian announced his marriage to Serena.

The wedding would be in two days.

Not just the entire company—even Serena was shocked.

Over the past two weeks, Adrian had only asked her to choose the wedding dress, rings, gowns, and confirm the guest list for the bride's side.

Everything else, Serena hadn't touched.

She had no idea when Adrian had prepared all the wedding arrangements.

She suddenly remembered that when she'd planned to marry Chase, she'd handled everything herself.

Now that she was marrying Adrian, he'd personally planned everything, down to the smallest detail, without letting her lift a finger.

She suddenly understood—this seemed to be the difference between loving and being loved.

The day before the wedding, Adrian brought Serena to the Locke estate.

Honestly, walking through the Locke estate gates, she was quite nervous.

A place she'd played at often as a child—she hadn't been back in years.

The last time she'd come was ten years ago, to break off the engagement herself.

This time, it was to get married.

Adrian noticed her nervousness and chuckled. "What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid of Grandpa Arthur."

She still remembered ten years ago when she'd come to break off the engagement—Arthur's fury.

Now coming back to get married, she was about to eat her words.

"That's right. When Ms. Rothwell came to break off the engagement back then, she was so brave. Never thought she'd be coming back through these doors, did she?"

His light tone carried a hint of resentment.

Serena pinched his waist and kicked his leg in irritation.

She was already this nervous, and he was still making sarcastic remarks.

Nearby servants passing by saw them playfully fighting and smiled. They hadn't seen such pure joy on Adrian's face in years.

They all greeted Adrian and Serena warmly.

They reached the main building's living room.

The living room was crowded.

Besides the servants standing by, the Locke family had four siblings total—Cathy, Frederick, and Philip.

Everyone was there except Frederick.

After all, rumor had it Frederick and Adrian didn't get along. With Adrian bringing his wife home, Frederick wouldn't be there.

But Sherry was.

Sherry held the hand of a child around ten years old.

After introductions, Serena learned this was Frederick and Sherry's son.

Arthur wasn't in the living room.

A man in his fifties dressed like a butler came down from upstairs and approached Adrian and Serena. "Mr. Adrian Locke, Mr. Arthur Locke asks that you come up alone first."

Adrian frowned slightly but said nothing.

He turned to Serena. "Wait for me here."

Serena smiled and nodded. "Okay. Go ahead."

Adrian went upstairs.

The first-floor living room was left with just Serena and the Locke family members.

No one invited her to sit.

Serena didn't take a seat on her own either.

The Locke family atmosphere had always been strange.

Adrian and Cathy were twins, but they'd been raised as heirs to the Locke family and Davis family respectively. Both accustomed to dominance, they were usually at odds.

Frederick and Philip were born to Adrian's father's second wife—biological brothers.

Frederick had always competed with Adrian, comparing everything.

Philip wasn't particularly close to his full brother Frederick, but his relationship with his half-siblings Adrian and Cathy wasn't bad either.

He was just a playboy trying to survive under three boss-level siblings. He had it rough.

Serena had known about the Locke family situation since childhood.

Biological twins weren't that close. Biological brothers weren't that close either.

Yet the four siblings seemed harmonious.

Outsiders could never figure out what the four were really thinking.

And whenever the four Locke siblings gathered, the atmosphere was like an ice cellar—servants didn't dare interrupt casually.

Now, as usual, they sat together but spoke little.

Moreover, they all tacitly refrained from greeting Serena, as if she were a completely invisible, nonexistent person.

Serena wasn't anxious or annoyed. She just stood there quietly, expression calm.

The most active person in the entire living room was Frederick's son, Lawrence Locke.

Lawrence ran around playing with an ice cream in his hand.

Passing by Serena, he accidentally bumped into her.

Serena quickly grabbed his little hand, preventing his ice cream from smearing on her and keeping him from falling.

Lawrence steadied himself and said politely, "Aunt Serena, thank you."

Serena smiled. "It's okay."

She showed neither obvious disgust nor deliberate flattery, maintaining a measured distance.

Lawrence ran off to play.

After a while, he came running near her again.

He'd finished his ice cream and was holding a toy when he accidentally fell right in front of her.

This time, Serena didn't manage to catch him.

He fell at her feet, closest to her.

Serena should have reached out to help the child up, but she noticed something strange—

Everyone in the entire living room acted as if they hadn't seen it happen.

Even Lawrence's own mother, Sherry, didn't get up from the sofa. Her attitude was cold.

Was this really his mother?

Was Lawrence the Locke family's only great-grandson, wasn't he?