Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Seraphine's POV

I gave Mitchell a gentle smile.

"I believe now that you care about me. And all those times you betrayed me in the past? I'm over it. I just hope you won't bother me anymore. Go live your life."

"What do you mean?" Mitchell looked hurt. "You won't be with me?"

I shook my head. "No. I won't. The person I love is Octavius. Even if I'm in a tough spot right now, I'm not going to choose someone else just to give myself an easier life. You don't need to say these things anymore."

I smiled at Mitchell and turned to leave.

But Mitchell grabbed my arm, his eyes reddening. He wouldn't let me go. "Octavius doesn't even like you anymore! He was ruthless enough to go after your company. Don't you get it? He has no feelings for you. Why do you still love him?"

"Who said I don't like her?"

A voice cut through the air.

Mitchell and I whipped around in surprise to see Octavius standing not far away, watching us quietly.

I was stunned he'd show up at a time like this.

Mitchell's face hardened as he stared Octavius down. "You've got some nerve showing your face! You know exactly how badly you've destroyed Seraphine's company, don't you? And you still have the audacity to come here and pester her?"

Octavius' eyes turned cold. He walked right up to Mitchell and swung.

"Stop it!"

I hadn't expected them to start fighting right here in the middle of the street!

Other pedestrians were already staring.

I rushed forward to intervene, grabbing Octavius' arm. "Don't hit Mitchell!"

Octavius acted like he couldn't hear me. He shook off my hand and landed several more punches on Mitchell.

Mitchell took the hits so suddenly he didn't have time to react. Within moments, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he collapsed onto the ground.

Octavius pointed at him, his voice icy. "Stay away from my woman."

Mitchell sat on the ground. Instead of anger, a cold laugh escaped him. "Your woman? You're talking about Seraphine?"

He wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, completely unfazed by Octavius despite the beating. Mitchell walked right up to him. "You've driven Seraphine's company to the brink of collapse. You've left her with nothing. And now you're standing here calling her 'your woman.' Aren't you disgusting?"

Watching Mitchell stand up to Octavius for me felt surreal—like a dream.

He'd been the one who betrayed me before. The man I'd thought was the most disgusting person in the world.

But now he was taking hits for me. Speaking up for me.

And the one being condemned had shifted from Mitchell to Octavius.

It struck me suddenly how theatrical life could be.

Octavius' expression didn't change. "This is between Seraphine and me. I'll explain things to her. I'll fix what's broken between us. It's not your place to lecture me."

Mitchell laughed coldly. "You went after Seraphine to steal her away from me. Now you're talking about revenge, claiming you love her—after hurting both her and her father. Don't you think you're disgusting?"

He clenched his fists, standing his ground in front of Octavius, unafraid even though he was clearly outmatched. "If you really loved Seraphine, would you leave her without a single cent?"

Octavius ignored him and turned to look at me, his gaze unreadable. "Do you think that too?"

I didn't understand. "Think what?"

Octavius pressed on. "Do you also think everything I've done proves I don't love you? That I've wronged you?"

I didn't want to get into this now.

People were still watching. More importantly, Octavius had just injured Mitchell. I really wasn't in the mood to discuss our relationship issues.

I looked at him helplessly. "This isn't the time. I think you should go."

"I'm not leaving. I'm coming back with you. I want to see your father."

A suspicion began forming in my mind.

To confirm it, I asked directly, "Are you planning to make my father pay for what happened back then? Not just by taking back all the assets, but by sending him to prison?"

"Yes." Octavius admitted it without hesitation. "That's exactly where he belongs. He committed financial fraud back then too. Why should your uncle be the only one who went to prison?"

"He's been enjoying a wealthy life all these years. That's not fair to the Stewart family. It's not fair to your uncle. People who do wrong things should face the consequences of their wrongs. After all these years of luxury, don't you think it's time he experienced life behind bars?" Octavius's eyes were cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

Mitchell stepped forward. "Octavius, you've already destroyed Seraphine's life, and now you want to send her father to prison too? What's wrong with you? How much longer are you going to torment her?"

"I'm not tormenting her," Octavius said coldly. "And this has nothing to do with you."

Mitchell wasn't backing down. He looked like he wanted to say more.

I cut him off. "Mitchell, he's right. This is between us. It has nothing to do with you. I appreciate your concern, but I don't need you to protect me. You should go."

Mitchell went silent. He looked at me with hurt in his eyes, as if he couldn't understand why I still wouldn't accept him, even now.

I didn't bother explaining further. I just frowned and urged him, "Go on."

Mitchell looked displeased.

His fists clenched, but he didn't say anything more. He just turned and walked away.

Once he was gone, I turned around.

"Let's talk in the car."

The fight had already drawn a crowd of onlookers—maybe a dozen or so.

Perhaps Octavius' presence was too intimidating. They only dared stand across the street, watching from a distance, not daring to come closer.

But even with Mitchell gone, they kept whispering and didn't look like they planned to leave anytime soon.

I hated being scrutinized like this. I got straight into the car.

Octavius quickly followed.

In the enclosed space, it was just the two of us.

His gaze burned into me, his voice softening. "Seraphine."

I looked at him in surprise. I hadn't expected him to call my name so intimately at a time like this.

I ignored his tone entirely and asked quietly, "I don't know what's going on with my father yet. Ever since we sent Amara to the psychiatric hospital, he's been staying home. I've been running the company completely on my own—he doesn't get involved anymore."

"I imagine some of the shareholders have already told him what you did to the Whitaker Group. He must realize you won't let him off. But can you at least tell me? What exactly are you planning to do to him?"

Octavius looked at me expressionlessly and asked, "Will you be angry if I tell you?"

I shook my head.

"I've already hired a top legal team to gather evidence of what the Whitaker family did to the Stewart family back then. Once the evidence is solid, your father will be sent to prison." Octavius laid out his plan calmly. "I'm confident the court will sentence him to at least ten years."