He was the one who spent three years nurturing her into someone who relied on him completely, only to personally shove her into the abyss.

This hypocritical display of concern only made her stomach churn.

Xavier looked at the hatred in her eyes, his brow furrowed as an inexplicable frustration clogged his chest.

He suppressed the strange feeling and spoke coldly: "Name your price. Delete the recording."

"In your dreams."

Seraphina turned to leave.

Xavier had expected she wouldn't compromise easily, but seeing her resolute silhouette, he found himself reaching out to grab her wrist as if possessed.

"In three days, it's my engagement party with Sienna. You’re coming."

He paused, his voice dropping low. "Sienna said that you are, after all, her sister in name."

"She doesn't hold a grudge over what happened before; she just wants a sincere blessing from you."

Seraphina sneered inwardly.

Blessings? That wasn't what they wanted.

They clearly wanted to see her in a state of utter humiliation—they wanted her to witness how everything that should have belonged to her was being snatched away by Sienna.

Sienna had suffered such a loss at her hands; how could she possibly let it go?

Seraphina only hoped Sienna’s methods would be a bit more sophisticated, so as not to be too boring.

"Get lost!"

Seraphina violently wrenched her hand away. "I haven't even settled the debt for these last three years, and an illegitimate daughter has already learned how to 'forgive'? How pathetic."

Her words were sharp and biting. Xavier’s face darkened, but just as he was about to speak, her tone suddenly shifted.

"But don't worry. I’ll be there."

She wanted to see them fall from the heights with her own eyes, their reputations ruined.

Xavier stared at her for a long time, and once he was certain she wasn't just speaking out of spite, he slowly nodded.

"That would be for the best."

After leaving the hospital, Seraphina returned to the hotel. Just as she finished washing up, her phone vibrated.

Sienna had sent an image followed by an address.

The image showed an emerald necklace with a pendant carved in the shape of a magnolia blossom.

Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat.

That was her mother’s keepsake.

Before her mother passed away, she had held Seraphina’s hand and said, "On the day you get married, Mommy will put this around your neck."

But after her mother died, the necklace had vanished without a trace.

She had searched for it for seven long years, never imagining it had fallen into Sienna’s hands.

[If you want it, come meet me here at eight o'clock tonight.]

Seraphina’s fingers tightened until her knuckles turned white.

That was the only thing her mother had left for her. She had to get it back!

At 8:00 PM, at a deserted warehouse.

Just as Seraphina pushed the door open, a rush of footsteps sounded from behind her—

Someone kicked her hard in the back of her knees!

"Thud!"

Her knees slammed onto the concrete floor, and a bone-chilling pain exploded instantly. She let out a muffled groan and looked up.

A familiar face came into view.

"Sebastian Vance?"

The son her stepmother had brought into the family—that illegitimate child of unknown paternity.

Seraphina narrowed her eyes as a figure stepped out from behind Sebastian. It was Sienna.

The two of them stood side by side, their eyes gleaming with the same brand of malice.

Seraphina’s gaze swept between the two before she suddenly let out a light laugh.

"What’s this? Can't handle me on your own, so you brought an accomplice?"

"One illegitimate son, one illegitimate daughter... Truly a match made in heaven."

"Shut up!"

"You're asking for death!"

The two shouted simultaneously, their faces turning ugly.

Seraphina tried to stand up, but the sharp pain in her knees made her stumble. She decided to simply sit on the floor and looked up at Sienna.

"Where is the necklace?"

Sienna took two steps closer, unhooked the necklace from her own neck, and dangled it in the air, letting it sway.

"This thing is very important to you, isn't it?"

"Return the half of the estate you took, and I’ll consider giving this back to you. How about it?"

Seraphina’s heart turned cold.

As expected, it was about the money.

She dug her fingers into the ground, her voice icy: "Impossible. That was mine to begin with. Pick another condition."

Sienna’s face darkened. "Then there’s nothing to talk about."

She raised her hand, making a move to throw the necklace away—

Seraphina’s pupils shrank as she lunged forward: "You dare!"

Sebastian was already prepared; he grabbed her arm and slammed her back down to the ground!

"Why waste your breath on her?"

He looked up at Sienna, his gaze venomous.

"Since she won't hand it over, we’ll beat her until she does!"

Chapter 6

Sebastian pinned Seraphina firmly to the ground, his rough palms nearly bruising her skin, causing cold sweat to break out on her forehead.

He let out a scoff, his eyes filled with greed.

"Seraphina, I don't care about the money you took from the Vance family, but what right do you have to touch my mother’s dowry?"

"That should have been mine! Be smart and hand it over if you want to avoid suffering!"

As he spoke, he reached for Seraphina’s bag, intending to dig out the asset contract.

Seraphina dodged while pressing against the ground. "Does an illegitimate son like you think he has a claim to the Vance fortune? If you want it, come and take it yourself!"

"If you move one more inch—"

Sienna’s voice rang out airily. "Your mother’s keepsake won't be safe."

Seraphina’s whole body froze. She looked up sharply.

Sienna was holding the emerald necklace, her fingers already half-relaxed, leaving the chain dangling precariously.

Seraphina’s pupils contracted: "Wait!"

Sienna pulled her hand back with satisfaction, clutching the necklace tight again. "Changed your mind?"

Seraphina scrambled up awkwardly. Looking at the other woman’s triumphant expression, she suddenly smiled.

"Calculating the time, they should be here by now."

"What?" Sienna frowned.

Sebastian also looked toward the door warily. "Stop playing tricks—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the warehouse door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Two figures walked in, one after the other.

It was Arthur and Margaret Vance.

"Dad? Mom?"

Sienna and Sebastian were both stunned.

Arthur walked straight up to Sienna and held out his hand, his voice heavy. "Give me the necklace."

Sienna instinctively moved her hand behind her back. "Dad, this is..."

"Give it to me!"

Arthur’s tone sharpened significantly.

Sienna was intimidated and reluctantly handed the necklace over.

Arthur turned toward Seraphina and placed the necklace in her palm.

"Keep it safe."

Sienna’s eyes widened instantly as she screamed, "Dad! Why are you giving it to her?! That’s clearly mine!"

"Does my mother’s keepsake belong to you just because it’s been in your possession for a few years?"

Seraphina gripped the necklace tight, her voice laced with ice. "You've occupied someone else's place for so long that you've started to believe your own lies?"

Arthur frowned and shot her a glance. "That’s enough."

He then looked at Sienna, his tone stern. "Behave yourself from now on. Don't go provoking your sister again."

Sienna’s eyes turned red, and she wanted to argue further, but Arthur’s cold gaze pinned her to the spot.

On the other side, Margaret glanced indifferently at Sebastian. "Come back with me."

She paused, her gaze as sharp as a knife. "Don't even think about those assets again. That is what she is owed; you won't touch a single cent."

Sebastian clenched his fists tight, his eyes full of resentment, but he didn't dare talk back.

He didn't understand why his mother would rather give the money to an outsider than leave it for her own son.

Seraphina felt a surge of gratification as she watched the two of them, fuming but unable to speak.

She had anticipated that these two would cause trouble, so before leaving, she had sent a message to both Arthur and Margaret.

Not only did she remind them that the Thorne marriage contract must not go wrong, but she also attached evidence of Sienna embezzling the keepsake and Sebastian misappropriating company funds.

For the sake of the project and their reputation, they had to come.

"Thank you."

Seraphina looked at Arthur, her tone calm.

Arthur was taken aback, waving his hand with a complex expression. "...Take care of yourself. Get ready for South Haven soon."

With that, he turned and left.

The warehouse returned to silence.

Seraphina touched the cold necklace in her bag, and the weight on her heart finally lifted.

After a day of turmoil, she was already exhausted.

She had just laid down after returning to the hotel when a call from Joy Evans came through:

"Sera! Look at the trending searches! Something happened!"

Seraphina’s heart tightened. She clicked on the breaking news notification.

A glaring headline jumped out: