CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: LOVE RIVALS MEET, A CHARM HE’S NEVER SEEN BEFORE

Standing in the washroom’s outer area, Seraphina Thorne unwrapped the bandage on her hand.

After several times of care, the burn on her hand was no longer swollen.

Since a layer of skin had peeled off and new skin hadn’t fully grown, it still hurt a bit.

Using a tissue to wipe the alcohol from the wound, Seraphina rummaged through her bag and took out a small scarf to wrap around the back of her hand.

Adrian Chamberlain stood outside the door, watching her silhouette.

The five-point sleeve, off-shoulder black evening dress perfectly wrapped her slender figure.

Swan-like neck, off-shoulder neckline...

A tempting curve at the waist.

Standing at the sink, Seraphina was elegant as a princess, yet there was an indescribable allure, the epitome of pure desire.

Just like when they were in high school, she could always make his heart skip a beat.

Seeing Seraphina struggling to tie a knot with one hand, Adrian took the initiative to approach.

"Let me help you."

Seeing him in the mirror, Seraphina’s face darkened, and she turned to avoid his arm.

"I’m afraid you’d dirty my hands."

Grabbing her bag, she turned to leave.

Adrian extended his arm to block her.

"I know you’re jealous. I’m not sincere with Diane Dawson, it’s just arranged by my family."

Jealous?

How conceited can he be!

Seraphina looked at the man she once cared about, suddenly finding it amusing.

Indeed, love really is blind.

How did she ever fall for someone like this?

At this moment, facing Adrian Chamberlain, who once made her heart race, laugh, cry, and even angrily wish to kill him...

Seraphina’s mood was calm as still water.

"Then I wish Mr. Chamberlain a swift reunion with his beloved and a bright future."

She stepped around him and walked briskly towards the exit.

"Seraphina!" Adrian grabbed her arm, pulling her back, "Actually, after leaving the restaurant that day, I regretted it. I really didn’t want to treat you that way."

Seraphina shook off his hand.

"Are you done? Then move aside!"

"Seraphina, give me another chance. If you’re willing, I can break up with Diane right now."

He stepped forward and hugged her tightly.

"Let go!"

Seraphina struggled fiercely, but Adrian ignored her, continuing to speak his mind.

"I promise I won’t hurt you again, Seraphina. I really...can’t live without you..."

Sharp footsteps approached, and a hand reached from behind, clasping Adrian’s shoulder, pulling him away from Seraphina.

Adrian turned in shock, but before he could see who it was...

A punch landed heavily on his jaw.

Adrian staggered back a few steps, raised his hand to wipe his lips.

"You damn, how dare you hit me?"

Glancing at the blood on the back of his hand, Adrian cursed and looked up at the man before him, then froze.

The man in front of him was at least half a head taller, with a handsome face now full of hostility.

A pair of dark eyes burned with anger.

If looks could kill, Adrian Chamberlain probably would’ve died ten thousand times by now.

He remembered that face.

It was this person who made him stay in the hospital for several months.

The doctors said he was lucky; if he had been admitted any later, his rib would have pierced his lung and it would’ve been over for him.

That was...

Ethan Sterling!

"Hit you?" Ethan tugged at his tie, "I’m here for your life!"

"Ethan!" Seraphina rushed over, embracing him, "Don’t be impulsive."

They were no longer students at school.

The present Adrian Chamberlain was not the Adrian Chamberlain of the past.

If Ethan really injured Adrian, this despicable man would certainly find a way to make him pay the price.

Ethan’s chest heaved, his face full of rage.

Seraphina held onto him tightly.

"Calm down!"

Ethan furrowed his brow, pulled his arm from her grasp, and stepped forward again.

"Ethan!"

Afraid Ethan would do something foolish in a fit of anger.

Seraphina rushed over like a madwoman and hugged him.

"Didn’t you say it’s not worth it for this scum?"

"Let go!"

Ethan raised his hand, trying to pry her fingers off.

The new tender skin hurt sharply from his pull.

Seraphina, both angry and in pain, looked up with teary eyes.

"You idiot, you’re hurting my hand!"

Catching sight of her eyes, Ethan snapped out of his rage and released his grip.

"Sorry, I... let me see your hand!"

Seeing his demeanor soften, Seraphina subtly exhaled.

Raising her left hand, she held it up to his eyes, deliberately acting coy.

"See for yourself."

The back of the girl’s hand, with newly grown tender skin, showed evident red marks from his tug.

Ethan took her hand gently, examining it carefully.

"Does it hurt?"

Adrian straightened up, looking at Seraphina and Ethan in disbelief.

So, the man who took her away that night was Ethan?

"You two are together?"

Worried Ethan might act rashly again, Seraphina reached out her right arm, wrapping it around his neck.

"Yes, we’ve been together for a while now. Right, hubby!"

She said the last two words particularly sweetly.

Didn’t Adrian say she couldn’t forget him?

She would let him see for himself.

Ethan looked up from her hand, glanced at Adrian, and then at Seraphina’s coy face.

Realizing she was doing it on purpose, he frowned without speaking.

Seraphina turned her face, affectionately leaning into him.

"It’s only been a few days, did you miss me?"

Adrian was stunned.

The Seraphina in front of him, from head to toe, was a side of her he had never seen before.

Ethan still kept a cold face.

Seraphina was internally fuming.

This bastard, always calling her "wifey" playfully, now feigns cold indifference?

With Adrian right behind, she had to continue with the act.

Turning her face, she kissed Ethan’s lips proactively.

Watching her kiss those lips he had never truly tasted.

Adrian’s eyes widened, a buzzing sound filled his head.

She...

She actually took the initiative to kiss him?!

Throughout their years of dating, he had countless times wanted to be close to her, only to be pushed away each time.

How could she kiss another man?

Reason was instantly replaced by jealousy and rage.

Adrian clenched his fists, charging at Ethan like a maniac.

Hugging Seraphina, Ethan swiftly turned, taking the punch with his back.

Then, he turned around with her in his embrace.

His right foot shot out in a clean sidekick.

The foot in a high-end leather shoe stomped fiercely towards Adrian’s chest.

Adrian instinctively dodged, but not completely, and Ethan’s foot landed on his chest.

He staggered back several steps, falling to the ground and hitting a trash can.

When it came to fighting, Adrian was never Ethan’s match.

Not in high school, and certainly not now.

"Adrian!"

Diane Dawson rushed over, supporting Adrian who had fallen to the ground.

Holding Seraphina, Ethan was ultimately cautious.

Besides, with Adrian’s dodging, the kick didn’t injure him like in high school.

Despite that, Adrian’s white shirt bore an obvious shoe print.

He looked quite a mess.

"You two..." Diane turned her face, angry as she glared at Ethan and Seraphina, "How dare you hit him?"

Worried Ethan might lose his temper, Seraphina grasped his shoulder, quietly reminding him.

"Stay calm, don’t give them a chance to retaliate."

Ethan glanced sideways at Seraphina.

The girl’s hand tightly grasped his shirt, her gaze full of concern.

She wasn’t defending Adrian; she was protecting him.

The anger in Ethan’s chest dissipated largely at once.

The present Adrian Chamberlain was not the Adrian Chamberlain of the past.

The current Ethan Sterling certainly was no longer the Ethan Sterling who only knew how to speak with his fists.

After years of navigating the business world, Ethan understood what reasonable risk avoidance meant.

With reason restored, how could he let Adrian catch him out?

"Miss Donovan, you misunderstand." With a large hand on Seraphina’s waist, he loosened a grin, appearing nonchalant, "We were just fooling around, right, old classmate!"