"But I have one absolute condition."

"Bring Serena back to enter a marriage alliance with me. The moment she signs the marriage certificate to become my wife, this investment will take effect immediately, and I will continue to utilize the full scope of my family's resources to back your operations."

Arthur didn't waste a single second in consideration, nodding frantically in agreement, terrified of losing this massive deal.

That exact evening, Serena, who was far away across the ocean, received a call from Arthur.

From the moment she had escaped the country until now, this was the absolute first time her father had initiated contact.

The moment the line connected, Arthur delivered a cold command. "Serena, you are to return home immediately."

Serena's brow furrowed deep. "You were the one who forced me out of the country, what exactly do you want me back for now?"

The other end fell silent for a few seconds before Arthur's heavy voice came through. "The family has arranged for a spiritual master to handle your mother's resting place recently. We are moving her urn to a location with far better feng shui, and as her daughter, you are required to be present."

Serena gripped her phone tightly.

An intuitive alarm sounded faintly in her chest, telling her something was entirely wrong.

Yet no matter what hidden agenda Arthur might be plotting this time, as long as it concerned her mother, she possessed no power to refuse.

"Fine. I will return."

Hanging up the phone, Serena immediately booked a flight back.

The following day at the terminal queue, she turned her head during boarding check only to see Sean standing right behind her, a suitcase in his hand.

"Why are you..."

Surprise flashed across her face.

"I am coming back with you."

"No, you still have lectures to attend, and this is entirely a private family matter..." Serena tried to protest.

"Your matters are my matters." Sean cut her off, his gaze absolute and unwavering. "I cannot let you face that household entirely alone. With me there, I can at least offer you some security."

Looking into the profound protection shining in Sean’s eyes, a heavy wave of warmth flooded Serena's chest.

She sniffed slightly, giving a soft nod. "Alright. Thank you, Sean."

The moment the flight touched down, Sean accompanied her all the way to the gates of the estate.

"I've booked a room at a hotel near your villa. If anything happens, you must contact me immediately. Do not try to shoulder it all on your own."

Serena offered a gentle response. "I understand. Thank you, Sean."

Watching Sean’s figure walk away, Serena pushed open the main doors of the villa, her steps grinding to an immediate halt at the scene inside the living room.

Julian was sitting dead center on the main sofa, with Arthur seated right alongside him.

A severe sense of impending disaster gripped her heart. Without a single second's delay, she turned on her heel to walk right back out the door.

"Stand right there!"

Arthur's voice violently escalated, echoing through the hall. "Going abroad for a few months has made you completely forget the discipline of this house! Get over here and sit down!"

Serena’s spine turned rigidly stiff, her fingernails biting deep into her palms.

She knew that starting a screaming match would achieve absolutely nothing but add to her own humiliation, so she ultimately chose silence, turning back around to take a seat.

The air inside the living room remained completely stagnant for a moment before Arthur took the initiative to speak, his tone carefully probing.

"Serena, you are well aware of the current state of our household; the company has run into some severe complications."

He paused, his eyes brushing over Julian before continuing, "Julian is entirely willing to rescue our enterprise from this disaster. However, he has one condition—the two of you are to enter a marriage alliance. The moment you agree to marry him, every single crisis facing our family will vanish completely, and your mother can rest in peace beneath the earth."

Listening to his speech, Serena felt no surprise whatsoever.

She understood Arthur far too well; this man had never cared about anything but material profit. When her mother had been on her deathbed, he had wasted no time in marrying someone else, so how could he possibly arrange a spiritual ceremony for her mother out of pure sentimentality?

Calling her back was merely using her as a piece of leverage to salvage his failing enterprise.

The only thing she had not anticipated was that Julian, who had dragged his feet for years refusing to even mention an engagement, was now the one actively forcing the marriage.

"I will not marry him."

Serena refused instantly, without a single shred of hesitation.

Julian raised his eyes to look at her, a chaotic storm of emotions swirling in his dark pupils—discontent, burning anger, and a deep layer of resentment. His face looked incredibly dark.

To think she loathed him to this absolute extent...

Seeing the fallout, Arthur quickly shifted into a softer, patronizing tone to coax her. "Serena, stop being so stubborn. Julian knows he was wrong, and he has been living in deep remorse during this period. His affection for you is entirely genuine. Besides, given your current reputation in the elite circles, being able to secure a home like the Sterling family is the absolute best outcome you could ever hope for."

"I have no need for that kind of home." Serena stood up, completely unwilling to endure another second of these hypocritical lectures. "The academy has examinations coming up in a few days, and I need to return early to prepare. I am going upstairs to pack my things."

"Stand down!" Arthur slammed his hand violently against the table, his face turning completely livid as he roared toward the entrance, "Men, get in here!"

Chapter 19

Two servants walked in immediately.

"Take the young lady back to her room. She is not allowed out without my permission."

Serena’s pupils constricted. She stared at Arthur in disbelief. "What do you think you're doing?"

Arthur let out a cold sneer. "Once you come to your senses and agree to the marriage alliance, I will naturally let you leave. Our family raised you for so many years, it's about time you made a contribution to this house."

The servants stepped forward to guide Serena, but she flung them away with brute force.

Yet she was ultimately outnumbered, firmly restrained by the two servants who forced her upstairs between them.

As she passed beside Julian, she cast a freezing glance at him—a gaze entirely devoid of hatred, containing only absolute detachment, as though she were looking at a complete stranger.

Julian’s heart felt as though it had been violently pierced by something. He wanted to speak, but in the end, he merely clenched his fists, letting her be led away.

The bedroom door slammed shut, and Serena gripped the handle, shaking it violently.

"Open the door!"

Her voice erupted with fury. "You sold me like a piece of cargo just for corporate profit, has your conscience been completely eaten by dogs?"

No one responded. Only the faint murmur of Arthur and Julian conversing came through from downstairs.

"Julian! You selfish, shameless bastard!"

She screamed toward the door, unleashing the suffocating emotions that had accumulated over the past days.

Every shred of dignity and restraint was completely cast aside in her rage.

"You shattered my reputation, you drove my grandmother to her grave, and now you use these methods to force me into a marriage—you are absolutely insane!"

Down in the living room, Julian listened to her furious abuse, his chest feeling as though it were being repeatedly crushed by a blunt object as a dense, agonizing ache spread through him.

He knew he was a bastard, he knew his sins were heavy, but he could not let her go. The moment he let go, she would vanish entirely from his world, never to be found again.

"Let her cool down."

Julian instructed Arthur, "Keep a close eye on her. You are not to strike her, you are not to starve her, and you are absolutely forbidden from using any means to harm her. Otherwise, I am staying completely out of your family's crisis."

Arthur nodded frantically in agreement.

Upstairs, Serena surveyed the bedroom, discovering that the windows had long since been boarded shut with wooden planks.

They had come prepared.

She curled into a tight ball in the corner, her entire body freezing cold.

For the two days that followed, Serena went on a total hunger strike.

No matter how exquisite the meals the servants brought to her room, she refused to touch a single bite.

On the evening of the third day, the door was gently pushed open, and Julian walked inside carrying a bowl of steaming porridge.

His eyes were completely bloodshot, making it obvious he hadn't slept either.

"Eat a little."