Chapter 329: Chapter 329: She Laughed and Cried Like a Fool
Serena Sterling’s face was so beautiful, she was a natural enemy of women, so the girls around her were all pointing and whispering about her.
Serena didn’t care about this; she raised her eyes, and Hayden Crawford had already walked away and entered the engagement party on the lawn.
He didn’t notice what was happening here.
At this moment, a delicate figure walked over from the party, and tonight’s leading lady, Annette Rathborne, appeared.
"Brother Hayden, you’re here?" Tonight Annette was wearing a custom-made pink tulle dress, with a small crown on her head. She walked over gracefully, the evening breeze stirring her long skirt, gentle and dazzling, a stunning beauty of the age.
Annette stepped forward and linked her arm through Hayden Crawford’s strong one.
Hayden looked down at Annette’s pretty and captivating face; there were no emotional fluctuations on his handsome face as he responded blandly, "Hmm."
"Brother Hayden, let’s go in."
Annette, holding onto Hayden’s strong arm, walked inside.
Serena Sterling stood dazed, watching Hayden’s tall and handsome figure leading Annette into the engagement party, where the clinking of glasses and joyful laughter quickly gave way to cheers as the main characters arrived.
"Mr. Crawford, congratulations, wishing you and Miss Rathborne a lifetime of happiness."
"Mr. Crawford, tonight is your engagement party. Why don’t you kiss Miss Rathborne in front of us!"
"Kiss her! Kiss her!"
Serena blamed her good eyesight as she could see there, in the brilliant lights, Annette looking at Hayden with shy admiration, awaiting his kiss.
Soon, Hayden bent his tall body and gently kissed Annette on the cheek.
A fresh, masculine scent filled the air beneath Annette’s nose, and the soft, cool pliancy of his lips warmed the cheeks of her pretty face.
This was Hayden’s first time kissing her of his own accord.
The scene erupted into thunderous applause, and everyone cheered as Annette blushed and flashed a sweet smile at Hayden.
Serena stood outside watching this scene. As he lowered his eyes to kiss Annette’s cheek, her heart curled up in pain.
The crystal-clear mist covering her bright eyes quickly condensed into small droplets, and tears were about to fall.
Her lashes, like a dense comb, trembled slightly. Serena held back her sobs and quickly lifted her head, trying hard not to let the tears fall.
This is fine, he has found his own happiness.
She and he were from different worlds; their brief encounter in Bayside had led them off course. Now he had returned to his own life path, inheriting a vast fortune, having a beautiful companion in his arms, starting his illustrious life as the first business scion of Aethelgard.
She should be happy for him.
Serena curved her delicate lips into a smile, but as she kept smiling, tears still fell.
She didn’t dare recall this period at all; she had already sealed away those memories of Bayside, but now the memories surged back like a tide, overwhelming her.
Her head was filled with fleeting images of their every sweet moment.
The first time he called her Mrs. Crawford.
The first time he kissed her, pinning her against the wall.
The first time he lifted her veil.
He played WeChat and Weibo because of her, went to live streams to donate gifts; he peeled lobsters for her, bought her milk tea, and told her he hoped she would grow up slowly by his side.
Mr. Crawford was never perfect; he had insomnia, mental illness, was paranoid and extremely jealous. He would throw a fit anytime he saw her getting close to other boys, but he loved her very, very much.
When he had an episode and crashed his car, collapsing in a pool of blood, he called her on the phone - Serena, I’m in pain, come home.
When his condition was severe and he couldn’t sleep, he would follow her like a perverted stalker, standing in the dark corners watching her. He knew he was ill, so no matter how painful it was, he tried to let go of her hand.
Their last time together was in that small mountain village, where he cautiously climbed a tree to fetch three bird eggs for her. He took out a gun; even though the whole world had warned her before that he might hurt her when he was having an episode, he didn’t harm her at all, only pressed the gun to his own head - Serena, don’t go.
He was madly in love with her.
Serena suddenly burst into tears, thinking of her twentieth birthday last year, her wish was simply for Mr. Crawford to still be by her side this time tomorrow.
Serena knew that this wish wouldn’t come true anymore.
From now on, no matter how fulfilled her life becomes, it will always be incomplete because of him.
At this moment, Serena trembled, her smooth shoulders shaking as she cried and laughed like a fool.
...
Saul and Iris Blue rushed over. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw Serena standing outside, wearing a loose blue and white striped patient gown, with slippers on her feet, crying uncontrollably.
Iris quickly ran up and draped a coat over Serena’s shoulders, pulling her into her embrace. She patted Serena’s back and stroked her small head, "It’s okay, Serena, cry it out, everything will be fine once you let it all out."
It was the first time Saul had seen Serena cry. He was at a loss for comforting girls, especially when seeing Jodie’s tears left him helpless, "Serena, why are you crying? Is it because of Hayden Crawford? Wait here, I’ll gather my brothers right now and storm in to snatch Hayden Crawford away. Whether he likes it or not, I’ll make him willing. Tonight, I’ll have you two bow in matrimony and send him into your bridal chamber to be your captive husband!"
With that, Saul pulled out his phone, ready to call his brothers, ready to rush in together to take Hayden Crawford out.
No one dared to make his daughter shed tears without facing the consequences!
Serena was initially crying her heart out, but seeing Saul springing into action, she quickly looked up, her tearful eyes gazing at Saul, "Dad, don’t do anything rash!"
"How am I rash, Serena? Don’t you like Hayden Crawford? Let me make him my son-in-law!"
"..." Serena quickly used her small hands to wipe her tears haphazardly, "Dad, you misunderstood, I don’t like Hayden Crawford. Don’t go and snatch him!"
Saul felt that women could change their minds faster than flipping a page; he had just seen her weeping sorrowfully over Hayden Crawford’s figure.
"Dad, Mom, let’s go home." Serena held Iris Blue’s hand and left.
Iris, being a woman, could understand Serena. She gave Saul a glance, "Let it go, forced love is never sweet. We won’t take this melon; let’s go home and find a good one!"
Faced with this simple and blunt couple, Serena, "..."