**Chapter 7**
By the time the bodyguards dragged me back to the Sterling mansion, I barely had the strength to stand upright.
Before I even stepped through the front door, Brooke blocked my path, a sneer on her face.
“Seraphina told me you tried to seduce my brother again last night?” Brooke squeezed my chin hard. “You’re really lucky. I spiked that vagrant with a powerful drug, and you still managed to escape him.”
I wearily lifted my eyes. “You clearly know I’ve already taken the money and will be leaving the Sterling family completely soon… Why do you keep targeting me again and again?”
“Why?” She suddenly burst into laughter, as if she’d heard something ridiculous. “Of course, it’s to get back all the anger I’ve accumulated before you leave!”
She abruptly yanked my hair. “You think you can just walk away easily? Dream on! Before you get out of this house, I’m going to make your life a living hell!”
She signaled to the bodyguards. “Hold her down.”
The next second, my arms were brutally twisted behind my back. Brooke raised her hand and slapped me hard across
the face.
*Smack!*
A stinging blow landed heavily on my cheek.
*Smack! Smack! Smack!*
Slaps rained down like raindrops. My cheeks quickly swelled and turned red, blood seeping from the corners of my
mouth.
Just as my vision swam and I was about to faint, the sound of a car engine reached us from a distance.
Damien walked in, his arm around Seraphina’s waist.
“What’s going on here?” he asked coldly.
Brooke immediately froze, her face turning ashen.
She opened her mouth, but before she could think of an explanation, Seraphina clung to Damien’s arm, pouting playfully.
“She must have made some mistake and is being disciplined. Damien, you… you were so rough with me yesterday, and you promised to put ointment on me, didn’t you?”
Damien, usually so cold, now wore a doting expression. He lowered his head and kissed Seraphina’s forehead, gently saying, “I’ll be gentler next time.”
Then, he glanced at my battered self and said coldly, “If you’re going to hit her, take her elsewhere. Seraphina will be taking her afternoon nap soon, and she likes peace and quiet. Don’t disturb her.”
“Of Source Brother!”
<
Brooke looked as if she’d been granted a great pardon, immediately beaming. “Of course, Brother!”
Soon, I was dragged to the most secluded corner of the garden.
The bodyguards held my shoulders while Brooke slapped me left and right, blows raining down on my face.
*Smack! Smack! Smack!*
The sound of slaps continued to echo in the secluded corner. I lost count of how many times I was hit. Finally, I completely succumbed to darkness.
The next day, a bucket of ice water was dumped over me, and I jolted awake.
“Sleep, sleep, sleep! How long are you going to sleep? Did you think you were still my brother’s cherished darling? Miss Seraphina wants to see you, get up quickly!”
Brooke’s sharp voice pierced my eardrums.
I was utterly exhausted, forcibly pulled to my feet. Every movement sent pain shooting through my bruised body.
When I entered the living room, I saw Seraphina nestled in Damien’s arms. He was flipping through financial reports with
one hand, while the other naturally picked up a grape and fed it to her lips.
Just like he used to do with me.
My eyelashes trembled slightly.
If Damien had shown some aloofness towards Seraphina before, now he had completely let down his guard, giving her
all his tenderness.
It seemed that chaotic night, by some twist of fate, truly made him believe.
Believe that the woman in his arms was the one he loved.
“You’re here?” Seraphina looked up, smiling. “Our wedding was set for next month, but Damien insisted on moving it
up.”
“I haven’t even picked out the wedding dress or jewelry yet. I need someone to help me choose and give me some advice. I wanted Brooke to come with me, but she’s going traveling. So, for the next few days, you’ll accompany me.”
Before I could speak, Damien, without lifting his head, followed her lead. “You’ll spend these next few days accompanying Seraphina.”
He paused, his voice suddenly cold. “If anything goes wrong, you know the consequences.”
After he finished, he closed his file and wrapped an arm around Seraphina’s waist. “Are you sure you don’t want me to
come with you?”
“No, silly~” Seraphina purred. “You usually value work more than your life, why are you suddenly so clingy?”
Damien’s lips curved slightly. He suddenly pulled her into his arms and whispered something.
Seraphina’s face instantly flushed to her ears. She lightly punched his chest. “Alright, hurry up and go to the office!”
<
(
After seeing Damien off, she shot me a triumphant glance. “We should get going too.”
