SWNOVELS Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Do you need help?
As they reached the intersection between their two neighbourhoods, Penn stopped the car and Blair silently got out, not wanting to be a third wheel. She was now just an emotionless tool, covering for them and diverting people’s attention.
Serena was a little slow on the uptake and only realised Blair was gone after she got out of the car. “Where’s Blair?” she asked, having been absorbed in setting up her workflow on her phone’s work app and assuming they stopped at a red light.
Penn smiled, took her phone and locked it, then put it in her bag. “It’s quitting time now. The project hasn’t started yet, so take a good rest.”
Back home, Penn cooked as usual and Serena occasionally helped out. Their relationship was strange, as were their way of getting along, but they were used to it. After dinner, they continued to laze on the couch and watch boring legal programs. When Serena’s phone rang, she picked it up. It was the hospital.
“Miss Serena, the payment bill for this month was sent to your email last week. Tomorrow is the deadline for payment, and I was afraid you might have missed the email, so I wanted to remind you over the phone. Don’t forget it.”
“Okay, I’ll check it right away.‘
Chapter 39 Do you need help?
She had been so busy lately that she had forgotten to check her personal email. The bill was long, with each day, every time period, every medicine used, and every nursing session all clearly listed. Of course, the total amount owed was also very clear.
After paying the hospital bill and the mortgage, there was only a single digit left in her bank account. She had been working at the law firm for the past six months, without, taking on any projects, just receiving her basic salary. She had been living off her savings, which were now officially zeroed out this month, and there were still almost 20 days until her next pay check. Twenty days… It was both short and long.
#
In fact, the hospital had suggested that her mother could be transferred to a public hospital with lower fees, which would save at least half of the monthly cost. But she couldn’t bear to do that. She was doing everything she could to provide the best conditions for her mother.
After transferring the money, she stared at her nearly empty phone account in a daze.
“Do you need help?” Penn’s voice rang in her ears, startling her. She had been lost in thought after the call and had completely forgotten there was someone else beside her.
She quickly closed her phone page and shook her head. “No, you’ve already helped me a lot.” He cooked breakfast and dinner for her every day, which was a huge help. She wasn’t going to starve.
That night, Penn just held her from behind and didn’t touch
1543
Chapter 39. Do you need help?
1 288 Vouchers
her. It was the only night he didn’t touch her except for when she was on her period since they started sleeping together.
Late at night, Serena couldn’t sleep and a lot of things weighed on her mind, making her feel much suppressed.
The single–digit balance in her bank account, the progress of her work, her mother’s illness, and everything else seemed to weigh heavily on her.
She gently removed Penn’s arms from around her and wanted to get out of bed for some fresh air./
But Penn tightened his arm and whispered in her ear, “Serena, tell me about what happened after you graduated from high school.”
Like a bolt of lightning, it split open the pitch–black sky and thundered into her heart. She stiffened all over and shook
her head.
She didn’t want to talk about it, and there wasn’t much to
say.
“Penn, if you think it’s okay, we can maintain our current relationship.
Don’t ask, and don’t do anything.”
She didn’t want her personal affairs to be known to the world, and even less so to disrupt the hard–won peace in her life.
like an ice cone cold and piercing.
That was just the kind of person she was seeming mild- tempered and indifferent, but in reality, she just didn’t care about things that didn’t matter, and the things she truly cared about were sharper than anyone else.
Penn heard her words and silently let her go. He got out of bed and seemed to go outside for a drink of water.
Serena knew he was angry. No one could tolerate her coldness and lack of interest.
Eventually, Penn would grow tired of her body and lose patience with her. She only hoped that when the time came, their relationship would not affect their collaboration.
But she thought he was a person who distinguished between public and private matters, so it shouldn’t be a problem.
She faintly heard Penn talking on the phone in the living room, but she didn’t listen closely or intend to eavesdrop.
It was Eric on the other end, sounding surprised.
“What’s going on? The news has reached headquarters that you’re getting married?
The other party is Blair.” Penn remained silent and didn’t answer. In fact, he hadn’t spoken since answering the phone. “Is it true? I just left the country…what’s going on?” Eric suddenly realised and slapped his forehead, “Am I disturbing something good by calling you at this hour?” Penn finally spoke, “Is there anything else?”
“No problem, but Jane also knows about your scandal. Do you want to tell her?”
48.85%
Chapter 39 Do you need help?
“No need, Jane is smarter than you.”
288 Voucheri
“Mr. Humphrey, what does that mean?” Eric felt like he was being insulted.
Penn’s mood improved slightly, but he remained silent and didn’t want to talk because he was in a bad mood.
Before hanging up the phone, Eric said, “By the way, Jane said she will be working in China for a while during the Spring Festival this year to assist you with the acquisition.
“Okay, she told me and I will arrange it.” Penn finally spoke up when Jane was mentioned.
In the end, Eric still couldn’t let it go and asked again, “Yu An, are you and Blair really together? It can’t just be a rumour, right?”
Penn responded by hanging up the phone without mercy.
Serena, still confused, knew that Penn had returned when he hugged her and wondered why he hadn’t left yet. Did he not have a home?
After that day, Serena didn’t see Penn for a while. Julia revealed that Future Better Technology Company had a new product launching at the end of the year and both Penn and Eric had gone to oversee things at the company’s headquarters overseas.
Serena didn’t inquire too much because the acquisition work had officially begun. The target company, Hands–free Intelligent Technology Company, had already held a launch ceremony, and intermediary agencies such as law firms,
67.20%
Chit to Do you need help?
288 Voucher:
auditing firms, and evaluation firms had all started to get involved. As a member of the law firm, Serena was busy all day long.
Emma, as the project leader, brought in three senior lawyers in addition to Charlie, Serena, and Nina, and everyone had their specific responsibilities except for Serena. She was more like Emma’s assistant, responsible for coordinating and handling anything that needed to be done. She often stayed up all night.
Charlie said, “This is Emma training you. The overall coordination of the project is complex and overlapping. If you can arrange all the tasks and time schedules properly, you will grow rapidly and be able to work independently on the next project.”
Serena wasn’t stupid. Although Emma was not talkative and strict, she had been guiding her every step of the way. In the past half month of work, she had learned more than she had in the previous six months.
The headquarters of Hands–free Intelligent Technology Company was located in NY, with several branch offices in nearby cities. Emma and Serena mainly stayed at the headquarters, while Charlie led Nina and three other lawyers to work in other cities. Every night, Serena led the progress meeting, and after it was over, she wrote a summary report and sent it to Future Better’s Julia.