Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Hayden Crawford Is My Lawful Husband
Because of her weight, Shania had very few true friends, and she knew everyone whispered about her behind her back.
Now, hearing Serena’s words, Shania’s eyes reddened, and hot tears rolled down uncontrollably, "Serena..."
Shania’s lips trembled, unsure of what to say.
Serena understood, "Shania, I’ve always thought Joan Alden wasn’t right for you. I could have scolded him fiercely behind your back, but then you wouldn’t see his true colors, and you wouldn’t give up on him. It’s okay; everyone falls for a couple of jerks in their youth. If it hurts, that’s what growth is."
"Now, all the discrimination and humiliation from Joan are your motivation to move forward. Break the old to establish the new, Shania. Go home and take care of yourself, and if you use this herbal treatment, I look forward to seeing you rise from the ashes, reborn like a phoenix. I’m eager to see the better you."
Shania, her eyes blurred with tears, hugged Serena fiercely and cried heartily, "Serena, thank you. I will, I definitely will!"
Serena gently patted Shania’s back, encouraging her to cry and let out all her past insecurities and confusion—after the rain, there’s a rainbow.
At this moment, upstairs, Zane Crawford quietly watched the two girls embrace below, his hands in his pockets. The gentle breeze ruffled his fine curly hair, and the man in a white shirt looked handsome and aloof, like a picture.
His subordinate whispered, "Second Young Master, this Serena Sterling is the new bride who recently married into Orchid Court, your elder brother’s new wife, your sister-in-law."
Zane Crawford said nothing.
"Second Young Master, Madam has been urging you to return home. You’re of marriageable age now, and the high-born ladies and noblewomen in the City of Aethelgard are all waiting for you..."
The subordinate failed to continue because he felt that his young master wasn’t listening, and those noblewomen never caught his eye.
Regarding his young master’s fiancée, she still hadn’t been found.
Piper Pace had never had a good impression of Serena, even though she passed her random checks a few days ago. She felt this girl had a dubious background, but seeing Serena encourage Shania like this, she was somewhat moved.
After crying enough, Shania left under Serena’s farewell wave.
Serena looked at Piper Pace, "Director Pace, shall we go?"
"Serena Sterling, do you know whose granddaughter Shania is?" Piper suddenly asked.
"Whose granddaughter is Shania?" Serena was taken aback.
Piper thought Serena must have known Shania’s identity; why else would she treat Shania so well? But now, looking at Serena’s clear and innocent eyes, showing surprise and confusion, it was obvious she was unaware.
Piper said, "Forget it, let’s go to the office and discuss your issues!"
...
In the office.
Piper looked at Serena, "Serena Sterling, you’ve already married into Orchid Court, so you’re a married woman, right?"
Serena nodded, "Yes."
"Then let me ask you, is the photo exposed on the forum real? Are you with Hayden Crawford, the CEO of The Crawford Group?"
Serena nodded again, "Yes."
Piper frowned, "Serena Sterling, you’re married and now with Bayside’s most prominent elite, Hayden Crawford. Many girls can’t resist such temptation, especially successful upper-class men like Mr. Crawford. It’s your private matter; I shouldn’t interfere, but the forum at the research institute is in an uproar. Everyone’s speculating if you got into The Concordiat by climbing up on Mr. Crawford. If I don’t handle this timely, the consequences will only get worse."
Serena looked at Piper, "Director Pace, how do you plan to handle it?"
"This is what’s been troubling me. Everyone wants you to leave The Concordiat Research Institute, but you and I both know it’s not that simple. Your entry into The Concordiat had nothing to do with Mr. Crawford. You were directly nominated and appointed by the Dean... Serena, what’s your relationship with the Dean?"
Serena raised her arched eyebrows slightly, "Director Pace, I have no special relationship with the Dean. We’ve only met a few times, and he left me his number, saying if I were interested in The Concordiat, I could call anytime; the doors were always open for me."
"..."
Piper’s expression changed. Dean Vincent Terry, a national expert with substantial influence in genetic infectious disease, actually left his number for a girl from the countryside, saying such things...
"Serena, I see you’re young, but how can you lie so effortlessly without blushing or gasping for breath? Who do you think you are for the Dean to say such things to you?" Piper didn’t believe it at all.
Serena shrugged. If Director Pace didn’t believe her, there was nothing more she could do.
Piper felt Serena’s attitude was overly confident. Who gave her such confidence? "Serena, I’ll call the Dean right now to expose your lies!"
Serena, "Director Pace, please go ahead."
Piper quickly dialed the number, not believing that when the lie was exposed, Serena would remain so calm.
The call was quickly connected, and Dean Lowell’s solemn voice came through, "Hello, Director Pace."
"Dean, hello. Sorry to disturb you, but there’s an issue with Serena Sterling..."
"Serena Sterling?" Dean Lowell quickly interrupted Piper, "Is Serena there? Let me speak with Serena."
Hearing Dean Lowell’s urgent tone, Piper paused, almost believing Serena was the Dean’s granddaughter. Didn’t they say they weren’t familiar?
Piper handed the phone to Serena, and Serena spoke, "Hello, Dean, how are you?"
So, Piper heard the most gentle and friendly voice of greeting she had ever heard from Dean Lowell, with a hint of... obeisance, "Hello, Serena, how’s The Concordiat treating you?"
Serena nodded, "It’s quite good."
"I always said The Concordiat was a perfect match for you. Serena, although I’ve said this numerous times, making me a bit embarrassed, I still want to say, would you become my disciple?"
Beside her, Piper, "..."
She couldn’t comprehend this conversation, she really couldn’t! Dean Vincent Terry, a national expert, urgently needed a disciple? Not to mention Bayside, even in Aethelgard, brilliant medical students lined up for his threshold, yet he took on no closed-door disciples!
And here he was, grovelingly asking Serena Sterling to become his disciple?
"Dean, I still need to think about it."
"I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you, Serena; you should seriously consider my offer. My terms are genuinely quite good!"
Piper, "..."
Is this still the Dean she knew?
"By the way, was Director Pace talking about you and Hayden Crawford, CEO of The Crawford Group?"
Piper wanted to speak, but Serena calmly replied, "Dean, don’t worry, Hayden Crawford is my lawful husband."