In a dimly lit basement, Ethan sat at a table, looking at the transfer records, the technician's testimony, and the original surveillance footage. His face was finally a mask of frigid iron.

The footage clearly showed that the person who had pushed his grandfather was indeed Eva Vance.

Chapter 17

"Why?"

Ethan lunged to his feet and grabbed Eva’s chin in a vice-like grip, his eyes burning with a murderous rage as if he wanted to tear her apart limb from limb.

"You bitch! Why did you do it?"

Eva felt as though her jaw was about to be crushed by his strength. Yet, she suddenly burst into laughter—a wild, hysterical sound.

"I did everything for you! Ethan Cross, you never truly looked at me! From beginning to end, your heart only held Seraphina Thorne! Why does she get to be the precious daughter of the Thorne family, born with everything? Why are your eyes only reserved for her?"

"I was jealous of her, I hated her! So I wanted to destroy everything she had, including you!"

Eva’s gaze turned feral.

"I thought that as long as her reputation was ruined, you would finally see me. But I never imagined that even while you hated her, you would still have her in your heart!"

"Ethan, we are the same kind of people. Both loving someone who doesn't love us back, both ignored, both discarded like trash. You call me a bitch? Then what are you? You’re just as pathetic as I am!"

Ethan gripped her chin, the crimson in his eyes threatening to consume her. He suddenly released his hand, and Eva collapsed to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet she maintained that deranged smile.

"The same kind of people?"

Ethan’s voice was as cold as tempered ice.

"No matter how low I sink, I would never use such sinister methods to harm the innocent. You and I have never walked the same path."

"Keep her locked up. Be careful—don't let her die too easily."

A flicker of light suddenly ignited in Eva’s eyes.

"Ethan, you still have feelings for me, don't you? Have you finally fallen in love with me?"

Ethan sneered, mockingly patting Eva’s cheek with a dark, brooding tone.

"Once I find Sera, I’m going to use you to apologize to her."

Eva’s eyes widened, and she struggled to pull away from him.

"I won't! Ethan, if you do this, I will hate you forever!"

Ethan stared at Eva’s face—which so closely resembled Seraphina’s—for a long time. His gaze held a moment of fleeting nostalgia before turning cold and sharp. He gave a light, chilling laugh.

"Many people hate me; one more won't make a difference. Find a plastic surgeon and change her face. I never want to see her standing before me with a face like Sera's again."

Eva felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She clutched her face, frantically kicking and screaming at the guards.

"How dare you! This is my own face, I won't change it! Ethan Cross! You can't do this to me!"

Powerless to resist, Eva was dragged away by the bodyguards.

Ethan turned to instruct his secretary.

"Keep searching for Seraphina Thorne. Even if you have to flip the entire city upside down, find her."

Stealing out of the basement, the midday sun was blindingly bright, yet Ethan felt a chill deep in his bones. He drove to the apartment where he had once imprisoned Seraphina. Her scent still lingered in the rooms, but the place was long since deserted.

The camera was still mounted in its place, the screen frozen on her face—vivid with shame, anger, and defiance.

Ethan reached out to touch the screen. The cold sensation brought a sudden, sharp pain to his heart.

"Sera, I was wrong."

He slid down against the wall and sat on the floor, dropping his mask in public for the first time. His voice was choked with sobs.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his entire contact list, but he couldn't find a single way to reach her. The Thorne family’s old residence had been sealed, and her father’s corporate accounts were frozen. The father and daughter had vanished like mist, leaving no trace behind.

For the next month, Ethan halted all expansion projects of the Cross Group, focusing all his energy on finding Seraphina. Every night he failed to find her, he couldn't sleep. He could only lie on the bed she had once occupied, numbing himself with alcohol.

Chapter 18

After waking up from another night of heavy drinking, Ethan received a call from his bodyguards.

They reported that Arthur Thorne had made a payment at a private hospital on the outskirts of the city half a month ago under the name "Mr. Chen"—likely an alias. Ethan’s heart leaped into his throat as he sped toward the hospital.

He found the director and, after identifying himself, urgently inquired about the patient under the name "Mr. Chen."

The director looked conflicted, stammering that patient privacy could not be breached.

Ethan was practically begging.

"Director, the person I'm looking for is vital to me. I know she was seriously injured. I just want to see her, to make sure she's okay."

Perhaps it was the sheer desperation in his voice, or perhaps it was the undeniable influence of the Cross Group. The director finally relented and gave him Seraphina’s room number.

Ethan rushed toward the room but stopped short at the door. He took a deep breath and pushed it open gently.

Seraphina was fast asleep on the bed, her face as white as paper. Faint blue bruises still lingered on her skin, and her arms were wrapped in thick bandages. Arthur Thorne was sitting by the bedside, carefully tucking in the corners of her blanket.

Hearing the movement, Arthur looked up. When he saw Ethan, his gaze instantly turned frigid. He stood up to block the bed.

"Who gave you permission to come in? Get out!"

Arthur’s voice was low, but vibrating with fury.

"Uncle Arthur, I know I was wrong. I’m here to apologize."

Ethan lowered himself completely.

"I’ve cleared everything up. Grandfather’s death had nothing to do with Sera. It was Eva Vance."

"So what if you cleared it up?"

Arthur let out a cold laugh.

"My daughter’s child is gone. Can one 'I was wrong' compensate for all the suffering she endured? You were the one who handed her over to Zheng; you were the one who watched her be tortured. What use is saying this now?"

Arthur’s words were like daggers stabbing into Ethan’s heart. He looked at the lifeless Seraphina on the bed, his eyes reddening.

"I know my sins are heavy. I don't ask for her forgiveness; I only ask to stay by her side to take care of her and make amends."

"I don't need it!"

Seraphina’s voice suddenly rang out. She slowly opened her eyes, her gaze as calm as a stagnant pool without a single ripple, as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

"Please leave. I don't want to see you."

"Sera..."

Ethan’s voice broke, his tall frame trembling slightly.

"I know you hate me, but I truly know I was wrong. I’ll do anything you ask, just please don't drive me away."

"Anything?"

A mocking smile touched Seraphina’s lips.

"Then give me back my child. Give me back everything of mine that you destroyed. Can you do that?"

Ethan was speechless.

He knew that some things, once lost, could never be recovered. He remained silent for a long time before whispering.

"I can't do that. But I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I’ve already transferred half of the Cross Group’s shares to your name. Zheng and Eva are locked up—if you want, I’ll bring them to you."

Ethan racked his brain for anything that might make her happy, like a child seeking approval.

"And those people who participated in the video auction... I’ve already made them pay the pri—"

"Enough."

Seraphina interrupted him, her eyes filled with irony.

"I don't need your money, and I don't need you to seek revenge for me."

"You’ve retaliated against everyone who humiliated me, but have you ever considered that the person who hurt me the most was you, Ethan Cross!"

Chapter 19

Ethan swayed, nearly losing his footing.

Of course he knew.

How could he not know that the deepest wounds were inflicted by his own hands?

But even when he mistakenly believed she had killed his grandfather, he couldn't let go. Now that he knew he had wronged her, it was even more impossible to let go. He wanted to stay by her side to atone for his sins. Even if she never forgave him, as long as he could stay with her, it would be enough.

Seraphina looked at him coldly.

"Ethan Cross, my child is gone, and my dignity was trampled under your feet. How do you compensate for that?"