Chapter 473

Chapter 473

This simple sentence somehow went viral out of nowhere.

Because the two of them looked utterly panicked, the scene was too shocking, their expressions were all over the place. What happened to that beautiful, composed image they had hoped to present?
The article was quickly shared tens of thousands of times, and many designers and photographers who had worked with Seraphina spoke up in her support.

Public opinion began to shift .

Meanwhile, Shawn sat in a private room at an upscale restaurant, facing the regional manager of a luxury brand that Seraphina had endorsed. On the table between them was a neat row of bottles, several already empty.

"Mr. Jones, we see your sincerity," the man said with difficulty, "but Ms. Vale's recent negative press has really affected the brand image. We're still considering whether to keep her on."

Shawn forced down the burning pain in his stomach and poured another glass:

"Mr. Campbell, Seraphina's commercial value speaks for itself. This mistake was just an accident. I personally guarantee that her next show will amaze the world."

He downed it in one gulp. "I also believe she's a very promising model. If you completely write her off because of one mistake, we'd have to question whether your company's judgment is really as good as everyone says."

The man exchanged glances with the shareholders, and they all showed thoughtful expressions.

"Since Mr. Jones puts it that way," the man finally relented, "we'll observe for a while longer."

Shawn showed a professional smile, though his stomach was churning violently.

He excused himself to the restroom, and as soon as he entered, he knelt before the toilet and vomited violently, blood mixed with alcohol staining the white porcelain red.

He pulled out his phone and looked at the article Amelia had posted supporting Seraphina, a bitter smile crossing his lips.

On the screen, Seraphina was still so beautiful even with her features all distorted. Shawn's finger gently traced her face on the screen, then he locked it.

The next morning, Seraphina stood at the dressing room door, her mind full of conflicting voices.

She opened the closet and took out a well-tailored but bold outfit - lots of studs, a deep open back, hard for ordinary people to pull off.

She did her signature world-weary makeup, put on sunglasses, and radiated presence.

She soon arrived at the company.

The reporters waiting in the lobby swarmed forward, flashbulbs instantly lighting up everywhere.

Seraphina stopped and took a deep breath.

"About the runway mistake, do you have anything to say?" a reporter shouted.

Seraphina looked around at everyone, her lips curling into that signature cold, stunning smile: "Just a small mistake."

Just those few words.

That was enough.

Others threw out various questions, each sharper than the last, practically trying to nail her to the wall.

But Seraphina handled them all with ease, perfectly dealing with that bunch.

Then she strode toward the waiting car, leaving the reporters looking at each other in confusion.

The moment the car door closed, Seraphina took out her phone, hesitated several times, but still dialed Shawn's number.

However, she was met with the cold voicemail again.

"Shawn, you're really something."

She muttered to herself, not knowing that on the other end, Shawn was lying in a hospital bed with an IV needle in his hand, having just stopped bleeding from his stomach.

That night.

When the doorbell rang at Shawn's apartment, he was working on documents on his computer screen, the hospital's IV port still taped to his hand.

After his stomach bleed, the doctor had insisted he stay for observation, but he insisted on going home. The company had too many things that needed handling, and he still had to work various angles to make sure Seraphina's endorsement contracts weren't affected.

Looking through the peephole and seeing Amelia standing outside, Shawn froze for a moment, quickly swept the medicine bottles on the table into a drawer, forced a smile, and opened the door.

"Amelia?" He raised an eyebrow, trying to seem casual. "What brings you here? You rarely come to my place."

Amelia walked right in, her eyes scanning the slightly messy state of the apartment.

Documents were scattered on the coffee table, clothes lay on the sofa, and the whole place smelled of alcohol.

Her gaze finally landed on the needle mark on Shawn's hand.

"Stomach bleed?" she asked directly.

Shawn instinctively put his hand behind his back: "Small problem. How did you know?"

"I have a friend at the hospital." Amelia sat down on the sofa. "I heard you drank until you vomited blood to save Seraphina's endorsement contract? Why didn't you tell her, instead staying here all pitiful by yourself?"

Shawn's expression froze for a moment, then returned to that look of not caring about anything: "That's an exaggeration. I just had dinner with some business contacts."

"She doesn't know what you did, does she?" Amelia got up and poured him a glass of warm water. "You don't need to pretend in front of me. I've already seen through you."

Shawn's shoulders tensed slightly: "She doesn't need to know."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to be her burden."

Shawn turned around, his eyes showing a seriousness Amelia had never seen before. "Amelia, loving someone isn't about making them grateful to you, it's about letting them fly freely. If she knew all this, she'd just feel like she owes me, and that's not what I want."

He thought of the sulfuric acid incident last time. He thought he'd done something good then too, but then he noticed she kept looking at him with that guilty expression, and he realized his one-sided efforts had become a burden holding her back.

Amelia shook her head: "You're wrong. Love isn't just about giving, it's also about receiving. Seraphina has the right to know the truth and then make her own choice."

Shawn smiled bitterly: "And then what? Let her stay by my side out of gratitude or guilt? No, I'd rather..."

"You think you're so noble?" Someone suddenly appeared, interrupting him.

Shawn frowned and instinctively looked up to see Seraphina, the one who haunted his dreams.

He froze in place like he'd been struck by lightning.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingers unconsciously gripped his pants.

Seraphina stood before them in a simple white T-shirt and jeans, her hair casually tied in a ponytail, her bare face showing some displeasure.

Noticing his pale complexion and the needle mark on his hand, her brow immediately furrowed.

"You really were hospitalized? What happened?" Seraphina's voice carried a hint of anger. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Shawn opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.

Amelia tactfully stood up, preparing to quietly leave, but was stopped by Seraphina.

"Ms. Tudor, don't go." Seraphina's gaze didn't leave Shawn. "I need a witness."

Shawn finally found his voice: "How did you get here?"

"That's not the point. So?" Seraphina stood in front of Shawn, looking up directly into his eyes. "You drank until you had a stomach bleed for my endorsement contract?"

Shawn gave a tactical cough. "No, it was because..."

"Liar!" Seraphina glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Shawn finally realized that nothing he said would make any difference now. He smiled bitterly: "There was no need."