Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Ethan Sterling sneered coldly, eyes fixed straight on Seraphina Redgrave: "I am determined to force you, can you resist me?"

"That’s just how I, Ethan Sterling, am. Once I lay eyes on someone, even if they rot away in my arms, they won’t escape my territory."

Ethan looked at Seraphina, his words sounding as if he was describing what he had for dinner.

It seems there’s no room for negotiation.

Seraphina clenched her fists, staring at Ethan.

Ethan spoke again: "Be obedient, stay at my side. Whether you want to destroy the Redgrave Family or continue with your art, you can do either. If you insist on leaving, then watch all opportunities slip through your fingers."

If she doesn’t stay, she’ll have to completely give up on revenge.

"How disgraceful, Young Master Sterling, to resort to such despicable means of coercion."

Sitting in his seat, Ethan tapped lightly on the table, his gaze rampant: "If I were truly despicable, you wouldn’t be standing here, speaking with me so casually."

One way or another, she’d be chained up.

He had given Seraphina enough freedom and respect.

"Young Master Sterling, do you have any sense of morality left?"

Seraphina turned to Ethan, trembling with anger.

If she weren’t standing here casually, what else could she do? Does he intend to lock her up?

"Not forcing myself upon you already counts as my strong sense of morality."

Ethan showed no remorse, his firm words made Seraphina momentarily wonder if she was the one in the wrong.

Ethan was truly insane.

It appeared he genuinely believed he was very moral.

Seraphina felt like grabbing a knife and going for his heart. In that moment of choice, she realized she was caught between resisting and complying.

No matter the choice, it wouldn’t be beneficial for her.

Her fists clenched tighter: "I need to think more about it."

Seraphina turned, but was suddenly pulled back by Ethan, who had stood up without making a sound, his gaze profound: "Tonight, I will come to you."

Seraphina was already contemplating what length of knife to use on him.

Ethan stayed in Hibiscus Garden the whole day. Get full chapters from novel-fire.ɴet

Seraphina sat by the window, occasionally hearing the cries of two maids; looking down through the window, she saw only gun-wielding bodyguards below.

Seraphina realized, with her skills, she could break out single-handedly, but the sight of Nanny Lynch and Granny Coleman standing in front of her when the men in black tried to kill her lingered in her mind.

She couldn’t just abandon them.

"The one who looks older seems to have heart disease, her lips are all purple, will she die suddenly? Should we tell Young Master Sterling?"

"Young Master Sterling doesn’t care if she lives or dies, just take care of yourself."

Two bodyguards changed shifts, walking out of the house where Nanny Lynch and Granny Coleman were held.

Seraphina watched them walk further and further away, until she couldn’t resist, making her way towards the heavily guarded house.

She peered in through the window.

The two maids were full of anguish, faces stained with tears, hands and feet bound, reliving the ordeal from the factory once more.

Seraphina made up her mind, turning towards the kitchen. Such a scene had given her too much of a shock; she had no time to hesitate.

She took out the ingredients she wanted, placing them one by one on the stove.

Then she started boiling water, adding several ingredients known to be highly nutritious for women, beginning to cook.

"What are you doing?"

Nathan Ayers suddenly entered the kitchen, curiously watching Seraphina’s operation.

Seraphina turned and glanced at Nathan, speaking lightly: "I got scared today, just wanted to make some brown sugar water to nourish myself."

Saying this, Seraphina casually grabbed a couple of handfuls of herbs.

Nathan was somewhat confused: "Will this... really nourish you?"

"This is an old remedy I know." Seraphina looked at Nathan, putting down the soup spoon, "Am I also restricted from eating and drinking?"

"No, no, Young Master Sterling likes you so much, he wouldn’t let you go hungry or thirsty."

Nathan saw Seraphina’s unwillingness to engage, laughed bitterly, then turned to leave.

Before going far, he glanced back at Seraphina, watching her slender figure move around in the kitchen.

She’s truly the kind of woman Young Master Sterling would choose.

Even in such a situation, she can still think about cooking something to eat.

Seraphina added a lot of herbs, producing two big bowls of liquid. She inhaled the choking and nauseating smell, resisting the urge to retch.

She had no other choice now.

Seraphina looked at the two bowls as if facing an enemy, moments later, picking one up, she gulped it down.

Two entire bowls of bitter liquid, not leaving a single drop.

Now this was her only course of action.

Whether it works, she’ll leave to fate.

As the sunset descended, Seraphina returned to her room, carefully listening for sounds while passing the study, but there was no one inside.

Seraphina sighed and went back to her bedroom.

As soon as she stepped through the door, she was yanked into the room, the next second, the door slammed shut, trapping her like a bird in a cage.

Ethan stood in the bedroom, gently kneading her wrist, his hot breath fanning over her head, his gaze overflowing with satisfaction: "Very perceptive, it seems you already know what to do."

Ethan’s face was right in front of Seraphina, their breaths intermingled, the room’s temperature gradually rising.

Seraphina leaned against the door, her gaze indifferent: "Young Master Sterling, having agreed to your conditions, what do I get in return?"

There was no room for retreat, so she had to maximize her benefits.

Ethan’s fingertips gently twined around her hair, the other hand tracing down Seraphina’s arm, slowly peeling off her sleeve; his fingers burning, breath scorching, staring at Seraphina’s eyes as if they might ignite. "Being able to stay by my side is already more than enough, what else do you want?"

"I don’t believe you’ll only love me; today there’s Seraphina, tomorrow there’ll be others."

She wouldn’t foolishly place her hopes on a man, currently these are merely balancing moves.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked.

"I want an identity, a clean identity. Right now I have no identity, it’s too difficult." Seraphina bravely looked into Ethan’s eyes.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, was still alive, yet couldn’t have a rightful identity.

Ethan didn’t even hesitate.

"I want to go to Sovereign College." Seraphina continued.

That had been her goal when studying; now she had no strong desire for academics but had reasons to enter this college.

"If you want to learn, I can hire the best teachers for you, why go to school?" Ethan’s gaze roved over Seraphina, gently moving across her delicate skin.

"There’s no need for that, just help me with these things, the rest I’ll figure out myself."

Seraphina spoke calmly.

All other matters were straightforward.

Ethan spoke again: "Regarding the Redgrave Family, do you need me to help you take them down?"

Upon hearing this, Seraphina asked with curiosity: "If you take revenge for me, what do I do?"

She wanted to do it with her own hands.

She wanted to see that arrogant father and daughter beg for mercy at her feet.

"Impressive," Ethan looked at Seraphina in admiration, "Any other requests?"

Seraphina leaned against the door, looking at Ethan’s glassy eyes burning with intense warmth, her heart trembled a little.