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Even stranger, as he watched Melina cry, his mind inexplicably drifted to Sera.
Sera didn’t cry like this, with such theatrical hysteria. Her tears were always large and silent, falling as she tried her best to hold back the sobs. She was usually smiling, a sweet, gentle girl who was soft to the touch. Whatever he said, she would just nod obediently and say, “Okay.” She never seemed to have a temper.
After a while together, he had admittedly found it a bit boring. She wasn’t as vibrant or as beautiful as Melina, and they didn’t share the same inte- rests or social circles.
But this time, after really getting back together with Melina, he had grown tired of her far more quickly. After their last explosive argument, he had laid down the law: no more reconciliations, no more second chances.
Melina, with her pride, had naturally agreed. He never expected her to come running back to him tonight, dressed in what she herself had once called a “country bumpkin” outfit. For a pampered princess like her, it was a rare sight.
William had known her for years. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to be completely heartless.
“Melina, don’t do this to yourself. Just go home.”
Is it because of Seraphina?” Her voice rose “She’s just my replacement a hillbilly from some fishing villa
Chapter 2
08.48
“Is it because of Seraphina?” Her voice rose. “She’s just my replacement, a hillbilly from some fishing village! William, are you insane? You’re choo- sing her over me?”
Melina’s emotions spiraled out of control again, her voice becoming shrill.
“I don’t want to fight with you. Go home and cool off.”
William turned to get in his car, but Melina blocked the door. “William, what more do you want from me? I’ve already humbled myself for you, I told you I’m willing to change back into the person you like!” She clutched his sleeve, her sobs growing louder.
“Seraphina is only with you for your money! I’m the one who truly loves you, William, can’t you see that?”
“If she really cared about you, would she have stood you up tonight? Would she have left you waiting here like a fool?”
“After you broke up, the only time she ever contacted you was to ask for money, have you forgotten that?”
William’s face darkened, his jaw tightening. “She was injured that day. She deserved the compensation.”
“I asked the doctor. It was a minor cút, just a few stitches. It was nowhere near disfiguring,” Melina pressed, seeing his expression shift. “And what about tonight? She agreed to come and then just didn’t show up. What is that supposed to mean?”
William remained silent, his face growing more sullen. Melina knew he was proud, arrogant to his core. For him to lower himself once was a mirac- le. If Seraphina was trying to play hard to get, she had picked the wrong man.
“William, she’s just a gold–digger trying to climb the social ladder.”
“We come from the same world, we’re practically childhood sweethearts. My love for you is the only thing that’s real, that has no strings attached.”
It seemed her words were getting through to him. He suddenly stepped forward and gently stroked her cheek. “You’ve always wanted to go saili-
ng, haven’t you? Let’s go together tomorrow.”
Melina’s face lit up instantly. “I’ll borrow my uncle’s yacht! We can go deep–sea fishing, how about that?”
William thought of Melina’s powerful uncle, the patriarch of the Vance family. This could be an excellent opportunity to get closer to him. He was
about to graduate and enter his family’s corporation. The Thorne family was wealthy, but there were many cousins in his generation, all of them
ambitious and talented. He had no desire to be a trust–fund baby, living off a monthly allowance. If he could forge a connection with the head of
the Vance family, it would be a massive advantage for him.
With these thoughts in mind, William’s voice softened even more. “Will that be too much trouble?”
“Not at all! My uncle is incredibly rich, and he’s so generous with us younger relatives! When I visited him for the new year, he even complimented
me,” Melina said, her voice filled with confidence and pride.
She knew it. There was no way a poor, conniving peasant like Seraphina could ever compete with her. Even if William’s feelings for her had faded,
she still had the Vance name behind her, and an uncle like Nathaniel Vance.
William knew how to weigh his options. He knew who he was supposed to choose in the end.
