Zachary was about to head to his room for some rest when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Seraphina's door was slightly ajar.
Frowning, he walked over and pushed the door open, only to find the room empty.
His expression darkened, a wave of unease washing over him.
With the dangerous individuals still at large, Seraphina's absence from her room was deeply concerning.
He quickly pulled out his phone and called one of his men, his voice low and commanding, "Where's Seraphina?"
The response came swiftly, "Mr. Baker, Ms. York is at the court. She seems to be very upset."
Zachary's frown deepened. Why would Seraphina be crying alone at the court? After a moment's hesitation, he decided to go check on her.
The night was hazy, adding a touch of light to the quiet evening.
From a distance, Zachary saw her sitting on a bench, her long hair cascading down, her shoulders trembling slightly, exuding a fragile aura.
He approached her, and she continued to cry until she heard his footsteps, hastily wiping away her tears.
She looked up, saw it was Zachary, and instinctively turned her face away, her voice tinged with stubbornness, "I'm fine. I don't need your comfort."
Zachary stood three feet away, arms crossed, his gaze deep and steady. He spoke slowly, "Seraphina, the danger has escalated. Tomorrow, I'll meet with your parents to inform them of the situation and arrange for their protection. You also need to stay within the safety perimeter and not wander off."
Seraphina turned her tear-streaked eyes to him, looking serious, "I understand. I'll cooperate with you. Just make sure my parents are safe. I don't want to cause you any trouble."
Seeing her obedient and cooperative demeanor, Zachary's heart softened slightly.
Feeling a bit cold, Seraphina stood up to head back to her room.
As she passed by Zachary, two mice suddenly scurried past her feet.
She screamed and instinctively jumped, wrapping her arms around Zachary's neck and her legs tightly around his waist.
Zachary was startled by her sudden action but quickly supported her to prevent her from falling.
Their position was extremely intimate, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Zachary looked at her helplessly, "When do you plan on letting go?"
Embarrassed, Seraphina coughed lightly, her face turning bright red.
She quickly jumped down from Zachary, standing properly, wishing she could find a place to hide.
Seraphina looked up at Zachary, taking in his strong, handsome features, deep-set eyes, sharp and sexy lips, and perfect jawline extending to his neck. His whole demeanor was extremely cold, and she couldn't help but stare.
Zachary frowned, needing to get away to handle the mountain of tasks awaiting him.
Without hesitation, he turned to leave the awkward situation.
Seeing Zachary turn to leave, Seraphina's heart began to race. She set aside her usual pride and almost ran after him, afraid of encountering more mice or other creatures.
"Zachary, wait for me!"
Her voice was a bit urgent, but she tried to sound calm, "It's too dark here. I don't want to be alone."
Zachary stopped and turned to look at her.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by calm.
He said flatly, "Then go back early and don't wander around." Seraphina nodded, sticking close to Zachary, afraid of being left behind. She watched his back, feeling a ripple in her heart.
The next morning, Zachary arrived at the York Villa, his expression serious as he detailed the situation to Seraphina's parents.
It turned out that Seraphina had inadvertently become entangled in a life-threatening situation.
Fortunately, amidst the chaos, Seraphina only suffered a minor injury to her forehead, with no major harm to her body.
The Baker and York families had a long-standing relationship, and Zachary's face was filled with seriousness and concern. His voice was firm and unwavering, "Given the current situation, Seraphina must stay under our strict protection for a while. During this time, she won't be able to reunite with her family."
Xander and Niamh sat on the living room sofa, their faces full of worry and anxiety as they listened to Zachary's explanation.
They expressed their full trust in Zachary, entrusting Seraphina's safety to him without hesitation, and pleaded with him to be patient with her temper and shortcomings.
Niamh, anxious and distressed, stood up to pack Seraphina's belongings.
She quickly walked into Seraphina's bedroom and began to pack, tears streaming down her face.
She longed to speak with Seraphina one last time before she left, but Zachary, adhering to strict safety protocols, had to refuse her request.
Standing at the bedroom door, watching Niamh's busy figure, Zachary felt a mix of helplessness and sympathy.
Xander hurried over to comfort Niamh, gently hugging her, his voice low and steady, "Niamh, we have to trust Zachary. He will take good care of Seraphina. The most important thing now is to stay calm and not add to his burden." With Xander's reassurance, Niamh gradually calmed down.
She took a deep breath and nodded firmly.
Zachary then solemnly reminded them, "This matter is extremely serious. You must keep everything about Seraphina confidential. Even when facing close friends and family, you can only say that Seraphina has gone abroad for further studies." His tone was serious and firm, leaving no room for doubt.
Meanwhile, across the city, Nico was in a holding cell, looking disheveled and anxious.
He had been detained for allegedly soliciting prostitution after being reported by someone.
Now, he was trapped, having lost his freedom.
Reflecting on the past, Nico's initial interest in Seraphina wasn't genuine affection but rather an attraction to her prestigious family background.
For two years, he had quietly and meticulously learned everything about Seraphina's family.
Her grandfather had been a powerful official, with a vast and influential family network; her mother was a formidable businesswoman, decisive and shrewd.
And Seraphina, a princess who had grown up surrounded by wealth and power, lived a life of luxury but lacked emotional care and companionship.
Nico had seen this vulnerability. What seemed like chance encounters and meetings were carefully orchestrated by him. He presented himself as a considerate, gentle man, and through numerous "coincidental" meetings in a foreign land, he gradually won over Seraphina's lonely and sensitive heart.
However, just as Nico thought his plan was about to succeed, allowing him to climb the York family tree, Niamh saw through his ulterior motives.
She confronted Nico, but instead of backing down, his greed was exposed when faced with her questioning and a million-dollar bribe.
He not only refused to give up but also tried to take over the entire York family, accelerating his plans and using any means necessary to achieve his goal.
But Nico's plans ultimately failed, destroying years of scheming and effort.
At that moment, Seraphina sat quietly in her room, staring blankly ahead, no longer thinking about the complicated matters.
Suddenly, she thought of Della's engagement and felt a pang of curiosity.
Della was her sister, and they had grown up together, sharing everything.
Now Della was getting engaged, but Seraphina knew nothing about her fiancé, not even what he looked like.