CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: FUGITIVE FROM THE RESTRICTED ZONE?

"Ha, why should I listen to you?"

Seraphina Redgrave looked at Serena Lowell with a blank expression.

"Won’t listen to me? If you let us inspect today, just wait to be handed over to security. Filthy beggar!" Serena glared maliciously at Seraphina with those unkind eyes. "Take it off, quickly."

"I’ll take it off, but if you’ve falsely accused me today, there will be a price to pay."

Seraphina gave Serena a displeased glance, standing still, showing no intent to flee.

"What price?" Serena asked indifferently.

"You kneel and kowtow to me three times before the false accusation is settled."

"This..."

Serena hesitated about whether to agree or not at the moment.

Mia Redgrave watched Serena’s indecision and decided to make the decision for her. When Seraphina takes off her coat, the handcuffs will be revealed, and once people know she’s from the restricted area, not even Leo Lynch can save her.

Thinking of this, Mia secretly took off her diamond necklace and threw it on the ground, then cried out to attract everyone’s attention.

"My necklace is gone. It was a gift from my dad, very important to me. Could everyone help me find it?"

Mia was best at playing the pitiful victim, and at this moment, almost everyone was tricked by her seemingly pitiable act.

Everyone’s attention shifted to Mia, seeing her neck bare without the dazzling necklace.

Serena, witnessing such a dramatic turn, immediately deemed Seraphina the thief, glaring at her, "You took it, didn’t you? Take off your clothes for us to check!"

Those three idling rich kids saw Seraphina’s fair and slender legs revealed, and their eyes were glued, momentarily ruled by lust, they couldn’t help but egg on Seraphina to take off her coat.

Although they had no interest in a woman without status, they wouldn’t mind taking the opportunity to admire a girl’s figure.

"Hurry, take it off and show us!"

"Yeah, don’t you think you’re innocent? Just take it off and prove it."

There were all sorts of jeers, with the central idea being to have Seraphina remove her clothes.

With more people taking her side, Serena felt more triumphant, grabbing Seraphina’s arm, "Hurry up, if we find nothing, I can kowtow to you."

Everyone at the party was from affluent families; undoubtedly, no one stole Mia’s necklace.

The thief must be this woman appearing without a name or status at the party.

"Alright, that’s what you said, Miss Redgrave?" Seraphina glanced at a now stirring the pot Mia Redgrave, a bit amused.

The crowd’s focus turned to Mia following Seraphina’s words.

Mia stood in the center of the dance floor, uncomfortable being the focus of such attention but still awkwardly smiling, "I just lost a necklace and wanted everyone to help me find it. Moreover, if you are truly innocent, just take off your coat and prove it. If we’ve misunderstood, I can say sorry to you."

"You must kowtow to me." Seraphina treated everyone the same.

Mia paused for a few seconds, finally nodding, "I promise you."

When the coat is removed, the handcuffs on Seraphina’s hand will be revealed, and once chaos erupts, no one will care about promises made now.

Having thought this through, Mia agreed to Seraphina’s condition. At this point, Seraphina had to take it off regardless.

"Take it off quickly."

Serena was full of pride; today, this woman must at least be disgraced to skin if not die, for daring to encroach on her claim to Leo Lynch.

Impatient, Serena reached for Seraphina’s coat zipper, her sharp nails scratching Seraphina’s delicate neck.

With cold eyes, Seraphina clenched Serena’s mischievous hand, twisting it hard, and said softly, "Get lost."

Serena was in so much pain that she couldn’t even shout, her face quickly paling; how could this seemingly slender woman seem like she could crush her hand to bits?

Wrenching free from Seraphina’s hold, she wanted to rush again, but Seraphina had already begun taking off her own coat.

Serena stopped, raising her lips in malice.

Mia’s smile grew uncontrollable; soon, Seraphina would be ruined.

Under everyone’s eyes, Seraphina removed her oversized coat.

Underneath was a lavish dark green evening gown, while the skirt previously hidden in the coat slowly fell, transforming the once knee-length dress into a magnificent floor-length gown.

The dress seemed basic at first glance, but a closer look revealed intricate embroidery on the skirt, with mysterious patterns shimmering brilliantly with Seraphina’s slight movement.

Already fair, the dark green evening gown made Seraphina seem to glow.

A stunning beauty.

Everyone had only this thought.

Seraphina’s face was already striking, and in this dress, it was even more captivating, an earthly beauty one couldn’t take their eyes off.

Mia stood opposite Seraphina, her own yellow dress looking shabby and cheap in comparison. Where they once matched evenly, now they were worlds apart.

The entire room went silent.

Serena stood frozen, her eyes vacant staring at Seraphina. Did this woman perform a magic trick?

Upstairs, Nathan Ayers was also astonished by Seraphina’s transformation, "So beautiful."

As soon as he said it, he sensed a murderous gaze, "Really? Do you like it?"

Was his boss going to kill him to keep him silent?

Nathan was utterly scared by his boss and quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at Seraphina again.

In the center of the ballroom.

Seraphina threw her coat at Serena, "If no diamond necklace is found today... ha."

Serena was completely bewildered, slow to even reach out, as the girl before her seemed completely transformed.

"What? Still not satisfied? Want me to keep going?"

Seraphina asked, her gaze cold.

Serena hesitated for a moment, then with a shrill and shaky voice said, "No, not satisfied, who knows what’s hidden under your gown."

She just didn’t believe this girl without power or influence would dare defy her.

"Fine, come help me take it off."

Seraphina stood with arms crossed, "You take it off today; tomorrow’s headlines will read: Redgrave Family daughter’s birthday party forcing a poor girl to strip."

Serena was dumbfounded; she never expected Seraphina to have such a move.

The gown was tightly fitted, with only the wide skirt providing any place to hide something, but Seraphina’s change earlier had moved the skirt dramatically. If there was anything, it would have fallen out with the skirt.

No way anything would be hidden in the gown.

But if she truly cried to the press, everyone present tonight would be disgraced, bringing shame to their families.

Serena dared not cause further trouble.

Mia was stunned, soon recovering to look at the spot where the handcuffs should’ve been, only to see bandages there.

And the bandages clearly hid a ring-like object.

Seraphina, you’re doomed.

Mia completely shed her pitiful façade, lunging forward to unravel the bandages on Seraphina’s hand.

"What are you doing?"

Seraphina broke free from this madwoman.

Mia, unable to control her momentum, staggered back three steps, luckily caught by her friend.

Seraphina’s eyes were full of ridicule, "Miss Redgrave wouldn’t think your precious diamond necklace is hidden under my bandages, would you?"

Guests were also puzzled by Mia’s actions.

Mia took a deep breath, her face solemn and eyes fixed on Seraphina, "Recently, there’s been news of a young female mental patient escaping from a restricted area, with a warrant issued. I’m lucky to have seen her photo, which resembles this young lady quite closely."

"An escapee from the restricted area? A mental patient?"