Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Seraphine's POV

In the next second, bodyguards surrounded us.

I leaned against Octavius, so weak I could barely stand.

Octavius held me tightly. "Send someone to get it now. I'll take Seraphine and leave. What's the problem?"

Quinlan glared at me with disgust and hatred. "Before we get the money, neither of you is leaving."

Octavius snorted coldly. "I already told you where the money is. Just go get it."

Quinlan immediately retorted, "You'd do anything to save Seraphine! Who knows if you're lying right now? Until we see the money, neither you nor Seraphine can leave."

Octavius refused coldly. "Let Seraphine and me go first. I haven't given you the password for the bank card yet. After you get the card and we're safe, I'll tell you."

His tone was icy, leaving no room for negotiation.

Quinlan panicked. "Orion, don't believe a word he says!"

"If I don't believe him, should I believe you instead?" Octavius shot back. "You think you can get the money?"

Orion frowned deeply, looking like he didn't know who to trust anymore.

I pulled myself out of Octavius's embrace, speaking weakly. "Quinlan hates me. All she cares about is killing me, not helping you get the money. Orion, if you listen to her, nothing good will come of it. Think carefully."

Orion looked at Quinlan.

Quinlan immediately shook her head. "We're on the same side!"

"You don't even put getting the money first. How could you possibly be on his side?" I laughed coldly. "Orion, if you really want that money, you should let us go right now. Otherwise, you'll end up with nothing!"

"Don't listen to her!" Quinlan glared at Orion anxiously. "Don't believe her! Would Seraphine actually help you?"

Orion frowned, unsure what to do.

I spoke slowly. "No one turns down money. Think carefully about who you should trust, Orion."

Orion stayed silent.

After a long moment, he finally made up his mind, not even glancing at Quinlan again.

"I'll let you go. I'll have bodyguards escort you to the Capulet Group. If we don't find the bank card and Octavius refuses to give us the password, you won't make it to your destination safely. Understand?"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness—on this matter, Orion hadn't let Quinlan completely influence him.

Otherwise, we'd never escape today.

Quinlan snapped at Orion furiously. "Are you an idiot? Can't you see they're stalling for time?"

"Enough. Stop talking." Orion glared at her impatiently. "I have my own way of judging things. I don't need you running your mouth here. You can leave now."

Quinlan said nothing. She clenched her fists and stood rooted to the spot.

Orion waved his hand irritably. "Go on! Stop standing there getting in the way!"

Quinlan finally moved. She shot me one last resentful look before leaving silently.

Once she was completely gone, Orion arranged for bodyguards to escort us out.

Before getting in the car, Octavius leaned close to my ear and whispered, "The bank card isn't at your house. My people are already on their way, tracking my location. They just haven't arrived yet."

I nodded.

Octavius smiled gently, reassuring me. "Once we're in the car, they'll track my position and follow us. I'll find a way to get you out. Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."

Fear churned in my heart. I felt like Octavius would do something dangerous for my sake.

I gripped his hand tightly and shook my head. "No, please don't risk yourself for me..."

"I won't." Octavius seemed to know what I was about to say. He squeezed my hand back. "Trust me. I won't let anything happen before you're safe. I'll do everything I can to keep you alive. Seraphine, I love you. I swore I'd protect you. No matter what happens, you have to trust me."

Looking at him, I felt the urge to cry. I couldn't even speak.

All this time, Octavius had never abandoned me when I was in danger. "Thank you, Octavius."

"That's not what I want to hear." Octavius cupped my face. "You know what I want to hear."

My eyes flickered. I guessed the words he wanted to hear were "I love you."

I didn't know if this was the right moment to say them.

Just then, a bodyguard shoved me roughly.

"What are you standing around for? Get in the car!"

My words were forcibly cut off.

Octavius smiled at me and got in first.

I followed him into the back seat.

The space was already cramped.

But Orion wasn't taking any chances—he'd stationed two bodyguards in the back seat with us, afraid we'd find a way to escape.

Once in the car, I kept holding Octavius's hand tightly, hoping his people would arrive soon to help.

Suddenly, a phone rang inside the car.

The bodyguard in the front seat answered, his expression growing serious. Then he passed the phone back.

"Octavius, Mr. Whitaker wants to ask you something."

Octavius took the phone and put it on speaker.

Orion's dark voice came through. "You said you left the bank card in Seraphine's closet in her second-floor bedroom. Why couldn't my people find it?"

Octavius asked calmly, "Did they really look carefully?"

"Of course!" Orion sounded angry. "This is too important for them not to search carefully! You didn't leave the bank card at Seraphine's house, did you?"

Octavius narrowed his eyes.

Everyone else in the car stared at Octavius intently, ready to act at any moment.

Octavius spoke unhurriedly. "You're right. Seraphine and I have already escaped. Don't bother trying to catch us again, Orion. Wait for my people to come settle the score with you."

With that, he hung up the phone.

Several bodyguards lunged at him simultaneously.

In that instant, Octavius struck decisively, slamming into the bodyguard beside him.

The bodyguard was knocked sideways and rolled straight out the car door.

The bodyguard in front immediately tried to grab Octavius.

Octavius dodged to the side and reached out to me. "Quick! Jump with me!"

The bodyguard beside me immediately grabbed my arm.

But I'd been ready for this.

The moment Octavius said we'd jump from the car together, I knew a fight would break out inside. I'd quietly pulled out my hairpin.

The sharp end of the hairpin was no different from a knife tip.

The instant the bodyguard grabbed me, I struck, driving the pin into his palm.

The man screamed. Blood poured from his palm, and he was forced to let go.

I seized the opportunity, turned around, and gathered my courage to jump from the car with Octavius!