Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Remember Who You Are—Don’t Harbor Foolish Hopes!
After Flora Morgan, this is the second time someone has confirmed her identity.
It’s as if she’s become famous recently.
Serena Sinclair’s heart suddenly tightened, "Elder Rivera, I’m Serena Sinclair! I wish you happiness as vast as the East Sea and longevity like the South Mountain."
When people age, the whites of their eyes become cloudy, and their gaze less penetrating.
But when Elder Rivera looked at her, Serena felt a pressure as if the surrounding air had suddenly stopped flowing.
"Have you been here before?"
"Yes. Today, two years ago, I came with President Lockwood of The Lockwood Group to wish you a happy birthday, right here."
"Didn’t come last year?"
"I did. You had guests, so we just dropped off our gifts and went to the banquet hall, where we wished you a happy birthday."
"Will you come next year?"
"..."
Her heart full of unease.
Now, it turned into a brain full of confusion.
Serena couldn’t quite discern Elder Rivera’s intention.
Originally, he seemed to be questioning her background.
But he’s asking about next year?
Who can say for sure about next year’s events?
With her own identity, she couldn’t even get to the street corner where this garden is, let alone the banquet hall in the front yard.
In past years, there was Adrian Lockwood, and this year there’s Wyatt Hawthorne.
If next year Wyatt Hawthorne has someone by his side, and she’s never going to have anything to do with Adrian Lockwood again.
Then, in all likelihood, probably, possibly... she won’t come, right?
But can she say that?
Obviously not.
"I will come."
Serena smiled, "Having a venerable elder like you is our blessing. I wish I could come every year to celebrate your birthday."
"That’s more like it!"
Elder Rivera snorted, and when he glanced over, he saw the Agarwood Bracelet on Serena’s wrist.
After initial happiness and anger, Serena saw an incredible astonishment on Elder Rivera’s face.
It was as if, in the next second after the dust had settled, there was an impending fear of chaos in the world.
"Is it settled?"
Elder Rivera asked.
???
What is settled?
Settled what?
Serena looked puzzled.
Beside her, Wyatt Hawthorne spoke leisurely, "Yes, it’s settled!"
"Fine then..."
Elder Rivera exhaled slowly, as if Serena had just mistaken his earlier worry.
Looking back at Wyatt, there was a gleam in his eye, "I thought I didn’t have many years left, and life was dull and uninteresting. Now it seems, you boy are indeed filial... That old man is just waiting to watch the show, remember to make it lively!"
"Surely!"
"Grandfather, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word!"
"Great-grandfather, I’ll be filial too!"
"..."
The room was full of men and women, big and small, all grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A group began chattering, making the room extremely lively.
Serena exhaled a breath of relief, then whispered to Wyatt, "What riddle are you and Elder Rivera playing at? What’s settled or not?"
"Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand!"
Wyatt caressed the Agarwood Beads on Serena’s wrist and changed the topic, "Do you like it?"
Serena nodded.
Wyatt lifted his gaze and cast a dark look at Julian Rivera.
The nape of Julian felt chilly, like he sensed something, and his playful smile froze when he turned to meet Wyatt’s glare.
He then saw the Agarwood Bracelet Wyatt was fiddling with.
Suddenly, he understood.
[Brother, you can’t blame me!]
[By the time you find a legitimate reason to give it, the opportunity would have passed!]
[Besides, even if you dared to give it, would sister-in-law dare to accept it?]
[A quick knife to untie the knot!]
Wyatt calmly withdrew his gaze.
The butler came and said the guests had arrived, and so had the auspicious time. Elder Rivera stood up, one hand holding the smallest, short-legged great-grandchild who walked haphazardly, and Julian Rivera supporting him with an arm.
The group moved en masse toward the banquet hall.
The strangeness in Serena’s heart intensified, "Aren’t all those younger generations from The Rivera Family? How did you blend in?"
Wyatt laughed and turned to whisper to Serena, his lips brushing her ear deliberately or otherwise, "Next door is The Hawthorne Family’s old residence. When I was young, I’d sneak over the wall occasionally to steal the old man’s snacks..."
The imagery was too vivid.
Serena smiled, her eyes curved.
Wyatt smirked as he continued, "One time, the tea in his Yixing teapot was replaced with alcohol, and without knowing, I drank a pot, and was drunk for two days."
"..."
Serena exclaimed, "And then?"
"And then..."
Wyatt’s smile faded slightly, "Then, someone else got into trouble!"
By his expression, it was clear it wasn’t him, and recalling the past affected his mood.
Serena’s eyes flickered, "Wyatt, that’s all in the past!"
Wyatt paused in his steps.
He turned to see no sympathy or pity in Serena’s eyes.
Her eyes shone brightly, as if filled with pride for him enduring darkness and cold to arrive at today.
She was proud of him!
Just as she said, it’s all in the past!
"Yes, sister is right!"
Wyatt nodded, eyes brimming with joy.
In the brilliant noonday sun, he seemed like a handsome, harmless boy-next-door out of a comic.
Serena was momentarily dazed.
She couldn’t help but touch her pounding heart.
Beauty truly is a distraction!
"Elder Rivera, congratulations on your longevity!"
"Wishing Elder Rivera happiness as vast as the East Sea and longevity like the South Mountain..."
"Sir Rivera..."
As they entered the banquet hall, a flood of well-wishes surrounded them.
Across the room of people, Adrian Lockwood immediately spotted Serena.
The Hawthorne Family and The Rivera Family had ties of friendship spanning generations, so it was not surprising for Wyatt and Julian to appear among the juniors during Elder Rivera’s birthday celebration.
But Serena?
What was she doing here?
Even if she came to congratulate, she should have stayed in the banquet hall, waiting for Elder Rivera to appear before joining the crowd.
Since when did her relationship with The Rivera Family become close enough to allow her free entry into the inner courtyard?
Or is it... because of Wyatt?
Adrian looked again and saw that the usually aloof Young Master Rivera who looked down on everyone, was smiling broadly and acting ingratiatingly towards Serena, offering her champagne and inviting her to sit, as if he were holding her dear.
Adrian felt that either he was hallucinating.
Or Julian Rivera had gone mad!
As he took his seat, Adrian saw Serena sitting at the side table closest to the head table, just steps away from Elder Rivera, and found the world even more surreal.
As the rounds of drinks continued, Serena turned back and saw Wyatt and Julian flanking Elder Rivera, playing the role of drink protectors.
Despite the dense crowd, Wyatt seemed to sense Serena’s gaze.
He turned to look at her, his eyes saying clearly: Don’t you dare leave! If you dare abandon me here alone, you’re dead tonight!
Serena: ...
Someone came over, and Serena took advantage of standing up to give her seat away to slip to the veranda.
She hadn’t even caught her breath when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Serena..."
Although he was smiling, his eyes were filled with anger.
Adrian Lockwood walked swiftly over and stopped in front of Serena, "Did you know that Wyatt has a girlfriend?"
Serena was taken aback.
Adrian noticed her ignorance and smiled maliciously, "I saw it with my own eyes, him leaving with that woman. And later, he admitted it in front of me!"
"Serena..."
Gazing straight into Serena’s eyes, as if wanting to shatter the bright smile in her gaze.
Adrian said in a deep voice, "As your former husband, a little reminder! Remember your identity, don’t have delusions!"