CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: AS INTIMATE AS A REAL MARRIED COUPLE

During the following two days, Seraphina Thorne’s life was peaceful and simple.

Apart from taking time to visit her father at the hospital, she basically went back and forth between school and her apartment.

Meals were solved in the school cafeteria—cheap and time-saving.

The music studio manager kept his promise and quickly introduced her to two one-on-one tutoring jobs.

Because Seraphina was a top student at the Conservatory of Music and had also won a national award.

The students’ parents were very satisfied with her, and she easily secured both jobs.

The pay wasn’t much, but it was enough to cover Seraphina’s modest lifestyle—she no longer worried about living expenses.

Seraphina’s life seemed to be slowly getting back on track.

On Friday night, after finishing her tutoring session, she returned to Ethan Sterling’s apartment at The Paramount Gardens.

Like every evening, she reported her whereabouts to Ethan as he required.

[Cherish: Reporting, husband, safely home. Picture.jpg]

The attached photo was a selfie of her in the apartment’s living room—to prove she wasn’t lying.

Reporting her daily movements to Ethan had gradually become a habit for Seraphina.

Calling him "husband" rolled off her tongue more and more naturally. Anyone unaware might think they were a genuinely sweet couple.

Ethan was on the other side of the planet, separated from her by mountains, oceans, and more than ten hours of time difference.

It was night here, but still daytime for him.

Because of his work, his responses were unpredictable.

Sometimes he replied quickly, sometimes after an hour or two.

Seraphina didn’t expect much, nor did she care.

After sending her message, Seraphina casually put down her phone and got ready to shower.

Buzz—

Her phone vibrated.

This time, Ethan replied unusually fast.

[Ethan Sterling: Missed me?]

Seraphina grabbed her phone and, without thinking, replied with the single word "Missed."

She didn’t even think—completely perfunctory.

She spent all day in rehearsal, and in the evening taught home lessons.

Teaching a young child to master a violin little by little—not only patience was needed.

Now she was exhausted, just wanting to end the chat quickly, take a hot shower, and sleep soundly.

Ethan sent another reply—this time, a photo.

The man, dressed in a light-colored suit, was elegantly holding a champagne glass in his right hand, toasting his acquisition target in celebration.

Among a group of suit-clad, blond-haired, blue-eyed business elites, Ethan—black suit, black hair—was undoubtedly the center of attention.

Standing out from the crowd, handsome and spirited, brimming with youthful vigor.

This time, the company Ethan acquired was a very famous energy corporation.

Barring any surprises, this photo would soon appear on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

So young yet already with such achievements, his business acumen and determination were enough to make Seraphina admire him.

[Cherish: Congratulations on successfully expanding your business territory.]

This time, Seraphina replied seriously.

This was no perfunctory response.

Ethan’s competence in business genuinely impressed her.

Buzz—

Her phone vibrated again—Ethan sent a video call request.

Seraphina accepted it, and the man’s face instantly appeared on her screen.

Even the front-facing phone camera couldn’t hide his striking features.

Ethan seemed to be standing on a balcony, the dazzling foreign sunrise behind him.

With the acquisition’s smooth success, there was laughter in his voice.

"I’m coming back tomorrow. Mrs. Sterling, what do you want as a gift?"

"That’s not necessary, just take care of your own things."

Seraphina politely refused.

She wasn’t blind to how fake her status as Mrs. Sterling was.

She couldn’t accept his things.

Noticing her low spirits, Ethan frowned. "Not feeling well?"

"Just a bit tired."

"Then rest early. I’ve already booked the flight—you’ll see me tomorrow."

"Okay, husband. Goodbye."

He didn’t make things difficult, and Seraphina obediently played along.

She hung up the video call and turned to the bathroom.

On the surface, the two of them seemed as intimate as a real couple.

But Seraphina was well aware—it was all just a façade.

Ethan married her, partly for business, partly for revenge against Adrian Chamberlain.

His current kindness to her was nothing more than a man’s momentary novelty and desire to conquer.

Once he grew tired of these games, he’d toss her aside like a used-up toy.

Just like the former owners of those women’s slippers in his shoe closet.

And she was merely cooperating, playing along.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

This was the price and interest for his help!

The love she used to believe in and look forward to was really just...

Worthless bullshit!

She put her phone down on the table, went into the bathroom, undressed, and stepped under the showerhead.

Buzz—

The phone left on the sink suddenly started to vibrate.

She grabbed a bath towel around herself, and upon seeing it was a call from the hospital, her whole body tensed up.

"Hello, this is Seraphina!"

"Miss Thorne, your father has just suddenly suffered a cerebral hernia and is being resuscitated. Please come to the hospital immediately."

Her fingers trembled—Seraphina nearly dropped her phone.

"Okay, I... I’ll be right there."

She rushed out of the bathroom, slipped into her clothes in a panic, her hair still wet as she bolted out the apartment door.

She hurried all the way to the hospital, and by the time she reached the ICU, her coat was soaked by her dripping hair.

"Nurse!" Grabbing a nurse coming out of the ICU, Seraphina’s voice was already trembling, "How is my dad... Theodore Thorne?"

"He’s still being resuscitated. Please wait on the side."

The nurse answered in a rush and jogged off to fetch medication.

Seraphina took two steps back, leaned powerless against the wall, and slowly squatted down.

"Dad... please, you have to make it! I’m begging you!"

Nurses and doctors passed by, the ICU doors opening and closing again and again.

Less than half an hour, but for Seraphina, it felt as long as a century.

A pair of leather shoes stopped in front of her.

Seraphina nervously looked up and saw her father’s attending physician, Dr. Bennett, standing before her.

Behind Dr. Bennett were several other doctors, one of whom was a blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner.

Seraphina’s heart instantly tightened into a knot. Propping herself up on the wall, she struggled to her feet, swaying unsteadily.

"How’s my dad..."