CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: I’LL WAIT FOR YOU TO COME CRYING BACK AND BEG ME!

The members of the school orchestra who performed in the show were walking over together.

The one speaking was the girl at the front—Julia Chamberlain, Adrian’s younger sister.

Seraphina Thorne and Julia Chamberlain were both students in the Department of Orchestral Studies, both majoring in violin.

Back when Seraphina was around, Julia Chamberlain was always second chair.

Now that Seraphina was headed overseas to study, Julia finally got the chance to sit in the school orchestra’s concertmaster seat.

For her first time playing lead, Julia’s face was brimming with smug satisfaction.

Seraphina still needed to visit her father at the hospital; she couldn’t be bothered to deal with Julia and started down the steps, ready to leave.

"Stop right there!" Julia reached out to block her. "Seraphina, let me tell you, if you have any dignity, you’d stay away from my brother and quit clinging to him."

She was the one clinging to Adrian?

Seraphina was so furious she laughed. "Fine, then you go tell your brother to keep his distance from me from now on."

"Quit acting like some untouchable princess." Julia sneered. "My brother didn’t break off the engagement because he’s too kind and too soft-hearted, so don’t overestimate yourself."

Adrian was "too kind, too soft-hearted"?

Seraphina let out a cold laugh.

He’d ruined the Thorne Family, tried to control her. Kind and soft-hearted, sure.

Up on the steps, Adrian, who’d come to support his sister, got out of the car just then.

Seeing what was happening, he hurried up the steps.

"Claire, don’t make a scene."

"Bro!" Julia shrugged nonchalantly. "Did I say anything wrong? Who does she think she is, trying to be with you now?"

"That’s right, I’m not worthy." Seraphina raised her voice. "Since you’re here, let me make it clear: Adrian, I’m calling off our engagement."

She’d meant to find a chance to break it off anyway—now was perfect.

All around, students and parents began to gather.

"What’s going on?"

"Who is that?"

"Seraphina Thorne from the Department of Orchestral Studies. Didn’t you see the news? The Thorne Family’s finished this time."

"So the Chamberlain Family is dumping her now that she’s fallen on hard times? They’re such opportunists!"

...

"What the hell are you people saying!" Julia shouted. "Listen up, everybody—it’s Seraphina who wants to break off the engagement, not us reneging!"

"Shut up!"

Adrian barked at his sister, grabbed Seraphina’s arm, putting on a look full of deep emotion.

"Seraphina, I truly love you. No matter what happens to the Thorne Family, my feelings for you haven’t changed! I promise, I’ll help you get through this!"

Many guests at the music festival were prominent figures in Jadeston.

Seraphina calling off the engagement in public—if word got out, not just him, but the entire Chamberlain Family would lose face.

Plus, the Zenith Group’s situation was still unstable; he needed to keep Seraphina close.

"Wow, how devoted!"

"Right? It’s hard to find a guy like that these days."

Acting!

Keep acting!

Seraphina frowned, staring at the man’s face, unable to understand.

How could he lie so shamelessly?

Those vows he’d uttered before—how hadn’t she seen through his hypocrisy then?

She was truly blind.

"Love me?" Seraphina clenched her fingers, lifted her face. "Okay, let’s go register for marriage right now. Do you dare?"

Getting legally married meant he’d have to share in the Thorne Family’s debts.

That was obviously not what Adrian really wanted.

"Seraphina, I..."

Adrian lowered his lashes, thinking up a solution.

"What, can’t keep up the act?" Seraphina shook off his hand. "Then don’t pretend to be a good guy in front of me. From now on, you, the Chamberlain Family—none of you have anything to do with me ever again."

"Seraphina!" The man’s eyes behind his glasses grew cold. "Treat me like this, and you’ll regret it."

Finally, he tore off his mask of false kindness.

"Regret?" Seraphina yanked the engagement ring out of her bag and threw it in Adrian’s face. "My biggest regret is being so blind before that I wound up with a piece of shit like you."

She turned and strode down the steps.

Her nose stung.

Her eyes burned and hurt.

Her throat felt so tight it was hard to breathe.

She clenched her fists, held her head high, her back and posture straight with pride.

She wouldn’t let anyone—especially Adrian—see even a glimpse of her hurt.

Julia eyed Seraphina’s retreating back and curled her lip in disdain.

"Bro, why do you care? Isn’t it better if she breaks off the engagement?"

"What do you know?"

Adrian shook off his sister’s arm in frustration.

He was already Zenith’s biggest shareholder.

But as long as Seraphina held shares, Adrian wasn’t fully at ease.

If she sold them to someone else, who knows what could happen.

At Zenith Group, he’d worked his way up from intern to where he was now, step by step.

He’d finally kicked the Thorne father and son out—there was no way he’d let any mistakes happen now.

His assistant picked up the diamond ring from the ground, handed it to Adrian.

Adrian gripped the ring, eyes following Seraphina’s retreating figure, his fingers slowly tightening.

Seraphina.

I’ll wait for you to come back crying and begging me!

...

...

First General Hospital.

When Seraphina arrived outside the ICU, the attending physician, Dr. Bennett, happened to be finishing his rounds.

Seraphina hurried over. "Dr. Bennett, how’s my dad?"

Dr. Bennett removed his mask. "Come on, let’s talk in the office."

The two entered the office; Dr. Bennett politely invited her to sit, then handed her a bottle of mineral water.

"Mr. Thorne’s condition still isn’t stable. But I do have some good news for you." Dr. Bennett gave her a reassuring smile. "I’ve already sent your father’s case file to my mentor from studying abroad, Professor Hans. He’s a leading expert in neurology. If you’re willing, we can ask him to consult and do the surgery for your dad."

"That’s great." Seraphina looked grateful. "Thank you so much, Dr. Bennett."

"However..." Dr. Bennett paused, "You know, it’s impossible for Mr. Thorne to transfer hospitals right now. The only way is to have the specialist come here for consultation and surgery. Fees for an overseas surgeon are high—hotel, airfare... all of this will be on you, so please consider carefully."

"No need to consider. As long as my dad can be saved, I’ll pay whatever it costs." Seraphina turned the bottle of water in her hands. "Can you give me an estimate?"

"For surgery and the rest, at least half a million, and that’s not including later treatment. And..." Dr. Bennett looked at Seraphina across the desk, a little hesitant, "You also know, there’s always risk in surgery; no one can guarantee the outcome."

"Even with just one percent hope, I won’t give up."

Seraphina stood and bowed deeply to Dr. Bennett.

"I’ll find a way to raise the money. Please, take care of contacting the doctor."

Her mom died young; her father had raised her and her brother all alone.

If her father still had a breath left in him, she wouldn’t give up on treatment.

Otherwise, she couldn’t face her brother or herself.

Dr. Bennett quickly helped her up. "Don’t worry, we’ll do everything we can."

"Then... can I visit my dad?"

"Of course."

Dr. Bennett led her out of the office and told the nurse to help her into sterile clothing.

The nurse disinfected Seraphina, then took her into the ICU.

On the hospital bed, Theodore Thorne’s face was as pale as paper, his breathing nearly imperceptible.

Only the numbers on the monitor proved he was alive.

She reached out, gently held his strong hand, pressing it to her own cheek.

Seraphina fought back tears.

"Dad, don’t worry. My brother and I are doing fine.

I swear I’ll guard Zenith for you. Promise me—you can’t give up.

You have to hang in there and get better...

When my brother comes back, you two can come to my solo music concert.

You promised me—you can’t break your word."

On the hospital bed, Theodore Thorne was silent.

All that answered her was the hum of the heart monitor.

Beep!

Beep!

Beep!

...