Devoted Love:The Billionaire's Precious Wife

"What are you up to?" Martin suddenly had a sinking feeling as the sound of rushing wind came through the phone, "Channing? Channing??"

A loud crash echoed through the speaker.

The call ended automatically.

Martin was gripped by a sense of foreboding and immediately dialed one of his guys, "Find out where Channing is now! Immediately—Right now—"

Just then, the maid Dora knocked on the study door and peeked inside to find her employer exuding irritation and displeasure.

Her voice was timid, "Sir, Serena is looking to have a word with you."

"Tell her to wait, I've got some things to sort out." Martin loosened his tie, trying to calm himself down,

"Prepare some afternoon tea for her. Have her wait while nibbling on something. I'll be there shortly."

"Yes, sir." Dora hurried out and closed the door behind her.

Serena waited in her room, but only Dora returned, with no sign of Martin.

Her eyes reddened further, her voice tinged with a sense of being wronged, "Where's Martin?"

"Mr. Martin seems to be in a foul mood. Must've run into some trouble." Dora consoled gently, "He asked you to have some afternoon tea while you wait for him. He'll join you after he's dealt with his matters. What would you like? I'll fetch it for you."

"What could be so important that he leaves me hanging?" Serena's feelings of neglect and anger intensified.

She speculated that Martin had seen the viral video Eunice had leaked, remembering how she once professed her love to Romeo while embracing a tree.

Although she knew that incident was a thorn in his side, it had been so long. If he was giving her the cold shoulder over this, using silent treatment as punishment, it seemed petty and vindictive.

"I'm going to find him!" Serena pressed the button on her wheelchair armrest, determined to confront him.

"Serena. Mr. Martin really seemed to have urgent business. Be careful—don't crash into the wall!" Dora saw Serena mishandle the wheelchair, nearly hitting a wall, and was petrified. She rushed over to grab the wheelchair, "Serena, let me push you there."

If Serena went on her own and something happened, Dora would bear even greater responsibility.

In the study.

Martin soon received another call.

To outsiders, it looked like Martin had instructed him to take the leap.

"It seems the person behind Channing's jump is dead set on pinning this on me."

It referred to the debacle of the car incident.

"And there's more bad news."

The voice on the phone paused before continuing, "Algernon had been staking out the hospital for days, capturing a video of a victim's family wailing outside the OR, then went online claiming Rosemary was a fraud, a quack who had killed a patient. Now the netizens have dug up his identity, found out he was your bodyguard. Today, in his home, he ended his own life. A contact at the station said Algernon sent you a text before he died."

Martin suddenly remembered the incident. He had indeed received a text, but hadn't looked at it closely. Now, he opened it to find just one line: [Mr. Martin, I'll take care of this matter.]

Anyone would think Martin had ordered the suicide.

Both of his men's deaths were pointing back at him.

Just then, someone pushed open the door to the study, their voice tinged with sorrow, "Martin."

He turned to see a girl in a wheelchair, her eyes brimming with tears. He quickly ended the call, "We'll talk later."

After hanging up, he rushed over to her, crouching down, "Why the tears?"

He gently wiped her face, seeing her red, swollen eyes, she looked like a distressed little bunny. His heart ached, "Didn't I ask you to wait a bit? What happened? Why the tears?"

"Do you not want me around anymore?" Serena looked particularly pitiful.

"How could you think that?"

"You used to drop everything just to be with me whenever I needed you."

Hearing this, Martin felt a pang of guilt, "I'm sorry, I really dropped the ball today, neglecting your feelings. What is it you wanted to tell me? I'm all ears now."

Just as Serena began to speak, Martin's phone rang again. She said with a touch of hurt, "Go ahead, take your call."

He glanced at the caller ID. It was that mysterious benefactor, the one who had provided the medicine that saved Serena's life.

His gut told him this string of events might be linked to this enigmatic figure.

"Just a minute," Martin said again, stepping out onto the balcony to talk.

Serena had been sure he wouldn't take the call, but now it seemed he'd pick up for just about anyone!

What, was a phone call more important than her now?

Was it really necessary?

She was in tears, could Martin really be so cold to her just because of those videos Eunice released?

Was he trying to give her the silent treatment?

Damn that Eunice!

On the balcony, Martin confronted the caller, "Did you threaten Channing and Algernon into these schemes, driving them to their deaths, and then pinning it on me. What are you after?"

"I made a vow to the Collins family, to Serena, not to do anything that would hurt the Collins. They have shown her kindness and nurtured her over the years, I can't go through with this."

"You're balking at the first favor. Remember, Serena's life was saved by me!" The mysterious caller seemed displeased.

"Look, Martin, you don't get a say in this." The voice on the other end of the phone didn't bother with Martin's questions, instead dropping a heavy threat, "I can bring Serena back from the brink, and just as easily make her wish she hadn't. You have no room to negotiate. If you don't take the fall for this within a day, you're going to regret it!"

Martin hung up without a second thought, dismissing the ominous caller.

In the study.

Serena was still sitting in her wheelchair, crying.

Martin knelt down beside her, about to offer words of comfort, when Serena reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Martin, did you see the news blowing up online? Do you hate me now, think I'm awful." Her sobs made her words jagged, "I admit I've made mistakes in the past, but I want to make things right, to have a good life with you."

His heart softened, and he gently stroked her hair. "What news? I haven't seen anything. Is that why you're crying?"

She nodded, her eyes as vulnerable as a child's, "You've been so distant these past few days."

Martin let out a soft chuckle, realizing the misunderstanding. "I've been caught up in a lot lately."

He was juggling family expectations, managing his own corporation, and now someone was trying to smear his name.

Despite being stretched thin, he had made every effort to carve out time for her, but it seemed she still felt neglected.

"Don't worry, no matter what the world says, your past doesn't matter to me anymore. You're Serena Lott, not Serena Collins. Their opinions don't count; my liking you is all that matters." Martin reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Serena's voice turned playful, "Then hold me."

Martin hadn't expected her to be so endearing today, so uncharacteristically forward.

He lifted her into his arms and settled onto the nearby loveseat. "Is this what you wanted to talk about today?"

She nodded, then hesitated, "There's something else."

She knew Martin had mistakenly hit Alma the last time in a fit of rage defending her. So, in retaliation,Alma had cornered her in a shopping mall and gave her a taste of her own medicine. Aside from a verbal warning, Martin couldn't really do much to Alma; after all, he was the one who had made the first mistake.

So, she wanted to use this incident to get Martin to propose to her.

"Martin, I want us to get engaged."

"When the Collins family locked me in the basement, you were the one who rescued me. When I was drowning in negative press, you stood by me, unwavering, facing it all with me. I've thought it over, I

want to spend my life with you. Will you say yes?"

Serena lifted her gaze to meet Martin's, eyes filled with hopeful shyness.