Xavier listened coldly until he finished, then let out a scoff. "Your family deceived me to this extent, and you still want to continue the marriage? In your dreams."

He made a move to shut the door.

Arthur hurriedly braced his hand against the doorframe. "President Sterling! I know Sienna made a mistake, but we must think of the big picture! If this continues, both families will be dragged down by public opinion! By then, Sienna’s little fault will be nothing!"

Xavier’s movements paused. He had his own ways of handling public opinion and the old case, though the cost wouldn't be small. Previously, he believed his heart belonged to Sienna, which was why he was willing to marry. Now that he had seen her true face, only disgust remained.

A thought suddenly flashed into his mind—the Vance family didn't just have one daughter. If a marriage alliance was absolutely necessary... why couldn't he change the person?

He slowly released the doorknob and looked at Arthur, a thin, cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth. "Continuing the alliance isn't out of the question. But the candidate has to change."

Arthur was stunned. "Aside from Sienna, who else could..."

"Seraphina Vance." Xavier interrupted him, dark undercurrents swirling in his eyes. "Isn't she your daughter as well?"

Chapter 15

"No!"

Arthur refused instinctively, the words blurted out before he could think.

Xavier narrowed his eyes, his tone turning dangerously cold. "Why not? You couldn't possibly think that after Sienna committed such a shameful act, I would still marry her without a grudge? The fact that I haven't settled the score with her yet is already a mercy!"

"No... that’s not what I meant." Seeing Xavier’s grim expression, Arthur explained hurriedly, "It’s not that I’m unwilling to change, it’s that I cannot change!"

"What do you mean?" Xavier’s brow furrowed deep.

"Seraphina..." Arthur’s Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to spit out the rest of the sentence. "She has already married into the Thorne family in South Haven. It’s impossible for her to marry you now."

The sentence was like a clap of thunder striking Xavier’s ears. His blood seemed to freeze instantly, and his mind went blank. He almost couldn't comprehend what the man was saying.

"...What did you say? What do you mean... 'already married into the Thorne family'? How could she get married? How is it possible for her to be married?!"

"The Thorne family offered a project as an exchange for a marriage contract with their second son." Arthur didn't dare look into his eyes. "We asked Seraphina... and she agreed. By now, she should have arrived in South Haven long ago to fulfill the contract."

"Impossible..." Xavier stumbled back a step, his voice trembling. "It can't be... she wouldn't..."

He suddenly reached out, clutching Arthur’s collar with a death grip, his eyes bloodshot. "When did this happen?!"

"On... on the day of your engagement to Sienna... she flew out then..."

No wonder. No wonder he hadn't seen Seraphina in North Shore since then. He thought she had just hidden away after ruining the engagement party, fearing his retaliation. He never imagined that she had already left for another city to become another man’s wife!

A copper taste rose in his throat. With blood-red eyes, Xavier squeezed the words through his teeth: "Since the contract is being swapped... then let Seraphina and Sienna trade places! Let Sienna marry over there, and Seraphina come back to marry me! I guarantee the case from three years ago won't affect the families; our cooperation will only grow tighter!"

Arthur was silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head. "It won't work."

"Why won't it work?!" Xavier practically roared. "They are both your daughters. What does it matter which one marries? Why won't it work?!"

"The Thorne family specifically requested Seraphina." Arthur sighed. "Besides... with her temperament, how could she possibly obey and switch the marriage?" He gave a bitter smile. "It’s too difficult."

"Pffft—"

Xavier could no longer suppress it; a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed onto the floor. A violent pain exploded from his heart, spreading through every fiber of his being.

Arthur was startled and rushed forward to support him, but was violently shoved away by Xavier.

"Get out!" He looked up, his eyes saturated with hatred. "I will never cooperate with the Vance family again! This is retribution... the retribution you all deserve for deceiving and humiliating her!"

Arthur was intimidated by the sheer malice in his eyes and couldn't help but step back, yet he still tried to persuade him: "President Sterling, you and Sienna have had feelings for so many years, why persist in—"

"Get out!" Xavier interrupted harshly. "You still dare to mention Sienna? If she hadn't lied to me... if you all hadn't lied to me..."

His voice gradually choked up, turning into an oppressed trembling. He had been blind, mistaking a common pebble for a pearl. He and Seraphina were meant to be together, but they were utterly destroyed by a web of lies.

"The Vance family, Sienna Vance..." He lifted his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I won't let a single one of you go."

Terrified by the frigid hostility emanating from him, Arthur didn't dare stay any longer and hurriedly turned to leave.

The door shut.

Xavier curled onto the floor, his heart feeling as if it were being repeatedly pierced by countless needles, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe. He tremblingly fumbled for his phone and dialed a number.

His voice was hoarse, but each word was as heavy as iron: "I want the Vance family—utterly destroyed. At any cost."

At the Vance residence.

Sienna felt a sudden, inexplicable shiver and couldn't sit still. Since the engagement party, she hadn't seen Xavier. Anxiety twisted around her like vines, tightening with every passing second.

The front door opened, and Arthur walked in with a dark expression.

Sienna rushed to meet him. "Dad, how did it go? What was Xavier’s attitude?"

Arthur’s brow was furrowed, his expression grave. "Sienna... we had better start making other plans."

Recalling Xavier’s final look, a chill spread through his heart. "I’m afraid Xavier Sterling... is truly going to lose his mind."

Chapter 16

Xavier moved with lethal speed.

Using methods unknown to others, he managed to shift the entire responsibility for the accident from three years ago onto the Vance family.

Although they had been on guard, they were still powerless against Xavier’s ferocious assault.

"Bang—!"

The doors to the Vance residence were burst open as a swarm of police officers rushed in, surrounding Arthur and Sienna just as they were frantically packing their bags to flee.

"Arthur Vance, you are suspected of involvement in a major negligence case resulting in death three years ago. You are now under arrest according to the law!"

The arrest warrant was displayed clearly before their eyes.

Arthur’s face instantly turned ashen.

During this time, he had used every means possible to cover up the truth, even entertaining thoughts of silencing the victims' families forever.

But in the end... it had still come to this.

The villa was in a state of absolute chaos.

As Arthur was handcuffed and led away, Xavier stepped into the mess, walking slowly across the scattered belongings.

A shadow loomed over her.

Sienna looked up, meeting Xavier’s cold, downward gaze.

"Xavier!" A sudden spark of joy erupted in her eyes. "I knew you couldn't leave me... you're here to save me, aren't you?"

Before she could finish, her throat was violently seized!

Her breath was cut short, and the joy in her eyes instantly turned to terror.

"Sienna," Xavier’s voice was terrifyingly low. "Who do you think... was behind your father’s arrest?"

"What makes you think I would come here to help you?"

Sienna’s pupils shrank as she stared at him in disbelief, her entire body beginning to tremble.

"You... what did you say?"

She tried to force a lighthearted smile, but it looked more painful than crying.

"You're joking, right?"

A cruel arc curled at the corner of Xavier’s lips:

"This is only the beginning."

He released his grip and stood up, looking down at her with utter disdain.

"Since you like to play games so much, I’ll let you play to your heart's content."

With that, he gave a wave of his hand.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Sienna by her arms and dragging her toward the exit.

"Where are you taking me?! No!"

Sienna finally realized what was happening. She clung desperately to Xavier’s trousers, screaming and pleading through tears, "Xavier... Xavier, I know I was wrong! Please forgive me this once, I beg you..."

Xavier knelt down and pried her fingers away, one by one.

She held on with everything she had, but he showed no mercy.

"Crack—"

The crisp sound of bone snapping rang out.

One of her fingers was broken by force, hanging limply.

Sienna turned deathly pale with pain, cold sweat drenching her.