CHAPTER 31: CHAPTER 31: TALENTED WOMAN AND HANDSOME MAN, HIS DEFENSE

"Then we won’t disturb you two any longer." Seraphina gently tugged on Ethan Sterling’s sleeve, "Honey, shall we go?"

Glancing sideways at Adrian Chamberlain, Ethan held her as they walked towards the door.

Diane Dawson was fuming, ready to erupt.

"Diane!" Adrian Chamberlain displayed a peace-seeking demeanor, "I’m not even hurt, just let it go."

Today was a municipal banquet, and he had intended to make a good impression in front of his future father-in-law.

If at this juncture, news broke out about him fighting Ethan Sterling over a woman.

It wouldn’t look good for him, and the Donovan Family would surely form an opinion about him.

"You... you’re just too kind." Diane turned around, brushing off the shoe print on Adrian’s shirt, "Do you want to go to the hospital for a check?"

"It’s really nothing, today’s an important event, I don’t want to make a scene and cause embarrassment for your dad." Adrian lowered his eyelashes, taking a step back to advance, "Diane, I think... we should just let it be, I’m afraid they might target you."

"Who I want to be with, I won’t be swayed by others." Diane smiled, "Besides... I’m not afraid of them."

"Diane." Adrian took her hand, pulling her into his embrace, gazing at her affectionately, "Meeting you, I’ve been really... lucky!"

Diane smiled, extending her arms to hug his waist.

Women always have some innate maternal instincts; those strong men outside, once they show vulnerability in front of them, it always triggers this instinct.

Such a tactic, Adrian Chamberlain found unfailingly effective.

He knew well, this mayor’s daughter before him was already walking step by step into his trap of love.

Lifting his right hand to cup Diane’s face, Adrian lowered his head and kissed the girl in his arms.

Diane did not shy away, responding cooperatively.

A kiss easily transitioned them from a period of ambiguity to being official lovers.

While kissing Diane, the face flashing through Adrian’s mind was Seraphina’s.

What’s the big deal with Ethan Sterling?

As long as he secured Diane, secured Vice Mayor Donovan...

Even against the Sterling Family, he could hold his ground.

Seraphina, you can only belong to me!

One day, I want you kneeling at my feet, begging for my kiss, hopelessly devoted to me.

Diane closed her eyes, savoring the kiss.

Engrossed in the sweetness of romance, the woman was completely unaware, that she was merely another stepping stone in Adrian Chamberlain’s climb.

...

...

Outside the corridor.

Ethan Sterling lowered his head, gently taking Seraphina’s hand for examination.

"Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?"

"No need, just apply some ointment when we get back." Seraphina clutched his arm, "Shall we go home?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, "Afraid?"

"Of course not."

Ethan took out a handkerchief, wrapped her hand gently, tied a neat bow, and placed her hand lightly on his arm.

"I won’t shy away from our enemies, come greet Mayor Donovan with me."

Seraphina followed him back into the banquet hall.

"Do you know Diane?"

Ethan brushed her nose lightly with his finger.

"Rest assured, Mrs. Sterling, I have no interest in those naive girls."

"That’s not what I meant."

Seraphina lowered her eyelashes, biting her lower lip.

Once upon a time, she seemed to be that naive.

Upon Ethan’s entrance, he instantly became the room’s focal point.

Many guests recognized him and willingly greeted him.

A Vexler Street tycoon, the third son of the Sterling Family...

Each identity was enough for business elites to curry favor.

Those women in splendid attire, when extending a hand towards him, spoke softly, eyes filled with seduction.

That demeanor, as long as Ethan gave them a glance, they’d follow suit.

"President Sterling, pardon my inability to greet you sooner." Vice Mayor Donovan smiled as he approached Ethan, "Earlier, my assistant mentioned you were going on a business trip, I didn’t expect you here!"

Ethan Sterling’s plans to return and develop domestically had spread across elite circles.

Faced with such a financial powerhouse, Vice Mayor Donovan, who’s in charge of attracting investments, naturally welcomed him with a smile.

"With Vice Mayor Donovan personally inviting, how could I possibly decline?" Ethan chuckled, clinking glasses with him, "In the future, I hope to continue benefiting from your support."

As it turns out, Ethan was on the guest list as well.

Seraphina pursed her lips. Why did she believe he came specifically for her?

"Let me introduce..." Lightly guiding Seraphina to face Vice Mayor Donovan, Ethan’s gaze swept over the returning Adrian Chamberlain and Diane, "This is my girlfriend, Seraphina Thorne."

A couple often suggests a community of interests, something bound to arouse Adrian’s suspicion.

The acquisition by Zenith Group was not yet complete, thus it wasn’t the time to declare their marital status.

"Girlfriend" and "wife" are both two words, yet worlds apart.

As an arrangement, Ethan would not introduce her as his wife in formal settings.

Though Seraphina had long understood this.

But hearing Ethan refer to her as "girlfriend" still dimmed her eyes slightly.

Deep within her heart, a random and inexplicable emotion she herself couldn’t comprehend flickered.

"Vice Mayor Donovan, this is the young lady of talent from the Music Academy’s orchestra I’ve mentioned before, Ms. Seraphina Thorne," Minister Caldwell of the Department of Culture added with a smile.

"They’re a perfect match." Vice Mayor Donovan politely praised.

"Talent" and beauty?

Seraphina chuckled.

In these men’s eyes, beauty suffices for women.

Supposed talent is merely dispensable decoration, just an embellishment.

"Vice Mayor Donovan, you’ve got it wrong." Ethan Sterling gently patted her back, laughing, "Seraphina and I are... talents over beauty, she’s responsible for talent, I just take care of being handsome!"

The guests took Ethan’s words as a jest, bursting into laughter.

"President Sterling, you’re quite the joker!"

However, Seraphina’s heart was stirred.

He...

Was he defending her?

"I’m completely serious." Ethan gazed amusedly at Adrian Chamberlain, who was approaching, "Back in high school, our Seraphina won a national award, isn’t that right... old classmate?"

Adrian Chamberlain chuckled as well, "Indeed, Seraphina was renowned for her talent at our school."

Upon seeing Adrian Chamberlain reappear, Seraphina worried Ethan might lose his composure, grasping his arm tightly.

Turned out, her worries were unfounded.

"Chamberlain, could it be that you still bear a grudge from back when I used to beat you up in school?"

Ethan’s teasing, lazy demeanor was inscrutable to anyone.

At that moment, as he jovially engaged with Adrian Chamberlain, no one could have guessed.

Moments before, he had resorted to physical measures against Adrian in the restroom.

Adrian’s cheeks couldn’t help but twitch a couple of times, struggling to maintain a smile.

"Those days are long forgotten."

"Good." Ethan shifted his gaze to Vice Mayor Donovan, "As I’ll be collaborating with Mayor Donovan, I wouldn’t want any unpleasantness with your future son-in-law."

In one sentence, respecting Vice Mayor Donovan’s dignity.

But also insinuating that Adrian merely rose through his association with women.

The surrounding guests exchanged knowing smiles.

People admire strength, and tend to disdain men who climb up through women.

Adrian Chamberlain’s expression was visibly strained, striving to conceal his declining smile by lowering his head.

In this social arena’s initial clash, Adrian once more ended up losing.

Seraphina stood by, watching Ethan’s profile.

Whether by chance or having sensed her gaze.

The man turned, offering her a gentle smile.

In that instant, Seraphina felt she understood the look in his eyes.

True strength, in essence.

Isn’t just about clashing head-on, it’s also about facing adversaries with composure.

This time, through his actions and words, Ethan had taught her a lesson.

She responded with a curved smile of her own.

In this magnificent banquet hall, amidst the masquerading and deceitful crowd.

A man and a woman exchanged smiles, countless words left unspoken.