CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129: RYAN STERLING

As they approached the table and chairs, the bodyguards respectfully bowed to Seraphina Redgrave, escorting her to the table.

The table on the rooftop must be where the teachers occasionally came to sit, its arrangement very beautiful, offering excellent views.

Seraphina approached with her book, noticing the person sitting at the table was a middle-aged man, dressed in a high-end suit, exuding the oppressive air of a superior. However, his facial features still revealed that he must have been quite handsome when he was young.

Seraphina squinted her eyes slightly. This face had a few similarities to Ethan Sterling’s.

The only difference was Ethan had amber eyes, while this man’s eyes were pitch black.

When Seraphina had previously reviewed the Sterling Family files, she had seen a photo of this man. He was the former head of the Sterling Family, Ryan Sterling, who had been forced to relinquish power at Ethan’s gunpoint.

He is Ethan’s father.

Seraphina raised an eyebrow in slight surprise, not expecting the person seeking her out would actually be Ryan. How interesting.

"Sit."

The man remained seated, inviting Seraphina to take a seat.

"I still don’t know why Mr. Sterling is looking for me."

Seraphina sat down across from the man, placing the book she was holding on the table—it was a copy of the "Constitution."

"Miss Shaw is not a fool, so I’ll be direct."

Ryan looked at Seraphina with an unreadable, deep gaze: "I know the woman who entered the old Sterling residence with Ethan that day was you. Recently, I got word that there seems to be discord between you and him. He almost drove into you, and after returning to the Hibiscus Garden, he even laid hands on you. Does Miss Shaw need my assistance?"

Upon hearing this, Seraphina lowered her head.

It seemed she had been investigated after her visit to the old Sterling residence.

The implication of these words was that besides being under Ethan’s surveillance, she was also watched by Ryan’s people. But Ryan’s people hadn’t seen what exactly happened inside the Hibiscus Garden, nor did they know her real name wasn’t Sylvia Shaw.

"Mr. Sterling is quite concerned about Young Master Sterling."

Seraphina smirked, avoiding a direct response to Ryan’s question.

Upon hearing Seraphina’s reply, Ryan also laughed, lifting a glass of wine and taking a sip; beside him was a freshly opened bottle of whiskey.

"Miss Shaw, let’s be honest with each other."

Ryan looked at Seraphina. "I only ask this: Do you want to leave?"

"Ethan is the richest man in Z Country, with power rivaling that of the President. Why would I want to leave?"

Seraphina was determined not to let him see through her.

"Miss Redgrave is still not being honest."

Ryan’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Seraphina: "I know better than anyone what kind of person Ethan is. From all that Miss Shaw has done, it is evident that you’re not willingly playing the role of Ethan’s caged canary. Someone like you should soar into a broader sky."

He is very well-informed.

It seems he had done a lot of preparation work.

Seraphina remained seated without changing her expression: "What’s Mr. Sterling’s meaning? Why not speak directly."

"I know Miss Shaw doesn’t trust me."

Ryan looked at Seraphina and said, "I came to see Miss Shaw today not just to reveal my identity; naturally, I have important information to share."

Seraphina looked at Ryan, indicating she was listening.

"Ethan tied you to his side without telling you there’s anything wrong with his health?" Ryan initiated.

"Is something wrong?"

Seraphina’s breath caught, yet she outwardly followed Ryan’s lead in conversation.

Ryan looked at Seraphina’s expression, deliberately piquing her curiosity before speaking: "My wife, Ethan’s biological mother Simone Morgan, had a hereditary family illness called genetic mania, a mental disorder that only circulates within the Morgan Family."

Genetic mania.

Seraphina began connecting the previous threads bit by bit.

So that’s how it was.

Her madness was feigned; however, Ethan truly had mental issues.

She looked at Ryan and asked, "What do you mean by ’genetic mania’ that only exists in the Morgan Family?"

"Because such cases are unknown anywhere else in the world, except in the Morgan Family." Ryan noticed Seraphina’s curiosity was piqued, so he elaborated, "The trigger for the disease is a certain massive shock. Once it manifests, the person becomes bloodthirsty, like a blade that won’t sheath until it sees blood, and there’s no rest until death."

Seraphina recalled the "Snow Woman" painting she had made and the story Ethan told her before.

She pieced together the entire past.

Ethan’s sister committed murder precisely because she witnessed someone bullying Ethan, was severely shocked, then killed all the servants that bullied Ethan and subsequently took her own life.

"Simone Morgan was stimulated into a breakdown while giving birth to Ethan, killing everyone in the villa before being shot by the police."

Ryan continued: "The eldest daughter, Stella Sterling, Ethan’s biological sister, gentle and kind, also had an outbreak at the age of twenty-two, killed all the servants in the villa, and then committed suicide."

Seraphina remained silent. So this was the secret Ethan never spoke about.

Thus, Ethan reacted the way he did when she mentioned he should see a doctor.

"Ethan’s amber eyes. I suppose you’ve long noticed? That’s a major hereditary trait from the Morgan Family. He also carries the gene for mania."

Ryan smiled kindly at Seraphina: "Miss Shaw, think about it. If one day he is triggered to have an outbreak, would the first person he kills be the one closest to him, you?"

With that, Ryan gestured to a bodyguard, and a document appeared in front of Seraphina.

She glanced at it; it contained all the medical research on genetic mania, proving Ryan’s words were true.

"Even if Ethan hasn’t had an outbreak, he’s still a lunatic."

Seraphina looked at the documents before her, stating evenly.

As he heard this, assuming Seraphina was already hooked, he began the prepared speech: "He acts deliberately this way to show he’s already mad to everyone; when people get used to his behavior, nobody will notice when he actually has an outbreak, allowing him to kill at will."

It is indeed something Ethan could do.

Seraphina expressionlessly perused the documents, then looked up at Ryan coolly: "How does Mr. Sterling plan to help me leave?"

This was exactly why Ryan sought her out.

Ryan looked at the girl before him, admiration flickering in his eyes: "Ethan wields immense power now; you have only one choice. And that is, to let him die."

He looked at Seraphina, speaking ruthlessly.

Even with Seraphina’s calm demeanor, she couldn’t help but furrow her brow at these words and gazed at Ryan with a confused expression: "Mr. Sterling, but Ethan is your own flesh and blood."

Even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs.