He looked down at her, dark undercurrents surging in his eyes. "Sera, even if I'm hated by you for a lifetime, it will be worth it."

He had clearly scouted the location beforehand, skillfully avoiding the security cameras as he half-carried and half-dragged her toward the exit. As they neared the main gate, a black sedan became faintly visible.

Seraphina’s heart sank. Once she was forced into that car, saving herself would be nearly impossible. She forced herself to stay calm, trying to negotiate: "Even if you take me away, you won't have my heart."

"Why don't you let me go... and I’ll be willing to give you a chance? How about that?"

Xavier looked down at her, his gaze dark. "Sera, stop trying to lie to me."

"Once we leave... we'll have all the time in the world."

He continued dragging her forward. Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed nearby. Liam, accompanied by two men, was walking in their direction.

A light of hope suddenly ignited in Seraphina’s eyes. She opened her mouth to scream: "Li—"

Her mouth was clamped shut once again. Xavier violently pulled her behind a stone pillar, where the shadows enveloped them. She whimpered and struggled, but her voice was too weak to be heard.

"Sera..." Xavier leaned close to her ear, every word like a needle dipped in poison. "I don't care who is in your heart right now. I only want you by my side."

Seraphina’s eyes went wide as she watched Liam pass by the pillar, his back receding into the distance. Despair washed over her like ice water. She closed her eyes and then, using every ounce of strength left in her, bit down hard on Xavier’s hand!

"Hiss—"

Xavier let go in pain. Seraphina seized the moment to shove him away and lunged forward, her voice raspy as she screamed:

"Liam! Save me!"

She tumbled to the ground, her elbow scraping against the floor and drawing blood. Behind her, Xavier had already recovered and was reaching out to grab her.

It was a split-second moment.

Up ahead, Liam’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. As if sensing something, he jerked his head around. His gaze pierced through the courtyard and locked onto Seraphina’s desperate eyes.

Liam’s pupils shrank instantly, and he sprinted toward her.

"Sera—!"

He had only taken two steps when he saw that Xavier had already yanked Seraphina up, holding her in a death grip. Liam skidded to a stop, his gaze sharp as a blade as it pierced through Xavier.

"Xavier Sterling—what are you doing to her?"

His voice was cold and heavy, every word measured:

"Let her go."

Chapter 23

"I’m taking her away. She belongs to me!" Xavier held Seraphina in a vice-like grip, his eyes locked onto Liam, every muscle in his body tensed.

"In your dreams!" Liam’s face darkened completely, his voice like ice. "Let her go. Or else—"

Before he could finish, Xavier suddenly pulled a gun from his waistband, the black muzzle pointing directly at the space between Liam’s eyebrows. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was raspy and trembling:

"Let us leave... if anyone dares to stop me, I'll kill them!"

"You're insane!" The moment Seraphina saw the gun pointed at Liam, her heart nearly stopped. "Xavier, if you dare harm him, I will never let you go as long as I live!"

Seeing her so anxious for Liam’s sake, Xavier felt as if his heart were being hollowed out, cold wind howling through the void. His voice shook uncontrollably, his eyes filled with shattered pain:

"You care about him that much? So much that... you speak to me with such hostility?"

"He is a thousand times better than you." Seraphina’s words were resolute and absolute. "It is only right and natural that I care about him."

She lifted her eyes, her gaze as cold as a blade:

"I told you long ago, Xavier. I am getting married."

"I will not love you, because I already love Liam."

Xavier’s face turned as pale as paper, and his hand around her waist tightened violently. "I told you as well... I don't care who is in your heart right now."

He lowered his head, his breath brushing against her ear, every word dripping with obsession. "Sera, in the end... you will be mine."

Liam stood frozen in place the moment the gun was aimed at him. He didn't dare move, fearing any provocation would cause Xavier to lose control and hurt Seraphina.

"Don't... don't be impulsive." His voice was extremely slow, every syllable cautious. "Don't hurt her."

"Let me leave!" Xavier held the gun in a standoff. "I don't want to hurt you. Just don't stop me!"

Liam stood there, caught between a rock and a hard place. He could never stand by and watch Seraphina be taken away, yet he didn't dare gamble with her safety. Ultimately, his worry for her overrode everything else. He raised his hand and gave a "retreat" signal to the security guards quietly closing in.

"I’ll let you go." He kept his eyes fixed on the hand holding the gun. "Put the gun down... don't hurt her."

Xavier’s knuckles were white from the strain. He didn't lower the gun, but instead began moving toward the exit, dragging Seraphina with him step by step.

"Let me go... Xavier, let go!" Seraphina struggled with all her might.

Xavier was deaf to her pleas. As he passed Liam’s side, he remained highly alert, the gun never wavering.

Liam held his breath. His gaze met Seraphina’s. In that single instant, they understood each other's intention.

As they crossed paths and Xavier’s attention momentarily shifted to the surrounding guards—now!

Liam lunged forward like a leopard, slamming into Xavier’s ribs!

"Ugh!" Caught off guard, Xavier stumbled toward the ground, bringing Seraphina down with him. Seraphina took the opportunity to twist away, and Liam reached out desperately to pull her to safety—

In a flash, Xavier’s pupils shrank! He instinctively raised the gun and pulled the trigger.

"Bang—!"

The gunshot exploded, and the bullet tore through the air, heading straight for Liam!

Everything in front of Seraphina seemed to move in slow motion. She watched as the bullet ripped through the air, flying toward Liam’s chest—without a second thought, she used every ounce of strength to throw herself in front of him!

"Sera—!!"

"Sera—!!"

Two roars erupted simultaneously. Xavier’s pupils dilated in horror, his mind going blank; Liam’s breath stopped, and his blood seemed to run cold. Xavier lunged frantically to grab her, while Liam pulled her hard into his embrace, turning his body to protect her with his back.

But it all happened in the blink of an eye. No matter how fast a reaction was, it couldn't outrun a bullet.

They could only watch as the bullet—entered Seraphina’s shoulder.

She let out a muffled groan and went limp in Liam’s arms.

Chapter 24

"Sera—!"

Liam’s heart nearly stopped. His hands shook as he caught her falling body, his palms instantly soaked with the warmth of her blood. Seraphina’s face was deathly pale from the pain, but she still looked up, her voice faint:

"I'm... I'm okay..."

The bullet had grazed her shoulder blade, tearing the flesh. The scarlet blooming on her wedding dress was a terrifying sight as blood continued to seep out.

"I’ll call the doctor right now!" Liam scooped her up in his arms and turned to rush toward the inner hall.

"Master—" the bodyguard asked urgently for instructions. "What should we do with this man?"

Xavier had been quickly subdued after firing the shot; the gun had been kicked away, and he was being pinned ruthlessly to the ground. In Liam’s arms, Seraphina turned her head with difficulty.

Xavier’s cheek was pressed against the cold ground, his eyes a dead, hollow gray.

"Sera..." he murmured soundlessly, tears rolling down without warning. It was only at the moment he saw her throw herself in front of the bullet without hesitation that he was finally forced to admit—he had lost her forever. There was no longer any room for redemption.

Seraphina indifferently withdrew her gaze and buried her face against Liam’s shoulder.

"Call the police." Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear. "Attempted kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon... it will be enough to keep him inside for a long time."

Liam nodded and threw a command to the bodyguards: "Take him to the station." Then, holding her, he strode away without looking back.

Fortunately, while the wound looked horrifying, it hadn't damaged any bones. After the doctor finished dressing the wound and left, Liam still held her tightly, his arms trembling slightly.

Seraphina lightly patted the back of his hand, comforting him softly: "It’s over now... the trouble has finally been resolved. He’ll never appear again."

Liam buried his face in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled and raspy: "But I failed to protect you."

"Then just protect me well from now on." Her expression softened. "I trust you... you won't let me get hurt again."

"Mm." He nodded heavily, tightening his arms around her.

Since her injury wasn't serious, the wedding proceeded as scheduled. Dressed in the wedding gown Liam had personally selected, she sat backstage, waiting quietly. Her palms were slightly damp, and her heart was pounding.

The door was pushed open gently. Winifred walked in.

"Sera."

"Senior?" Seraphina was slightly surprised. "What are you doing here? The front—"

"There's something I think you should know." Winifred paused, her tone level. "Xavier Sterling is dead. He committed suicide... in prison."

Seraphina was stunned for a moment. Hearing the news of the man who had been entangled with half her life, she felt a momentary sense of blankness.

"...Is that so." She lowered her eyes, no ripples appearing in her gaze.

Winifred watched her expression closely to ensure she was alright before handing over a folder. "He asked someone to deliver this to you. I brought it in for you."

Seraphina took it and, after a moment of silence, finally opened it. Inside was a document and a note. There were only five words on the paper, written in heavy ink:

[Sera, I'm sorry.]

She opened the document—it was an unconditional transfer agreement drawn up by Xavier after he had liquidated all of his assets. The personal seal had already been stamped at the end, waiting only for her signature to take effect.

Seraphina’s knuckles tightened slightly. She took a pen from the dressing table, signed her name neatly, and handed the document back.

"Senior, please handle this... donate all of it. I don't want a single cent."

She accepted it because it was indeed the compensation he owed her; she donated it to completely sever her ties with the past. Even though that man was already dead in prison.

She stood up, gently placed her hand in Winifred’s palm, and offered a bright smile.

"Senior, I don't have parents... please walk me in."

The first half of her life had been messy and painful, but fortunately, heaven had not treated her unkindly. The second half was unfolding anew, with a home, with love, and with light.

Winifred gripped her hand tightly and led her toward the chapel. At the end of the red carpet, Liam stood in the light, watching her from afar.

Seraphina lifted her skirt and stepped forward—toward him, and toward the rest of her life.

[The End]