Tears fell uncontrollably, and Serena sobbed as she wrapped her arms around Xavier's neck. "It's all your fault!"
He was stunned for a moment, letting her pull herself closer. "Serena, what do you...?!"
Serena could no longer distinguish between reality and fantasy. She just felt overwhelmed with grievance and urgently needed an outlet for her emotions.
She pulled Xavier close and buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing like a wounded little animal, her shoulders shaking with each cry.
A warm hand rested gently on her back, patting her soothingly, "Serena, it's okay, don't cry, don't be afraid. I'm here for you."
She cried for what felt like a long time, but eventually, the sobs died down.
Maybe the alcohol in her system had evaporated with the tears, and she was feeling clearer.
When she came to, she suddenly let go, sat up straight, and stared blankly at Xavier.
He studied her eyes carefully, seemingly trying to gauge how drunk she still was.
After a moment, his lips curved slightly as he leaned back, subtly moving his numb legs. "Aren't you the one who claims to never get drunk, how come after just a little, you're already acting drunk?!"
Serena wiped her eyes. "Who's acting drunk?!"
"Not acting drunk?! Then who was the one who hugged me and wouldn't let go, crying so sorrowfully on me just now?!"
"I... I wasn't sorrowful, the wine was just so good, I was moved by the taste!"
Xavier crossed his arms, examining her with a knowing look, though he was smiling.
Just then, Serena's phone rang, breaking the tense atmosphere. She sighed, got up, and staggered over to the small table where her bag was.
She grabbed the phone without even checking who was calling and quickly slid to answer.
"Hello, this is Serena!"
There was no response on the other end, so Serena frowned, thinking it might be a telemarketer, and asked casually, "Hello?!"
Still no answer. She was about to hang up when she heard a voice on the other end that she wasn't too eager to hear.
"Why are you crying?!"
Sniffling, Serena answered impatiently, "I'm not crying! Is there something you need?!"
Clint stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window in his office, holding the phone with one hand and the other in his pocket.
The room was dark, and the bright lights outside only made the interior seem gloomier.
Looking at the stars outside, he asked, "Did you see Poppy today?!"
Serena smiled silently.
No wonder he called-turns out Poppy had gone complaining again.
"Yeah, I saw her. But I didn't do anything today! What did Miss Castano tell you this time?!"
"Nothing much!" Clint turned away from the window, looked down at his feet, and said in a low voice, "She came to me, asking why I haven't signed the divorce agreement yet!"
"Oh! And then?! When are you sending the divorce agreement to me?!"
"Aren't you curious why I'm not rushing to sign?!"
"Not curious! Don't care! Don't give a damn! I just want a result! When are you going to divorce me?!"
"I'm not planning to divorce for now."
"What?!!" Serena almost threw the phone away. "What did you say?! Are you drunk or something? Have you lost your mind?!"
Clint didn't answer her question. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked, "Did you drink?!"
Serena instinctively felt guilty!
Clint never liked her drinking. Even when she had a little drink at home, he would object.
"I..." Her first instinct was to deny it, but lying wasn't her strong suit. After stammering for a while, she suddenly snapped back to reality. Now, she didn't need to fear or hesitate in front of Clint anymore.
Straightening her back, she replied firmly, "Yes, I drank!"
"With who?!" This time, his tone was darker.
"That's none of your business!"
"I'm your husband. You're out drinking with someone else, and I can't ask?!"
"You can ask, but I have nothing to say!"
"Serena!" Clint was pissed. "You better tell me where you are and who you're with, or even if you don't tell me, I can find you! But by then, I won't be so polite!"
"Heh!" Serena laughed in anger. "Polite?! What's that supposed to mean?! Will it be less polite than you and Poppy messing around in my bed?!"
"You!" Clint's anger was evident, but there was no response on the other end, only heavy breathing.
Serena couldn't understand. If he didn't have feelings for her, why was he acting this way?
Was it a ridiculous possessiveness?!
It seemed like he truly saw her as his private property.
Feeling irritated, Serena couldn't help but unbutton the collar of her suit jacket. "Do you have anything else to say?! If not, I'm hanging up!"
"Wait!"
"What now?!"
"You're in such a hurry to hang up, it only makes me more curious. I want to know, who are you with, and what are you in such a rush to do?!"
"Isn't it obvious?! I'm in a rush to go party, to drink and have fun with others! You can mess around with Poppy, but I can't go have some fun too?!"
"Party?!" Clint's eyes turned cold as he stared at the computer on the desk. There was a red dot flashing on the screen. "I'm asking you one last time, who are you with?!"
"I'm telling you one last time, I have nothing to-"
Before she could finish, her phone was suddenly snatched away by a hand that appeared behind her. Serena instinctively turned around.
Xavier smiled, and under her anxious gaze, he lazily spoke into the receiver, "Mr. Beckett, hello! Serena is with me! Don't worry, I'll take good care of her!"
The other end fell into silence, with no response for a long time.
Xavier, unusually patient, didn't hang up and simply stood there waiting.
After a long pause, a suppressed voice finally came through, "So it's Xavier Blaze!"
"That's right, it's me!" Xavier answered confidently, without a hint of fear.
"..." The other side fell silent again.
Raising an eyebrow, Xavier waited for only a few more seconds before impatiently saying, "Mr. Beckett, if you have no other business, I'll hang up now. Serena is upset, and I need to be with her."
"Mr. Blaze!" Clint's tone was slightly urgent, "Serena tends to get emotional after drinking. I hope she didn't embarrass herself in front of you. If there was any offense, I apologize on her behalf."
Although it wasn't directly stated, Xavier wasn't stupid and immediately caught on to the underlying meaning.
This was a subtle warning-he was Serena's husband, silently asserting his claim over her.
***