Serena’s face flushed.
"Quentin, why don’t you take Sharon and Nancy out for so market research?"
"...Oh...okay..."
Even though Quentin was a beat slow in reacting, he understood Serena’s intention and imdiately took Sharon and Nancy out of the office.
Now with no one else in the office, Serena didn’t have to worry about her relationship with Caleb Lockwood being exposed or soone seeing her blush.
"Caleb Lockwood, what exactly are you here for today?" Serena demanded.
"Didn’t I already say? You should withdraw from the competition!"
Caleb’s tone left no room for negotiation; it was an order.
Serena found it amusing.
The golden opportunity she had waited so long for, and Caleb says to withdraw just like that?!
In Serena’s dark, grape-like eyes, Caleb saw intense resistance.
"Withdrawing... is to save your face because you won’t win."
Serena still rembered the last ti Caleb said sothing similar was when Claire also started her own studio.
"Are you saying Claire is participating in this New Star Jewelry Design Contest too?"
"That’s correct."
Caleb’s answer was both within Serena’s expectations and seed illogical to her.
"Didn’t Claire obtain an introduction letter from President Grant, securing the opportunity to participate in the LD Jewelry Fashion Week?"
Serena finished asking and just heard Caleb chuckling softly.
The laughter was disdainful.
As if mocking her ignorance.
"Claire is different from you. Your goal is just a small jewelry fashion week, but Claire’s aim is to make CL the number one jewelry brand globally."
Caleb vividly described Claire’s ambitious goals, but Serena found it laughable.
Even FY wouldn’t dare claim they could beco the number one jewelry brand globally.
However, with The Lockwood Group as her backing, Claire does have so possibility.
Winning the jewelry design contest could indeed bolster Claire’s personal resu.
"Since she’s competing, all the more reason for not to withdraw."
The words were ant more for herself to hear than for Caleb.
"So how many tis do you have to lose to Claire before you give up?"
Serena couldn’t answer Caleb’s question.
As far as her mory served, she always seed to lose to Claire.
She lost when competing for Caleb.
She lost the recomndation from Ronan Ross.
She also lost the anniversary gift for Leo Grant.
Serena’s face went pale, while Caleb’s lips curved upward.
"Serena, it’s important to know oneself."
Caleb’s words ended there.
Serena’s embarrassnt peaked.
At this mont, Caleb received a phone call, not a business call, but one from Claire.
"Caleb, I have a social event tonight. Can you accompany ?"
"Of course."
"But then you’ll have to drink on my behalf again. I feel so sorry for you..."
"It’s no problem. It’s my duty."
Listening to Caleb flaunting his affection for Claire on the phone, Serena recalled how she had drunk to the point of vomiting to secure an AMS order with Mr. Huang.
Later, she went to the hospital for a check-up and nearly had a stomach perforation. The person who took her ho was Lana Xavier.
Where was Caleb?
Probably accompanying Claire!
Serena suddenly realized that Caleb only thought of her occasionally when he wanted to vent his desires.
A chill surged through her, and she sighed just as Caleb finished his call.
Caleb was looking into Serena’s eyes.
Serena’s eyes were beautiful.
Yet the gaze was complex.
There was anger, disappointnt, pain...
So complex it was indescribable.
Caleb spoke softly, "What, are you jealous?"
Serena remained silent.
Having nothing more to say, Caleb turned to leave.
Just as he was about to walk out of Serena’s office, Serena’s clear voice suddenly spoke from behind:
"Caleb...do you really want to withdraw?"
Caleb turned his head.
With no verbal response, it was taken as agreent.
"Then why don’t we make a bet!"
This bet made a rare hint of interest flash in Caleb’s deep, cold eyes.
"What kind of bet?"
Serena saw that Caleb’s appetite had been whetted, so she said, "A bet on who will win the New Star Jewelry Design Contest between Claire and . If I win...you agree to divorce ."
Caleb’s deep eyes seed to stir like a hurricane when he heard the word "divorce" from Serena’s mouth.
Despite Serena’s calm exterior, internally she was a bundle of nerves.
What she feared wasn’t losing to Claire in the jewelry design contest.
What she feared was Caleb not accepting this bet.
The silence in the office stretched longer than Serena had anticipated.
Serena wasn’t sure how long the wordless stare between her and Caleb lasted until finally, she saw Caleb slightly move his thin lips:
"Alright, I’ll bet."
After he spoke, Caleb left Serena’s office without turning his head.
Serena slumped in her chair, her heart pounding.
Caleb actually...accepted?
Serena touched her chest, feeling no sense of reality.
The previously resistant Caleb now accepted her bet about the divorce, leaving Serena uncertain whether it was because Caleb was overly confident in Claire winning or for so other reason.
However, regardless of the reasons, the stagnant divorce between Caleb and Serena finally took a fresh step forward.
For Serena, whether to advance her brand or finally divorce Caleb, this New Star Jewelry Design Contest was sothing she had to win; losing was not an option.
After leaving Serena’s company, Caleb went to Claire’s studio.
Stopping first at a flower shop to buy a bouquet of pink roses.
"Are you saying Serena is also participating in the New Star Jewelry Design Contest?"
When Caleb brought this news to Claire, Claire was surprised.
"Serena is just ridiculous; despite hitting walls so many tis before, why does she keep copying !" Claire pretended to be regretful, "I open a studio, she opens one; I seek collectors, she seeks them; I want to go to LD Jewelry Fashion Week, she also wants to go...now I’ve entered the contest and she’s registered too..."
"It’s called imitating."
Caleb’s words made Claire stifle a laugh inside.
As long as Serena’s image remained this way in Caleb’s mind, the position of Mrs. Lockwood would soon be hers.
"Serena has bypassed the preliminary selection and entered the first round through Peter’s connections. Although Lockwood Group is not among the top ten global jewelry brands, leave this matter to , and I’ll ensure you’re also in the first round...whatever Serena has, you’ll have too."
Caleb’s voice was as indifferent as ever, yet his tone was confident.
Claire believed Caleb would keep his word.
The two chatted for a while longer about this contest, but Caleb said not a single word to Claire about Serena’s bet on the divorce.
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