"If you don't want to face this, leave it to me."

He spoke softly, then moved to protect Seraphina behind him as he met Xavier's gaze.

"Sir, Sera is my fiancée. Where exactly are you asking her to return to?"

His tone was calm but every word was clear:

"By causing a scene here publicly, do you have no respect for my family?"

Xavier’s gaze fixed on Liam, his coldness piercing:

"Sera and I were together for three years; she is merely throwing a tantrum. Today, I am here to take her home."

He deliberately emphasized the words "three years," his look provocative:

"Second Young Master, how long have you even known her? How did she become your fiancée?"

Liam's expression remained unchanged, but Seraphina’s face turned deathly pale.

Being reminded of the past in such a setting felt like a deep humiliation.

Those three years she once thought were beautiful now felt like nothing but filth after the truth was revealed.

"What does three years matter?"

Liam spoke up, his voice still peaceful:

"People must move forward. Mr. Sterling, no one stays in the same place forever."

He tightened his grip on Seraphina's hand, his gaze like a deep, still sea when he looked up:

"Right now, Sera is my fiancée—that is a fact."

Xavier’s face darkened instantly. His gaze swept over Liam’s wheelchair, and he suddenly sneered:

"A cripple like you, what right do you have..."

"Enough!"

Seraphina interrupted sharply.

Liam gently squeezed her hand, his palm's warmth providing silent comfort.

The next second, he braced his hands on the armrests of the wheelchair and slowly stood up.

His tall figure stood firm as he looked at Xavier calmly:

"Whether I have the right to stand by her side is perhaps not for you to judge."

He paused, his voice landing clearly:

"But I am very certain. You definitely do not."

Chapter 19

Xavier watched Liam's steady figure standing firm, his breath catching:

"Your legs... they're fine?"

"Naturally, they are fine."

Liam remained composed, still shielding Seraphina behind him. "I respect whatever choice she makes."

"But I cannot condone this kind of harassment."

Xavier gritted his teeth, his eyes locked onto Seraphina: "Sera, come back with me!"

Seraphina closed her eyes.

She gently pressed Liam’s arm, signaling him to be at ease, and then took a step forward.

Liam whispered: "Don't force yourself."

"It's fine."

She shook her head and looked at Xavier, her voice as calm as a still pond:

"I already have a fiancé, and I will marry him in the future. Xavier, go back and don't come here again."

"Sera!"

Xavier’s voice rose sharply. "I know I was wrong—but there were reasons for everything!"

He spoke rapidly, as if afraid of being interrupted:

"Sienna lied to me! She pretended to be the person who saved my life... but that person was clearly you!"

"I identified the wrong person..."

Bloodshot veins spread in his eyes, and his voice trembled:

"We were meant to be together. Sera, give me one more chance, please?"

Seraphina frowned slightly: "When did I ever save you?"

That memory was far too distant and had long since blurred.

Xavier froze, his eyes instantly turning red:

"Four years ago, by the lake on the outskirts of North Shore... you saved someone from drowning. You... don't you remember?"

A corner of the sealed past was finally pried open.

Seraphina struggled to recall and finally remembered vaguely that such a thing had happened.

But she was only the first to discover someone had fallen into the water; she had called for help, but she didn't jump in herself.

She suddenly smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes:

"You mean that incident. But strictly speaking, the person who saved you wasn't me."

"I only called for help. The person who actually dragged you out of the water was a man who jumped in."

She looked up, her gaze clear and cold:

"Xavier, by your logic, you fell for Sienna because of a 'life-saving debt,' and now you've turned to love me because of the truth..."

"Then the person you truly should love is that man who pulled you ashore, isn't it?"

Xavier was completely stunned.

He opened his mouth, desperately trying to explain: "No, it’s not like that... Sera, I love you, and it’s not just because of the debt!"

"There are also the three years we were truly together..."

"Were we ever together?"

Seraphina interrupted softly, her eyes filled only with confusion. "You never acknowledged my identity and always played me for a fool."

"I was your hidden lover for three years; how do you have the nerve to mention that time?"

Her words were clear, like ice picks hitting the ground:

"If this is what your 'love' looks like, then I’d rather not have it."

Xavier’s face grew paler by the second, his lips trembling, but he couldn't make a sound.

"I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry..."

His voice was hoarse and saturated with pain. "I know I was wrong... I've already made Sienna pay the price, and her family has collapsed."

"I have taken revenge on everyone who ever humiliated you..."

He took a step forward, almost begging:

"Sera, I want to make it up to you... please give me another chance. I can't... I can't lose you."

"And what about you?"

Seraphina asked suddenly.

Xavier was startled: "What?"

"The one who deceived and humiliated me the most, wasn't it you?"

Her gaze was as still as a cold pool. "How is it that you haven't been punished? How do you still dare to stand before me?"

Every word pierced his heart.

Xavier felt a sharp pain in his chest, and even his breathing was trembling.

His lips quivered, and then, in front of everyone, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"Sera... you can punish me however you want."

He looked up at her, his eyes blood-red. "Hit me, scold me, even make me go through every bit of suffering you endured... I will accept it all."

His back bent deeply, his voice choking:

"I only beg you... don't reject me."

But Seraphina was no longer moved by him.

From the moment she landed in South Haven, the past had been severed.

She no longer loved him, nor did she hate him.

She took a step back, her gaze as calm as if she were looking at a stranger:

"Xavier Sterling, I don't need you to beg for forgiveness."

Her voice was soft, but resolute:

"Hating takes too much energy. I don't hate you, and I don't want anything to do with you ever again."

"From now on, we are even."

"Please, never disturb my life again."

Chapter 20

"Crack—"

It was as if Xavier could hear the sound of his own heart shattering.

His eyes were blood-red as he stared fixedly at Seraphina.

Truly, there was not a single shred of hatred left.

Her eyes were as still as a deep pool, no longer reflecting even a shadow of him.

To not even... hate anymore.

This realization was like an ice pick driven into his marrow. Every breath he took felt laced with shards of glass, the pain making his entire body tremble.

"Sera... you can't do this..."

Seraphina, however, had already turned to Liam, her tone calm:

"Have the security escort him out. The press conference has been delayed too long."

Liam nodded and raised a hand to signal.

The kneeling Xavier seemed to have lost his soul, allowing the security guards to hoist him up and drag him away.

But at the very moment he was about to be dragged out the door, he suddenly jerked his head up and roared:

"Sera! You can't treat me like this! I was deceived too!"

"Three years... even if it was mixed with lies, was the sincerity a fake?! How can you... how can you just let go!"

"I won't allow it! I won't allow it!"

Liam shifted his body to shield Seraphina behind him, his gaze toward Xavier filled with clear Revulsion.

His tone remained gentle, but every word was like a blade:

"A relationship built on deception doesn't count in the first place. Instead of questioning why she let go, you should ask yourself."

"During those three years, what exactly did you give her?"

He lifted his eyes, his voice landing with cold finality:

"Get him out. From this day forward, the Thorne family will never welcome this man."

The security guards showed no more mercy, pinning Xavier down as they dragged him out.

He struggled frantically, his eyes crimson as he looked toward the stage.

Liam was bowing his head, lightly stroking the top of Seraphina’s head, while she... leaned quietly against his side, even taking the initiative to hold his hand.

His heart felt as if it were being crushed inch by inch.

Xavier’s eyes were red, and he hissed and murmured like a madman:

"You can't... Sera... you are mine... you can't leave me..."

The voice grew distant, eventually blocked by the closing doors.