Chapter 442: Chapter 442: Serena Belongs to Hayden Crawford
Serena Sterling stood on the stage, finding it a bit overwhelming to face those eager young talents. She wasn’t fond of bringing her private life to the stage, but then she heard Hayden Crawford’s familiar deep voice in her ear, "Prof. Sterling, may I ask if you have a boyfriend?"
Serena looked up, her bright, clear eyes falling on Hayden Crawford. He sat in the most prestigious seat, with a white handkerchief folded in the pocket of his black suit. His two long, impressive legs were elegantly crossed, exuding the charm of a mature man with every move, like a magnet drawing attention that couldn’t be pulled away.
He actually called her Prof. Sterling, and for some reason, there’s always a hint of teasing in his tone when he says it.
He even asked her publicly, whether she had a boyfriend.
All eyes swirled toward them, tinged with gossip, as the relationship between Hayden Crawford and Serena Sterling had once made entertainment headlines and exploded into a hot topic.
Serena slowly curled her red lips, nodding amidst everyone’s gaze, "Yes, I have a boyfriend."
"Ooh~"
The talented young men collectively lamented. Who, exactly, had taken their girl away?
Ripples of softness quickly emerged in Hayden Crawford’s deep eyes, as he continued to ask, "Is your boyfriend here?"
Serena looked at him, "Yes~"
"Have you spoken to your boyfriend?"
"I have~"
"What did you talk about?"
Serena thought for a moment, "He asked me if I had spoken to my boyfriend, and I told him that I had~"
Hayden Crawford raised his sharp eyebrows, drawing a doting and joyous curve on his thin lips. She finally acknowledged his identity; he had successfully won her over.
Sss.
The audience took a collective gasp, overwhelmed by the public display of affection, Serena Sterling and Hayden Crawford had openly declared their love!
Why?
The talented young men were dealt a thousand blows, feeling they had been cuckolded, their beloved girl had already been embraced by Hayden Crawford, this man!
...
The academic forum concluded perfectly, with the news of Hayden Crawford and Serena Sterling’s public confession rapidly climbing to the top of trending searches, followed by a "breaking" symbol.
Serena Sterling descended the stage, as Academician Qiu led her to converse with several neurology department directors. As the conversation neared its end, everyone joked,
Academician Qiu, you’d better let her go quickly, Mr. Crawford has been waiting for quite some time.
Serena, you are now the shining star of our medical field, among so many talented individuals you were picked by Mr. Crawford, the illustrious figure from the business world.
We elders should keep up with the times, allowing the young people more romantic time for dates, Serena, you should hurry on.
Serena Sterling lifted her gaze to see Hayden Crawford ahead, surrounded by a few people discussing something she’s unsure about. He wasn’t interested, but his deep-set eyes fell upon her delicate face.
Serena Sterling felt sweetness in her heart, like tasting honey; this must be love. Love is the sudden pounding of one’s heart when eyes meet in a crowded world.
Academician Qiu seeing Serena Sterling already absent-minded, coughed lightly, "Serena, you should leave now."
Serena Sterling waved her small hand apologetically, "Professor, goodbye."
Serena Sterling really left.
Academician Qiu smacked his lips, lamenting, "Hmph, seduction is dangerous!"
...
Hayden Crawford led Serena Sterling out of the academic forum’s hall, draping a beige coat over her gleaming shoulders.
Serena Sterling said, "I can do it myself."
"Don’t move." Hayden Crawford suddenly tugged her coat collar, pulling her forward, and as she stumbled into him, he lowered his head, fiercely kissing her red lips.
Now Serena Sterling’s delicate body was enveloped in the coat, her face forced to tilt upwards, her long lashes fluttering, "What are you doing?"
Hayden Crawford’s lowered voice spilled with magnetism as he mumbled to her, "I’ve been wanting to kiss you since earlier, don’t move, stand still and let me kiss you for a while."
He deepened the kiss.
Serena Sterling hadn’t expected him to kiss her outside the hall, and now his large hand held the back of her head firmly, keeping her within his grasp for the kiss. Serena’s fair fingers curled slightly, yielding to his domineering assertiveness.
Hayden Crawford slowly released her, his nose still against her soft skin as their breaths intertwined, "Serena, I want to make sure, you’re mine now, right?"
Two blushes crept across Serena Sterling’s exquisite face. She nodded quickly, "Yes, I’m yours, Serena Sterling belongs to Hayden Crawford."
Hayden Crawford swiftly lowered his handsome gaze, his prominent Adam’s apple rolling up and down, "I am yours too, Hayden Crawford belongs to Serena Sterling."
Serena Sterling curled her red lips into a sweet smile.
"My little girlfriend, do you have time tonight? I’d like to invite you to a candlelight dinner." Hayden Crawford extended the invitation.
Serena Sterling remembered something suddenly, and quickly declined, "Tonight won’t work. I promised grandma I’d go home early to exercise with her."
Hayden Crawford let go of her, feeling a bit disappointed and slightly jealous that she spent her days studying medicine and evenings with grandma, leaving no time for him.
Hayden Crawford wrapped his strong arms around her, feeling he had to fight for a bit of privilege, as the squeaky wheel gets the grease, "I need you to keep me company for exercise too. I’ll come find you in your room tonight."
"..."
Serena Sterling: Dream on!
...
Hayden Crawford returned Serena Sterling to Westerley Estate before driving to the company. Dr. Kane was already waiting for him in the CEO’s office.
Hayden Crawford lay back on the wicker chair again as Dr. Kane asked, "Mr. Crawford, are you ready? We’re starting to recover the latter part of the memory now, you can still call it off."
Hayden Crawford closed his eyes, his thin lips releasing three words, "Let’s start."
He wanted to recover all his memories, to know all the stories between him and Serena Sterling.
The hypnosis formally began, and Hayden Crawford had a long dream once more.
If the last dream was sweet, this time it was painful.
All past scenes emerged in his mind, he dreamt of a version of himself he wasn’t proud of, with his sleep disorder having severely worsened, becoming fanatical, extreme, irritable, gloomy, suspicious, and bloodthirsty, clutching Serena Sterling tightly in his hands, only for her still slipping away like fine sand through his fingers.
The scene paused at the last moment, in the little mountain village, he cautiously held three bird eggs to keep her, only for her to mercilessly smash the bird’s nest in his hand.