Chapter 164

Chapter 164

Seraphine's POV

Orion appeared outside with a cold expression, a group of bodyguards trailing behind him.

Seeing him, the two bodyguards who'd been helping me froze in place, not daring to move.

Orion’s gaze swept over them, sharp and unforgiving. “What exactly are you doing?”

Before he even finished speaking, the guards behind him surged forward, swiftly retying the ropes they had just loosened.

Despair engulfed me.
Was this truly where my life would end?

The two bodyguards trembled, their legs buckling beneath them as fear took over.

“We were wrong! We shouldn’t have trusted her—we shouldn’t have tried to help her escape. Please forgive us!” they pleaded, dropping to their knees before Orion.

He let out a cold snort, dismissing them entirely. His attention shifted to me, his gaze devoid of warmth. “Impressive. The moment I step away, you start turning my men against me.”

My expression remained impassive. “What did you expect? That I’d sit quietly and wait to be used in your schemes instead of trying to escape?”

A slow smile crept across his face. “Honestly, if Brielle had even half your intelligence and courage, we wouldn’t have failed.” He paused, then added, “Let’s strike a deal. Help me secure that money, and I’ll let you walk away. I’ll even ensure Quinlan doesn’t kill you. Sounds fair, doesn’t it?”

His hopeful look struck me as absurd. I let out a faint, humorless laugh. “Being entangled with someone like you is worse than death. That kind of existence would be far more painful.”


“What did you just say?” Fury erupted instantly. He stormed over and struck me across the face. “I’m offering you a chance to live! If you refuse it, that only proves how foolish you are. People like you don’t deserve to survive!”

Even after the blow, my expression didn’t waver. I met his anger with cold defiance. “Then call me foolish. I won’t help you deceive Octavius out of his money. You might as well abandon the idea.”

To my surprise, he calmed instead of lashing out further. A chilling laugh escaped him. “Fine.”

He pulled out his phone and tossed it at me. “Call Octavius. Tell him to come save you.”

I glanced down at the device lying before me. “And if I refuse?”


He remained unfazed.“You don’t have that option. If you don’t make the call, I’ll disfigure you and make sure you suffer before you die. Choose wisely.”

The threat was unmistakable, and fear began to creep into my chest.

He might hesitate to kill me outright, but he would have no such reservations about ruining me first.

I couldn’t surrender—not like this. I needed time… a way to protect myself.

I picked up the phone. “Fine. I’ll call him.”

"No need."

Quinlan’s voice cut through the air as she entered.

She cast me a frosty glance before turning to Orion. “I’ve already informed Octavius. He knows you’ve taken Seraphine. He’s on his way.”

Orion frowned, clearly displeased. “You contacted him already? I haven’t even had her negotiate terms yet. What if he brings backup?”

Orion frowned, clearly displeased. “You contacted him already? I haven’t even had her negotiate terms yet. What if he brings backup?”

Quinlan waved off his concern impatiently. “I told him to come alone. Seraphine is our leverage—he’ll do exactly as we say.”

"Her gaze shifted to me, filled with jealousy and venom. “I really don’t understand what’s so special about you. Octavius values you more than his own life. Whatever else you worry about, one thing is certain—he will come.”

She let out a cold laugh. “I have to admit, Seraphine… after all these years, you still have him wrapped around your finger. Even knowing it’s a trap, he walks into it without hesitation.”

Her words twisted something deep inside me.

No matter the danger, Octavius always came for me.

When Brielle and Mitchell joined forces against me, he came. Now, with Orion and Quinlan, it was no different.

I didn’t know what he would sacrifice this time—but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a guard rushed in.

“Octavius has arrived.”

Quinlan glanced at Orion. “He doesn’t know I’m involved. I’ll stay here with her—you go handle him first.”

Orion nodded, leaving several guards behind as he exited with two others.

I looked at Quinlan, my expression unreadable. “If Octavius finds out you’re behind this, he’ll never choose you. He doesn’t fall for women who operate like this.”

“Like this?” she scoffed. “If we’re talking about vile and underhanded, that title belongs to you.”

Her eyes burned with resentment. “You know exactly what kind of hatred Octavius has toward the Whitaker family, yet you’re still trying to reclaim everything. That’s selfish.”

“He couldn’t even stand to see you lose everything—he was ready to hand it all over to you. And still, it’s not enough for you.”

Her accusation caught me off guard. “I never asked for any of it. That was his decision, not mine.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but another guard rushed in.

“Ms. Powell, Octavius knows you’re here. He insists on seeing you.”

Her expression shifted instantly. “I told you not to let him find out! Why would Orion tell him?”

The guard hesitated. “He said he recognized your perfume on Mr. Whitaker. When they met, he caught the scent and figured it out. You should go.”

Quinlan's face darkened.

She shot me one last glance before leaving with the guards.

I exhaled quietly, relief washing over me. With her gone, at least one immediate threat had been removed.

I watched her disappear, silently hoping Octavius wouldn’t sacrifice everything just to save me.

But that fragile calm didn’t last.

Two guards approached, stopping directly in front of me.

I looked up cautiously, unease tightening my chest. “What do you want?”

One of them smirked. “Did you really think Ms. Powell would let you off that easily?”

A wave of dread surged through me. I instinctively leaned back—but it was too late.

One of them grabbed me, his grip unyielding.

“Once you’re ruined,” he sneered, “let’s see if Octavius still wants you.”