Chapter 58
Octavius's POV
I leaned against the car, watching Seraphine approach.
Her steps were light, a smile she couldn't quite hide playing on her lips, like a little cat that had successfully stolen a fish.
It seemed she was in a good mood.
I raised an eyebrow, about to greet her, when Brielle came darting out like a madwoman, pointing at Seraphine and spewing accusations.
Listening to what she said about Seraphine fooling around with other men and being "unclean", I couldn't help but frown.
What was this woman on about now?
I looked at Seraphine.
She stood there, speechless in the face of Brielle's slander.
It seemed Seraphine had either anticipated this, or Brielle's sudden outburst was her doing. I suddenly found Seraphine's act of secretly causing trouble while feigning innocence rather amusing, so I decided to play along.
I raised an eyebrow, my tone casual. "Is that so? I didn't realize Seraphine was so indiscreet."
As if her plan had succeeded, Brielle immediately and eagerly said, "Yes! After she broke off her engagement with Mitchell, she hasn't wasted a moment, hooking up with men outside, staying out all night! Those marks on her are from being intimate with men!"
"Really?"
I took a step forward, gently brushing aside the hair on Seraphine's neck, pretending to seriously inspect the faded kiss marks.
Seraphine's eyes were filled with silent accusation as she stared at me, as if protesting that I hadn't been gentle enough that night and had left her like this.
A wave of heat washed over me, and I wished I could plant more kisses on her.
Brielle continued to add fuel to the fire. "Mr. Capulet, it's all true! You don't know, do you? She slept with that old and ugly Mr. Fisher! You mustn't be deceived by her innocent appearance!"
Old and ugly Mr. Fisher?
A cold glint flashed in my eyes. I instantly understood she was referring to the man whose legs I had broken.
So Brielle also had a hand in the disgusting things Seraphine had endured last night.
A playful smile touched my lips, and my gaze returned to Seraphine's slightly flushed face.
"Mr. Fisher? A rather unique taste."I paused, deliberately drawing out my words. "But, I like it that way."
Seraphine's eyes widened, and she blinked in confusion.
I smirked. "A Seraphine who doesn't listen and likes to sneak out for a bite is much more interesting to me."
Seraphine's face instantly turned crimson, her eyes darting away, unable to look at me.
Brielle was completely dumbfounded, her mouth agape, looking as if her entire worldview had been shattered.
I had no interest in watching her performance any longer and said coldly, "What Seraphine does, who she meets, or whether she stays out all night is not for you to comment on. And I especially dislike people who run to me to speak ill of others!"
I gestured to the bodyguards waiting nearby. "Please escort her away. And notify everyone that I don't want to see her on this street ever again."
"Yes, Mr. Capulet!"
The bodyguards immediately moved forward and forcibly dragged Brielle away.
"Mr. Capulet, Mr. Capulet, see clearly! Getting entangled with a woman like Seraphine will lead to no good end! She doesn't deserve your affection!"
"Have you forgotten how she used to humiliate you? You must not be fooled and fall for her tricks again!"
"Mr. Capulet!"
A bodyguard covered Brielle's mouth.
The world was quiet.
Seraphine walked over to me, tilting her face up, her eyes sparkling. "Octavius, thank you for teaching her a lesson for me. You have no idea how annoying she is."
I grunted, opened the car door for her, and got in myself.
Closing the door, shutting out the outside world, I turned to her and deliberately put on a stern face. "Why didn't you explain just now? Tell her you were with me that night."
Seraphine immediately shrank back, putting on a pitiful expression and muttering, "I was afraid you wouldn't want to be associated with me. You told me to forget it before."
Her skill at turning the tables was improving.
I was about to speak when my phone rang. It was Flynn.
"Mr. Capulet, photos of you and Ms. Whitaker dining at the restaurant the other day have been leaked by the paparazzi. It's now the headline on the entertainment section. Some reporters have gotten wind of it and may be heading to your company and residence."
I frowned slightly. "Got it."
After hanging up, I immediately instructed the driver, "Change of plans. Take a different route."
Seraphine was clearly a little nervous and quickly took out her phone to check the news.
I glanced over and saw the photo of us walking out of the restaurant side-by-side at night.
The headline was also interesting: Mr. Capulet Holds No Grudges, Continues Pursuit of Love, Remains Devoted to the Whitaker Family's Fake Heiress with a Passionate Invitation.
After reading the headline, Seraphine became even more worried and turned to me, saying weakly, "Why did they write about you like that?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Is it wrong?"
"Of course it's wrong! What 'remains devoted' and 'passionate invitation'?"Her voice grew softer. "It was clearly me pestering you. Why did they make you sound so subservient? It's so disrespectful."
She was actually standing up for me, disliking how they had portrayed me.
Did Seraphine not know that these reports had no effect on me? In fact, I was happy to see them.
If it wasn't what I wanted to see, not a single media outlet in all of Skyview City would dare to report a single word.
Thinking of this, I suddenly had the urge to tease Seraphine.
I leaned closer to her, lowering my voice, my tone tinged with ambiguity. "Does your back still hurt?"
Seraphine froze for a moment, then her entire face, right down to her neck, turned beet red. She glared at me, mortified. "You!"
Seeing her all riled up, I found it even more amusing and slowly added, "I was asking if your back hurts after a day of work. What were you thinking?"
"Octavius, you bastard!"
Utterly embarrassed, Seraphine pounced on me in a fit of anger and gave my arm a light bite.
It didn't hurt; it was actually a little itchy.
My heart stirred. It was the first time I had seen her show this kind of playful, almost coquettish wilfulness in front of me.
For a long time before, Seraphine had always been sarcastic or distant and disgusted with me.
Did this mean she was slowly starting to open up to me?
I took the opportunity to wrap my arm around Seraphine's waist, pulling her closer. I looked down at her pouting, yet shy, expression, my gaze uncontrollably landing on her slightly pursed red lips.
The atmosphere in the car instantly became ambiguous.
Seraphine seemed to sense my intention, her eyelashes trembling as she slowly closed her eyes.
My heart skipped a beat. Just as I was about to kiss her, her phone rang at the most inopportune moment, shattering the mood.
Seraphine jolted awake, blushing as she scrambled out of my arms and fumbled for her phone.
Seeing the caller ID, her expression turned a little serious.
"Dad?" Seraphine answered the phone.
I didn't know what was said on the other end, but her face gradually darkened.
After hanging up, Seraphine clutched her phone uneasily.
"What's wrong?"
She hesitated for a moment before telling me about how she had used an overseas virtual account to make Brielle lose ten million dollars.
"I don't know if my dad is calling me back now because of this."
I found it amusing. "Scamming ten million dollars using an overseas account? You're quite ruthless."
Seraphine looked even more pitiful, gazing at me with pleading eyes. "Do you think I'm too mean?"
"No."
I took her somewhat cold hand, my tone calm. "I'll take you home."
Then I instructed the driver, "Turn around. To the Whitaker Mansion."