Zachary rolled his eyes at her, thinking she was shameless.
Seraphina, pretending not to notice, gently reminded him, "You better not let a pretty face fool you next time, or you might get into trouble."
Little did she know, Zachary had only ever been attracted to her.
Later, when Seraphina moved her arm, her shoulder blade ached terribly. After checking it, Zachary told her, "Just take it easy for a few days, and you'll be fine."
Seraphina nodded but couldn't help glancing at Zachary. He quickly tapped her on the head, scolding, "What are you staring at? Focus."
Seraphina covered her head and backed away, then turned and walked towards the door, muttering to herself, "Why is it that I never have a good time when I'm around Zachary?"
A black SUV slowly drove through the back gate of the camp. Once it stopped, a man and a woman got out. The man was Allan Jennings, and the woman was Sofia Moore.
As soon as Sofia got out of the car, she looked around with disdain. "What a dump. This is all your fault for insisting we come here."
They were journalists who had gone abroad to secretly film an arms deal involving a dark organization. They were discovered and chased, forcing them to flee back home and seek refuge here.
Allan tried to comfort her, "Let's just lay low for a while. Once things calm down, we'll be safe."
After settling in, Sofia eagerly explored the area. She spotted a man walking from the flower beds. He was tall and handsome, his features almost unreal in the sunlight, exuding maturity and elegance with every move.
She took a deep breath, deliberately adjusting her hair to brush against her cheek, adding a touch of allure.
Then, she walked gracefully over to Zachary.
"Mr. Baker," Sofia said sweetly, her face lighting up with a bright smile.
Zachary stopped and, after learning they had just arrived, nodded slightly and gave a few instructions before leaving.
Sofia watched him walk away, unable to help but praise, "Zachary is so handsome. Even in camouflage, he looks amazing."
Just then, footsteps echoed from another corridor. Sofia instinctively turned to see a woman in casual sportswear walking out. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, and she wore a simple yet charming smile.
With just one glance, Sofia saw Seraphina as a rival, her eyes flashing with jealousy and resentment as she clenched her teeth.
Sofia returned to her room and slammed the door shut.
The room was dark, and she lay on the bed. Allan knocked, saying he had bought snacks.
She opened the door and bluntly revealed her thoughts, "I met a man who makes my heart race. He's not only handsome but also exudes an air of nobility. He must come from a wealthy family. Will you help me pursue him?"
Allan, always timid and suppressed by Sofia for years, never dared to resist. Deep down, he had strong feelings for Sofia, but she never gave him a second glance. To Sofia, who came from an ordinary family and had undergone plastic surgery to enhance her looks, Allan was just a tool, insignificant in her quest to marry into a wealthy family and live a happy life.
Meanwhile, Seraphina had just returned, her body aching. She collapsed onto her bed, her tired body sinking into the soft mattress almost instantly.
Her mind uncontrollably replayed the moment Zachary held her.
In that moment, the sense of security from Zachary's embrace made her feel inexplicably at ease, but it was also accompanied by a strange restlessness.
She realized she had developed a desire to possess Zachary.
This thought left her feeling confused.
Thinking about the long text message she had glimpsed earlier, Seraphina's heart sank.
She hadn't seen the entire message, but she sensed a different vibe.
Could it be that Zachary already had someone he liked? This thought instantly darkened her mood.
She felt a suffocating pressure, as if something was weighing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
She couldn't help but imagine what kind of person the other woman might be. Would she be more outstanding, more beautiful, and better at capturing Zachary's heart?
These complex emotions intertwined, making her feel unusually heavy-hearted.
In the evening, Seraphina woke up feeling hungry. She got up and headed to the cafeteria, thinking, Maybe Zachary and the others are there too.
At that moment, Sofia and Allan were also in the cafeteria. Sofia's eyes scanned the room and suddenly lit up when she saw Zachary sitting in the last row, surrounded by several people. She gracefully walked over with her tray and sat down, greeting Zachary sweetly, "Mr. Baker, what a coincidence to see you here."
Knox and the others looked up, slightly surprised.
Ezra, recognizing Sofia and Allan as the new arrivals seeking refuge, smiled and extended a hand, "You guys are impressive, managing to capture such footage."
Sofia smiled back, slightly tilting her head, but her gaze remained fixed on Zachary's profile, filled with infatuation.
Allan stood nearby, discreetly observing Zachary. No wonder Sofia liked him so much; Zachary indeed had a strikingly handsome face.
Sofia, snapping back to reality, clasped her hands in front of her chest, leaning forward slightly with a smile, "Mr. Baker, please take good care of us."
Zachary put down his utensils, his expression calm and voice steady, "Don't worry, you'll be safe here."
Sofia seemed to find her opening, praising, "I knew it. With Mr. Baker here, there's nothing to worry about. You're so outstanding; everyone must have great respect for you."
Seraphina, waiting in line for food, instinctively turned to look at Zachary. That glance made her grip her tray tightly.
She saw a girl in a tight black dress sitting next to Zachary, smiling and talking to him, her face full of shyness.
Seraphina's heart sank. Could this girl be the one Zachary liked? When did they meet? Her mind raced with a series of images...
Seraphina carefully observed Sofia, noting her hot figure, exquisite makeup, and wild beauty. Especially the way she looked at Zachary, full of deep affection.
Seraphina felt that maybe this was the type Zachary liked. Compared to Sofia, she, a good girl, lacked the charm and allure that attracted men.
Knox, with sharp eyes, noticed Seraphina standing there in a daze and called out to her from afar.
Seraphina smiled at Knox and walked over to Noah's table with her tray.
Noah, seeing her, warmly made room for her and asked with concern, "Seraphina, are you feeling any discomfort from the combat training?"
Seraphina shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips, "Just a bit sore, but I'll be fine in a couple of days."
Noah comforted her, "It's good for young people to exercise more."
Seraphina felt a warmth in her heart from Noah's comfort. She looked up and accidentally met Zachary's gaze, quickly lowering her eyes and then focusing on her meal.
Sofia, her curiosity piqued, took advantage of a lull in the conversation to ask Knox about Seraphina.
Knox scratched his head, "Seraphina? She's just here for fun."
Allan, also drawn to Seraphina, chimed in, "She has the air of a rich girl. She must be the daughter of some big shot."