Chapter 121
Seraphine's POV
The door closed, and I sat by the hospital bed, chills running through my body.
I let out a breath, steadying my rapid breathing, biting my lip hard, forcing all my emotions back down.
Don't get angry, don't cry—these two people aren't worth it. Compared to getting tangled up in this mess, I have more important things to do right now.
Besides, I'm not the type to swallow every grievance.
After Quinlan disgusted me like this today, I'm definitely going to disgust her right back.
I was lost in thought when another knock came at the door.
Then Gabriel's gentle voice came from outside: "Can I come in, Seraphine?"
"Come in." I quickly adjusted myself.
Gabriel entered carrying an insulated lunch box in one hand and a bouquet of lilies in the other. He placed the lilies on the bedside table and looked at me with a smile. "I was busy with something last night and couldn't come see you. When your father said you'd been poisoned, I got quite a scare, but then he said you were already mostly fine."
Then, seeing my expression, his smile faded a bit. "Why do you look so pale? Are you still not feeling well? I had my family make you some nutritious porridge—try some."
"I'm fine, just a bit tired. But I am actually hungry." I smiled, forcing myself to act as if nothing had happened.
I took a couple of sips of porridge. Gabriel sat down in front of me, his eyes flickering. "Are you really okay? I think I just ran into Octavius and Quinlan in the hallway. Did they come by and upset you?"
I paused at his words, my tone sarcastic: "Ms. Powell's acting skills are simply amazing. She came to my room and put on a whole victim act, and Octavius thought I was bullying her, so he left to protect his fiancée."
I told him what happened, but now that the initial emotions had passed, I was quite calm, almost like I was talking about someone else's business.
But Gabriel wasn't so calm. After hearing it, he stood up furiously, slapping the table. "How can Quinlan do this? This is way too much! Usually at social events and public activities, she seems so ladylike and gentle—I never thought she'd be so vicious."
He got even more worked up: "And Octavius! So many women around him use every trick to get close to him—can't he tell when someone's acting? He's just going to take Quinlan's side like that?"
I took another sip of porridge: "When a man chooses who to believe, he'll only protect her unconditionally. Does it really matter whether he can tell or not?"
Gabriel's words caught in his throat.
He looked at me, silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed. "Seraphine, don't be too upset. If Quinlan dares come again, just tell me and I'll deal with her for you."
"It's okay, don't get involved in this." I finished the last sip of porridge and set it on the table, cutting him off. "Can you yell at her for me? Or hit her? That would only lower your own status."
Gabriel paused. "I'll stand by your side and protect you, not let you suffer this kind of injustice. And Octavius won't be able to twist the truth in front of me."
Looking at his serious expression, I suddenly felt amused, and some of the gloom in my heart lifted.
Gabriel genuinely wanted to help me.
So there were still people in this world who truly cared about me—whether it was Gabriel or Soren.
Though they couldn't solve my current troubles, I was still very grateful they were by my side in this way.
"Don't worry." I leaned back against the headboard. "I'm not someone who suffers in silence. After Quinlan pulled this stunt today, I'm not just going to take it lying down. She gave me such a gift—I should return the favor."
Gabriel's eyes lit up, looking at me eagerly. "What are you going to do? Do you need my help?"
I thought for a moment.
What Quinlan cared about most, besides Octavius, was the Powell Group's business.
"You don't need to get involved." I picked up my phone from the bedside. "To deal with her, one phone call is enough."
Gabriel looked curious but wisely said nothing.
I found a number in my contacts I hadn't called in a long time and dialed it.
The call was answered quickly, and a steady male voice came through: "What can I do for you?"
I gave a few quiet instructions. "It's the Powell Group this time. The usual."
"Understood." After that, he hung up directly.
Gabriel sat there stunned, somewhat shocked: "Seraphine, you just said a couple cryptic sentences and hung up? What are you going to do to Quinlan? I don't get it."
I looked up at him meaningfully. "It's okay if you don't understand. You just need to know that she framed me like this, so I'm going to strike back directly. Disgusting me comes with a price."
Gabriel shrank back a bit, joking: "Good thing I'm not your competitor. Otherwise, I feel like both the Obelon Group and I would be completely destroyed."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Just as I was about to speak again, the phone rang.
It was Quinlan calling.
As soon as I answered, she demanded aggressively: "Seraphine! Was it you? That overseas financial project—the Powell Group has been negotiating for almost half a year, and today just as we were about to sign, the client team called and said they're not coming. Are you behind this?"
No wonder Quinlan called me directly.
She hadn't made enemies with anyone recently, and everyone knew Octavius was backing her now. Logically, no one should dare target her anymore.
But now this partner suddenly had a hard stance and didn't want to cooperate. Besides me, Quinlan couldn't think of who else could be behind it.
I held the phone leisurely: "Ms. Powell, what are you talking about? I don't understand. Your deal fell through—what does that have to do with me?"
"Stop pretending!" She raised her voice sharply in anger. "Who else would target me like this besides you? Seraphine, you think taking down one of my partners will do anything? Octavius will soon help me go after your company with everything he's got. Then l'll see if you can still be so arrogant. Just you wait!"
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of coldness in my eyes. "So Ms. Powell really values this deal? What a shame. Fine, I might as well tell you—yes, I did this."
Quinlan's breath caught.
I continued: "But this is just a warning for you to behave yourself and stop bothering people you shouldn't bother. Otherwise, next time it won't be just one deal."
"You're threatening me?" Quinlan's voice dropped suddenly. "Do you know what happened to the last person who threatened me?"
I dropped my smile, my tone turning cold: "I don't want to know, and I don't need to know, because the loser will always be you, Quinlan. You better watch yourself. I won't go easy on you anymore."
With that, I didn't give her any chance to make a scene. I hung up directly, blocked her, and tossed the phone onto the bed.