The entrance was already surrounded by the police, and the bomb squad stood at the door, looking completely helpless.

Seeing Seraphina arrive, Team Leader Zhang hurried over.

"Has Silas arrived? The timer bomb used by the kidnappers has very precise pressure sensitivity. Any mistake will cause an immediate explosion. Currently, in all of Sterling City, no one but Silas knows how to disarm it."

Hearing Silas’s name, a flicker of coldness flashed in Seraphina’s eyes. She immediately took out her phone and called her assistant.

"Where is Silas? If anything happens to my parents because of him, I will never let him go."

When the assistant’s panicked voice came from the other end, Seraphina’s heart sank even further.

"The butler said that after sir came home to pick up some things, he left. He hasn't returned since, and now no one knows where he went."

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Seraphina’s forehead, and a sharp pain pierced her heart, making her feel panicked.

Seraphina immediately tapped open Silas’s chat window; his avatar had turned completely black.

The last message on the interface was from three months ago. She didn't even know when Silas had changed his profile picture.

Seraphina quickly typed a line and sent it to Silas.

[Silas, now is not the time for your temper. I’ll give you five minutes—get to the kidnapping scene immediately to help my parents disarm the bomb. If anything happens to my parents, I will never let you go!]

Just as the message was sent, a glaring red exclamation mark popped up.

Seraphina was stunned, and her phone clattered to the ground.

Seeing this, Team Leader Zhang’s face grew even more solemn.

"Without Silas, we have no confidence in saving your parents. Only Silas can crack this type of technology."

Seraphina grabbed Team Leader Zhang by the collar.

"I’m warning you—no matter what methods you use, you must save my parents safely."

Team Leader Zhang forcefully pushed Seraphina’s hand away.

"Seraphina, I told you from the very beginning that only Silas could save your parents. If you didn't bring him, it’s your fault that they can't be saved."

Seraphina stumbled, and upon hearing her mother's panicked cries, she rushed inside in a panic.

When she arrived, she saw her parents tied to chairs with those two bombs strapped to their bodies.

Remaining time: fifteen minutes.

Seeing this scene, the images of Sophie and his mother being kidnapped constantly replayed in Seraphina’s mind.

Seeing Seraphina, her mother cried out as if seeing a savior.

"Seraphina, you brought Silas to save us, didn't you?"

Hearing Silas’s name, Seraphina clenched her fists tightly, not knowing how to speak.

Seeing Seraphina’s expression, her mother’s mood darkened instantly.

"Did you force Silas to leave?"

Seeing Seraphina remain silent, her mother became even more agitated.

"How could you force Silas away? Your father and I are waiting for Silas to save our lives—are you trying to force us to die?"

Chapter 10

Seraphina looked at her mother’s grief-stricken appearance, her heart feeling as if a sharp blade had been plunged in, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Mom, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to save you."

With that, Seraphina gave Team Leader Zhang a hard push.

"You find a way—you must save my parents. If anything happens to them, I won't let you go."

Team Leader Zhang frowned, looking at Seraphina with a grave expression.

"With our current technology and capability, we can only attempt a violent disarming as a desperate hope, but this method can only save one person. You choose which one!"

Seraphina was visibly stunned.

"How can you only save one person? Both must be saved."

Team Leader Zhang glanced at Seraphina impatiently.

"There isn't much time left, CEO. You’d better make your choice quickly!"

Hearing this, her mother nearby began to wail in despair.

Her father looked at Seraphina with bloodshot eyes.

"I didn't expect our Sterling family would fall to this point. This is all retribution! Retribution for you killing Sophie."

Seraphina froze and fell to her knees with a thud, her heart feeling as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, causing her unbearable pain.

"I will definitely find a way to save you."

Her father looked at Seraphina and closed his eyes in despair.

"It’s useless. Without Silas, you can't save us at all."

"Save your mother first!"

Her mother looked at Seraphina with fury and sorrow.

"Save your father first! You’ve already killed your own daughter; do you want to kill your father too?"

Team Leader Zhang watched the time slipping away by the second, urging Seraphina.

"Seraphina, make your choice quickly! Otherwise, you won't save either of them."

Seraphina gripped her hands tightly, gritting her teeth, and slammed a fist into the ground.

"Save my mother first."

Hearing Seraphina’s words, the four members of the bomb squad rushed up. Working together, it took them nearly ten minutes to violently disarm one bomb.

The moment her mother stood up from the chair, both bombs detonated simultaneously. Seraphina watched helplessly as her father was blown beyond recognition in the instant of the explosion.

Her mother, lacking protective gear, was flung by the shockwave and slammed hard against the wall.

Seraphina crawled over and pulled the person on the ground into her arms with trembling hands.

"Mom."

Her mother opened her eyes slowly, but her gaze no longer held its former affection, leaving only endless resentment.

"It was you who killed your father."

Seraphina’s hand paused, shaking her head in a panic.

"That's not true. It was Silas. If he hadn't deliberately hidden, I would have been able to save you."

Her mother looked at her weakly and gave a cold laugh.

"Do you really think I don't know? Silas’s eyes have long been unable to distinguish color; he couldn't have identified the wires. Even if he had come, it would have been useless."

"Seraphina, you killed your own child, and now you’ve killed your father—you are the true sinner."

Her mother’s words were like poison-tipped knives, stabbing deeply into Seraphina’s heart.

Soon, her mother was rushed to the hospital. After more than ten hours of emergency surgery, the doctor finally walked out of the operating room, exhausted.

"Due to the impact of the explosion, Mrs. Sterling’s legs have suffered necrosis and required amputation. She will have to rely on a wheelchair for the rest of her life."

Seraphina stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

"How did things turn out like this?"

Just then, Caspian walked down the hallway carrying several shopping bags.

"Sister, I heard you were in the hospital, so I rushed right over to see you. I didn't even get to buy many clothes!"

Looking at the smile beaming on Caspian’s face, Seraphina felt it was inexplicably piercing.

Chapter 11

Airport VIP lounge.

Silas sat quietly by the window, the wounds on his back already bandaged.

Behind him, the television was broadcasting the latest news report.

"CEO Seraphina’s parents were kidnapped and strapped with bombs. The bomb squad was powerless, ultimately leading to one death and one permanent disability."

Travelers around them couldn't help but sigh upon hearing the report.

"Isn't this Silas the son-in-law of the Sterling family? He’s known as a genius bomb disposal expert. How could he let his own father-in-law die by a bomb?"

"Don't you know? Silas's eyes were damaged when he helped the Sterling family's foster son set off fireworks, resulting in corneal damage; he can no longer see colors. Do you think this might be what they call 'divine retribution'?"

"One dead, one disabled—this is too tragic! They clearly had a bomb expert in the family, yet his eyes were ruined because of a foster son. It’s a real shame."

Silas listened to the discussion around him; his brows furrowed imperceptibly, but they quickly smoothed out.

Just then, a pair of slender hands walked over holding a cup of coffee.

"Seraphina is currently searching all of Sterling City for your whereabouts. If you have a soft heart and want to turn back, there’s still time."

Silas took the coffee and met Lydia’s eyes, which carried a hint of deep meaning.

"Sterling family matters have long had nothing to do with me."

Lydia sat down across from Silas, her gaze fixed steadily on him.

"Are you sure you’ve considered this carefully?"

Silas took a file from his bag and placed it in front of Lydia.

"Here are 50% of the Sterling shares. Can CEO Lydia believe in my sincerity now?"

Upon seeing the share transfer agreement, Lydia’s gaze suddenly relaxed, though she quickly covered it up.

Lydia then placed a contract of her own in front of Silas.

"If Seraphina knew that the project she wanted most had been personally delivered into my hands by her ex-husband, the look on her face would be wonderful, wouldn't it?"

Silas looked at the overseas construction project contract before him and pointed at his own eyes.

"CEO Lydia, there is one more thing I need to remind you of."