He wanted to urge Ethan to go after Seraphina and explain everything properly, but knowing Ethan's stubborn personality, there was absolutely no way he would ever do such a thing, so he kept his mouth shut.

"Follow them. Find out where they are living," Ethan commanded chillingly.

With that, he strode toward his car, trailing directly behind Julian's vehicle.

Ethan released his tightly clenched fist, gently touching his left cheek, which was still stinging with a sharp pain, his expression turning a shade darker.

He ground his teeth and grumbled inwardly, Seraphina Cross, you had better not have anything going on with him!

Inside the car, Seraphina kept her head turned completely toward the window, the tears refusing to fade from her red-rimmed eyes, leaving behind a lingering shroud of agony.

Julian didn't say a word either, merely stealing glances at her from time to time.

Seeing her hands tightly clutching the seatbelt, he knew that even though she was staring at the scenery outside, her mind was entirely elsewhere.

Recalling Ethan's vile accusations back in the ward, he ground his teeth in pure hatred.

Julian's grip on the steering wheel tightened fiercely. He hadn't expected that after all these years, Ethan Vance would still be the exact same arrogant bastard.

Furthermore, with Vance Enterprises in his hands, did the company truly have a future...

The entire journey passed in absolute silence until the car pulled up to the apartment building.

Leo watched as the two entered the building together. He originally intended to call Ethan immediately, but as if realizing something, he decided to wait a little longer.

It wasn't until twenty minutes had passed and Julian still hadn't emerged that Leo finally dialed Ethan's number, feeling a cold sweat break out for Seraphina's sake.

"Hello, CEO Vance. Madam and the Eldest Master... no, and Julian Vance have entered the Iris Apartments."

Ethan's freezing voice drifted through the line, "What about Julian Vance?"

"...He hasn't come out."

The moment Leo finished speaking, the sharp sound of shattering glass echoed from the other end, followed instantly by the line going dead.

A chill ran down his spine, and he realized he would have to be exceptionally careful when working around Ethan tomorrow.

The villa.

The living room floor was a complete mess of shattered glass, the scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke turning the space into an absolute disaster.

Like a raging, cornered beast, Ethan had violently swept everything off the coffee table before the fire of fury burning in his chest finally settled into a dull simmer.

His bloodshot eyes glared fixedly at the wind chimes hanging in the foyer, and he strode over with massive steps.

Late at night, the moon shone brightly amidst a scattering of stars.

Seraphina lay in bed. The pain in her sprained ankle had faded, replaced instead by a sharp, stinging sensation in the palm of her right hand.

She extended her hand, the silhouette of her fingers distinctly visible in the dim light.

A few hours ago, she had slammed her hand across Ethan's face.

Seraphina's chest constricted once more. She had never imagined she would actually strike Ethan, or perhaps, it was something she had secretly wanted to do for a very long time.

To take every ounce of humiliation and grievance she had suffered at his hands over the years and return it all to him with a single slap.

Yet, the rims of her eyes gradually grew damp. When Ethan had gathered her shivering body into his arms to rush her to the hospital, that single, choked exclamation of hers had been entirely genuine.

But why did he refuse to afford her even a shred of trust, stubbornly choosing instead to believe his own twisted version of the "truth"?

With a soft ding, the phone resting on the nightstand chimed, its glow casting a faint light across the room.

Seraphina reached out to grab it, revealing a message from Julian.

The surgery is scheduled for a week from now. Rest well during this time, and don't dwell on anything else.

Chapter 28: He Wants to See Her

Seraphina pulled out a tissue to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. She stared at her phone screen and typed a few words, but hesitated, and ultimately deleted them all.

After putting her phone away, she tucked the blanket around herself, trying her absolute best to banish those distressing thoughts from her mind.

Yet, in the end, she still tossed and turned, remaining awake the entire night.

Early the next morning, Julian left her another message before heading out, saying he had some matters to attend to.

Seraphina reflected on it, feeling a bit apologetic; if it hadn't been for her yesterday, Julian's schedule likely wouldn't have been disrupted.

She looked down at the bank card in her hand. Back then, she had traded the Vance Enterprises shares left to her by Old Mr. Vance for the one hundred and fifty thousand needed for her father's surgery; currently, only eleven thousand remained. Over these past two months in Oakhaven, the hospitalization and surgical fees had far exceeded that amount. Coupled with the rent for this place, as well as the upcoming surgery in a week and subsequent treatments, she wondered how many years it would take to fully clear her debt...

Knock, knock, knock—

Startled by the pounding at the door, Seraphina nearly dropped the card onto the floor.

As she walked over to open it, she wondered who could possibly be visiting.

The moment the door swung open, Seraphina froze, her brows immediately knitting tightly. It was Leo. How on earth did he know she lived here?

Leo let out an awkward smile. "Ma—"

That single word "Madam" seemed to instantly drag up those unpleasant memories of hers—the scenes inside the private room at The Mirage Club, and the ones at Vance Enterprises. This seemingly honorable title was, in reality, laced with pure mockery.

Seraphina sized Leo up for a few moments; he was wearing his usual corporate suit, meaning Ethan must have sent him.

The corners of her mouth dropped, and she immediately moved to shut the door.

"Wait, wait, wait! Madam, please wait!" Leo scrambled to thrust his hand into the opening, catching it in the door frame. "The CEO said he wants to see you. He said he has something to say to you."

Seraphina's expression twisted into a fierce glare, yet she couldn't shut the door, her eyes snapping with pure irritation.

She had absolutely no desire to see him, much less did she have anything to say to him!

Leo felt rather wronged himself; he was merely a secretary, yet he was constantly forced to do these kinds of tasks. Fortunately, knowing Seraphina was a soft-hearted person, he pleaded, "Madam, if you don't go, the CEO will absolutely not spare me."

Sure enough, seeing his desperate look—as if he would be forced to pack his bags and leave Vance Enterprises if she refused—Seraphina's heart softened, and she relented.

She tugged at the hem of her shirt, signaling that she needed to change her clothes first.

Leo nodded quickly. "Alright, then I'll wait for you downstairs." With that, he dashed toward the elevator in a frantic hurry.

Seraphina shook her head helplessly and closed the door.

After changing her clothes, she felt that having a final meeting might actually be for the best—to completely untangle their affairs once and for all, and then go their separate ways to bring everything to an absolute end.

The thought of that word "end" caused a sudden wave of bitterness to rise in her heart.

She had loved Ethan for eight long years; how could it possibly be that easy to tear him from her soul? But their hearts had never managed to align, and she finally understood that forced love would never bear sweet fruit.

Seeing Seraphina come downstairs, Leo quickly threw the car door open and invited her inside.

The car drove all the way to an upscale Western restaurant. From the moment they stepped through the entrance to being led by the waiter, Seraphina felt something was entirely off.

Even if daytime wasn't the typical hour for a candlelit dinner, it shouldn't be so deserted that not a single other diner was present.

It wasn't until they entered a private dining room separate from the main area that Seraphina's steps abruptly halted, her gaze locking onto Ethan, who was sitting just a few paces away.

A perfectly tailored black suit and a light blue tie—a standard corporate look always managed to exude an extra layer of elegance on his frame.

Seraphina's gaze turned slightly vacant for a split second; the Ethan before her eyes seemed to perfectly overlap with the boy he was at eighteen.

Ethan lifted his eyes. Seeing Seraphina staring at him in a daze, the corners of his mouth curved upward. Her distraction brought a trace of pleasure to his heart, yet the underlying anxiety still caused him to become far more cautious.