0
The night I learned of my sister’s death, I had just received my acceptance letter to Northwood University.
Moments later, I found a disturbing video of her online.
I didn’t recognize the men who violated her.
But I knew the man behind them, the one barking orders to everyone – Damon Blackwood, the most powerful man in this city.
He was infamously volatile.
This time, simply because my sister had stained his shoes, he ordered men to assault her and then released the humiliating video across every platform.
By the time I rushed to the scene, Skylar’s body was laid out on a table in a private lounge.
Silently, I collected my sister’s remains, then tore up the acceptance letter I’d just received.
Instead, I applied to Eastwood University, the prestigious institution Seraphina Thorne, the city’s most powerful young heir’s beloved, had attended.
Damon Blackwood, I’m going to make you feel this searing pain, too.
***
The party wound down, and without a sound, midnight arrived.
I carried a tipsy Seraphina Thorne to the presidential suite reserved for her.
The woman in my arms had clearly had too much to drink for the evening’s networking; a faint flush colored her pale face.
A subtle scent of alcohol clung to her, making her frown slightly even in her sleep.
I smoothly swiped the key card to open the door, then reached into Seraphina’s pocket for her phone. I dialed the number marked with a heart.
When the call connected, I deliberately let Seraphina make a soft sound.
Just as I expected, the man on the other end instantly ignited.
“Seraphina? Where are you?”
“Can you hear me?”
“Is there a man with you? Seraphina!”
Before his anger could fully erupt, I smiled and hung up.
It was an open secret among the city’s elite: Damon Blackwood adored Seraphina Thorne to his very core.
From childhood, any man who came close to Seraphina was either threatened away by Damon or subtly driven off by his machinations.
Because of this, even though Seraphina had become the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, she was still surprisingly naive when it came to matters of the heart.
He loved her too much, which made him riddled with anxiety and possessiveness.
If he ever truly lost her, he would undoubtedly spiral into madness.
And that was precisely my goal.
Planting the seeds of doubt in Damon’s mind was just the first step. I figured he’d be storming over here any minute, fueled by rage.
I smirked, tossed her phone aside, and walked into the bathroom, ruffling my hair.
After taking off my suit jacket, I unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt.
I splashed water on my face a few times.
Finally, I pulled all the bathroom towels onto the floor, surveying the chaotic mess. I dampened one towel and returned to the bed.
The woman on the bed wasn’t sleeping peacefully. The moment I leaned closer, she grabbed my wrist.
I chuckled softly, not struggling, but instead switched hands, using the wet towel to wipe her face.
It was no wonder Damon felt so threatened.
But what I wanted wasn’t anything so crude.
My gaze hardened, and I deliberately pressed harder with the towel.
A red mark immediately appeared on her neck.
She furrowed her delicate brows, then opened her eyes.
Seeing my face, her previously hazy eyes sharpened.
“What are you doing? Get away from me!”
I had already composed my expression the moment her eyes opened.
I shook my wrist with a hint of helplessness.
“Ms. Thorne, you drank too much. I’m new to the company and didn’t know your home address, so I could only bring you to the executive lounge reserved for you.”
“You kept complaining about the strong smell of alcohol while you were drunk, and you tried to struggle into the bathroom to wash up. I had no choice but to use a wet towel to wipe your face, but I didn’t expect you to grab my wrist the moment I got close.”
As I spoke, I gestured towards the chaotic bathroom.
Seeing my disheveled clothes and the mess on the bathroom floor, Seraphina looked embarrassed and slowly let go of my hand.
Seraphina rubbed her throbbing temples; the feeling of being drunk was truly unpleasant.
She casually picked up her phone and transferred ten thousand dollars to me.
“Take this, then leave.”
When I saw the money in my account, my smile widened.
Who doesn’t love money? Especially money from Seraphina Thorne.
Though not a huge sum, if used well, it would be enough to drive Damon Blackwood wild.
I accepted the money, then obediently closed the door and left.
But a moment later, I pushed the door open again and re-entered.
“Ms. Thorne, here’s some honey water.”
Seraphina paused, a thoughtful look entering her eyes as she regarded me.
Of course, I knew this might make Seraphina question me, but how could I leave before the real show began?
Calculating the time, Damon should be arriving soon.
“Ms. Thorne, honey water can help with a hangover and ease a headache.”
Seraphina slightly raised an eyebrow. She took the honey water from my hand, took a sip, and was about to say something when she was interrupted by urgent knocking at the door.
0
“Seraphina, are you in there? Seraphina? Open the door for me, Seraphina!”
Perhaps because there was no response, Damon Blackwood’s tone grew angry.
“Damn it, whoever’s in there, I’m warning you, don’t touch my woman!”
“How dare you think about my woman? Do you have a death wish?!”
“Open the door right now! When I get my hands on you, you’re dead!”
Hearing that, I secretly smirked.
Then I turned around, my face full of tension, and grabbed Seraphina, who was about to open the door. I whispered:
“Ms. Thorne, when you open the door, could you please say that I was the one you called?”
“Distrust is the bane of any relationship. We’re two single adults in one room, and while we’ve done nothing wrong, our current appearance… it’s easy for people to get the wrong idea. Of course, I know you don’t want to lie to Mr. Blackwood, but this is the best solution I can think of.”
“Of course, I could hide. But if Mr. Blackwood finds me, it would only cause a bigger rift in your relationship. Besides, the job market is tough right now, and I finally found this position. Please, could you help me?”
Seraphina was silent for a moment, then nodded.
I smiled gratefully at Seraphina, then straightened my clothes before walking to the door and opening it.
As I expected, an enraged Damon Blackwood immediately blew up when he saw my face.
He swung the baseball bat, aiming straight for my head.
“Damon, stop!”
I ducked, covering my head, my face filled with feigned terror.
Seraphina grabbed the bat from Damon’s hand, her face clearly displeased.
“Put the bat down.”
Damon’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Seraphina, then grudgingly lowered the bat.
Seraphina’s expression slowly softened. She gave Damon a look, signaling him to follow her inside.
As Damon passed me, he angrily kicked me several times before Seraphina’s urging made him enter the room.
I wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of my mouth, my gaze fixed on Damon’s retreating back.
I had intended to turn and leave, but Seraphina called out to me.
“Asher, you come in too.”
I had only meant to make an initial impression on Seraphina, but I hadn’t expected her to actually remember me.
What a great start.
I responded, then stumbled into the room, cautiously standing in a corner.
“What, are you still sulking?”
Seraphina asked, rubbing her throbbing head with a helpless tone.
Damon stood nearby, propping himself up with the bat, his face defiant.
His eyes were locked on me, refusing to speak.
“Damon, I don’t feel well.”
Hearing that, Damon forgot all about me.
He immediately dropped the bat, sat on the bed, wrapped an arm around Seraphina’s shoulders, and asked anxiously:
“Seraphina, where do you feel unwell?”
Seraphina leaned against his shoulder, her eyes closed, looking a little fatigued.
“I was made to drink a few too many glasses tonight. My head is throbbing, so I came upstairs to rest. I woke up and initially wanted to call you to bring me some honey water, but then I remembered you said you were going for a drive with friends today. So I asked Asher to bring me a cup from downstairs.”
“I was just about to rest when you burst in, all furious. What, has someone been spreading rumors again?”
Damon pursed his lips.
“No, I just wanted to check in.”
“After all, my Seraphina is beautiful and outstanding. She’s had countless admirers since childhood. If I’m not vigilant, what if some clueless guy tries to whisk you away… No, just thinking about it makes me upset.”
“Seraphina, you have to promise me you’ll only be with me, or I’ll be heartbroken.”
Seraphina looked up at Damon, a wry smile on her face.
“You’re talking nonsense. I have you; where would I find the time to look at other men?”
“Don’t always be so riddled with anxiety and possessiveness. We’re already engaged, aren’t we?”
In front of outsiders, Seraphina was always cool and unsmiling.
In all my research on Seraphina, I had never seen her so gentle and coaxing.
It seemed she truly loved Damon Blackwood.
I subtly adjusted my gold-rimmed glasses, my eyes fixed on Seraphina, filled with determination.
No wonder high society said Seraphina Thorne was the leash on Damon Blackwood, the mad dog.
With just a few words, Seraphina dispelled the suspicion in Damon’s heart.
I sneered silently. The idea of a ‘mad dog’ turning into a fawning lapdog just to keep what he thought was his – that wasn’t how his story should go. He should remain a mad dog.
After they shared a moment of tenderness, Damon’s eyes landed on me again.
He pursed his lips, buried his head in Seraphina’s neck, and mumbled:
“Seraphina, I don’t like him. Fire him.”
Seraphina patted Damon’s back, then glanced at me, standing in the corner, discreetly wiping blood from my lip, my face pale.
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly:
“Damon, if Asher hadn’t helped take care of me today, who knows what might have happened. You know I can’t stand the smell of alcohol; I definitely would have gone to the bathroom myself. If Asher hadn’t arrived promptly after my call, no one would have found me if I’d fainted in the bathroom.”
“Asher, isn’t that right?”
I immediately understood that Seraphina was covering for me.
I nodded vigorously, my words earnest:
“Yes, Mr. Blackwood. When I brought the honey water up, I even met some hotel staff. I literally just knocked and entered when you arrived. You can see the honey water on the table is still warm.”
Damon glanced at the half-drunk honey water on the table, sneered, but his expression wasn’t as dark anymore.
I knew he believed it.
0
Seraphina rubbed her temples, and Damon immediately understood she wanted to rest.
He gently tucked her into bed.
“Since you’re okay, I’ll head back first.”
“You, come with me.”
The moment my eyes met Damon’s, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
He wanted to teach me a lesson away from Seraphina, or worse, force me to leave Thorne Enterprises.
But there was no way I’d let Damon succeed.
So, I didn’t respond. Instead, I looked up at Seraphina, my eyes filled with a plea.
My slightly damp, disheveled hair hung limply over my eyes, making me appear either scared or shocked.
My eyes were slightly red, and my deliberately dampened clothes were still silently dripping water, revealing the faint outline of my abs beneath my shirt.
Seraphina glanced at me, then averted her gaze, but her fingers on the blanket unconsciously curled.
Seeing this, I subtly smirked, then lowered my head, adopting a fearful posture.
Damon waited for a while, but I didn’t answer. He was about to speak impatiently when Seraphina interrupted him.
“Damon, you go back first. I have some work to discuss with Asher.”
Damon clearly hadn’t expected Seraphina to ask me to stay. He frowned, about to protest.
Seeing Seraphina’s annoyed expression, he ultimately suppressed his anger, glared fiercely at me, and left.
I flinched, then huddled further into the corner.
It wasn’t until Damon had been gone for a long time that I slowly relaxed.
“You’re afraid of him?”
Seraphina frowned, sitting up and scrutinizing me with an unreadable expression.
Of course, I knew how to leverage my advantages.
I timidly looked up at her, opened my mouth, but then lowered my head again, a despondent note in my voice.
“Mr. Blackwood only needs to lift a finger to undo all my hard work… Ms. Thorne, I really need this job. I can’t lose it.”
As if afraid Seraphina would press further, I grabbed a bath towel and hurried to leave.
“Ms. Thorne, thank you for helping me today. Please get some rest. I’ll excuse myself.”
Then, I politely nodded and quickly pushed open the door, rushing out.
The moment I reached downstairs, a shiver ran through me.
Before I could figure out how to get home, Seraphina’s black Lexus pulled up in front of me.
“Mr. Hayes has prepared some fresh clothes for you in the car. Please get in.”
I paused for a second, then immediately got into the car.
I had initially thought this incident would only give Seraphina a first impression of me, but I hadn’t expected her to remember me.
This was truly good news.
After that day, I acted as if nothing had happened, diligently performing my duties at work.
Even when I saw Seraphina, I remained respectful and distant, as always.
But that didn’t diminish Damon Blackwood’s hostility towards me.
Because he frequently saw Seraphina and me entering and leaving together when he came to the office to bring her lunch.
Seraphina had even dismissed him multiple times because of my arrival – even if I was just calling her to a meeting.
Especially since I not only had good looks but also a great physique.
I had never doubted my appearance; after all, it was because of this facade that my sister and I had such a smooth childhood.
Thinking of the repeated frustrations he’d suffered because of me and my striking face, Damon found me increasingly irritating.
Consequently, the harassment I received grew.
But I never took Damon’s bullying to heart, nor would I ever mention it to Seraphina.
After all, complaining would risk looking like I was trying to win her favor.
But if certain people saw it with their own eyes, the meaning would be entirely different.
One day, as I was reporting on work to Seraphina and about to leave, I didn’t hear her usual instruction to dismiss me.
I looked up at Seraphina, only to find her staring at my face with a complex expression.
Our eyes met for a second, and I immediately lowered my head as if remembering something.
After a long pause, Seraphina finally spoke:
“Do you have anything to say?”
I inwardly rejoiced, but outwardly feigned confusion.
“No, not really.”
Seraphina’s expression remained complicated as she looked me over, then finally dismissed me.
As I closed the door, I shot a triumphant glance at Seraphina, who had already returned to her work.
The fish had nibbled the bait; time to throw in more chum.
Late that night, I was at my desk, eating a cold dinner.
I was fully engrossed in reviewing reports when Seraphina, who had just finished a meeting, stopped involuntarily as she saw me.
Her gaze flickered for a moment, then she walked straight past me.
But soon after, someone delivered a hot meal to my desk.
I smiled at the food on the table. This second step in my plan was going very well.
Though it came with some hardship, the seeds of discord between Seraphina and Damon were already sown. Now, all I needed to do was make that discord blossom.
0
The next day, as I walked out of my apartment complex, I was blindfolded and forced into a car.
Inside a warehouse, Damon Blackwood stood, his face contorted in anger, and brutally slammed a baseball bat onto my leg.
I crumpled to the ground in pain, cold sweat pouring down my face.
“I knew you had ill intentions, coming into this company just to get to Seraphina!”
“My woman, Seraphina Thorne, isn’t someone a pathetic nobody like you can covet! If you want a sugar mama, you’ve picked the wrong one! Today, I’m going to teach you what happens when you cross me!”
I desperately dodged his blows, trying to explain:
“Mr. Blackwood, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I’m just a common employee; why are you targeting me like this?”
“Targeting?”
Damon, panting, handed the bat to one of his goons. He grabbed my face, pinching it.
“What makes you think you’re worthy of being targeted by me?”
“I don’t care what your intentions are. From today onwards, don’t let me see you anywhere near Seraphina. Otherwise… I doubt you can handle the consequences.”
Seeing Damon about to leave, I immediately shouted:
“Mr. Blackwood, kidnapping me off the street and assaulting me like this—aren’t you worried about bringing trouble to Ms. Thorne? She’s already exhausted with company matters lately. If you can’t ease her burden, at least don’t add to her problems!”
As soon as I said that, Damon’s face erupted in fury.
“You little punk, taking advantage of my kindness, are you?!”
He immediately ignored his bodyguards’ attempts to restrain him and lunged, swinging the bat at me.
A dozen bodyguards tried to hold Damon back, but he charged at me like an enraged bull.
“What do you mean? What right do you have to say such things? You’re nothing but a low-life trash with no power or influence! I can snap my fingers and make sure you can’t survive in this city, and you dare lecture me?!”
“Let me tell you, Seraphina is mine, always mine! You want to cling to her for money? Dream on!”
I looked at him with disdain, but my words were cautious:
“Mr. Blackwood, you’ve misunderstood me. I don’t mean that at all.”
“I just want to work steadily and honestly. You’re overthinking things.”
“Don’t look at me with that disgusting expression! What do you think you are?”
Damon, seething with anger, threw the bat directly at my head.
Seeing me fall to the ground from the impact, he shoved aside the bodyguards in front of him.
He stomped on my face, his eyes wild with madness.
“Go to work, fine, but why are you always parading around Seraphina? Huh? Dressed so handsomely, what, you think that’ll make Seraphina give you another glance? Let me tell you, you’re delusional!”
“You look down on me? How dare you look down on me? I’m a Blackwood heir, a voice of authority in this city! How dare you look at me like that? I think you’re tired of living. I should gouge out your eyes!”
My head spun, and my stomach churned with nausea.
“Mr. Blackwood, you’ve truly misunderstood. I wouldn’t dare harbor any feelings for Ms. Thorne.”
Seeing that I still dared to argue, Damon let out a furious laugh.
He grabbed my hair, forcing my head up to look at him, and grinned maliciously:
“You’ve got a tough mouth. Let’s see if your bones are as tough as your words.”
Then he disgustedly released my hair, and I collapsed weakly to the ground.
Soon, a pool of fresh blood surrounded me.
Damon’s cold words echoed above my head.
“You, beat him to within an inch of his life, until he admits his mistake.”
“If he dies, it’s on me. I want to see if you still have the guts to seduce Seraphina.”
The moment he finished speaking, the bodyguards rushed forward, kicking and punching me.
I could only cover my head, begging for mercy.
“Mr. Blackwood, please, it really wasn’t me…”
“Mr. Blackwood, you’ve misunderstood…”
Some bodyguards, unable to bear the sight, were about to say something, but they recoiled after seeing Damon’s obsessive glare.
Just as I thought I might actually die there, a cool female voice brought an end to the brutal scene.
“Stop!”
Accompanied by dazzling white light, Seraphina Thorne, in high heels, walked directly towards Damon.
“Ms. Thorne…”
Though I said nothing, anyone with eyes could see my wretched state.
Seraphina swept her gaze around with an icy expression, and the assistant behind her immediately stepped aside to call a private doctor.
Before Damon could speak, Seraphina opened her mouth, her voice filled with displeasure:
“Damon, have you made enough of a scene? Didn’t I explain things to you clearly before? Why did you still let your men act so cruelly?”
“Are you doubting him, or are you doubting me?”
Damon froze completely when he heard Seraphina’s cold voice.
He awkwardly dropped the bat to the side, making a dull thud. Then, he whined, grabbing Seraphina’s hand and shaking it:
“Seraphina, I didn’t mean to doubt you… I just wanted to warn him. I didn’t expect my men to hit him so hard. I’ll go teach them a lesson, alright? I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
“But I was just too worried about you, too nervous. I promise I won’t do this again. Please don’t be angry with me, and don’t ignore me. I only have you.”
Hearing his words, the coldness on Seraphina’s face instantly dissipated.
She said nothing more, only instructing someone to take Damon away.
She silently watched me, covered in wounds, then coldly told the assistant next to her:
“Handle this. When he recovers, have him come to my office.”
0
That afternoon, the first thing I did after waking up was send a message to the Blackwood family’s staff.
[Well done. Payment will be transferred tonight.]
Yes, I had orchestrated this whole incident.
Otherwise, how could I smoothly advance my next plan?
I gathered my thoughts, then, in a wheelchair, knocked on the CEO’s office door.
Once inside, I said nothing, simply watching Seraphina.
The warm, red sunlight streamed onto me, giving me a fragile, almost broken appearance.
Seraphina watched the scene before her, an unfamiliar feeling stirring within her.
After a long silence, seeing that I still had no intention of speaking, she had to initiate the conversation.
“What Damon did today was wrong. I apologize on his behalf. He’s not usually like this. He’s probably still resentful about past events and displaced that anger onto you. In a way, it’s my fault. Although Damon can be impulsive and heavy-handed, he doesn’t have a malicious heart. I hope you won’t hold it against him.”
“Of course, mistakes require compensation. I’ll cover all your medical expenses, and during this time, you’ll be on paid leave. I’ll also give you a ten percent raise. Let’s consider this matter closed.”
Closed? “Doesn’t have a malicious heart”?
I scoffed inwardly, finding it utterly ironic.
Damon Blackwood, with his “unmalicious heart,” had beaten me half to death in public.
No wonder he, with his truly malicious heart, had done such things to my sister.
Damon Blackwood was clearly born evil, an unreasonable madman.
Yet, in Seraphina’s words, his evil was softened to mere “impulsiveness.”
It was as if my sister’s death had nothing to do with Damon Blackwood.
That was my sister, with whom I had grown up, who would rather beg to let me survive when we were starving.
My sister, who went to sing in bars so I could attend college.
Though we were poor, wherever Skylar was, I felt boundless warmth.
But now, all of it had been destroyed by that madman, Damon Blackwood!
Before, I thought these acts were solely Damon’s, and Seraphina might have been unaware.
But now, it seemed Seraphina had probably been cleaning up his messes all along.
With that realization, my hatred intensified. It looked like the plan needed some minor adjustments.
I lowered my head, appearing somewhat disheveled, and my voice, slightly choked, reached Seraphina’s ears.
“Thank you for your consideration, Ms. Thorne. Of course, I won’t blame Mr. Blackwood, nor will I blame you.”
“I just hope, Ms. Thorne, that you won’t fire me because of this incident and will allow me to continue working steadily at the company.”
Hearing my dedication to this job, Seraphina asked, a hint of confusion in her voice:
“With your work ability and education, finding a similar job shouldn’t be difficult, should it? Why are you so determined to stay here?”
I looked up, my gaze deep as it met Seraphina’s, then lowered my eyes.
“Because it’s important.”
After a moment of silence, I continued.
“I grew up with my sister. She raised me through unimaginable hardships. But a year ago, my sister passed away. Her dying wish was for me to one day work for Thorne Enterprises, to live a good life, but I hadn’t been able to fulfill it.”
“Now that I’ve finally achieved it, how can I easily give up? Besides… to put me through school, our family accumulated a lot of debt. I can’t afford to lose this job.”
Seraphina pursed her lips, a flicker of apology crossing her face.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize there was such a story behind it. Please stay here, compose yourself, and rest a bit before you leave.”
I nodded slightly and soon fell asleep in the wheelchair.
Seraphina had met many handsome men; her cool demeanor showed little change.
But upon seeing my fragile face, marked with bandages, her expression softened slightly.
She picked up a blanket nearby and covered me. Just as she was about to leave, I grabbed her hand.
I clutched Seraphina’s hand tightly, as if I had recovered a lost treasure.
“Skylar, don’t leave me…”
“I miss you so much…”
Seraphina saw the glistening tears in my eyes. Her gaze flickered, then she awkwardly patted my head with her other hand.
Once my expression had calmed, she slowly withdrew her hand.
A week later, Seraphina was invited to a corporate gala, and I, as her assistant, accompanied her.
When Damon Blackwood saw me standing behind Seraphina, his expression twisted.
However, Seraphina had recently warned him, so he could only feign indifference.
He wrapped his arm around Seraphina’s waist, attempting to assert his claim, but after a few drinks, he became lightheaded.
Left with no choice, he excused himself to Seraphina and went to a guest room to rest.
Seeing my objective accomplished, I smoothly walked over to Seraphina’s side.
Even though Seraphina was the CEO of Thorne Enterprises, many people still disliked her.
Before long, Seraphina’s mind became hazy from the endless toasts.
I helped her sit down. Out of sight of the others, I sprinkled some white powder from my sleeve into a glass of water.
Seraphina took a sip, then abruptly pushed my hand away.
I lost my grip, and the water spilled all over Seraphina.
My eyes flickered for a moment, then I immediately grabbed some napkins from the table and began to wipe her clothes.
Just as I feigned shock and was about to pull my hand away, Seraphina, her thoughts momentarily clearer, pushed me away.
“Get away from me!”
Seeing her clothes cling slightly to her from the water, I felt a bashful flush creep up my face.
I cleared my throat, then took off my suit jacket and draped it over Seraphina. I lowered my head, stepped back, and said with regret:
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Thorne. I didn’t mean to… I’ll go get you some clean clothes.”
Seraphina clutched the jacket tighter, her blush deepening.
Her eyes, heavy-lidded, glanced at the drinks on the table and the crowd drinking in the main hall.
She was about to say something when her expression clouded over again.
She bit her tongue hard, trying to maintain her clarity.
“Asher, take me to the hospital.”
Even though I heard her, I pretended not to.
So, I leaned in curiously and asked:
“Ms. Thorne, what did you say?”
“To… the hospital…”
I admit, I harbored a desire for revenge.
But seeing Seraphina, disoriented, starting to pull off her clothes, I suddenly remembered what Skylar had once told me.
“Our Asher is going to be a bright, gentle, and protective young man, you hear?”
My hands, hanging at my sides, immediately clenched.
After a moment of internal struggle, I cursed under my breath, then wrapped Seraphina tightly in my jacket.
I picked her up and headed towards the back exit where the car was parked.
Forget it. There were plenty of other ways to seek my revenge; I didn’t need to resort to such sordid methods against a woman.
By the time I finally managed to carry the wildly struggling Seraphina to the back exit, I suddenly remembered I had sent the driver away.
I let out a soft, exasperated sigh.
I held Seraphina with one arm and pulled out my phone with the other, intending to call the driver.
But the moment I pulled out my phone, Seraphina slapped it out of my hand.
Her eyes hazy, Seraphina looked at me, then directly leaned in to kiss me.
I stumbled, falling backward into a nearby planter.
0
Once I recovered, I immediately restrained Seraphina.
“Ms. Thorne, please, try to clear your head.”
Seraphina’s expression gradually became clearer.
She hadn’t ingested much of the drug, and with the sudden exertion and sweat, its effects were mostly wearing off.
The moment she fully awoke, she immediately realized the current situation was all wrong.
In the dim moonlight, Seraphina saw me.
“You!”
Seraphina gritted her teeth, pushed me away, and then noticed my unresponsive state.
She then picked up her phone and called her driver.
Although she had been drugged, her memory wasn’t completely blank.
While the situation was ultimately her fault, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right.
Before she could ponder further, the driver arrived.
She looked at me in silence for a moment, then signaled the driver to take me to the hospital.
After all, she had inadvertently caused my injuries.
When I woke up, three days had already passed.
During those three days, a lot had happened in the city.
First, the companies that had attended the gala all suffered varying degrees of retaliation from Thorne Enterprises, while Blackwood Industries, conversely, saw its stock rise.
Second, photos of Seraphina Thorne and Damon Blackwood enjoying a sweet outing once again topped the social media feeds.
When I saw this news upon waking, instead of feeling discouraged, I smiled with satisfaction.
Men and women are alike; once guilt settles in their hearts, they become exceptionally good to their partners, often compensating with material things.
I figured Seraphina hadn’t slept well these past few days.
Next, I would ensure that Seraphina’s heart slowly became solely mine.
After I returned to work, I would instinctively avoid Seraphina whenever I saw her.
Even during official duties, I rarely made eye contact with her.
Seraphina naturally noticed I was trying to keep my distance.
However, my considerate behavior actually made Seraphina less awkward.
But as the days went by, a peculiar feeling stirred in Seraphina’s heart, and her attention towards me increased.
One day, Damon Blackwood came to Thorne Enterprises again.
But Damon didn’t go looking for Seraphina; instead, he found me.
He sat at my desk, scornfully leafing through the documents on it.
With a sweep of his hand, his bodyguards scattered the reports I had painstakingly organized over three days all over the floor.
Then, they placed two large boxes of alcohol on my desk.
“Asher, Seraphina has already reprimanded me for what I did to you before. So, I specially brought some good liquor to make amends.”
Damon smiled, but his eyes were full of cold malice.
“I assume you wouldn’t refuse me this courtesy, would you, Asher?”
I looked at the liquor on the table, none of which was below eighty proof. Before I could speak, bodyguards pushed me down into the chair opposite Damon.
Damon took a bottle of vodka from a box, examined it for a moment, then smirked at me.
“Asher, how about we start with this bottle? This vodka was specially airlifted from Russia; I’ve treasured it for years. You can’t waste a single drop, you hear?”
As he spoke, a bodyguard respectfully took the vodka from Damon’s hand.
He opened the bottle and menacingly placed it in front of me.
“Drink!”
I looked at the liquor before me, then at the bodyguards and Damon, who wore a malicious grin.
I knew there was no escaping this drinking session today.
So, I picked up the bottle and started to drink. Soon, a deep flush spread across my cheeks, and my expression grew hazy.
But there was no way Damon Blackwood would let me off that easily.
Seeing me repeatedly shake my head in refusal, Damon gave a look.
One bodyguard pinned me down, while another poured the alcohol directly into my mouth.
Damon watched my struggles with amusement, then casually picked up an empty bottle and struck me on the head.
“Asher, don’t fall asleep! You’ve only had a few drinks; keep drinking!”
It wasn’t until I was on my knees, my face flushed, trying to stick my fingers down my throat to vomit the ingested alcohol, that the smile finally left Damon’s face.
He kicked me hard, his voice filled with viciousness.
“What are you spitting out? If it weren’t for me, you’d never get to drink such good liquor in your life!”
“Swallow it, you hear me!”
When he saw my veins throbbing, and me collapsing, convulsing in pain on the vomit-strewn floor, Damon finally seemed satisfied.
He placed his foot on my face, playfully grinding it, then whispered:
“Trash belongs in the trash can. Know your place, understand?”
0
At the hospital, I politely watched the doctor leave, then pulled out my phone and smirked.
What were these few injuries?
The more Damon Blackwood lost control of his actions, the more he humiliated me, the more he pushed Seraphina towards me. This was exactly what I wanted.
Damon Blackwood, just wait for your public disgrace.
Power, wealth, love… everything will ultimately be taken by me.
I smiled, sent a few messages on my phone, and soon completed the discharge procedures.
When I returned to the office, everyone seemed surprised to see me.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, I carried the documents I was supposed to give Seraphina that morning to the CEO’s office door.
I politely knocked, and when her cool voice answered, I pushed the door open.
After forcing myself to report on the work, I turned to leave.
But I stumbled, bumping into a chair, which drew Seraphina’s attention.
“My apologies, Ms. Thorne, I’ll leave now.”
“Wait a moment.”
Seraphina walked over to me.
“Are you avoiding me?”
My vision swam for a moment, but I didn’t forget to keep my distance from Seraphina.
I staggered back two steps, then quickly explained:
“You misunderstand, Ms. Thorne, I’m not avoiding you.”
Seraphina instinctively reached out to steady me. As she came closer, she noticed the mingled scent of alcohol and antiseptic on me.
My body instantly stiffened, and I immediately tried to pull away.
But Seraphina firmly guided me to sit on the sofa.
She looked at the bruises on my face, sighed softly, then took a box of ointment from a first-aid kit.
She dabbed some out and gently applied it to my face.
I was forced to look up. I glanced at Seraphina, then awkwardly closed my eyes.
After applying the ointment, Seraphina noticed that my hands, clenched on my lap from tension, had wrinkled my trousers.
My face was also flushed from holding my breath.
She sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice.
“Do I smell bad? You’ll suffocate yourself if you keep holding your breath.”
Hearing that, I finally remembered to breathe.
I gasped a few times, then looked at Seraphina, slightly flustered. I hastily explained:
“No, Ms. Thorne, you smell wonderful… Ah, no, I didn’t mean to offend you…”
I nervously stood up, bowing to Seraphina.
“Ms. Thorne, I truly have no ulterior motives for you. I just want to earn a decent living…”
All her life, Seraphina had heard countless declarations of love from accomplished men.
This was the first time someone had been so desperate to distance himself from her.
Seraphina felt a rare flicker of annoyance, but seeing my body sway from pain, unable to stand steadily, she softened and gently pulled me back onto the sofa.
“Why are you so quick to deny it? My intentions towards you are professional, so whether you harbor ulterior motives or not is irrelevant to me.”
“I’m just showing concern for a subordinate. Besides, these injuries on you were Damon’s doing, weren’t they?”
Hearing that, I froze for a moment, then my eyes darkened.
The flush on my face faded, replaced by redness around my eyes.
Seraphina opened her mouth, confused about what she had said wrong.
Just as she was about to ask, there was an urgent knock at the door.
I frantically covered my eyes, then, supporting myself on the sofa, stumbled to my feet.
“Ms. Thorne, I apologize for taking up your time. I’ll go back to work now.”
Before Seraphina could say anything, I fled as if escaping.
She frowned, watching me leave, and only after a long moment did she turn back to her work.
By the time Seraphina finished her meeting and emerged, the sky was filled with stars.
She saw me standing by the back door of the company, smoking a cigarette, my expression forlorn. She paused, then decided to approach.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard a surprised male voice from my phone.
“Dude, don’t tell me you still haven’t told her yet!”
I took a drag from my cigarette, my voice heavy.
“Tell her what? She has a boyfriend now. It would only cause trouble if I told her. I think it’s better not to.”
“How can you just let it go? You’re getting soft as you get older, aren’t you? You spent all that effort getting into Thorne Enterprises, becoming Seraphina Thorne’s personal assistant, wasn’t it to spend more time with her? If you give up now, what was all that wasted time for?”
“You’ve liked her for so many years. To be close to her, you defied all of us, chose to re-study, got into Eastwood University. How much hardship did you endure, how much prejudice did you face, just to work at Thorne Enterprises? Even if she rejects you, you have to tell her how you feel.”
“And if you ask me, that Blackwood guy isn’t any good. The reason you’re covered in injuries now is because of him, isn’t it? Aren’t you afraid that if she marries him, he’ll abuse her?”
“He wouldn’t dare!”
As if speaking too quickly, I coughed violently a few times before recovering.
“If he ever dared to do that, no matter what it costs me, I would fight tooth and nail to take Seraphina away from him.”
“But right now, she seems happy. I shouldn’t ruin that. Besides, she’s the boss, I’m an employee. Our statuses are inherently unequal. I just want to quietly be there for her, support her. As long as she’s happy, I’m content.”
“Alright, talk later. I need to bring Ms. Thorne dinner now. She hasn’t been eating properly these past few days; I don’t want her stomach issues to flare up again.”
With that, I extinguished my cigarette, picked up the insulated bag of food, and turned to re-enter the building.
But the next second, I met Seraphina’s gaze.
“Ms… Ms. Thorne?”
Seraphina slowly walked towards me, a playful smirk on her face.
“Asher, is this what you meant by not having any ulterior motives for me?”
Even though I forced myself to remain calm, my beet-red earlobes betrayed my inner embarrassment.
“Ms. Thorne, I know I’m not good enough for you. I never dared to hope we could be together.”
“I joined Thorne Enterprises to help lighten your burden, and also… also because I wanted to be near you. As long as I could see you every day, I’d be satisfied.”
“Please… please don’t fire me. I promise I’ll keep these feelings hidden and won’t affect your relationship with Mr. Blackwood. I just see how tired you are and wanted to help you, even if my ability is small. As long as you can relax a little, I’ll be content.”
As I spoke, I placed the takeout container in front of Seraphina.
“Ms. Thorne, you probably haven’t eaten since the meeting, have you? This is from The Gilded Spoon, which I specially packed for you. It’s still warm.”
Seraphina looked at the still-warm meal in the insulated bag, her throat suddenly dry.
“The Gilded Spoon isn’t cheap, and you have to reserve a table in advance. You…”
I smiled brightly:
“But Ms. Thorne, isn’t The Gilded Spoon your favorite? After a busy day, being able to eat your favorite meal is the happiest thing I can imagine. Ms. Thorne, please eat slowly. I’ll go back to finish my proposal now.”
With that, I placed the food in Seraphina’s hands.
The moment the motion-sensor light came on, Seraphina saw the sweat on my face and my sparkling eyes.
It wasn’t until my figure was completely obscured by the elevator doors that she slowly snapped out of her daze.
As her heart pounded in her chest, a complex, indescribable emotion bloomed in Seraphina’s eyes.
0
What happened that day seemed to be tacitly brushed aside by both of us, yet during our private interactions, I could clearly feel Seraphina’s increased closeness.
One day, Seraphina brought me to a gala.
I noticed she seemed unwell and immediately prepared painkillers for her.
During the event, someone else tried to toast Seraphina.
Considering Seraphina’s health—I’d been advised by her doctor to limit alcohol and eat light—I had no choice but to bravely block each drink for her.
Everyone watched Seraphina, who remained sober thanks to my protection, and couldn’t help but tease.
“Ms. Thorne, your assistant is truly dedicated. Not a single drop of alcohol has touched your lips all night.”
“Ms. Thorne, such a handsome and attentive assistant, Damon Blackwood isn’t jealous, is he?”
Before Seraphina could respond, a wealthy lady who had clearly had too much to drink stumbled directly into my arms.
“Ms. Thorne, you already have Mr. Blackwood. Why don’t you give this handsome young man to me? I can give you one percent of the profits from this deal.”
My body instantly stiffened, but I couldn’t bring myself to be harsh and cause a scene.
Just as the woman’s lips were about to touch mine, Seraphina’s face darkened.
She pulled me sharply behind her and said in a low, stern voice:
“Mrs. Albright, I think you’ve had too much to drink. My assistant isn’t one of those college boys you keep. I wonder how Mr. Albright, who’s currently away on business, would feel if he knew you were having affairs behind his back?”
Mrs. Albright instantly sobered up. She glanced at me sheepishly, then waddled away.
Seeing Seraphina’s rare outburst of anger, no one dared to cause further trouble.
On the way home after the gala,
My hand clamped around hers like an iron vice.
After the call ended, I was the first to break the awkward silence.
I got out of the car, and only after its shadow disappeared from my sight did I move my stiff limbs and call a ride-share home.
That call had been from Damon Blackwood. I was extremely sensitive to his voice.
Though Seraphina now had feelings for me, if Damon ever got into trouble, Seraphina would still decisively abandon me.
It seemed this fire needed to burn even brighter.
A few days later, I accompanied Seraphina on a business trip to the capital.
As soon as we deplaned, a thug brandished a gun and began a robbery at the airport.
Just as the thug lunged to stab Seraphina, I immediately rushed forward, shielding her, and took the knife wound myself.
“Asher!”
Once the chaos was under control, I was rushed to the emergency room, my face pale.
When I next awoke, Seraphina was gently moistening my chapped lips with a cotton swab.
Seeing this, I nervously grabbed Seraphina’s hand and asked:
“Ms. Thorne, are you hurt?”
“Are you alright anywhere? Did those people hurt you afterward?”
Looking at my concerned face, Seraphina felt a bittersweet pang in her heart.
She hadn’t expected that the first thing I would do after waking, having taken a knife for her, was to inquire about her safety.
She also hadn’t expected me to value her life more than my own.
Wrapped in such intense affection, Seraphina felt her eyes welling up, as if she might burst into tears.
0
Even though I was in the hospital with a caregiver,
Seraphina still made time to visit me every day.
She would peel an apple for me, wipe my face with a damp cloth, or simply sit in the room, working on company documents.
One day, the caregiver had just left to get my meal, and I felt an urgent need to use the restroom.
With no other option, I braced myself, slowly making my way to the bathroom.
Since I was the only patient in the room, I didn’t bother closing the door.
Then, I heard a sound from the doorway.
Thinking the caregiver had returned with my meal, I quickly called out:
“Mr. Jenkins, you’re back just in time, please help me.”
The person at the door seemed to falter, their footsteps growing a little flustered, but then they abruptly stopped right at the entrance.
I didn’t turn around, simply urging them in a low voice.
After a moment of silence, I realized something was wrong. I sharply turned my head, only to see a deeply flushed Seraphina Thorne.
“Ms… Ms. Thorne?!”
I froze for a moment, then my face burned crimson.
I stammered, turning away.
“Ms… Ms. Thorne, please… please step outside.”
Seraphina’s initial shyness vanished when she saw my reaction.
She chuckled softly, then, ignoring my protests, helped me slowly back into the hospital bed.
Then she pulled the blanket over me.
“You rest and recover well. You’re on paid leave during this time. Once you’re fully recovered, you can return to work.”
With that, she turned and left the room.
Seeing Seraphina leave, my awkward expression instantly relaxed.
The fish was about to bite.
News of the airport robbery had already gone viral.
Consequently, Seraphina’s repeated visits to the hospital after the incident were also captured by paparazzi.
Damon Blackwood naturally knew I had shielded Seraphina from the knife. Connecting that to her frequent hospital visits, he crushed the glass in his hand.
And so, as soon as I was discharged from the hospital, Damon Blackwood came knocking.
Damon tossed a pile of demeaning clothes in front of me.
He used his baseball bat to lift my chin, as I knelt on the ground, pinned by his bodyguards. He grinned maliciously.
“I truly underestimated you. You’re the first person besides me that Seraphina has cared for so deeply.”
“Didn’t you say you just wanted a good job to make money? Fine, I’ve found you a great job. Go resign from Seraphina’s company right now. The monthly salary is much higher than your current job, and you won’t have to deal with the elements or clock in. See? Aren’t I good to you?”
“Tonight at eight, at the Grand View Hotel. I’ve already scheduled your interview. And of course, how can you go to an interview without proper attire? Don’t worry, I’ve already found out: these big bosses, they just love interviewees dressed like this.”
“If it works out, you’d better thank me properly.”
I looked at the scattered pieces of fabric on the floor, shaking my head in humiliation.
“Mr. Blackwood, what are you talking about? I’m not that kind of person. I just want to work hard and earn money to live a good life. Why do you keep targeting me?”
Damon’s face darkened as he listened to my refusal.
He grabbed my hair, his gaze ominous as he stared into my face.
“If you’re smart, you’ll go yourself. If I have to help you, well, then I can’t guarantee how you’ll end up in that room.”
“If you don’t go, I can’t guarantee what rumors will spread across the city tomorrow.”
Threatened repeatedly by Damon, I could only feign humiliation and agree to his demands.
After changing into the clothes in the room, I surveyed myself in the mirror, looking like a packaged gift, and couldn’t help but smirk.
Damon Blackwood’s intentions were truly transparent.
But… it was exactly what I wanted.
I draped the matching cloak over myself and sent a resignation text to Mr. Hayes.
[Mr. Hayes, I apologize, but after much consideration, I’ve decided to resign. Thank you for your care during these past days. Tonight’s gala, I’m afraid I’ll have to entrust you to accompany Ms. Thorne. Thank you for your trouble.]
In the CEO’s office, Seraphina Thorne, upon hearing the news, immediately swept everything off her desk.
She braced herself against the table, her eyes dark as she looked at Mr. Hayes.
“Find out where he is. Now.”
The sky was gloomy, as if it could rain at any moment.
The atmosphere inside the car was equally tense and stagnant, as if a large net had enveloped the entire vehicle.
Mr. Hayes had been with Seraphina since she came of age and took control of Thorne Enterprises.
So he understood better than anyone that Seraphina was in an extremely foul mood and absolutely not to be trifled with.
The car stopped at the entrance of the Grand View Hotel.
As Seraphina stepped inside, she saw me, my face flushed.
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed, and her chest began to heave violently.
An inexplicable rage enveloped her.
By the time she realized what she was doing, she was already standing between me and another person, her hand tingling.
The heavily built woman in front of her clutched her red hand, glaring angrily at Seraphina.
“Are you crazy?!”
“Get out of my way! Don’t ruin my fun!”
The woman tried to shove Seraphina, but I quickly shielded her.
The woman was about to say more, but Seraphina simply shot Mr. Hayes a dark look, then grabbed my hand and turned, heading for the elevator.
As the elevator ascended, the flickering lights painted shadows across Seraphina’s face, making her expression even more unreadable.
“You resigned just to be with someone like…?”
“No!”
My previously silent eyes immediately lifted, and I denied it, looking at her.
“No? Then why?”
I opened my mouth, but ultimately, my gaze dimmed, and I gently pushed Seraphina away.
“Ms. Thorne, please let go of me.”
Seraphina, seeing me like this, grew furious.
“You changed your mind so quickly? You said you’d stay by my side forever, that you’d never leave.”
“Hmph, I guess I misjudged you. I thought you were different from other men, but now I see you’re no different. You’d sell yourself for money, both your soul and your body. Forget it, I’ve seen plenty of men like you. Since you’re willing to stoop so low, why should I be upset for you?”
With that, Seraphina, her face icy, stepped away from me, turned to the bedside table, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it.
“You can leave. Don’t ever appear in front of me again.”
“Ms. Thorne, Ms. Thorne, no, it’s not like that, I was forced. I didn’t want to do this. I just… I just didn’t want to leave you.”
Seraphina looked at me, my eyes red with desperation. She let out a cold, dismissive laugh and said nothing.
Her impatient expression made her feelings clear.
I had pleaded my case thoroughly, but Seraphina’s attitude remained unchanged.
Finally, I could only lower my head in despair and, my body heavy with dejection, stood up.
“Since you don’t believe me, then I’ll leave.”
“Ms. Thorne, I’ll go back and draft my resignation letter now. I won’t appear in front of you or Mr. Blackwood again.”
“Seraphina… Seraphina, I hope you’ll be happy every day from now on.”
With that, I stumbled towards the door. The moment my hand touched the handle, I heard Seraphina mutter a curse.
Then, Seraphina suddenly rushed into my arms, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed me fiercely on the lips.
“Ms… Ms. Thorne, if Mr. Blackwood finds out about this, he’ll be furious…”
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