Chapter 339 He Regretted Not Going to Find Her Earlier

Chapter 339 He Regretted Not Going to Find Her Earlier

Serena couldn't understand this bizarre scene.

She didn't immediately help Lawrence up. Instead, she crouched down and asked gently, "Did you hurt yourself?"

Lawrence shook his head.

"Then try to stand up by yourself, okay?"

"Okay."

Lawrence climbed up on his own.

Serena smiled slightly and stood up as well.

Only then did Sherry rise from the sofa, walk over to Serena, smile and nod at her, then lead Lawrence away.

On the sofas, Philip and Cathy, sitting across from each other, began to talk.

Seeing this, Serena quietly withdrew and found a quiet, empty spot in the courtyard to wait...

Meanwhile, upstairs—

In Arthur's study.

Adrian had been sitting on the sofa for nearly ten minutes, and Arthur stubbornly acted as if he didn't see him, standing at his desk writing.

Adrian calmly drank his tea.

After finishing his cup, he set it down and said unhurriedly, "Grandpa, if there's nothing else, I'll head out."

Arthur looked up at him. "So you still know I'm your grandfather?"

His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Adrian chuckled. "What else would you be? Did you disown me and forget to notify me?"

"You brat!"

Arthur slammed his brush onto the brush rest and roared, "Since you know I'm not dead yet, why didn't you consult me before announcing your wedding date?"

"I'm consulting you now, aren't I?"

"This is consulting? This is notifying!"

Adrian smiled calmly. "Grandpa, you're getting on in years. Don't quibble over semantics. Don't get so angry you hurt yourself. How else will you watch me get married?"

"Who wants to watch you get married?"

Arthur said forcefully, "I don't care what method you use—call off this wedding.

Even if you don't like the Carrington girl... though she really isn't worthy of you and can't handle being the Locke family matriarch.

I heard Victor sent her to a psychiatric hospital.

But New Valley's prominent families don't only have the Carrington daughter. There are many other well-bred young ladies whose education and cultivation match your status. I've selected some. Take a look."

Arthur pulled out a stack of photos and placed them on the desk.

Adrian didn't even glance at them. "I don't need them."

"You're determined to marry the Rothwell girl?"

"Yes!"

Adrian's single word was decisive, making Arthur's beard quiver with rage.

He raised his cane to strike Adrian.

Adrian didn't dodge or evade.

Just as the cane was about to land on his shoulder, Arthur couldn't bring himself to strike. He angrily pulled back the cane.

Seeing this, Adrian stood and helped him sit on the sofa. "Grandpa, anger damages the liver."

"With a brat like you around, I'm angry every single day."

The more Arthur spoke, the angrier he got. He began listing grievances. "Over thirty and still not settling down. Do you know your maternal grandfather has called me several times? His words were full of blame, saying I don't care about you.

That old man—he hasn't even settled Cathy's marriage, and he has the nerve to blame me? Infuriating!"

Adrian picked up the teapot and poured Arthur a cup of tea, saying slowly, "Next time he calls, you can tell him directly that my marriage is settled. Skipping all the steps, going straight to the wedding."

"Mar—marriage?"

Arthur processed this and looked at Adrian. "Are you serious? You're really marrying the Rothwell girl?"

"Yes. We've already registered. Want to see?"

He pulled the marriage certificate from his suit's inner pocket and placed it on the coffee table in front of Arthur.

He made an inviting gesture.

Arthur's eyes trembled.

Seeing Adrian and Serena's marriage certificate photo, Arthur's vision went dark and he nearly fainted.

"Marriage is such a huge matter and you didn't tell me? You registered without telling me? Is this what they call acting first and reporting later?"

Arthur angrily threw their marriage certificate onto the coffee table.

There was a water glass on the table. The impact splashed water onto the certificate.

Adrian immediately picked it up, pulled out two tissues, and carefully wiped the water off the cover. He even opened it to check if the inside had gotten wet.

Arthur watched his actions, his expression extremely unpleasant. "It's just a marriage certificate, and you're treating it like treasure? Have you forgotten how that girl came to our house to break off the engagement?

She publicly broke the engagement. That wasn't just breaking an engagement—it was slapping you in the face.

You protected her for so many years, and she humiliated you, humiliated our entire Locke family. Have you forgotten all of that?"

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Once, he'd thought the same as Arthur. He too couldn't forget the scene of Serena coming to the Locke family to break the engagement.

At the time, in front of all the Locke family members, she'd said she wouldn't marry him. She'd rather die than marry him.

Because of those words, he'd been depressed for a long time.

He could never get past that.

He couldn't understand how the little girl he'd protected since childhood could suddenly hate him so much.

During that time, he'd truly hated her.

Hated her heartlessness.

But after reading her diary, he realized how laughable all his hatred had been.

He'd only seen her coldness. He hadn't seen how desperately she'd tried to return to his side.

He hadn't seen her loneliness.

Hadn't seen her pain.

He hadn't seen how, to avoid breaking the engagement, she'd protested to her mother again and again, even making herself seriously ill.

He only regretted not going to Sweetwater City to find her sooner.

He looked at Arthur. "Grandpa, let's not talk about the past. Breaking the engagement wasn't her fault. It was mine."

"What are you saying?"

Arthur thought he'd misheard. "Has your brain gotten waterlogged? What kind of spell has that girl cast on you?

Ten years ago she said she'd break the engagement and did it, giving our Locke family no face at all.

I heard she was about to get married in Sweetwater City. Now she's come back to you—can't you see through it? She's coming back to you because you can save the Rothwell family.

Sarah is already ill. To support the Rothwell family, she needs a bigger backer.

So Sarah found Frank, and Serena found you. She just wants to latch onto you like a parasite. Can't you really see that?"

Serena just wanted to use him as an ATM.

He wanted to see—without Adrian as her ATM, could Serena still remain so composed?