Substitute Bride: Utterly Pampered by Her Billionaire Husband-Chapter 842: She Likes Him

Zane Crawford showed no emotion. He was wearing a white shirt, with the shirt sleeves neatly buttoned, fitting snugly around his wrists. A man accustomed to wearing white lab coats was naturally suited to white, making him the most striking man in a white shirt. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"I know, how is Serena?"

"To the master, Miss Sterling went to sleep after returning to her room. She’s not having a good appetite, and the chef has tried various dishes, but Miss Sterling couldn’t eat."

Zane’s indifferent, handsome face finally showed some fluctuation as he lowered his deep eyes to check the calendar. Tomorrow’s date had been circled in red pen because tomorrow was Serena Sterling’s birthday.

...

Serena took a nap, and when she woke up, it was already afternoon. She tidied up and went out, when a maid approached her, "Miss Sterling, the gentleman wants to see you, he has something for you."

Zane Crawford wanted to see her?

Serena nodded, "Alright."

The maid led Serena to a room, and Serena pushed the door open. The room was dark, with no lights on.

Suddenly, with a "bang-bang" sound, streamers exploded. Zane emerged from the darkness holding a cake. The candle flames danced on the cake as he softly sang, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Serena’s heart trembled, and she suddenly remembered it was her birthday today.

Today was her 24th birthday.

Zane walked over, his bright black eyes shimmering with light in the candlelight as he gazed at Serena. He smiled gently, "Serena, happy birthday, you’ve grown a year older."

Serena curled her lips into a smile, "Zane, thank you."

"Serena, make a wish. I’ve heard birthday wishes always come true."

Really?

Serena clasped her hands and gently closed her eyes. Her 24th birthday wish was... she really wanted to see Mr. Crawford, wanted Mr. Crawford to appear before her eyes.

But she knew this birthday wish was destined not to come true.

Let it go.

Serena opened her eyes and blew out the candles.

The room lights turned on, and Serena noticed two burn marks on the back of Zane’s hand. She quickly said, "Zane, what happened to your hand?"

Zane’s hands were fair, slender, and incredibly beautiful, made to wield surgical instruments, never having touched domestic chores, so these burns were quite noticeable.

Wade Wyatt watched this scene, thinking, Miss Sterling, the master started making a cake for you early this morning. The birthday cake is entirely made by the master himself.

Zane had never made a cake before. Even under the chef’s guidance, he was clumsy, and what he held now was the best he could manage.

Zane smiled, "It’s nothing, just accidentally got burned."

He didn’t tell her.

Serena knitted her brows, "This hand is meant for surgery, extremely valuable. Next time, be more careful. Come, let me bandage it for you."

"Have a bite of the cake first."

Serena placed a bit on her finger and tasted it, "Mmm, it’s really good."

Zane chuckled.

...

After treating Zane’s hand, Serena returned to her room. She picked up her phone, her slender, fair fingers pressing the keys, pulling up that deeply familiar phone number.

Mr. Crawford...

Slightly trembling, she dialed the number.

But quickly, she hung up.

The call hadn’t gone through; she couldn’t dial it.

Still, she was leaving soon, going back to Alani.

Right now, she really wanted to hear his voice.

She missed him so much.

Her fair eyes gradually reddened, but before tears could fall, Serena quickly raised her gaze. She began to breathe deeply, repeatedly telling herself, it’s okay, you can be stronger, don’t cry.

Composing herself, Serena left the room. She wanted to get some fresh air...

...

Zane went upstairs and saw that Serena’s room door was open.

It was already nine at night.

He turned around and walked into the open room, "Serena."

No response.

The sound of polished shoes on the handmade carpet was steady as he entered the bathroom.

His dark eyes froze momentarily. He slowly looked at the phone placed beside the sink; it was still lit, displaying an undialed call to Mr. Crawford...

Zane’s gaze lingered on "Mr. Crawford" for a couple of seconds. Even if she didn’t say it, he knew what her birthday wish was.

Zane’s handsome face showed no change in emotion. He took his phone from his pocket and dialed a number.

"Hello, Miss Shea..."

After ending the call, Zane turned and left the room.

Going downstairs, he opened the villa’s back door and saw a slender figure on the lawn.

Serena was there.

She was sitting alone on the wooden swing, wearing a pink long dress with a white coat draped over it, swinging alone in the deep night.

Zane approached, placing the black cloak he held over Serena’s smooth, fragrant shoulders, elegantly fastening the tie at the front with his long fingers.

Serena glanced back and smiled softly, "Zane, why aren’t you asleep yet?"

Zane sat down beside her on the swing.

He held a book in his hands, "I’m not asleep yet, just reading."

"Such a good boy," Serena laughed softly.

Zane gracefully crossed his long legs, his slim body leaning into the swing. At nine in the evening, the bright moonlight and dim lamplight slanted down, highlighting his exquisite, handsome face with a cool and elegant aura.

Removing the black cloak, he revealed a black turtleneck sweater. His polished shoes lightly tapped the grass, and the swing began to sway.

Serena lifted her small head to look at the moonlight, suddenly asking, "Zane, when do you think it will snow?"

It was late autumn, already cold, but still early for snow.

She suddenly longed to see snow.

Zane looked at Serena’s small face, "You want to see snow?"

--A snippet from the daily tales of Lu and Liu--

Someone bumped into him, colliding right into his arms.

Jude Crawford felt soft strands of hair brush across his face, carrying a faintly eerie, youthful fragrance.

"Sorry, sorry..." The person in his arms quickly stepped back, small hands rubbing the red spot on her white jade forehead, lifting her palm-sized face.

Jude saw her clearly, Isabelle Willow’s cold yet striking features crashing into his view.

It was her!

He thought she hadn’t come, but she was just late.

Isabelle’s eyes shimmered brightly, "Mr. Crawford, hope I didn’t bump you too hard?"

Jude realized it. She had collided into his arms on purpose.

In fact, that day at the temple, he knew she liked him.