"The success of this project is clear for all to see, and this won't be the end for you, but a brand new starting point."

Silas watched his shadow elongated by the sunlight, whispering to himself.

"A brand new starting point?"

In this moment, Silas suddenly felt a flutter in the deepest part of his heart.

Chapter 23

As Seraphina stepped off the plane, a cold wind hit her face, making her shiver involuntarily.

Just after walking out of the airport, Seraphina saw the news of the successful launch of the cross-sea bridge project playing on a large screen.

In the footage, Silas stood before the camera in a professional work uniform, wearing a hard hat.

"Although I can no longer distinguish colors, I can still tell everyone: I am not a genius, but I am the strongest existence in my professional field."

The domineering yet confident statement made Seraphina feel as if she were seeing the once high-spirited Silas again.

When Seraphina was kidnapped back then, she had been fitted with the latest light-sensitive timer bomb, which had to be disarmed safely without any light source.

At that time, no one had been able to crack that technology.

Everyone in Sterling City thought Seraphina was a goner, and she believed it herself.

Just as she was filled with despair and sinking into hopelessness, Silas had walked in through the darkness.

He gently gripped her hand.

"Don't be afraid, I’m here to save you."

Those gentle words were like an anchor, instantly settling Seraphina’s anxious and frightened heart.

Even when the bomb entered the final three minutes of the countdown, Silas continued disarming the wires without haste.

"Don't worry, I will save you and get you out. There isn't a bomb in this world that Silas can't disarm."

The moment the bomb was safely disarmed and the lights turned on, Silas’s bright, sunny smile was like a carving knife, deeply etched into Seraphina’s heart.

Seraphina looked at Silas’s smile on the large screen, and she couldn't even remember how long it had been since she had last seen him so unrestrained and vibrant.

Once the interview was over, Silas turned and walked step by step toward Lydia, who stood behind him.

Watching this scene, Seraphina’s hands clenched tightly together, the jealousy and possessiveness in her eyes like a massive fire, burning fiercely in her heart.

"Silas, you are mine, and you can only be mine."

Seraphina pulled her luggage and walked quickly into the flow of people.

In the evening, Seraphina followed the information investigated by her assistant and found the address of the cocktail party. Just as she was about to enter, she was stopped at the door by security.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you barge into our Lin Group’s party?"

Seraphina looked at the security guard, her expression darkening.

"Open your dog eyes and look clearly—I am the President of the Sterling Group. Let me in quickly; I’m going in to find my husband."

The security guards looked at each other and then burst into loud laughter.

"What Sterling Group? We’ve never heard of it. All I know is that everyone attending the banquet tonight belongs to the top 100 enterprises in the world. As for you? You probably wouldn't even rank in the top thousand!"

As he spoke, the security guard pushed Seraphina forcefully.

"Get out of here—really, every stray cat and dog thinks they can come to soak up some popularity."

"Nine out of ten people who came today are here for Mr. Silas. You should go take a piss and look at your reflection—are you worthy?"

The security guard’s words were like needles piercing Seraphina’s heart.

"Silas is my husband, get out of my way."

The security guard laughed even louder hearing Seraphina’s words.

"I think you’ve gone crazy! Who doesn't know Mr. Silas has long been divorced?"

Hearing the word "divorced," Seraphina raised her hand and struck the security guard hard.

"Shut your mouth! Silas and I are not divorced—you don't know anything."

This slap completely enraged the security guard, who immediately grabbed a nearby stun baton and struck Seraphina forcefully.

"You actually dared to come and cause trouble at our Lin Group event—I think you have a death wish!"

Seraphina was pinned to the ground and kicked by the two of them, having no strength to fight back.

Just then, the doors to the banquet hall opened slowly. In the center of the magnificent hall, Silas stood among the crowd in a perfectly tailored deep gray suit, appearing exceptionally striking and dazzling.

Standing beside him were several figures Seraphina had only seen on television, chatting happily with Silas.

Right then, a pair of hands naturally looped around Silas’s arm. Silas turned his head to meet Lydia’s bright eyes, and the two exchanged a smile, looking exactly like lovers of many years.

Lydia leaned her head on Silas’s shoulder, but her gaze turned to Seraphina, who was being held down wretchedly on the ground outside the door, the corners of her mouth curling into a triumphant smile.

Seraphina looked at Lydia’s piercing smile, feeling as if a sharp blade had been thrust into her heart, causing her unbearable, heart-wrenching pain.

Chapter 24

The cocktail party didn't end until nine in the evening, and Lydia personally drove him back home.

"You worked hard tonight. All the follow-up coordination has been arranged, so tomorrow I'll take you out nearby to relax."

Silas didn't refuse; he really hadn't relaxed in a long time.

After watching Silas close the door, Lydia’s smile vanished instantly. With a grave expression, she took out her phone and called her assistant.

"Seraphina has come to Country M. Arrange for people to protect Silas in secret immediately, and investigate Seraphina's purpose for coming."

After hanging up, Lydia took an uneasy look at the closed door before striding away.

No sooner had Lydia left than a figure slowly emerged from the dark corner.

Seraphina stood quietly before the door, a smile playing on her lips.

"Silas, I’ve come to take you home."

...

Silas was just about to go take a shower and rest when he suddenly heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was Lydia who had forgotten something, he hurried to open it.

"Did you forget somethin—"

Before he could finish, a pair of hands shoved the door open. Silas hadn't even had time to see who it was before he was imprisoned in a familiar embrace.

"Silas, it’s me."

Hearing Seraphina’s voice, Silas stiffened, a chill running down his spine.

He struggled, trying to push Seraphina away, but since the wounds on his back hadn't fully healed, he couldn't move a muscle.

"Seraphina, let me go! Things ended between us a long time ago. You are currently guilty of trespassing on private property."

Seraphina held him tightly, refusing to let go even for a fraction of an inch, wishing she could fuse the person in her arms into her own bones and blood.

"Silas, I love you. I won't allow us to end; it will never be over between us."

Seeing that he couldn't push Seraphina away, Silas leaned in and bit down hard on her shoulder.

"Seraphina, everything between us ended the day Sophie died. There is no 'future' for us; all I have left for you is hatred."

A sharp pain surged through her shoulder, but Seraphina acted as if she couldn't feel it, a smile curling at her lips.

"Silas, since you hate me, that means you still love me in your heart, right?"

Silas looked at Seraphina with a cold expression.

"Seraphina, have you lost your mind? I don't love you anymore. I will never love you again."

Seraphina’s hands, which were holding Silas, stiffened, and she was left stunned.

"How could you not love me? How is it possible that you don't love me? We used to love each other so much—why don't you love me anymore?"

Three questions in a row, yet facing Silas’s indifferent expression, she felt as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.

That cold, hatred-filled gaze was a world away from the Silas who had stood in the church filled with love.

Unable to accept that the person before her no longer loved her, Seraphina grabbed Silas’s hand forcefully, dragging him toward the door.

"Come on, Silas, come home with me. As long as we return to the home we once shared, you will definitely fall in love with me all over again."

Silas grabbed the doorknob tightly, refusing to move a single step.

"Seraphina, are you insane? I am not going anywhere with you."

Seraphina’s eyes were bloodshot, and she roared in a loss of emotional control.

"Yes! I am insane! Every day without you, I have been on the verge of a breakdown."

As the words left her lips, a gun was suddenly pressed against Seraphina’s head.

"Let him go."

Seraphina turned her head to meet Lydia’s icy, malevolent gaze, and she gripped Silas’s hand even tighter.