CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: YOUR MAN

Sovereign, who would dare to challenge Ethan Sterling?

"Ethan Sterling."

Leo Lynch uttered his name, his eyes fixed on the elevator doors, leaving no need for further explanation.

"Ethan Sterling?!

The middle-aged man’s expression changed instantly. Could that person be The Reaper, who ruled over Sovereign with an iron fist?

The next second, the middle-aged man could barely stand.

Leo Lynch couldn’t quite understand why Ethan Sterling seemed hostile towards him despite their lack of previous interactions.

Not long after leaving Kaelor, Seraphina Redgrave saw Mia Redgrave being carried out by Jonathan Redgrave, curled up in her father’s embrace and covered by his coat.

Seraphina watched as Jonathan showed affection towards his daughter, her eyes revealing a hint of self-mockery.

Mia indeed was luckier. No matter the trouble, she could always rely on her family’s protection.

Seraphina stopped looking at them and set off on her own path.

The night in Sovereign was particularly quiet, with the cool breeze blowing gently.

A faint hum of a car engine came from behind.

Seraphina knew that Jonathan had seen her face and still harbored doubts about her identity.

The person behind her must have been sent by Jonathan.

With a slight smirk, she confidently walked into a nearby convenience store, bought a large bag of snacks, and then turned into a dark alley.

The car was forced to stop at the alley’s entrance.

Seraphina walked unhurriedly, hearing footsteps of a man following her.

She reached the depths of the alley, where several cardboard boxes were piled up for unknown purposes. Expertly, she mimicked a cat’s meow, and several nimble creatures emerged from the boxes, soon followed by two large dogs.

She opened the newly bought small packet of cat food and placed it on the ground.

The small creatures immediately gathered around, mewing as they ate.

Seraphina then opened a packet of dog food, prompting the two dogs to fight over the food, each trying to monopolize it.

Seraphina’s eyes turned cold, as if she saw herself in those dire circumstances.

Living like a beast.

The small amount wasn’t enough for them, so they turned their gaze to the bag in Seraphina’s hand, eyes unfriendly.

Seeing them adequately worn down, Seraphina lightly curled her lips and threw the food backward, hitting the man who had followed her in.

The animals, caring little for anything else, leapt toward the food. The hungry dogs even began to tear at the man’s flesh.

"Ah!!!!"

"Help!!!!"

The agonized screams pierced the night.

Seraphina glanced without seeing the man’s plight, stepping around the feasting animals and out of the alley.

Having shrugged off the man, Seraphina didn’t head straight for Hibiscus Court. Instead, she turned into the city center stadium.

She went directly to the outdoor track, where not a soul was present, only accompanied by the stark white lights.

Seraphina casually found a seat in the bleachers and took out a beer from the bag.

Perhaps no one remembered, it was her birthday today too.

Mia once said they were born on the same day of the same month of the same year, with identical astrological signs.

Mia’s birthday was always celebrated lavishly, but Seraphina, merely an adopted member of the Redgrave Family, never dared to celebrate with the legitimate daughter.

Every year, she could only have a piece of Mia’s birthday cake, nothing more.

But today was different. This year, just like herself, Mia couldn’t celebrate her birthday.

Although, Seraphina herself still wasn’t able to truly celebrate her birthday.

"Happy birthday, Seraphina."

Seraphina took a sip of beer and lightly said to herself.

Then downed it in one go.

When Seraphina was adopted by the Redgrave Family, she was very obedient and never dared to step out of line. Without alcohol in the restricted area, she didn’t know her own tolerance.

She was drunk, her vision starting to blur.

The night sky was covered with thick clouds, hiding the stars and moon. On this lonely night, she sat alone, with no one willing to accompany her.

Seraphina disliked the cold loneliness, filled with it long enough. She bowed her head, took out more alcohol, and drank.

Until she was so drunk that she couldn’t lift her hands, leaning back against the seat, the world before her began to spin.

Footsteps approached from afar, stopping at her side.

Seraphina didn’t have the strength to look up.

A man dressed in a gray coat sat beside her, his eyes showing unreadable emotions as he looked at the completely drunk woman and spoke: "Seraphina?"

Seraphina’s ears were ringing, but she still heard someone calling her name, responding with a soft "Hmm."

Her voice, soft and tender, made one’s heart itch.

Ethan Sterling sat beside Seraphina, calmly speaking: "Why are you drinking alone?"

Seraphina curled her lips and said self-deprecatingly: "Because no one is willing to celebrate with me, I celebrate on my own."

"Celebrate what?"

Ethan sat beside her, his voice resonant like a cello.

The man’s chiseled features appeared even more striking under the stark white lights, his deep eyes seemingly wanting to draw one in.

Seraphina thought for a moment: "Celebrate my survival? After all, they all don’t want me alive."

She was adopted by the Redgrave Family to shield Mia from an unavoidable fate.

The words caused Ethan Sterling to squint his eyes slightly.

They don’t want her alive?

Suddenly, she turned abruptly, tilting her head to look at Ethan, her eyes misty and confused, "Who are you?"

Was she drunk enough not to recognize him?

Her delicate face tinted with a faint red added a touch of allure, her clear eyes unwaveringly fixed on him. The gown, whose style he personally selected, fit her perfectly, and the jade bracelet on her wrist was the perfect accessory.

Ethan Sterling gazed deeply at Seraphina. His eyes, a deep shade resembling something enchantingly captivating, made him swallow lightly.

Slowly, he leaned closer to Seraphina, his hand sliding from her seaweed-like hair down to her neck.

His thumb unconsciously caressed the tender skin, eyes fixed on Seraphina: "What’s your relationship with that Lynch boy?"

After leaving Kaelor, Nathan Ayers had dutifully informed him that the person was the second son of the Lynch Family.

Ethan Sterling’s voice was calm, with no expression as he queried, but his fingers already clenched her slender neck.

If her answer didn’t please him, Seraphina might not know what fate awaited her.

"What son?"

"Leo Lynch."

He slowly uttered the name, fingers tightening unconsciously.

A bit tighter, and the girl would become a lost soul under his hands.

"What nonsense? I don’t know."

Seraphina looked at the man’s beautiful amber eyes, finding them incredibly captivating.

Good.

It was the answer he wanted.

Ethan Sterling’s grip relaxed, his fingers gently brushing the back of her neck as if petting a cat. He observed the girl’s clear eyes: "You want to know who I am?"

"Mm-hmm."

Seraphina was very curious about who this man was, though she was too drunk to see clearly.

"I’m your man."