CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: STRIP EVERYTHING... ONE MILLION!

"Look at you all, scaring our Eldest Miss Thorne."

Julia Chamberlain pretended to affectionately hold Seraphina Thorne’s shoulder, pulling her back to the bar.

"Let me introduce, this is one of the top students from Jadeston Conservatory of Music, a national competition award winner. She’s here to work and earn money!"

Julia Chamberlain deliberately emphasized the words "work and earn money."

Since they knew Seraphina Thorne and Ronald Grayson were acquainted, everyone had initially restrained themselves, thinking she was his guest.

Hearing Seraphina Thorne was here to work, they instantly became bold.

"Is that so? Then let’s have Miss Thorne play a piece for us!"

"Exactly, play ’Little Waist’ for our Ronald!"

"I know it, it’s really popular on that app, the one where you move left and right, front and back... Hmm, not enough, do that one again..."

A young man grinned wickedly, making a suggestive motion.

...

The crowd erupted in laughter.

"I think that’s a great idea."

"Ronald is sure to love it!"

...

"Sorry." Seraphina Thorne shook off Julia Chamberlain’s arm, "I only play classical music."

"Playing isn’t necessary." Julia Chamberlain grabbed a young man’s glass, presenting it to her, "We’re high school classmates, it’s Ronald’s birthday today, you should at least toast him, right?"

"I’m here to work, not to drink!"

Seraphina Thorne pushed the glass away, turning to leave.

The crowd didn’t give her the chance, immediately swarming around her.

"Come on, you’re being unfair to Ronald, aren’t you?"

"Yeah, won’t play, won’t drink, what’s your deal!"

"Out here earning money, yet pretending to be above it all!"

...

Bang!

Ronald Grayson slammed the glass down on the table, striding up to Seraphina Thorne.

He reached out with his right hand and snatched away her violin.

Taking two steps back, he leaned against the bar.

Ronald Grayson nodded toward the drinks.

"Pour the drinks!"

A troublemaker nearby swiftly arranged the glasses and poured three full cups of strong liquor.

"Want to earn money, do you?"

Ronald Grayson slammed the violin on the bar, threateningly pressing his hand on the violin case, gesturing toward the glasses with a nod.

"A drink for ten thousand, the more you drink, the more you earn! Drink all three, and I’ll let you leave. Otherwise, don’t think about exiting through that door today!"

Julia Chamberlain leaned casually against the bar, holding her phone, smiling slyly.

Eldest Miss Thorne?

The Thorne family’s little princess?!

Humph!

This time, she wanted to see Seraphina cry.

Seraphina Thorne glanced around.

The violin still in Ronald Grayson’s hand, the room filled with his cronies, several blocking the door.

If she didn’t drink, she was sure not to leave.

Taking a light breath, she stepped forward, standing at the bar.

"One drink, ten thousand?"

"Ten thousand?"

"If I drink, I can leave."

"You can leave."

"Be a man and stick to your word!"

Grabbing a glass from the table, Seraphina tilted her neck, pouring the alcohol into her mouth.

The liquor was bitter and harsh, each gulp like a knife slicing through her throat, burning her stomach painfully.

Forcing herself not to vomit, she reached for the second glass.

One glass.

Two glasses.

Three glasses.

She drank the three glasses in one go and stacked them on the table.

Seraphina Thorne raised her left hand, presenting a QR code on her phone to Ronald Grayson.

"Thirty thousand, transfer now!"

Ten thousand would keep her father in ICU for another day.

Three glasses of liquor wouldn’t kill her!

Everyone was stunned, including Ronald Grayson.

No one expected this seemingly sweet and gentle girl to actually gulp down all three glasses at once.

"What?" Seraphina raised her right hand, using the back of it to wipe the liquor from the corner of her lips, "Not a man?"

Ronald Grayson awkwardly glanced around before pulling out his phone.

Seraphina Thorne took the chance to grab her violin and hurried toward the door.

Her commanding presence prevented any of the privileged youths from daring to act rashly.

Seeing that she was about to reach the private room’s door, Ronald Grayson snapped out of it.

"Stop her!"

The guys standing at the door immediately blocked it.

Seraphina turned, cradling the violin to her chest.

"You promised, drink finished, let me go."

Ronald Grayson jumped down from the bar, sneering as he approached her, leaning close to her ear.

"Back then, you embarrassed me in front of the entire school; you think... I’ll let you off easily!"

He straightened up, giving her waist a suggestive glance.

"You want to earn money? I’ll give you another chance. Remove an item of clothing for fifty thousand, take it all off... one hundred thousand!"

"Wow!"

"I like this!"

...

Instantly, high-pitched screams and whistles filled the room.

Seraphina Thorne clenched her teeth, her face turning a bright red.

"Ronald Grayson, don’t you go too far!"

"Too far?" Ronald Grayson pushed her onto the sofa, grabbing her chin, "I’ve got worse!"

Lowering his head, he leaned in to kiss her.

Seraphina desperately struggled.

The smell of alcohol reeked, his sticky lips landing on her face...

No one helped her.

Everyone laughed while some took out their phones to record.

Seraphina Thorne mustered all her strength to push Ronald Grayson away, her fingers brushing a discarded bottle on the sofa.

She grabbed it tightly, swinging it hard.

Bang!

The bottle smashed over Ronald Grayson’s head, shards flying everywhere.

"Ronald!"

"Young Master!"

...

The crowd gasped, rushing over to support Ronald Grayson.

"Get lost!" Ronald Grayson shook off his companions, wiping blood from his forehead, "Seraphina Thorne, you fucking wanna die?"

Curling up on the sofa, Seraphina’s clothes and hair were in disarray.

Both hands clutched the blood-stained bottle neck tightly, her eyes fiery red.

"Whoever approaches, I’ll fight to death!"

Buzz—

From the backpack on the floor, the phone vibrated again.

The screen displayed the caller’s name—

Hubby A!

...

...

Kestrel Tower, rooftop restaurant.

Ethan Sterling frowned, once again dialing Seraphina Thorne’s number.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is unreachable."

The same notification sounded in the earpiece again.

An hour, nine calls, she didn’t answer even once.

"Seraphina Thorne, you’re something else!"

Ethan Sterling gritted his back teeth, pressing the redial button once more.

"This is your last chance!"

This time, the call finally connected.

"You better have a reason for not answering the phone!"

The man’s voice, each word squeezed out between clenched teeth.

"Are you Seraphina Thorne’s husband?"

On the line, it wasn’t Seraphina’s voice, but an unfamiliar man’s voice.

Man?

She was with another man?

"Who are you?" Ethan Sterling’s voice sharpened, "Why do you have Seraphina’s phone?"

"This is the Orilon District Police Station, and I’m a duty officer, your wife is in trouble, you need to come here immediately."

Police station?

She’s in trouble!

Ethan Sterling’s heart tightened, he stood straight up, gripping his phone.

Standing too quickly, his knee slammed hard against the dining table.

The cutlery and cups on the table clattered noisily.

Ignoring the pain in his knee, Ethan Sterling dashed out of the restaurant door.

"Sir, your coat!"

The service attendant chased after him with his stored coat, but Ethan had already rushed into the elevator.