Chapter 52: The Ruan Father and Son

Seren Thorne’s attitude was anything but pleasant. Arthur Ruan’s face flushed red with anger almost instantly. "You wild brat! How dare you speak to your biological father like that!"

"With my mouth, obviously," Seren shrugged. "I can't be like you, Mr. Ruan, using my backside to make noise and farting all over the place the moment you walk in."

"You... you! You uneducated wild brat!" Arthur’s chest heaved violently with rage. He raised his hand, intending to give Seren a sharp slap across the face.

However, before his hand could touch her, it was intercepted by another long, powerful hand.

"Which grandson is meddling in my business? I’m disciplining my own daughter—" Arthur glared over furiously, but the moment he saw Alaric Vane’s frost-covered face, he was instantly silenced.

Alaric’s large hand tightened slightly around the man's wrist, his expression cold and sharp. "Mr. Ruan, today is Mr. Moore's funeral. Who exactly is being more disrespectful by causing a scene on such an occasion?"

Although Alaric was married to Seren, he had never once addressed Arthur Ruan as "Father." In the past, it was because he looked down on the Ruan family for selling their daughter; now, it was because he despised the way Arthur used his status as a father to act like a bully toward Seren.

If this man dared to strike Seren in public, there was no telling what he was like in private.

At this thought, Alaric increased the pressure in his grip. Arthur’s wrist was being crushed, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead from the pain.

Despite being Alaric’s father-in-law, Arthur knew the current Vane family was not someone he could afford to offend. He could only endure the pain and force a smile. "My son-in-law is right. I was indeed inconsiderate just now. I’ll be careful in the future."

Looking at Arthur’s cowardly "bully the weak, fear the strong" demeanor, a flash of disgust crossed Alaric’s eyes, and he shoved the man away.

Arthur was a heavy smoker and a longtime alcoholic; his physical condition was much worse than that of an average person. Alaric’s shove sent him staggering back several steps until he landed hard on his buttocks on the floor.

The commotion was a bit loud, and the surrounding guests couldn't help but look over.

Arthur valued his pride above all else. Hearing the whispered discussions around him, he felt utterly humiliated and fueled by a hidden rage. Yet, not daring to offend Alaric, he took his anger out on Silas Ruan, who reached out to help him. As Silas extended a hand, Arthur directly slapped his son across the face.

"You brat! You didn't protect your father just now, what’s the use of helping me up now!"

Arthur was a second-generation rich kid; the Ruan family's wealth had been accumulated during his father’s generation. He had been a profligate son since childhood, and his temper had been spoiled by the late Elder Ruan. He was lazy, selfish, and hypersensitive. At home, he insisted on sitting in the middle seat for dinner, required his food to be brought to him, and often made trouble out of nothing over small matters, using seniority to suppress his children.

Silas Ruan actually didn't like Arthur either, but unfortunately, this man was his father. He could only endure the abuse. He helped Arthur up from the ground and silently brushed the dust off his clothes.

Arthur took his son’s service for granted, shot Seren a dark glare, and continued to curse her in his heart.

Watching Silas bow and scrape before Arthur, Seren thought back to Silas’s arrogant and confident display at the antique shop a while ago and couldn't help but sigh.

{The Ruan sons act so arrogant outside, but in the end, they still can't escape Arthur’s PUA. In front of him, they’re like eunuchs serving an emperor.}

{If these Ruan brothers knew that Arthur also had designs on Sweetie Ruan and had even molested her multiple times, I wonder if they would still be so submissive to this arrogant father of theirs.}

Hearing a voice suddenly appearing in his ear, Arthur was shocked that Seren could speak without moving her mouth, but he was also struck by a wave of panic. No one, not even his wife, knew about the things he did to his younger daughter. How did this little "money-loser" find out?

After hearing Seren’s inner voice, Silas was also stunned. He looked at Arthur in disbelief. "Dad, what have you done to Sweetie? Have you touched her?"

Arthur was extremely guilty, but he refused to admit it. He put on a forceful front and gave Silas a sharp glare. "Sweetie may not be my biological daughter, but I raised her with my own hands. What could I possibly do to her?"

Silas felt his father’s words made sense. Sweetie was raised under his father’s watch, and there was a twenty-year age gap between them. His father couldn't possibly be such a pervert as to like a little girl, right?

Seren: {The old thing really knows how to act. He clearly started liking Sweetie Ruan when she was very small.}

{Speaking of which, the fact that Sweetie Ruan developed the personality of a villainess has everything to do with this old thing Arthur.}

{The others in the Ruan family adopted Sweetie because she looked a bit like the original host, hoping she would soothe Mrs. Ruan's pain over her lost daughter. But this old thing Arthur had crooked thoughts the moment he saw her in the orphanage; that’s why he suggested adopting her.}

{This old man has been handsy with Sweetie since she was six, constantly touching her hands and hugging her. If Sweetie Ruan weren't smart enough, she probably would have been defiled by him long ago.}

{It’s no wonder that in the future, after Sweetie Ruan kills the entire Ruan family, she’ll specifically fish Arthur’s corpse out of the sea to chop it up and feed it to the dogs.}

{Even though the old man didn't cause her any substantial physical harm, he’s truly disgusting.}

Hearing the content of Seren’s thoughts, Silas’s pupils shook with shock. In the past, he wouldn't have believed a word Seren said, but Seren had been right about everything concerning that antique shop owner.

Then, the things his father did to his little sister...

Silas’s face turned slightly pale as he tried to stop himself from overthinking. Seren Thorne has a dirty mind and sees everything as dirty. I must not fall for this woman's tricks!

His father was a bit of a mess and lacked a proper sense of decorum for a man in his fifties, but he had never committed a crime. He couldn't possibly be the pervert Seren described!

Silas tried to convince himself, yet a voice in his heart kept telling him that what Seren said was true. Unable to face the truth, he grabbed the equally pale Arthur and prepared to leave. Since he couldn't shut Seren’s mouth, he would just stay far away.

Arthur was currently feeling guilty and didn't protest even when his son pulled his hand painfully; he scurried away with Silas.

Withdrawing his gaze from the fleeing father and son, Alaric looked down at Seren. Seeing a hint of confusion on her face—as if she didn't know why the pair had suddenly run away—he couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.

This woman usually thought of things that could provoke someone to death. As the target of those thoughts, he had nearly been infuriated, but seeing it happen to outsiders was actually quite amusing.

"It seems you didn't need my help just now."

Seren: "?"

She didn't think she had done anything.

Seeing her bewildered expression, the smile in Alaric’s eyes deepened. He pinched her cheek. "You didn't eat breakfast this morning, did you? Have some cake to line your stomach first."

As he spoke, he picked up a small piece of cake from a nearby table and handed it to her.

Seren hadn't expected Alaric to notice she’d skipped breakfast. She was quite surprised the "dog man" could be so attentive.

"Thanks." She took the cake and had a bite. It was the fruit flavor she liked.

{The dog man is actually not bad; he occasionally knows how to care for people.}

She finished the cake in a fairly good mood. Just as she was about to thank Alaric, she saw two servers walking past the table, whispering to each other.

"Sister Han, is it really okay to bring the cakes from the day before yesterday from the shop? What if someone gets sick?"

The other server said, "Don't worry. These rich people are just here to socialize; no one actually eats the cakes."

Seren, who had just finished a piece of cake: "...