CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: LOVE BITE

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Ivy Langley shouted angrily, "Clearly it’s your mom bullying Seraphina."

"My mom knows Seraphina’s dad is sick and tight on money, so she kindly gave her some cash. How is that bullying?"

Adrian Chamberlain has a way of twisting the truth.

Ivy Langley was so angry her face turned red, "You... you’re such a son of a bitch..."

"Seraphina, I did like you before, but regarding your brother’s matter, I really can’t help you." Adrian Chamberlain continued his act, "What exactly do you want from me for you to let me and my family go?"

He was doing it on purpose.

Adrian Chamberlain understood Ivy Langley, knew her hatred for injustice, her impulsive nature, and how much she despised his hypocrisy.

"Yes, Seraphina, I’m begging you, please let Adrian go!" Mrs. Chamberlain was crying and begging alongside him, "I know you’re clinging to Adrian because you’re short of money now. Name a price, as long as the Chamberlain Family can afford it, whatever amount you need, aunty will give it to you!"

The mother and son were in sync, not giving Seraphina Thorne a chance to refute, forcing all the blame on her.

Surrounding guests began to discuss.

"Looks quiet and gentle, didn’t expect her to be this kind of woman!"

"Who would have thought, getting involved with such a vampire girlfriend, it’s really unlucky!"

...

Clearly, the one hurt was Seraphina, the one bullied was Seraphina.

How could this mother and son be like this?

"You... you bully people too much..." Ivy Langley was furious, finally losing control, she grabbed the champagne and charged over, "Adrian Chamberlain, I’m going to beat the hell out of you, you bastard!"

"Watch out!"

Diane and others exclaimed in shock.

Adrian Chamberlain pulled Diane Dawson into his arms, protecting her with his body.

Bang—

The wine bottle smashed on Adrian Chamberlain’s back, the glass shattered, champagne spilled everywhere.

"Ivy!" Seraphina rushed over, hugged Ivy Langley tightly, and pushed her away, "Calm down, don’t be impulsive!"

"Adrian!"

Mrs. Chamberlain and Diane’s mother rushed over, anxiously holding Adrian’s arm.

Seeing her son wasn’t hurt, Mrs. Chamberlain turned around and cursed.

"You Thorne family, will you only be satisfied if my son dies?"

"Mom!" Pulling his mother behind him, Adrian Chamberlain held Diane and stared at Seraphina’s face, "You can hit and curse me all you want. I just hope you’ll spare my parents, spare my sister. Seraphina, I’m begging you, can you?"

Seraphina sneered coldly.

What a fine ruse of self-pity!

Ivy Langley was furious, struggling to charge over again.

"If I don’t stand up for Seraphina today, I’m not a Langley!"

Adrian Chamberlain stood still, Diane Dawson stepped forward and extended her arms to protect Adrian.

"I’d like to see you try!"

Looking at the girl shielding him, Adrian’s eyes flashed a smile, but his face deliberately showed weakness.

"Diane, this has nothing to do with you."

"It does if I’m here." Diane Dawson coldly watched Seraphina and Ivy Langley, "I demand you apologize to Adrian immediately, otherwise... I’ll call the police right away!"

Ivy Langley wouldn’t back down.

"Go ahead, I don’t believe there’s no justice left!"

Seraphina turned around, forcefully pressing Ivy into a chair, grabbing the half-broken wine bottle from her hand.

Ivy Langley was still in her legal internship period; if this matter really escalated to the police station and left a record, her career would be over.

Seraphina couldn’t let her good friend ruin herself because of her.

Blocking Ivy with her hand, she turned around.

"I’m apologizing for Ivy to you all, sorry!"

Mrs. Chamberlain’s voice was sharp, "Is saying sorry enough? I won’t dwell on this. If anything happens to Adrian, I won’t let you off!"

"Seraphina!" Ivy Langley was so anxious her eyes were red. "You can’t apologize to him, even if I end up in jail today, I’ll destroy him..."

Seraphina extended her arm to block Ivy, raised her right hand, and lifted the remaining champagne in the bottle over her head.

She tilted, letting the liquid and shards fall onto her head.

"Is this... satisfactory for you?"

No one expected her to do this.

Mrs. Chamberlain was still unwilling, about to say more, but Adrian Chamberlain stretched out his hand to hold her arm.

"Mom, let it go. Diane, shall we switch to another restaurant?"

With a disdainful glance at Seraphina and Ivy, Diane Dawson concernedly supported Adrian’s arm, and the four left together.

Helping Seraphina into the restroom, carefully removing the glass shards from her hair, Ivy Langley cried out of sympathy.

"Why did you apologize to that jerk? Let it escalate to the police station, why fear them?"

"I’m not afraid," Seraphina bent down and scooped water with her right hand, casually washing off the alcohol on her face, "It’s not worth ruining your future for these scumbags! Next time, don’t waste such good wine on scum, or else I’m not paying the bill."

Ivy Langley laughed, looking at Seraphina in front of her, her eyes turned red again.

"I’m sorry, Seraphina, it’s all my fault!"

"It’s not your fault. Adrian Chamberlain did it on purpose; otherwise... how could he succeed in winning the beauty’s heart?" Seraphina tidied her hair in the mirror, "Come on, let’s switch to another restaurant and celebrate properly."

In the mirror, traces of alcohol remained on the girl’s clothes.

But there were no tears on her face, only stubbornness and resilience.

Ivy Langley witnessed her friend’s transformation, feeling both heartbroken and gratified.

"Exactly, the more they want to hurt us, the happier we have to be, can’t let them win."

The two returned to the restaurant, while Seraphina tidied up, Ivy quietly paid the bill.

She knew Seraphina was short on money now, definitely wouldn’t let her really pay.

The two switched to another restaurant, ordered new food and drinks.

Seraphina raised her glass first.

"Come, to my father’s successful surgery, to the success of my performance... Cheers!"

The two girls laughed as they clinked glasses together.

Seraphina raised the cup to her lips, took a sip, surprisingly finding that her mood wasn’t as bad as imagined.

Ethan Sterling was right.

The stronger she is, the less Adrian Chamberlain can hurt her.

Thinking of that person, her chest involuntarily filled with warmth and soft emotion.

After lunch, the two good friends went to visit Theodore Thorne’s hospital.

Arriving at the ward, they sent the nurse to rest.

Seraphina took off her coat, using her uninjured right hand to massage her father’s arms and legs, to prevent muscle atrophy from prolonged bed rest.

Her long hair slid down, somewhat obstructive; she pinched out a rubber band.

"Ivy, help me tie my hair up."

Ivy Langley helped her tidy her hair, noticing some redness on Seraphina’s neck and assumed it was from an injury; she hurriedly flipped up the collar.

"Seraphina, is your neck hurt?"

On the fair skin, rose-colored marks.

Clearly...

Kiss marks.

Ivy Langley paused.

Seraphina touched her neck, thinking of a possibility, and quickly tugged her collar.

"It’s nothing."

"Nothing?" Ivy Langley came to her senses, playfully nudging her arm, "Tell me honestly, do you have... a new boyfriend?"

Seraphina didn’t speak, suddenly unsure how to explain to Ivy.

"I always said that the best way to end a relationship is to start a new one." Ivy Langley wasn’t planning to let her go, "Come on, who is it? Do I know him?"

The ward door opened, Ethan Sterling walked in carrying a box.

Seeing Ethan, Ivy Langley looked amazed.

When recognizing the familiar face, her expression shifted from amazement to shock.

Ever bold, Ivy Langley gasped.

"You... you’re... from the Sterling Family, that little..."

"Devil," she swallowed the words in her throat.

Turning around, she rushed over, extended her arm to shield Seraphina and Theodore Thorne.

"Look for Adrian Chamberlain if you want revenge, Seraphina has already broken up with him; they have nothing to do with each other now."

Ethan Sterling ignored her, opened the box, and took out a small humidifier.

"Honey, where should I place the humidifier?"