Chapter 10: Just How Badly Does This Woman Want to Push Him Away?

With Seren Thorne right there, Alaric Vane couldn't exactly tell the others that she would run away the moment she got her hands on the money. He could only sit there with a darkened face, enduring everyone’s contemptuous stares.

Seren, completely oblivious to this, was busy stuffing her face.

In her past life, she was broke and had never tasted many delicacies. Since her rebirth earlier that day, she had eaten more dishes than she could count, and she felt immensely satisfied.

Once she was full, she checked the time and prepared to head out for a walk to digest her food—and perhaps run into the male and female leads.

{This is the historic first meeting of the leads; I have to go see the drama for myself.}

Alaric sneered inwardly.

Did she want to see the "leads," or did she just want to see Sebastian North?

As soon as Seren left, he stood up and followed her out of the banquet hall, trailing at a discreet distance.

After they departed, Dominic Vane tapped his temple and asked Arthur Vane, "Dad, is something wrong with Seren’s head?"

He could begrudgingly accept the foresight, but what on earth were these "male lead" and "female lead" things? Seren didn't actually think they were living in a book, did she?

Arthur replied, "There’s no need to ask too many questions. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss."

Dominic caught the meaning behind his father’s words. It seemed the old man believed what Seren said. However, regardless of whether their world was a book or not, as long as he was alive, everything before him was real.

"I understand."

Jasper Vane was also lost in thought, leaving only Vivienne Vane completely bewildered. Had the Vane family gone mad tonight? Why was everyone speaking in riddles? Was her poison already taking effect?

...

Seren searched the surrounding area and quickly located Sebastian North’s position.

This was a bustling commercial district, and there was only one dark alley that matched the description in the book; it wasn't hard to find.

She spotted a heavily injured Sebastian North lying dying in a corner, looking as though he might breathe his last at any moment.

Seren went into the building across from the alley, pulled out a bag of melon seeds she had bought earlier, and hid by the window to watch, waiting for the heroine’s "damsel saves hero" moment.

After about ten minutes, the heroine, Evangeline Frost, appeared, having just finished overtime and heading home. She wore a clean T-shirt and long pants, with her hair pulled back in a simple ponytail—a look that was plain yet capable. Her fair, pretty face evoked a natural desire to protect her.

Even without being the male lead, Seren felt her heart flutter. "This heroine is just too beautiful. The male lead is truly blind to mistake her for someone else later."

"What male lead and female lead?"

A deep, magnetic male voice suddenly sounded behind her, making Seren jump.

She turned to see Alaric Vane and couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Don't you make a sound when you walk? You scared the life out of me."

After complaining, she asked, "Are you stalking me?"

Alaric admitted it quite candidly. "Yes. You were acting suspicious, so I thought you were out meeting someone in secret. I came to catch you in the act."

Seren was speechless. "Do I look like the type of woman who would cheat? Even if I were to keep a 'boy toy,' I’d at least wait until our divorce."

Alaric huffed. "Then I’m afraid you won't be keeping any boy toys in this lifetime. I won't divorce you."

Seren didn't believe him, thinking: {In this lifetime? As if. In a few months when you fall for the heroine, you’ll probably kick me out yourself before I even have to ask.}

Thinking of the heroine, Seren looked back out the window. According to the original timeline, Alaric shouldn't have met the heroine for another four months. She wondered if this premature encounter would affect the plot.

Seeing Evangeline Frost struggling to carry Sebastian out of the alley, she asked Alaric, "See that girl? What do you think of her?"

Alaric glanced over with zero interest. "Average. Too thin. Not pretty."

Seren curled her lip.

{Stubborn as a mule. Now: 'Average.' A few months later: 'Baby, you're the most beautiful woman in the world, I'll love you more than Sebastian ever could, please just look at me, wahhhh!'}

Visualizing Alaric’s humble pleading for love, Seren couldn't help but burst out laughing. When that time came, she was definitely going to jump out and mock him. This arrogant "dog man" would finally have his day.

Alaric looked down at the gloating smile on Seren’s face and reached out to pinch her cheek. To his surprise, it was quite soft and felt nice to the touch.

Pretending to be ignorant, he asked, "What are you giggling about? Thinking of something bad again?"

"Take your claws off me, you're rubbing off my foundation." Seren swatted his hand away, sounding resentful. "What could I be thinking? I'm definitely not bad-mouthing you, don't worry."

She looked back outside and saw that Evangeline Frost, lacking the strength, was nearly pinned to the ground by the unconscious Sebastian. Evangeline Frost tried to flag down several taxis, but the drivers saw her carrying a bloodied man and sped off to avoid trouble.

Seren tugged at Alaric’s sleeve. "Why don't you go over and help that girl? It looks like she’s about to collapse."

{It must be because he's standing too far away that he can't see the heroine’s peerless beauty. If he gets closer, he’ll probably fall for her instantly, and then I can divorce him smoothly and get my settlement. Nice!}

Alaric’s face went cold. Just how badly did this woman want to push him away?

"No."

Seren tried to persuade him a few more times to no avail and eventually gave him a look of pure disdain.

{Dog man, I gave you a chance and you blew it! You really have no sense of gallantry. No wonder you never get the girl and end up being sent to Northern Myanmar by the male lead to have your parts sold off. You won't even leave a whole corpse.}

Alaric ground his teeth. What absolute nonsense.

Ruin his life and come to a tragic end for the sake of a woman? Did Seren think he was an idiot?

He grabbed Seren by the back of her collar and began hauling her away. "We're going back. The banquet should be over by now."

Seren wanted to keep watching the leads, but her strength was no match for Alaric’s, so she was forced to follow.

By the time they returned to the hotel, the banquet had ended. Vivienne Vane had already left, leaving the rest of the Vanes waiting at the entrance. Jasper Vane’s face was incredibly grim, as if he were arguing with Dominic.

As Seren approached, she heard that it was, once again, about Vivienne.

An hour ago, Dominic had sent their cups for testing. The results were back: they indeed contained a neurotoxin. The poison was colorless and odorless, and while it would be metabolized out of the system within days, the damage to the nerves was permanent. The victim wouldn't notice anything wrong initially; they would simply grow more foolish day by day.

Dominic had made an excuse to send Vivienne away before reading the report. Now that the results were confirmed, he wanted nothing more than to go back and tear Vivienne and her lover to pieces.

However, Jasper refused to believe the results. He suspected that Arthur or Seren had tampered with the test and was blocking Dominic from leaving.

"Dad, haven't you seen Mom’s devotion to us all these years? If she were really poisoning us long-term, why is my mind still normal? I haven't shown any signs of becoming an idiot!"

{Tsk. This young master has been dead last in every exam this semester. His classmates all call him 'Simpleton Jasper,' yet he has the nerve to say he hasn't turned into an idiot. What a dreamer.}