Playtime's Over, CEO: She's Really Done With You-Chapter 352: If You Have to Say It, Then I’m the One Unworthy
This was something they had agreed upon beforehand.
They planned to find the right moment to announce it.
And announcing it at the opening banquet was the perfect timing.
Originally, Serena wanted to wait a bit longer.
But recently, they’ve both clearly felt an undercurrent.
That undercurrent seems intent on keeping them apart.
Trying to divide them.
Whether it’s the meetings at Hawthorne Group.
Or the constant picking at faults, even dancing in front of Clara Huxley, all have erupted recently.
Back when Silas Hawthorne publicly pursued Serena and proposed, none of this happened.
These are all recent events.
Since that’s the case, why not announce the wedding date?
When anxious, people reveal their flaws; they must find the hidden person!
Their plan won’t change because of The Lawsons.
Serena looked to the second floor; just now, before she went on stage, she had arranged for the Lawson elders to be sent away.
This way, it was a win-win.
Retracting her gaze, Serena looked at Silas standing over there, a smile in her eyes.
Silas nodded with a smile, walked down step by step from the second floor, until he reached Serena’s side.
The two stood together, at this moment, as if they’re an ideal couple.
"This is a decision made jointly by Serena and me," Silas said, holding Serena’s hand, "we hope you all will attend our wedding."
The venue practically exploded.
"They’re directly announcing the wedding news? They really are getting married?"
"I can’t believe it; I thought they were just dating!"
"Will the people at Hawthorne Group agree? After all, Serena..."
The venue was full of chatter, flashes going off constantly.
Paparazzi were continuously live streaming.
Online comments refreshed rapidly.
"Isn’t Serena second-hand goods? How does she deserve Silas Hawthorne?"
"Yeah, I thought they were just fooling around, talking about proposals, but really just dating."
"Serena has nothing; Silas is the CEO of Hawthorne Group, what qualifies her?"
"I suspect Serena just likes depending on men, a trophy wife; she used to have nothing and clung to Julian Lawson, and now, shortly after the divorce, she plans to marry Silas Hawthorne, can’t she live without a man!"
...
The online chatter was incessant, and at this moment, someone in the shadowy corner sent a message to another person.
Then, a fearless man stepped forward.
He said, "Serena, may I ask you a question?"
Serena smiled at him: "Go ahead."
The man held a microphone, and everyone was watching him.
"I want to ask, do you deserve it?" His words were undeniably direct, even insulting.
Everyone was shocked.
Just asked like that?
Who is this guy?
Though they thought Serena and Silas’s announcement was sudden, no one dared to shame Serena publicly like this!
All eyes immediately turned to Serena.
However, Serena’s face remained smiling, unchanged.
"Please be specific," Serena even encouraged him to continue.
The man got even more spirited, pointing at Silas standing beside Serena.
"Serena, you have nothing; why should you marry Silas Hawthorne!" He said, "You attached yourself to Julian Lawson, now divorced him, and climbed up to Silas Hawthorne!"
The words were even sharper.
Serena’s smile grew more intense.
She was still waiting, waiting for the man to continue.
The man seemed determined to wipe that smile off Serena’s face, so he loudly said, "Isn’t announcing the wedding on opening day just to leverage this scandal, to let everyone know that Silas Hawthorne has your back!"
"Hahaha, Serena, are you scared, so you’re trying to bind yourself tightly to Silas Hawthorne, to let everyone know you’re the future Mrs. Hawthorne, and then blend into the circle with this background?"
"Serena, this isn’t the entertainment industry; you can’t survive on scandals alone!"
The man’s words echoed throughout the hall.
Everyone was stunned.
"This guy is really daring." That was the consensus; everyone, whether at the venue or watching online, thought the same.
Also—"How is Serena going to respond?"
Everyone’s gaze focused on Serena.
But Serena wasn’t affected at all.
She held the microphone, her face adorned with a graceful smile.
"Thank you for raising these questions," Serena said softly, looking around at everyone present, "I think many people share the same thoughts."
This is why Serena let the person speak.
Saying it privately, behind one’s back, was less preferable than addressing it directly.
By raising it openly, she could respond frankly and clearly.
Serena’s gaze swept across the venue before settling on the man’s face.
She said, "First of all, I don’t need your permission to marry anyone."
"Secondly."
Serena’s gaze shifted from the man’s face to everyone present.
"This is what I most want to say to all of you today."
Serena’s smile was confident and graceful.
"I will prove myself in the coming days."
She said, "My opening remarks weren’t mere words."
"Any words can be seen as excuses, but the hard facts of achievements and abilities are indisputable."
"Give me time, and you’ll see..."
"I, Serena, will revive the Sheridan Family!"
As Serena spoke, the spotlight fell on her, her expression confident and calm, her eyes clear, free of any humiliation or nervousness.
At this moment, she was the center of attention!
Many people in the venue were filled with ambition, so they were also inspired at this moment.
Not sure who started it, but someone began to applaud.
"Clap clap clap..."
The applause was continuous.
It took a while for it to settle down.’
And the man who had stepped forward looked very displeased.
He was still trying to argue: "But you’re just clinging to Silas Hawthorne..."
Silas took the microphone from the side.
He looked at the man with a smile, softly saying, "Dear guest, I think you’re under a misconception."
"Your words make it sound like I’m an idiot."
"As if anyone who tries to deceive me would have me... blindly fall for it?"
"Push me around?"
The crowd couldn’t help but laugh.
This remark was truly clever, followed by another round of applause.
The man wanted to persist.
But Silas continued.
"You say Serena clung to me? Attached to me?"
"Sorry, you got it the wrong way; it’s me clinging to her."
Silas said with a smile, "I think all of Aeston remembers the gossip of me fervently chasing Serena, right?"
"Now let me respond to that gossip."
Silas nodded, pretending to be formal, "It’s true, I’m the one who exhaustively pursued Serena, fought and competed."
The man opened his mouth in shock.
Silas lifted his head and looked at everyone:
"I love Serena; our decision to marry is a carefully considered choice, please don’t bring up any discussions of deserving or not."
"If anyone were to say that, it should be that I’m undeserving."
