CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?

"That’s good." Tristan Quincy smiled and nodded, "Shaw, I’ll leave Seraphina Thorne to you; you two are peers, so take care of her."

"Don’t worry, Captain." Felicity Shaw replied without hesitation, "I’ll definitely... take good care of my junior sister!"

After Tristan Quincy and the others left, Felicity Shaw also put away her smile.

"Seraphina, I voted for you too, but you didn’t even say thank you."

"Haven’t seen you in years, and your green tea tricks have become even more refined."

Recognizing Seraphina’s insult, Felicity Shaw sneered.

"Alright, stop acting all high and mighty in front of me as the Thorne Family heiress, thinking I don’t know your situation now?"

Folding her arms, Felicity Shaw struck a nerve.

"It’s bad enough your dad is half-dead in the hospital; your brother Caleb Thorne, the great architect, can he handle being in prison?"

Seraphina remained expressionless, "My family’s matters are none of your concern."

"Really? Then... what about Adrian Chamberlain?"

Seeing Seraphina unaffected, Felicity Shaw stepped forward.

"You certainly don’t know, we’ve been together all these years, including... the night you got engaged."

Seraphina finally showed emotion.

Not anger, but surprise.

She had suspected Adrian Chamberlain had other women, but didn’t imagine it was Felicity Shaw.

Thinking Seraphina was jealous, Felicity Shaw proudly lifted her chin.

"Adrian Chamberlain pursued you simply because you’re the Thorne Family heiress; the current you, he wouldn’t give you a second glance, would he?"

"And you?" Seraphina turned her head, "Do you really think you’ll marry into a wealthy family?"

"Hmph!" Felicity Shaw snorted coldly, "Just because you couldn’t hold onto Adrian Chamberlain’s heart doesn’t mean I can’t."

"Really?" Seraphina chuckled, "If he loves you that much, I bet he told you about cozying up to the Mayor’s daughter and becoming Vice Mayor Donovan’s son-in-law, right?"

This time, Felicity Shaw’s expression changed.

"What are you saying?"

Seraphina sneered.

She had long suspected that Adrian Chamberlain couldn’t have genuine feelings for Felicity Shaw.

A man so driven by ambition would never marry a woman like Felicity Shaw, devoid of wealth and power.

"Just check the news to find out?"

Mocking Felicity Shaw’s demeanor, Seraphina patted her shoulder.

"Looks like you’ve overestimated yourself, Senior Shaw!"

Turning around, she strode out of the performance hall with her head held high.

Felicity Shaw quickly grabbed her phone, opened a news app.

Sure enough, she found the related report about the banquet on the local news.

Adrian Chamberlain stood beside Vice Mayor Donovan, affectionately hugging Diane Dawson’s waist.

In such a pose, one glance and you could tell there was something going on.

Failing to win over Caleb Thorne, Felicity Shaw intentionally seduced Adrian Chamberlain to spite Seraphina.

For years, Adrian Chamberlain had treated her well.

Originally, she thought with the Thorne Family’s decline, she could finally ascend in position.

Unexpectedly, Adrian Chamberlain had been wooing the Mayor’s daughter behind her back.

"Adrian Chamberlain!"

Squeezing her phone into her backpack, Felicity Shaw angrily stormed out of the orchestra, driving straight to the apartment Adrian Chamberlain rented for her.

Adrian Chamberlain was sitting on the sofa, drinking and watching the news.

When he saw her return, he tossed aside his phone.

Pulled Felicity Shaw onto his lap, slipping a small gift box into her sweater’s deep V neckline.

"Here... this is for you!"

Rolling over, he pressed Felicity Shaw onto the sofa, his hand directly delving into her clothes.

Felicity Shaw didn’t respond as usual.

Instead, she pushed him away, shoving the phone news page in Adrian Chamberlain’s face.

"What’s going on here?"

Adrian Chamberlain glanced at the phone nonchalantly.

"What do you mean ’what’s going on’?"

"You and the Mayor’s daughter!" Felicity Shaw furiously grabbed his shoulder, "Before, you were with Seraphina for Zenith, I understand; now that you have Zenith, why get tangled with someone else? Adrian Chamberlain, what do you take me for?"

Having just gotten involved with Diane Dawson, given her status as the Mayor’s daughter, Adrian Chamberlain didn’t dare act recklessly.

He specifically came to find Felicity Shaw just to vent.

When Felicity Shaw mentioned Seraphina, recalling Seraphina’s close interaction with Ethan Sterling.

Adrian Chamberlain’s good mood instantly vanished.

He shoved Felicity Shaw onto the sofa, and raised his hand to slap her.

"What do you think you are? You eat my food, drink my drinks, live in the house I provide, drive the car I give you... you’re nothing but a dog I’m raising, either you behave or... you can get out!"

Pulling off his belt, he grabbed Felicity Shaw’s hair, dragging her over.

He yanked her clothes off and pressed down unceremoniously.

While venting, he kept cursing.

"You women, all of you are damn sluts, stinking whores! You think you are someone... wanting to control me... you are just a damn dog for me... filthy bitch..."

In pain and humiliation, Felicity Shaw held onto the sofa tightly, tearfully daring not resist.

Adrian Chamberlain liked her obedient and compliant, open-minded in bed, cheaper and cleaner than women outside.

In good moods, Adrian Chamberlain would also placate Felicity Shaw.

Felicity Shaw mistakenly thought his temporary tenderness was genuine affection.

The slap just now completely awakened Felicity Shaw.

She finally realized, in Adrian Chamberlain’s eyes, she was even lesser than Seraphina.

At least, they were once nominally a couple, even engaged.

And she, was just a secret lover he could sleep with or hit when he wanted.

Over the years, Felicity Shaw had gotten used to living well, driving nice cars, extravagantly spending Adrian Chamberlain’s money; her monthly expenses equating to her parents’ yearly income back home...

Once she leaves Adrian Chamberlain, she would have nothing.

With her income from the orchestra as a violinist, she couldn’t support her current luxurious lifestyle.

It was impossible for her to return to the past, living in shared apartments, squeezing into subways every day, scrimping for counterfeit designer goods...

In the apartment, Felicity Shaw stewed in pain and shame.

In the restaurant, Seraphina clinked her juice glass with Ivy Langley’s glass.

"Congratulations to the beautiful Miss Langley, officially becoming a member of the legal profession, taking your first step as the top lawyer."

Having successfully obtained her intern lawyer certificate, Ivy Langley specially invited her out to celebrate tonight.

"Thank you!" Ivy Langley took a big swig of red wine, "I have finally reached success; let’s go party tonight; your President Sterling won’t mind, right?"

Hearing her mention Ethan Sterling, Seraphina felt a bit downhearted.

"What’s wrong?" Ivy Langley looked at her face, puzzled, "Aren’t you happy about the successful interview?"

"Just a bit tired." Seraphina mustered her spirits again, "You’ve treated me several times in these days, I insist, tonight it’s my treat!"

Ivy Langley, unaware that Seraphina was referring to takeout, casually waved her hand.

"What’s this yours or mine treat, we’re beyond that!"

Just as Seraphina was about to speak, her phone suddenly vibrated.

A stranger’s number appeared on the screen; she answered the call curiously.

"I’m the food delivery person; is there no one at your place?"

Seraphina was stunned, "You must be mistaking."

"The Paramount Gardens, Block A 3901, the order’s name is Seraphina Thorne... isn’t it your place?"

Ivy Langley was right in front of her, eating with her, impossible for her to order takeout.

It wasn’t Ivy Langley, then who had been ordering her takeouts?

Seraphina’s heart thumped heavily.

Could it be...

It’s Ethan Sterling?!