CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: SERAPHINA THORNE, YOU’VE GOT GUTS!

The taxi stopped outside the gate of Clearwater Apartments—strict management means external vehicles cannot enter.

Seraphina Thorne, wrapped in her coat, emerged from the back seat, shivering as the rain hit her.

Tightening her coat around her, she bit her back teeth and walked into the gate of Clearwater Apartments.

The wind and rain were fierce; hardly a soul was visible in the apartment complex, even stray cats had found shelter.

Only Seraphina was trudging, stepping carefully through this unfamiliar community.

A strange neighborhood in the storm, it stood like a giant beast in the dark, seemingly ready to swallow her whole at any moment.

Finally, she found Building F.

Standing outside the unit door, she looked at the intercom video doorbell on the wall.

Seraphina was drenched, shivering all over.

Whether it was from cold, or tension, or anger, even she couldn’t say.

Extending her right index finger, just as she was about to touch the doorbell, she suddenly pulled back.

She pulled her backpack over her shoulder, reached inside, and touched the fruit knife she had placed there earlier.

Seraphina’s cold fingers tightly gripped the handle of the knife.

The fruit knife was taken from Ethan Sterling, with a black wooden handle, devoid of any excessive patterns or decorations.

It was entirely Ethan Sterling’s style.

Simple, direct, sharp!

Looking at the knife in her hand, she thought of Ethan Sterling.

Perhaps he had a solution?

Seraphina stepped back, standing off the steps, turning around.

The red cross in the storm was particularly striking against the night sky.

It was the sign of the hospital where her father Theodore Thorne was waiting for surgery, just a street away from the apartment.

Thinking of her father still waiting for surgery, Seraphina stopped.

Even if Ethan Sterling was willing to help her.

Even if his generosity knew no bounds, it was too late now, there wasn’t enough time.

Gripping the knife firmly in her hand, she turned back, pressing the doorbell with her rain-soaked finger.

The video intercom screen showed Adrian Chamberlain’s face.

The man stood in a brightly lit room, his handsome face full of a smug smile.

"Seraphina, if you agreed with me earlier, you wouldn’t have to suffer like this. Why torment yourself?"

Seraphina hid her right hand holding the knife behind her back.

"Can I come up?"

"Of course." Julia Chamberlain smiled and unlocked the door for her, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

The display screen dimmed, and with a soft click, the door unlocked.

Seraphina took a deep breath, wiping the rain from her face, and pushed the door open.

A hand reached out.

Before she could close the unit door again, it blocked the door.

Ethan Sterling stepped forward, pulling her out from inside the door.

"What are you doing here?"

Seraphina shook him off.

"My business is none of your concern."

Ethan Sterling, ignoring her, pulled her along.

"Let go, what gives you the right to control me... bastard, let go..."

Seraphina struggled to shake him off, slipping in her high heels and nearly falling.

The fruit knife fell to the ground with a clang.

Turning around, Ethan Sterling’s gaze swept the knife on the ground.

Seraphina reached to pick it up, but he grabbed the knife first, bending down to lift her from the ground.

"Put me down, Ethan Sterling..."

Seraphina shouted and struggled on his shoulder.

The security guard at the entrance heard the noise.

He peeked out from the security room, watching Ethan Sterling carry Seraphina out while holding the knife with a stern expression.

The guard, frightened, quickly retreated back into the security room.

Despite Seraphina kicking, scratching, and cursing like a wildcat, Ethan Sterling carried her out of the apartment entrance and stuffed her into the front passenger seat of a car.

He pressed her into the seat, pulled the seatbelt, and secured it.

"Seraphina, listen to me carefully, you are my wife." Ethan Sterling squeezed her chin, his voice menacing, "I don’t allow anyone else to sleep with my woman!"

Seraphina froze, unable to retort.

He slammed the car door shut, soaking wet, and sat in the driver’s seat, starting the car with a grim face.

"Ethan Sterling!" Seraphina came to her senses, grabbing his arm, "I’m sorry, I beg you... let me out of the car."

Ethan Sterling ignored her, stepping heavily on the gas pedal.

The deep azure spirit roared, shooting into the fast lane.

"Ethan Sterling!"

The car accelerated again, crossing the intersection in the last second of the yellow light.

In a chorus of car horns, the deep azure spirit brushed past another vehicle.

Frightened, Seraphina instinctively curled up, closing her eyes.

When she opened her eyes with lingering fear, the car had slowed down, turning off the lane and parked in a roadside spot.

Ethan Sterling, face still solemn, rummaged through his pockets for a cigarette.

He pulled one out, placed it in his mouth, snapping it in half with too much force.

Frustrated, he discarded it and pulled out another.

Retrieving the lighter, he lit up.

Choked by the smoke, Seraphina’s throat itched. Unable to endure, she covered her mouth with her hand, coughing once repressedly.

Ethan Sterling clutched the lighter tightly, swung open the car door, stepped into the rainy fog, and slammed the door shut.

Seraphina tried the car door, unable to open it.

He locked it.

Buzz—

The phone vibrated.

It was Ethan Sterling’s phone left in the car.

On the phone screen, Sean Hale’s call was displayed.

She tapped on the car window, but Ethan Sterling did not respond.

Resigned, Seraphina had to answer the call for him.

"President Sterling, everything is arranged. I have moved Professor Hans to another hotel."

Seraphina held the phone, her throat blocked, unable to speak.

"President Sterling?" No response from this end of the line, Sean Hale raised his voice, "Can’t you hear me?"

"I can hear you." Seraphina’s voice was hoarse.

Sean Hale paused upon hearing her voice.

"I’ll hang up now. Madam, please rest well. Mr. Thorne’s situation at the hospital will be monitored by me, you needn’t worry."

"Thank you."

Raindrops trickled down the car window.

Seraphina wiped away the condensation, barely able to make out a vague figure in the wind and rain by the roadside.

In the night, the cigarette end flickered.

...

...

Zenith Apartments.

603.

Adrian Chamberlain reclined on the sofa, swallowing the whiskey in his mouth slowly.

His face was full of a smile.

All these years, he finally could...

Get what he always wanted.

Having finished a glass, Seraphina had yet to arrive.

He frowned, glanced toward the entrance, and refilled his glass.

A while later.

There was finally a knock on the door.

Adrian Chamberlain pulled a smile, holding the glass as he walked to the entrance.

"How much longer are you going to make me wait?"

Outside the door, it wasn’t Seraphina as he imagined, but his assistant.

"What are you doing here?" Adrian Chamberlain frowned in annoyance.

"President Chamberlain, bad news." The assistant’s tone was urgent, "Professor Hans is missing."

Adrian Chamberlain grabbed the assistant by the collar, "Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on him twenty-four hours a day?"

"I was watching him. I just went to get him some supper, and when I came back, he was gone."

"Then go find him!"

"President Chamberlain, we can’t find him!"

Adrian Chamberlain, furious, shoved the assistant away, smashing the glass on the ground hard.

"Seraphina, daring to play this game with me, you’ve got guts!"