CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: COMPROMISE

"It doesn’t affect me."

His amber eyes stared intently at Seraphina Redgrave, making him appear especially cold and unfeeling. "But what I want is a woman who can stay by my side, not one who’s chased every day."

"I can leave," Seraphina said without a second thought.

As soon as she said this, Ethan Sterling’s gaze became even more somber, his eyes stormy as they bore into Seraphina.

After a long while, Ethan sneered and spoke, "Do you think that’s realistic?"

How could he let go?

So, he was forcing Seraphina to choose to give up The Defiance Society and obediently stay by his side as a mere plaything.

Seraphina sat there, her expression not looking good.

She knew too well that as long as Ethan didn’t agree, The Defiance Society wouldn’t be able to survive in Sovereign.

"Give up The Defiance Society, and I can give you whatever you want."

Ethan finally stated his intent, his voice low yet firm, giving Seraphina no room to resist.

"You know what I want to do."

Rebuild the forbidden zone.

Every step she took now was to complete it.

Seraphina sat there and spoke to Ethan word by word.

"Seraphina, I’ve told you long ago how this world works. Those in the forbidden zone were meant to be eliminated. Why are you meddling?" Ethan said, his voice deep.

"Was it deserved when your mother and sister were eliminated too?"

Seraphina restrained her anger and spoke.

The people in the forbidden zone are not criminals. Why should they be abandoned?

Ethan’s face turned unsightly, his eyes becoming extraordinarily cold. Seraphina stood up with her head lowered, "Sorry, I offended you."

She knew she shouldn’t use the dead as examples, no matter what.

After speaking, she turned and left, without drinking a sip of coffee.

Ethan watched her leave, and the murderous intent in his eyes suddenly disappeared.

The rage that had been stirred up was calmed by her "sorry."

Truly, she was his nemesis.

Ethan slammed his palm hard on the table, stood up, and also left the dessert shop.

In an instant, it was already early morning.

The city was quiet, the streets empty but for the occasional car speeding by.

After leaving Apex Plaza, Seraphina walked alone along the road, watching the shadows of the trees under the streetlights.

She looked down at her shadow beneath her feet.

The night remained cold, and she couldn’t help rubbing her arms as she walked slowly forward.

She thought a lot about her life with the Redgrave Family, life in the forbidden zone.

She remained firm in her beliefs.

If she changed, there’d be no point in staying here.

A brightly colored sports car slowly followed behind her.

It was Ethan.

He followed behind Seraphina all the way, neither catching up nor stopping, as she walked slowly forward.

It seemed as though they were silently challenging each other, neither willing to back down first.

Seraphina kept walking, her mind full of messy thoughts. If The Defiance Society were to end now, how could she adjust her plans to rebuild the forbidden zone?

Or should she plan to leave Ethan first?

Staying by his side, she was destined to accomplish nothing.

"Beep!"

The car horn pierced the silent night.

The bright red sports car suddenly drifted to a stop in front of Seraphina, the door slowly opening.

Ethan got out of the car, hands in his pockets, and walked slowly to Seraphina. The shadow on the ground flickered between light and dark.

Ethan stood in front of Seraphina, his amber eyes staring straight into hers, "Are you really that eager to save those worthless people from the forbidden zone?"

Even bringing his mother and sister into comparison.

Seraphina stood there, looking up at Ethan, and after a long while, she spoke: "I’m a child nobody wants, with no father, no mother, and the Redgrave Family doesn’t want me either. I actually don’t feel especially attached to anyone. I just think Z Nation is unjust now."

Her tone was calm, her face expressionless.

"Liar."

Ethan spoke bluntly.

If she really didn’t care, would she be so desperate to rebuild the forbidden zone?

The more someone claims they have no feelings, the more they actually care deeply.

Seraphina gazed at her own shadow, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

No matter what she said, Ethan would never understand.

"Thirty days."

Ethan’s voice suddenly sounded in the dark night.

Seraphina, a bit taken aback, looked up at Ethan.

Ethan’s expression didn’t look good: "Thirty days left, and after those, it’ll be your vacation. If you can show me a future for The Defiance Society in those thirty days, I won’t interfere with you anymore. If you achieve nothing, spend fifteen days vacationing with me."

Seraphina stayed where she was, looking at Ethan. Was he agreeing?

"What kind of future do you want to see?"

Seraphina asked.

"At the very least, everyone in Z Nation should know of The Defiance Society’s existence, and society should recognize it," Ethan said, looking at Seraphina.

"Alright!"

Seraphina agreed to Ethan’s demand without a second of thought, her eyes glistening.

It seemed she was appeased.

Looking at Seraphina, Ethan couldn’t help but curve his lips, but soon reverted back to his icy demeanor, letting out a cold laugh: "Don’t get too happy too soon. There are plenty of people who don’t want you to succeed in these thirty days. Don’t come crying to me later."

His condition was utterly impossible to meet.

In just thirty days, it was extremely unlikely for anyone to establish themselves in society.

"I won’t."

Seraphina replied resolutely.

She had long known how difficult it would be for The Defiance Society to stand up, but once she secured Ethan’s agreement, she could finally do things freely.

Ethan sneered, "So confident?"

The response was too quick.

Overly self-assured.

Hearing that Ethan wouldn’t interfere with her anymore, Seraphina breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as she spoke: "I was saying I won’t cry."

She would never shed tears.

Ethan beckoned her with a finger: "Come on, back to Hibiscus Garden."

"Okay."

Seraphina obediently walked over to Ethan, who took her hand.

He ruffled her hair hard, glaring at Seraphina: "Quite the temper you’ve got. Were you planning not to come home tonight if I didn’t give in?"

More than that.

She would have left Ethan altogether.

Of course, Seraphina wouldn’t say that out loud. She said, "There would always be other ways."

"What other way could there be? You can only..." Ethan pointed to himself, "ask me."

He was Seraphina’s best solution.

As Ethan led Seraphina forward by the hand, they bypassed the sports car.

Seraphina turned to look at Ethan, where were they going?

Ethan looked down at Seraphina: "Why are you looking at me? Want me to carry you?"

"No..."

Before Seraphina could finish, Ethan interrupted: "Fine, I truly owe you. Come on."

Saying that, he squatted down in front of Seraphina.

Seraphina looked at Ethan’s back, unsure of what to say.

Were they on a date now? Why was Ethan’s way of dating so different from everyone else’s?