First Love Only? I Left Him First, Now the CEO Can't Let Go-Chapter 344: Taking It to Court

"I’m sorry, I can’t agree to the request for a fake marriage with Ethan White."

"What did you say?!"

Joan Garrison stood up abruptly.

From Joan’s face, Serena Jennings saw the dissatisfaction that arose from the bottom of her heart towards her.

"Serena, don’t forget whose fault it was that turned my son into a vegetable."

"Mom!"

Ethan White shouted from the side.

"Shut up! Did I say anything wrong? If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have been hurt like that."

Joan’s voice choked as she spoke.

"I can understand your feelings, aunt..."

"Understand my ass."

Joan wanted to continue scolding, but was interrupted by Serena’s calm demeanor.

"But I paid you tens of millions in medical expenses for it."

As soon as these words came out, Joan’s mouth couldn’t open immediately.

"Even if it goes to court, I believe the judge wouldn’t sentence me to bear Ethan’s treatment costs... But out of guilt, I’ve already provided huge compensation."

"Besides, the accident shouldn’t become your tool to manipulate me. Even though the fake marriage is false, I don’t want to sacrifice my reputation, dignity, and emotions to deceive an elderly person over a hundred years old... You might think I’m being selfish, but I truly want to be selfish this time and not force myself to do things I dislike."

After speaking, Serena politely bid farewell to the three members of the White family.

Ethan White chased out, apologizing repeatedly.

"I’m sorry, Serena, my mom went too far."

Serena shook her head, smiling.

"No... Aunt has always held a grudge against me because of your previous car accident, I understand... But I really can’t help with the fake marriage issue."

"Yes, I understand... I wasn’t planning to force you anyway."

Seeing Ethan understanding her, Serena let out a sigh of relief.

"Then I’m leaving."

"Serena!"

Ethan grabbed Serena’s hand.

Noticing Serena wanted to shake off his hand, he proactively let go.

"I’ll... I’ll see you off!"

"I drove myself, and I have a very important meeting later."

"...Alright..."

Seeing Ethan lower his head, looking as if he wanted to say more, Serena took the initiative to ask:

"Is there something else you want to say to me?"

Outside Vaeldrake, pedestrians were coming and going.

However, the atmosphere between Serena and Ethan seemed isolated from the passersby.

Ethan remained silent for a long time.

Serena didn’t rush him, patiently waiting.

Finally, Ethan lowered his brows and eyes, speaking softly:

"Serena, you... refuse to fake marriage with me because... are you going to remarry Caleb Lockwood?"

It was only after uttering the last few words that Ethan dared to look up at Serena.

Serena saw Ethan frowning, his eyes seemed to speak, advising her:

Don’t remarry Caleb Lockwood.

Serena laughed out loud.

"Sorry, I shouldn’t be laughing at this moment... I just find your speculation very interesting."

It’s a logical speculation but completely off the mark.

"Ethan White, Caleb Lockwood has already woken up."

"What?"

Ethan was taken aback.

"There’s no need for me to remarry him to awaken him."

With Serena’s resolute words, Ethan’s face revealed a joyful expression.

"Just like I wouldn’t fake marry you for your great-grandfather, I won’t remarry Caleb just to awaken him either..."

Serena’s beautiful face bloomed with a bright smile.

"Right now... I don’t want to wrong myself."

After finishing her sentence, Serena turned and left.

Ethan watched Serena’s figure as she got into her car, feeling a sense of loss inside.

His fingers moved slightly, the only thing wrapped around them was air.

"What should I do?"

Involuntarily, he murmured to himself.

"What exactly should I do to keep you firmly in my grasp?"

This question, Ethan had never found an answer to since high school.

Even after so many years have passed, he still remains clueless.

When the deep space gray Koenigsegg stopped at the entrance of Vaeldrake, the private dining room inside had already changed to a different group of diners.

Caleb Lockwood missed her again.

This time, unable to hold back any longer, he called Serena.

Only to find out he was blocked by Serena.

In City D, at the Heart of the Ocean Art Center.

The annual Global Jewelry Art and Innovation Summit is being held.

Serena was invited to attend as a master from BYC, seated in the middle of the front row.

The main topic this time is about the application of AI in the field of jewelry design.

A large number of people both acknowledge AI’s role and worry about its intrusion threatening the fundamentals of the industry.

Serena is actually not worried that AI will eventually replace human designers.

Every industry advances with time; she feels proud that AI has achieved such development.

However, jewelry design is still a clash of inspiration and art; she believes AI can aid but cannot replace it.

Originally, the summit atmosphere was harmonious, where everyone freely expressed their opinions and exchanged ideas.

But by the later part, a technology company representative brought up a young designer to the stage, starting to boast vigorously.

"The future of jewelry design is AI. Frankly, the well-known designers in the fashion field here will soon be swept away by the tide of time... Soon, the entire jewelry design industry will have no place for you. Why? Because you don’t know how to use AI, or you disdain using AI."

"Your arrogance will cause you to lose your only livelihood... Please look at this set of data..."

The tech company representative Simon Sterling began playing a PowerPoint presentation, listing dense data.

"Did everyone see this? AI’s learning speed is unattainable for humans; for those of you designers here, your design styles and works, AI can achieve in minutes, while you exhaust your minds for months and might design something not even equaling the tip of the iceberg of AI’s capabilities."

"Please look at this designer beside me..."

Simon pointed to the young girl next to him.

"Elena Lowell, a contemporary rising designer, uses our company’s AI for jewelry design, only needing to input her design concept, and in a matter of minutes, the AI has drafted a sketch meeting her design requirements... This is what we call high-end, what we call high-tech."

As soon as Simon finished speaking, someone from the audience laughed out loud.

Simon’s face instantly changed.

"Master BYC, or rather Ms. Jennings, do you have any questions or dissatisfaction with my presentation?"

Suddenly, all eyes turned to Serena.

Including those of Caleb Lockwood, who hadn’t been invited to the summit and could only sneak around leaning against the side door in the corner.