The doorbell rang just past noon the next day.
Like they planned a surprise visit together, a group of people appeared when the door opened.
Wyatt Hawthorne was casually standing with his hands in his pockets, as if he was at ho.
Julian Rivera and Cora Rivera were carrying lots of stuff.
Fresh flowers.
A fruit basket.
A gift box tied with a beautiful bow.
Behind Cora, there were two bodyguards who brought in a gigantic green plant.
It looked strangely familiar.
Was it the one by the floor-to-ceiling window at the Hillcrest Villa?
Seed like it was imported from Brazil?
Serena Sinclair glanced at Wyatt Hawthorne.
Wyatt looked as calm as ever, "2S likes it, so I sent it here!"
Serena: ...
"This is Young Master Rivera, and this is Cora..."
"Young Master Rivera, Cora, this is my best friend, Una Hutton."
After the introductions, Serena asked Una to serve tea and prepare the fruit platter.
Serena turned and went into the kitchen.
Una followed her quickly, "Why didn’t you introduce Wyatt?"
"??? Don’t you already know Wyatt?"
Serena looked puzzled.
Una glanced playfully at Serena, then turned and left.
Among the sound of stir-frying, Serena had a mont of hesitation.
Indeed.
Why didn’t she introduce Wyatt just now?
It felt like... she assud Wyatt and Una were already familiar with each other.
In the living room, Wyatt was in a good mood.
He knew Una Hutton because during those two years at Aethelgard University, Serena was often with either Adrian or Una.
But monts ago, Serena introduced only Julian Rivera and Cora.
Not him.
Does this an she’s privately told Una about him, so she assud he and Una already knew each other?
What did she say about him?
"President Hawthorne, I’m Una Hutton."
"Hello, Senior Hutton!"
"President Hawthorne, thank you for everything regarding Aethelgard University!"
"No problem! When the favor doesn’t go to outsiders, it’s welco if Senior Hutton appreciates it!"
"Definitely appreciated!"
Who knows what these two were hinting at.
Julian Rivera walked around the living room, teasing 2S.
Then he returned to the sofa and heard Cora asking Una, "Una, your na is beautiful, does it an ’wholehearted’?"
"No..."
"Definitely not!"
Before Una could respond, Julian interrupted from the window, "The na sounds like she chose it herself!"
Cora looked at Una.
Una nodded, "I was originally nad Una Eleven, and I changed it myself on my 18th birthday because it sounded bad."
Cora seed puzzled, "Why would any parents na their child Eleven?"
Julian kept silent.
Una quietly said, "Because I’m the 11th child in my family."
There was a brief silence in the living room.
Una said lightly, "Oh, don’t overthink. My mom only had , my sister, and my brother. I’m just the 11th child in the Hutton family."
"11th girl, you an?"
Julian added softly.
Una nodded.
After a short silence, Cora apologized softly, "I’m sorry, Una!"
"There’s no need to apologize! My hardships ended the mont I entered Aethelgard University! Co on, have so chocolate to sweeten things up..."
Una tried to lighten the mood.
In the kitchen, Wyatt stood by the door, casually chatting with the busy yet composed Serena, "Sister, what did you tell Senior Hutton about ?"
"??? I hadn’t ntioned you!"
"Then why didn’t you introduce to her earlier?"
"... I thought you already knew each other. Back in school days, you also called her Senior Hutton!"
"Face blindness, I’ve long forgotten!"
"..."
The fish in the pan was being fried, with occasional splashes of oil.
Even without Wyatt causing a stir, his lazy presence was so strong it was hard to ignore.
Serena turned around to shoo him away, "You better leave, or you’ll be drenched in the sll of cooking oil!"
The kitchen door closed, and Wyatt’s fading silhouette could be seen.
Serena sighed in relief.
For five people, Serena prepared six dishes and a soup.
As the braised pork knuckle was served, Julian and Cora imdiately took their places at the dining table following the aroma.
When the squirrel fish was served, the two applauded in unison.
"Sis, you’re incredible! You must have been a Michelin Five Star chef last life! No, this life too!"
"Serena, you’re so amazing! We’ve got a treat today!"
A al that began in the afternoon stretched into the evening. Serena felt surrounded by praise from Julian, Cora, and Una.
As the evening set in, Wyatt and the others got up tily.
Advised Wyatt to drive slowly.
Invited Julian and Cora to visit often.
Once the door closed, Serena barely sat on the sofa before Una dragged her into the bedroom, "Change clothes quickly, ti’s ticking!"
"??? What ti?"
Serena looked bewildered.
Una winked, "Rember when I said once the promotion’s done, I’d spoil you with a night out fit for models? ...Bingo, promise ti has co!"
"So soon? ... Wait, I an, your promotion ca through so quickly?"
"Of course. With President Hawthorne backing , even if the school overlooks his influence, it can’t ignore the appeal of money. That’s the magic of money power!"
Serena: ...
Over half an hour later, Una pulled Serena into the bar nad "Nightfall" at the end of the street.
Both visiting for the first ti, Una had done plenty of research beforehand.
"First, don’t go to the restroom alone."
"Second, don’t accept drinks from strangers."
"Third, my monthly salary minus all deductions totals fifteen thousand. If you see any hotties, make sure to ask their price first."
Serena resisted the urge to roll her eyes, glanced at her phone, "It’s 9 PM now, we’ll be ho by 11."
Two hours is hardly enough.
The highlight hasn’t even begun yet, right?
She even heard that at midnight, there’d be cool ladies doing a tightrope dance and handso n modeling in suits.
"Opportunity knocks but once, miss it now and there won’t be a next ti!"
Una teased, "Anyway, I’m only treating this once!"
Serena shook her head, laughing.
Pushed open the door, the rhythmic music ca rushing like ocean waves.
It almost pierced their eardrums.
Yet it wasn’t low-grade or unpleasant.
Glancing around, the dance floor was packed with handso guys and pretty gals.
Waiters with trays navigated through the crowd, reminding the tipsy patrons to keep an eye on their phones and belongings on tables.
In the organized chaos, there was a palpable rush exciting the heart and energizing the bloodstream.
Opened the nu, it wasn’t filled with Martell or Hennessy brands, but abstract nas like Enchanting Black Spade or Tipsy Florence.
Serena didn’t even know what those were.
The two novices debated, and one ended up ordering a Long Island Iced Tea while the other picked a Daydream.
Soon, the server delivered the two drinks.
Long Island Iced Tea resembled diluted cola, light brown.
Daydream looked particularly appealing, shifting from pale white to pale blue, and then to deep blue from top to bottom.
After taking a small sip, Serena’s eyes lit up, "It’s tasty!"
They weren’t dancers.
Had no acquaintances.
Talking was a strain on their throats.
Una glanced at the darkened stage, wistfully sighing, "Still two and a half hours to midnight, my..."
Was muffled by Serena’s hand over her mouth.
In the boredom, Una was playing with her phone.
Despite the dark screen, once opened, a noisy video quickly posted successfully.
Soon, comnts rolled in.
Mutt Lockwood: [Una, where are you? With whom? Is Serena with you?]
Una sobered up from her drink.
Hurriedly deleting it.
In a 20-floor apartnt bedroom, Wyatt held his phone, eyes narrowed slightly.
A party-goer staying ho obediently on a weekend night.
A goody-two-shoes headed to a bar???
No justice!!!
Robe slipped off the ground.
Wyatt changed and headed out.
Maybach sped away.
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