Liam withdrew his gaze, his palm resting lightly on Seraphina’s shoulder:

"Don't let the interlude affect you. Today, you are the protagonist."

He looked into her eyes, his voice steady: "Don't be nervous. I will be right here below the stage watching you."

After whispering a few words to Winifred, he slowly moved his wheelchair off the stage.

Seraphina closed her eyes and took a deep breath, casting aside all distractions.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was as clear and bright as before.

She opened the presentation and, facing the cameras and the crowd, introduced the results of her hard work with poise and confidence.

The press conference finally came to a successful conclusion.

Winifred had specifically spoken to the media present to remain silent about Xavier’s intrusion.

She still had follow-up matters to handle, so she sent Seraphina and Liam home first.

Seraphina found Liam backstage.

Since he had already stood up in public, he was no longer using the wheelchair.

Her footsteps paused slightly, an apologetic look surfacing in her eyes: "Your legs... I'm sorry."

If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have had to expose the truth prematurely.

Liam looked down at his legs, the corners of his lips curling slightly: "It had to be made public sooner or later; I couldn't pretend for a lifetime."

"But..." She pursed her lips, "Will it bring trouble to you and your sister?"

"Don't worry."

He raised a hand to ruffle the hair on her head, his smile warm and gentle. "Over these years, everyone has witnessed my sister’s capabilities."

"Even if those old fossils want to object, they’ll have to weigh whether they have the ability to do so."

His gaze was certain: "Nothing will happen, truly."

Seraphina finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Senior said we should head back first."

She took the initiative to take his hand, her eyes bright and clear when she looked up. "Let's go home."

Liam was startled for a moment, the tips of his ears quietly turning red as he let her lead him out.

Back at the Thorne estate, the two walked side by side through the courtyard.

Halfway through, Seraphina suddenly stopped.

"Liam."

Liam turned his head: "What is it?"

Seraphina took a deep breath, as if she had made a certain decision.

She lifted her eyes to look straight into his, every word clear and solemn:

"Let's get married."

Chapter 21

Liam’s pupils shook slightly, his heartbeat suddenly losing its rhythm, and a rush of heat surged to the tips of his ears.

"Sera, do you... know what you’re saying?"

"I know." Seraphina’s tone was certain, without a hint of hesitation.

Liam quickly calmed down, looking earnestly into her eyes:

"Sera, I understand that Xavier’s appearance today caused a stir in your emotions, but marriage is a lifelong commitment."

"You cannot make a hasty decision about your future because of him."

His voice was quiet, every word sincere: "I don't want you to regret it."

Seraphina suddenly laughed, her eyes curving like crescent moons:

"I have thought this through deeply."

"It was precisely because Xavier appeared today that I finally saw my own heart clearly."

She took half a step forward, her gaze bright:

"In the past, I hated him because I still loved him. It was because my love was trampled upon that it turned into hatred."

"But when he appeared today, there was actually a sense of peace in my heart."

"I am already able to view him completely as a stranger."

She paused, her voice soft but firm:

"At the moment you stood in front of me, I was thinking... so this is what it feels like to be protected by someone wholeheartedly."

"No deception, no pursuit of profit—simply because it's me."

She looked up, her gaze shining like stars:

"So, I am serious. I want to marry you."

The moonlight draped over her, making her profile appear pure and gentle.

"My heart tells me that I like you."

Liam’s Adam's apple bobbed, his voice low and raspy: "But..."

"No 'buts'."

Seraphina interrupted him, her gaze burning. "Liam, I only have one question for you: Do you like me?"

His heart was pounding like a drum.

He remembered the first message she had sent; at that time, she had sought help with such poise, stating with absolute resolve that she wanted revenge.

Through the screen, he had "met" Seraphina for the first time.

Later, when picking her up at the airport, she was exhausted and fragile, like a weary bird that had just escaped its cage.

Later still, in the lab, she gradually began to show her brilliance, and the light in her eyes was reignited.

That was how she was meant to be.

He didn't know when it had started, but he was no longer able to take his eyes off her.

Liam took a deep breath and nodded solemnly:

"I do. Sera, I like you too."

Seraphina’s eyes suddenly lit up, and she stood on her tiptoes to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek:

"Then let's get married."

Winifred was overjoyed by their decision, busying herself with all the wedding preparations and handling everything personally.

Whenever Seraphina tried to help, she was always pressed back:

"How can we have the bride-to-be working so hard? You just focus on being beautiful while waiting for the wedding."

She spent a fortune ordering several wedding dresses, having the designers deliver them to the Thorne residence, and urged Seraphina to try them on one by one.

The woman in the mirror was bright-eyed with pearly teeth, looking radiant.

Seraphina looked at herself, feeling a bit dazed.

Only three months ago, she was haggard and in a wretched state, but now she seemed reborn, her brilliance shining once again.

She gave a soft smile to the mirror.

She remembered when Joy Evans learned she was willing to marry Liam, she had asked worriedly:

"Aren't you afraid of meeting someone like Xavier Sterling again?"

At that time, she had answered: "I'm not afraid."

Because she finally had her own strength.

Even if Liam no longer loved her in the future, with her own abilities, she could still live a beautiful life.

She craved to be loved, but she no longer relied on the love of others.

The greatest mistake in that relationship with Xavier was attaching her entire sense of security to one person when she had nothing of her own.

She smoothed the skirt of her dress and was about to turn to go downstairs when the door handle suddenly turned.

Thinking it was someone sent by Winifred to hurry her along, Seraphina didn't turn back, only saying softly:

"I'm changed; I'm coming down now."

The moment she turned while holding her skirt, her entire body froze.

The figure standing by the door was not a staff member.

The person slowly looked up, revealing a thin, pale, yet extremely familiar face beneath the brim of a hat.

Xavier Sterling.

Chapter 22

"How did you get in here?"

Seraphina’s tone turned ice-cold, her brow furrowing with undisguised revulsion. Having not seen him for a while, Xavier Sterling had thinned to the point of being unrecognizable. His face was haggard, yet his eyes seethed with a near-obsessive gloom. That gaze sent a chill down her spine.

"Sera, I can't just stand by and watch you marry someone else." Xavier took a step forward, his voice raspy. "We were clearly only a step away... from being together forever."

"I love you... I truly can't live without you."

Seraphina retreated rapidly as he approached, her hem trailing across the floor. "What exactly do you want?"

"I'm taking you away." A flash of madness flared in Xavier’s eyes. "As long as you are by my side, one day, you will fall in love with me again."

"In your dreams!" Seraphina rebuked him sharply. "I will never go with you!"

"Xavier, I’m about to be married."

"It ended between us a long time ago!"

Holding up her skirt, she turned to dash out the door to call for help, but Xavier lunged and seized her wrist.

"Help—"

Before the word could fully leave her mouth, a palm was clamped violently over her lips. The pungent scent of chemicals hit her. Seraphina reflexively held her breath, but she had already inhaled a small amount. Her limbs went weak instantly, and she began to slide toward the floor.

Xavier reached out and pulled her into his embrace, his arms tightening. "Sera, come with me... to a place where no one can find us. We'll start over, alright?"

He didn't wait for an answer; he hoisted her up and began dragging her out. Seraphina was limp and unable to struggle, so she could only glare at him with pure hatred.

"Xavier... if you dare take me by force, I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

Xavier actually let out a low chuckle, a sound steeped in obsession. "Even if you hate me... at least you’ll still care about me."