**Chapter 18**
In the Sterling family mansion’s grand hall, suitcases were roughly thrown onto the floor, landing with dull thuds.
“Damien Sterling! You beast!”
Mr. Sterling’s face was ashen with rage. He pointed at the man sitting on the sofa, spewing curses.
“For a woman, you dare to kick out your own biological parents?!”
I sat with my legs crossed, impeccably suited, my fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the sofa, my gaze as cold as if looking at strangers.
“Dad, you’re getting old. The countryside is more suitable for retirement.”
My tone was calm, yet every word cut like a knife.
“As for Sterling Corp, don’t worry, I’ll manage it well.”
Mrs. Sterling collapsed onto the floor, wailing.
“Such a sinner! How could we have raised such an ungrateful wretch like you! What spell has that woman cast on you, making you disregard even familial bonds?!”
In the corner, Brooke was curled up on a single–seater sofa, her face pale, her eyes glazed over.
Her exposed arms were covered in gruesome whip marks, as if she had been lashed with thin wire. The wounds had
scabbed over but were still jarringly visible.
The front door suddenly swung open, and Seraphina walked in on high heels, freezing at the sight.
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling’s curses, Brooke’s injuries, and my own utterly cold expression–all of it made her instinctively
want to turn and flee.
But remembering the blows Reed Industries had suffered in the past few days, the plunging stock prices, the partners pulling out, she had no choice but to brace herself and step forward.
“Damien…”
She called out softly, her eyes instantly reddening.
“I heard Mr. and Mrs. Sterling are moving to the countryside? Should I arrange someone to…”
“Miss Reed finally decided to show her face.”
I chuckled, my eyes chillingly sharp.
“I thought you’d hide forever.”
Seraphina bit her lip, then pitifully stepped forward, trying to take my hand. “Damien, it was all a misunderstanding
before…”
9:28 AM
<
*Smack!* A harsh slap echoed. A clear handprint immediately appeared on her face, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.
“Misunderstanding?”
I stood up, closing in on her step by step.
“Was it a misunderstanding when you instructed someone to put tacks in Elara’s shoe? Was it a misunderstanding when you made her accompany you shopping and then tormented her? Or was it a misunderstanding when you locked her in the cold storage?”
Seraphina’s face was ashen, tears streaming down.
“I truly thought she was targeting me… and I loved you too much, that’s why I got jealous…”
“But now she’s gone! Damien, can we start over? The alliance between Sterling Corp and Reed Industries benefits both
families…”
I suddenly clamped my hand around her neck, my grip so powerful that my knuckles turned white.
Seraphina’s eyes widened in terror. Her hands flailed, desperately hitting my arm, but she couldn’t make me budge.
“You’re not worthy to even speak her name,” I murmured, my voice soft, but my eyes swirled with rage.
“You’re not even worthy to tie her shoes.”
Just as Seraphina’s vision blurred and she was about to suffocate, I suddenly let go, throwing her roughly to the ground.
Seraphina curled up, coughing, her throat burning.
“Take her to the basement.”
My voice grew even colder.
“Since you like locking people up, then you can go in.”
Seraphina’s pupils contracted. She scrambled backward, trembling, away from me, then shrieked.
“I’m pregnant!”
The entire living room fell silent.
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling looked at her stomach in shock. Brooke’s glazed eyes also sharpened slightly.
I narrowed my eyes, my voice dangerously low.
“What did you say?”
“I, I’m carrying your child…”
Seraphina clutched her neck, her voice hoarse.
<
4
“It was… it was that night…”
She didn’t finish, but everyone understood which night she meant–that chaotic night when I had amnesia.
I suddenly chuckled, a smile that sent shivers down Seraphina’s spine.
“Very good.”
I calmly adjusted my cuffs.
“Then we’ll wait until the child is born and do a paternity test.”
Seraphina’s body trembled.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Believe you?”
I leaned down, pinching her chin.
“Send her back to the Reed family. Have people watch her 24 hours a day. If she dares to abort the child…”
I flung her away and turned around, my eyes dark and menacing.
“Then I don’t mind going down with Reed Industries.”
Seraphina collapsed onto the floor, finally realizing what kind of demon she had provoked.
