Chapter 24


    Chapter 24


    The wrinkle of worry on Julian’s face gradually smoothed out as his eyes grew darker. He locked gazes


    with the woman standing before him. “Are you… Are you threatening me?” he seethed.


    “I only want what I rightfully deserve.” Seraphina’s demand was modest. She had no intention of


    bing greedy, but she was resolute on not relinquishing what was hers


    anymore.


    “Humph…” Julian scoffed, and his gesture was nonchnt-He pulled at the tie around his neck, which


    seemed to be suffocating him, and unbuttoned another button on his shirt. Then, cing his hands on


    his waist, he towered over Seraphina, looking down at her. “What you deserve? What exactly? For


    years, wasn’t it me who covered all your expenses and even paid your rent? What else do you think


    you deserve?”


    Seraphina observed the man standing before her: a face she knew so well and yet, at that moment,


    found so strange. The absurdity of it all struck her.


    This man was unreasonable. He didn’t even feel guilty at all. Seraphina didn’t feel anger towards


    Julian; she was incensed at herself. ‘How could I have been so blinded? How did I fall so deeply for


    such a man? Why couldn’t I see his true colors before?’ She chastised herself.


    Seeing Seraphina fall silent, Julian assumed her guilt and continued his tirade. “Don’t inte your


    importance just because you developed a few perfumes. Who do you think supplied the ingredients?


    Who rented theb? Could you have aplished anything. without my support?”


    Seraphina slowly lifted her gaze to meet his and stated, “So, you do admit that most of Prosperian


    Company’s perfumes were created by me?”


    “Yes, but so what? Without thepany managing operations, marketing, and promotions, could the


    perfumes have sold as well as they did?” Julian eximed, filled with arrogance and confidence, as if


    his statements were incontrovertible.


    However, Seraphina chose not to counter Julian’s wed logic. She simply gave him a pliant smile and


    stated, “In that case, there’s no point in us continuing this argument.”


    With those words, she turned and began to walk away, having fulfilled her purpose, and no longer


    feeling the need to bicker with Julian.


    But Julian didn’t n on letting her go that easily. “Wait!”


    As Julian quickly lunged at her, grabbing for her, he only managed totch onto the hem of her clothes.


    In his forceful pull, something tumbled out from her pocket.


    Chapter 24


    Julian was stunned for a second and subconsciously reached out to pick it up, Seraphina was faster.


    She had already picked it up and held it in her hand.


    but


    “You were recording?” Julian gaped at Seraphina, unable to hide his disbelief. Never did he envision


    the ever-obedient and naive woman he knew to resort to such a tactic.


    “Give it to me!” Julian’s face darkened at once, and he wanted to take the recorder.


    Seraphina wouldn’t allow that to happen. She clenched the recorder and took two steps back. “What


    are you afraid of if you haven’t done anything wrong?”


    Thwarted in his attempt to recover the recorder, Julian glowered at Scraphina and finally stopped his


    pursuit. He then shrugged and shot her a smug smile. “How naive of you! You think a simple recording


    can upset the bnce? I could argue that you’ve doctored this recording, or manipted me into


    saying those things. Moreover, did


    I think I wouldn’t be


    prepared for such situations?”


    “Alright, then. I’ll see you in court!” Seraphina nodded. As soon as she turned around, someone came


    up behind her.


    Seraphina looked back and saw that Julian was still standing there. He unhurriedly took out a cigarette


    from the inner pocket of his suit, lit it slowly, and took a puff.


    Since Julian was so calm, he must have prepared to keep Seraphina here.


    “Are you prepared to resort to force?” Seraphina asked, her eyebrows raised in challenge.


    “I had no intentions of using such measures on you. After all, we’ve spent many years together, haven’t


    we?” Julian drawled. Holding his lit cigarette in one hand, scratching his head with the other, he


    advanced towards her. “But… I’ve tried my best to convince you, rified everything at stake, yet you


    continue being stubborn and nopliant. I guess it’s time to let you cool off. We can talk it over once


    you’ve given it more thought.”


    After saying that, Julian raised his chin and signaled other people. Then he turned around.


    He didn’t need to do such a simple thing himself.


    Behind him, the sounds of scuffling broke out. Annoyed by the approaching noises of disorder, Julian


    was about tomand his men to refrain from creating amotion.


    ‘Surely two b*dyguards could control one woman without creating such a ruckus?’ Julian thought.


    But before he could fully turn around, Julian came to an abrupt halt, frozen on the


    spot.


    O


    14:16 Wed, 31 Jan DS


    Chapter 24


    A sharp wind


    timesed by Julian’s face, and a sharp dagger was pul near his neck almost at


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    the same time.


    The cold, cruel glint from the de testified to its deadly sharpness, making one thing- evident this was


    no toy. Cold sweat broke out on Julian, his teeth chattering from the chilling dread. “What… What are


    you doing?”


    “That should be my question,” Seraphina said coldly.


    At this moment, Seraphina wasn’t weak at all but was extremely fierce.


    “How did you… Julian said hesitatingly and became more confused.


    Julian felt trapped in a surreal nightmare, his reality morphing into something unrecognizable. The


    woman he had known for five years and loved for three, was slowly bing a stranger. He doubted


    whether this was the same Seraphina he knew. Did they just happen to share the same name and was


    this all a cruel confluence?


    “How did I know how to fight?” Seraphina finished Julian’s question for him. Then she sneered,


    “Thanks to you.”


    Julian was dumbstruck, unable toprehend Seraphina’s words. But the cold metal on his skin was a


    harsh slice of reality, forcing him to address the dire situation at hand. “Calm down! It’s dangerous.


    First, let’s drop the weapon.”


    “Julian, I am clear about what I want. Return what is mine, and we’ll be even. It’s simple!” Seraphina’s


    gaze was unrelenting, full of scorn for Julian’s scared, sweat-soaked


    face.


    “Okay. Deal!”


    As soon as Julian said that, the pressure on his neck eased at once. When he calmed down and


    looked up again, he could only see a figure that had gone away.


    His two b*dyguardsid motionless on the floor, powerless against Seraphina’s. unexpected prowess.


    “Da mn it!” Julian cursed under his breath, feeling more anxiety. than anger at the moment. He felt


    things would be trickier than he initially anticipated since his usual approach of sweet talk failed to sway


    Seraphina.


    On her way out, Seraphina flexed her wrist, nning to hail a cab home. ‘I haven’t practiced fighting


    skills in quite a while. I’m a bit rusty now. My hand aches just taking down two guards. It’s clear how


    much I’ve given up for Julian. But now, it’s time to reim what’s mine!” she mused.


    Seraphina was about to hail a cab when a car parked nearby shed its high beams at her. She


    shielded her eyes, squinting against the bright light. Recognizing the car, she heaved a sigh of relief,


    ‘He’s here!’


    14:16 Wed, 31 Jan DG.