CHAPTER 25: CHAPTER 25: DID I HURT YOU?

With both hands pressed beside Seraphina, Ethan lowered his head to kiss her.

Seraphina didn’t dodge, she lowered her eyes and cooperated by tilting her face up.

Perhaps because she was already accustomed to Ethan’s closeness, she didn’t have any of the aversion she felt when being intimate with Adrian.

Ethan initially just wanted a light taste, but the girl in his arms was exceptionally cooperative.

He couldn’t stop himself and deepened and intensified the kiss involuntarily.

His hand moved from the bed, rubbing her waist through her robe.

The wide men’s robe, pulled loose by him, gradually slid off her shoulders.

Panting, he moved away from her lips, as his lips grazed her collarbone...

Seraphina’s body grew weak, uncontrollably leaning back, momentarily forgetting the injury on her left hand; instinctively, she reached out to brace herself.

The wound on the back of her hand stung, and she gasped sharply.

Ethan lifted his face from her chest.

"Did I hurt you?"

"It’s just... I accidentally touched my hand."

Ethan took her injured hand and examined it carefully.

"Do you need to go back to the hospital for further treatment?"

"No need." Seraphina didn’t want to spoil the mood, "I’m fine."

Ethan turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on her face.

The girl’s face was flushed, her eyes evasive.

His hand holding Seraphina’s wrist, placing her injured hand above her head where it wouldn’t get pressed.

Ethan leaned down, staring intently into her eyes at a close distance.

"Seraphina, are you really ready?"

"I..." Seraphina lowered her lashes, "I’m... ready."

He kissed her, and she wasn’t repulsed.

But from here on, whether she could completely break through that last psychological barrier, even Seraphina herself wasn’t sure.

These were just words she couldn’t say to him.

This was the condition she had agreed to, and she wasn’t in a position to ask Ethan to accommodate her.

Wrapping her arms around her waist, Ethan bent down, burying his face in her neck.

The man stayed motionless, and Seraphina couldn’t discern his thoughts, allowing him to hold her without moving.

After a while, Ethan suddenly released her and sat up.

"I’m going out for a smoke."

He stood up, grabbed a cigarette from the drawer, and walked onto the terrace, as Seraphina busied herself tightening her loose robe.

She had no experience, so she naturally couldn’t be sure if he would continue.

Turning her face, she glanced at the figure on the terrace through the curtain, yet she lacked the courage to ask him.

All she could do was pull a thin quilt over herself, waiting for his return.

Thinking of his recent question, Seraphina’s brow suddenly twitched slightly.

Could it be...

He knew her secret?

How could it be possible, not even Adrian knew about her near-rape incident.

Could it be that he was that man that night?!

No!

Seraphina immediately dismissed her own speculation.

At the time of the incident, Ethan was with the school basketball team participating in the national high school league in Galecrest; he wasn’t even at school then.

Moreover, although she hadn’t seen the boy’s face clearly, she remembered the other person’s build.

The boy who wanted to assault her that night wasn’t as tall as Ethan.

To prevent the incident from affecting her, the Thorne Family hadn’t publicized it.

The school also cooperated by keeping it confidential for her, and when the police investigated, they only mentioned the boy was breaking and entering without mentioning the assault.

Seraphina thought for a long while, unable to figure out how Ethan might know.

Perhaps she was overthinking it.

He didn’t know her secret, he probably just sensed something amiss with her.

On the terrace.

Ethan lit a third cigarette, turned, and exhaled a puff of smoke into the chilly autumn night.

Through the glass window, under the moonlight, he could clearly see Seraphina on the bed.

Watching Seraphina turn, about to press on her injured left hand.

He quickly stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, walked briskly into the bedroom, reached out to support Seraphina’s left wrist, and moved her injured hand aside.

Seraphina had no response, rehearsing during the day and performing at night had left her quite exhausted.

Now, she was deeply asleep.

Her entire body curled up, resembling the posture of a baby.

In psychology, that’s a self-protective posture.

Ethan sat on the bed’s edge, frost covering his handsome face.

Outside the window, the cold moon resembled frost.

On the other side of the city, Adrian Chamberlain was also sleepless.

The anger on his face exceeded Ethan’s.

"What do you mean you can’t find out?"

"President Chamberlain, that car isn’t privately registered; it’s registered to an investment company."

"Then investigate that company for me, who is the registrant, who’s the owner?"

"It’s a foreign company, and if I need to find someone, it will take time. It’s too late today, maybe... tomorrow?"

Tomorrow?

By tomorrow, everything would be too late!

Imagining this moment.

Seraphina, whom he hadn’t slept with in years, might be spending the night with that man, indulging in passions.

Adrian was almost driven mad with jealousy, turning around, and he fiercely hurled his phone against the wall.

Next door, Julia Chamberlain was awakened by the noise, frowning as she pushed open his door.

"What are you doing in the middle of the night? Are you not letting anyone sleep?"

Stepping forward, Adrian suddenly grabbed her throat.

"It’s all your fault; if you hadn’t provoked her, she wouldn’t have called off the engagement!"

Julia struggled to breathe as Adrian choked her, her face flushed red, frantically pulling on his arms with both hands.

Adrian paid no attention, steadily tightening his grip.

Fortunately, the Chamberlain parents also heard the commotion and came to check the situation.

Seeing Julia almost choked unconscious, they hurriedly rushed over to pull Adrian away.

Cowering behind her parents, Julia gasped for breath, stroking her painful neck.

"You’re... you’re a pervert. If I were Seraphina, I wouldn’t like you either!"

"You want to die!"

Julia was about to rush over again, Mrs. Chamberlain quickly blocked him, turning to scold her daughter.

"Claire, your brother is in a bad mood, say less."

"He treats me like this, and you still coddle him?" Julia complained, "Sooner or later, he’ll get himself into trouble and end up in jail."

"Impudent!" Mr. Chamberlain shouted angrily, giving her a hard shove, "Get back to your room, and if you dare talk nonsense again, I’ll tear your mouth apart!"

Julia left crying, while Mrs. Chamberlain supported Adrian to a chair, still soothing him.

"It’s alright, it’s just a woman. Later, Mom will introduce you to someone better."

"The Thorne Family is already like that, why still bother with Seraphina." Mr. Chamberlain walked over, "I’ve arranged a match for you with Vice Mayor Donovan’s daughter. She’s a high-flying returnee, has both looks and status, isn’t she better than Seraphina?"

"Yes, Adrian," Mrs. Chamberlain smiled, patting her son’s back, "If this marriage succeeds, who in Jadeston City would dare confront you?"

Adrian squinted his eyes, revealing a smile.

"Alright, I’ll go!"

"That’s my boy." Mr. Chamberlain smiled with satisfaction, "What is love? It’s all illusionary; once you have power, you’ll have as many women as you want!"

Mrs. Chamberlain shot a look at her husband, "I don’t care how you play outside, but our Chamberlain family’s daughter-in-law must be well matched."

"Alright." Adrian waved his hand impatiently, "You all go out, I want to be alone for a bit."

The Chamberlain parents left, Adrian picked up the wine glass from the table and gulped down the drink.

Seraphina, just wait until I become Vice Mayor Donovan’s son-in-law and see who can protect you then!