Ethan Sterling and Seraphina Thorne left the vacation spot and returned to the Sovereign Villa District by dusk.
Ethan took the luggage out of the car, and Seraphina hurried over to help.
The two walked into the living room together, and as Ethan carried the luggage upstairs, soone knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Seraphina opened the door to see Nathan Foster standing outside and quickly invited him into the living room, "Nathan, please co in!"
"I saw soone here earlier and wondered who it could be. I didn’t expect it would be you moving in," Nathan surveyed the surroundings, "The two of you just moved in and didn’t even tell ?"
Seraphina smiled slightly, "We went out for fun these past few days, otherwise... I originally planned to invite you and Chloe over for a visit."
After letting Nathan sit on the sofa, Seraphina got up and headed downstairs.
"Honey, look who’s here?"
Ethan ca down from upstairs, saw Nathan, and greeted him with a smile.
"What brings the esteed Attorney Foster here?"
"Nathan, you two chat, I’ll go boil so water for tea."
"No need." Nathan’s gaze settled on Ethan, "I have sothing to discuss with Ethan."
"What is it?" Ethan descended the stairs, "Is there progress on the case?"
"It’s not about the case...." Nathan glanced at Seraphina, "I rember Seraphina having respiratory issues; let’s go outside for a smoke?"
"It’s quite cold outside; why not smoke in the living room?" Seraphina spoke with a smile, "I’m fine."
Ethan noticed Nathan’s expression, realizing he wanted to speak privately, and took the coat from the rack.
"Honey, could you boil so water and make us two cups of tea? We’ll be back after a smoke."
"Be quick then, it’s turning cold these days, pretty chilly out there."
Seraphina smiled and reminded them. The two n smiled back at her, walked out of the living room one after the other.
Walking along the pathway, they arrived near the greenery in the center of the community. Ethan stopped.
Taking out a pack of cigarettes, he removed one and lit it, placing it between his lips.
"What happened?"
Nathan didn’t smoke, and Ethan knew that.
He was intentionally suggesting they smoke outside—just a pretext.
Nathan solemnly locked his gaze onto Ethan’s face.
"What’s really going on with you and Seraphina?"
" and Seraphina?" Ethan exhaled a thin plu of pale blue smoke, "What do you an?"
"I’ve checked your marriage date and know so details."
Nathan’s brows furrowed, his eyes holding a deep gaze.
"Ethan, tell the truth, are you using Seraphina?"
Through the smoke, Ethan squinted and flicked off the ash.
"What do you think?"
"I’m asking you!"
"?" Ethan turned to et Nathan’s gaze directly, "We’ve known each other for six years, and in your eyes, am I just a scoundrel who would use any ans for business gains?"
"I..." Nathan shook his head, "I don’t believe you’re capable of such actions, that’s why I’m asking."
"If you didn’t believe I’d do such things, you wouldn’t have asked at all."
Ethan took a deep drag of his cigarette, lifting his head, releasing a long puff towards the gloomy sky.
"The mont you asked, you stopped believing in ."
"I know I shouldn’t doubt you, but..." Nathan stepped forward, gripping Ethan’s arm, "Seraphina’s already lost so much; I don’t want anyone to hurt her anymore, besides... Chloe..."
"That’s the main issue, right?" Ethan tossed the cigarette to the ground, stomped it out hard, "Your real concern isn’t Seraphina but Chloe Foster."
"I..."
Nathan stumbled back a couple of steps, sat weakly on a nearby bench.
"Sorry, Ethan, I know this is your private matter, I shouldn’t pry, but..." he sat up slowly, "Could you give a cigarette?"
Ethan raised his hand, tossing him the pack and lighter.
Nathan took out a cigarette, lit it, awkwardly inhaling, imdiately coughing heavily.
After a while, he stood back up from the bench.
"Ethan, six years as friends, I ask you plainly: did you marry Seraphina for Zenith Group’s equity?"
Ethan started to laugh.
First a small chuckle, then burst into laughter.
Laughter that ended with him coughing.
"I always thought we were like brothers, but now it seems I was wrong! Seraphina is still waiting for , I’ll go back first."
"Ethan!" Nathan grabbed his arm, "I’m just asking for the truth, is it so difficult?"
"The truth?" Ethan shook off his hand, "Even if I told you, would you believe ?"
Nathan froze.
Not far away, Seraphina wrapped in a shawl walked over.
Originally wanting to invite them back for tea, she heard their argunt and rushed over.
"Nathan!" Seraphina stepped forward and stood before Ethan, "Stop asking; marrying Ethan was my choice. Transferring Zenith’s shares to him was also my choice. I did this because I trust him; I trust he can manage Zenith well and pull it from this mire."
"But..." Nathan frowned, "What about you? Marrying him like this, what does it an? Seraphina, how could you do sothing so foolish?"
When he t Caleb, Seraphina was just a baby.
To say, he watched Seraphina grow up bit by bit.
Though they hadn’t been in touch over the years, in Nathan’s view, that adorable little tagalong was akin to a sister to him.
He visited Caleb in prison, his long-ti friend, who repeatedly begged him to care for Seraphina.
For the Thorne Family, for Zenith Group, for revenge...
Sacrificing herself, marrying a man she doesn’t love.
Nathan couldn’t accept Seraphina’s decision.
Especially because the person forcing her to make this choice was Nick Sterling—his closest friend.
"I know what I’m doing." Seraphina straightened her back, "I won’t regret it."
Nathan wanted to say more, but Ethan had already taken off his coat and draped it over Seraphina’s shoulders, wrapping his arm around her.
"It’s cold outside; let’s go back."
Without looking at Nathan again, Ethan held Seraphina’s shoulders, stepping swiftly toward The Thorne Estate.
Nathan stood there, taking a step forward, wanting to speak but unsure what to say.
He finally sank into the bench, raising his hands to cover his head.
Soone approached, resting their hand on his shoulder.
Nathan lifted his face to see Chloe Foster standing in front of him and quickly stood up.
"Why are you out here?"
"Sorry, big brother." Chloe lowered her head, "Because of , you and Ethan ended up arguing."
"It’s not like that, it’s not your fault." Nathan gently tightened her coat, "Let’s head ho!"
Chloe nodded, walking with him towards Foster Villa.
But her eyes couldn’t help but drift towards the distant Thorne manor—the direction Ethan had gone.
Nathan turned his face, noticing her behavior, and quietly sighed.
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