CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42: THE SLAP

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone looked at Seraphina Redgrave as if she were a monster. Some even took two steps back, as though she were a walking danger.

Serena Lowell screamed, her expression as if she was about to vomit, and threw the coat she was holding straight away.

Everyone avoided the direction the coat was thrown as if it were a deadly virus.

Serena stared at Seraphina, on the verge of tears.

She had just grabbed the wrist of a dirty woman from the forbidden area and needed to disinfect thoroughly.

"I heard those from the forbidden area have handcuffs on their wrists that can’t be removed. Was Mia Redgrave trying to verify this?"

As soon as the words were said, everyone’s gaze was drawn to Seraphina’s wrist.

Indeed.

That bandage was really strange, and no one had heard of any trendy decoration involving bandaging one’s hand.

Seraphina showed no emotion, looking at the chaos and people avoiding her like the plague, her cold gaze fixed on Mia Redgrave: "Miss Redgrave, there should be a limit to your slander. It’s one thing to accuse me of stealing your necklace, but claiming I’m from the forbidden area, what are you up to?"

Mia had been waiting for this moment for too long and could no longer hold back. She rushed forward and ripped off the already tattered bandage.

"We’ll soon see whether I’m slandering you!"

The bandage was completely torn off, revealing Seraphina’s fair wrist beneath it.

Instead of handcuffs from the forbidden area, it was an exquisite jade bracelet.

The room fell completely silent, and a pin drop could be heard.

Mia clutched the torn bandage tightly, staring at Seraphina’s wrist, her eyes blazing with disbelief: "How can it be! How could this happen!"

Her face twisted, no longer the elegance of a young miss.

Mia discarded her pretenses, gripping Seraphina’s wrist tightly, staring incredulously at the exquisite jade bracelet: "Where is it? Where did you hide your handcuffs? Where are the handcuffs from the forbidden area?"

Where had the handcuffs on Seraphina’s wrist gone? They were not something that could be easily removed.

The young masters in attendance watched Mia’s expression in disbelief, unable to comprehend why the usually gentle and charming Mia would become so unruly.

Seraphina skillfully freed her wrist from Mia’s grip, then slapped her.

"Smack!"

A crisp sound echoed.

The room filled with the sound of people gasping.

Mia stood dazed, her hand trembling as she touched her stinging face: "Are you crazy?"

Mia was so angry that she forgot to retaliate.

Seraphina was always so obedient, like a little kitten, only wagging her tail in front of her. Who could have thought she would actually strike?

Tears welled up in Mia’s eyes, filled with both shock and rage.

"What, didn’t you say I’m a lunatic from the forbidden area?"

Seraphina sneered.

Serena was also stunned, looking back and forth between Mia and Seraphina. Could this woman actually be a lunatic? The Redgrave Family was powerful; how dare she?

Serena screamed sharply: "Security! Get this madwoman out of here quickly!"

Hearing Serena’s voice, Mia snapped back to reality, her face immediately wearing a pitiful expression: "How could you! I was just worried because I lost something, how could you do this to me?"

Mia’s pitiful voice paired with her injured face stirred the hearts of countless wealthy heirs present.

They couldn’t help but speak up for Mia: "Mia didn’t do anything, did she? Are you mad?"

"Is she really a lunatic from the forbidden zone?"

"Hand her over to security, she’s disgusting!"

In the corridor on the top floor, Ethan Sterling watched silently at the girl in a dark green gown in the center of the dance floor, his gaze cool.

His judgment was indeed correct; the dress suited her.

Nathan Ayers secretly glanced at the twenty-first floor; those rich heirs practically wished for Seraphina’s demise.

Seraphina really, why come alone, where any wealthy heir or heiress here could easily handle her, someone from the forbidden zone?

If it weren’t for Ethan backing her, she would just be a madwoman struggling to survive in the forbidden zone.

Nathan glanced carefully at Ethan’s expression, seeing that he didn’t seem opposed to Seraphina’s non-bullying behavior, so he cautiously asked, "Young Master Sterling, should I go help..."

"No need." Ethan’s eyes reflected a hint of interest, "I want to see how this Little Rose will handle things."

"Understood."

Nathan said no more, watching how things would unfold on the twenty-first floor.

Seraphina was being insulted by the crowd around her, while Serena flaunted her newfound power, and Mia silently wept, clutching her face.

A lascivious rich heir rushed up, intending to grab Seraphina’s wrist: "Dare to make trouble in Kaelor? I’ll personally take you to security."

He spoke as he reached places he shouldn’t, trying to take advantage.

Ethan’s expression changed, his eyes showing killing intent.

Seraphina calmly brushed off the greasy hand, her expression indifferent: "If you don’t behave, the Young Family will disappear from Sovereign today."

Seraphina spoke so lightly, with a gentle voice, yet no one thought she was bluffing.

The Young Master instinctively took half a step back, not daring to move his frivolous hand again.

Moments later, he realized how embarrassing his behavior had been, angrily saying: "Just all talk, huh? Hundred years of the Young Family’s foundation, as if you could make it disappear! Who do you think you are?"

"Indeed, I’m insignificant and don’t catch your eye, but those behind me, even a thousand Young Families wouldn’t dare offend."

Seraphina said coldly.

Nathan watched the drama from the top floor, unable to resist speaking: "Young Master Sterling, Seraphina might drop your name as her backing."

Realizing he had crossed a line as soon as he spoke, Nathan prepared to apologize for his loose mouth but noticed a flicker of satisfaction in Ethan’s eyes.

Nathan froze, swallowing back the apology he was about to make. Ethan seemed more than willing to be used by this girl?

Nathan couldn’t comprehend.

Was Young Master Sterling still the resolute Young Master Sterling he knew?

"Little Rose is too naive, thinking that using my name will save her, but without anyone to vouch for her, it’s just a joke."

Ethan chuckled softly: "Go, appear at the right time, and acknowledge her story."

Otherwise, Seraphina would end up extremely humiliated today.

Initially, he just wanted to see how entertaining this Little Rose would be; since she claimed to be under Ethan’s protection, he had no reason not to protect her.

"Understood."

Just as Nathan was about to turn, a shrill female voice yelled, "The people behind you? Tell us who they are, then?"

"I am Shaw."

Seraphina smiled lightly, her red lips parted, uttering three words.

Shaw? What does that mean?

In such a critical moment, why not report Ethan’s name?

Nathan paused briefly, turning to see Ethan’s smile vanish entirely.

Nathan shivered as the pressure suddenly dropped.

In the center of the twenty-first floor dance floor, Serena sneered: "Why say that, no one here cares what your name is, seriously funny."

Mia’s eyes nearly overflowed with sarcasm.

Seraphina wouldn’t have mentioned that ridiculous fake name of hers again, right?

Too naive, even if she got an ID made by Ronan Yates, she dares to mention it?

"Don’t you know that Kaelor’s owner is a Shaw?"

There was a faint smile in Seraphina’s eyes, her slender fingers drifting over her beautiful dark green gown.

"What does Kaelor’s owner have to do with you..."

Serena was about to retort, only to suddenly realize, looking at the young heirs around her, each one wearing an expression of surprise.

Wait, could this woman actually be from the Shaw Family?

The Shaw Family, a lineage that had held sway in Z country for hundreds of years, reportedly based in the south of Z country, known publicly for their business, the very Kaelor hotel they were currently in!