Ch. 201..205: Inherit Billions Chapter 201-205

Chapter 201

A Kiss

Grace's eyes flickered as she glanced at Hansen and Seraphina, her voice cautious and tentative.

"I'm Seraphina's cousin, Grace Royle. Seraphina, I'm so sorry; I must have been mistaken. I saw Hansen take off your clothes, and I thought..."

She spoke hesitantly. Her tone was weak and pitiful, as if she'd been wronged but didn't dare to speak up.

Seraphina withdrew her gaze from the man behind her, casting a cold, sidelong glance at Grace..

"You thought? How is it that you always seem to assume the worst things?"

"It seems you've had a lot of experience in such matters."

She sneered.

Grace's face immediately paled.

Seraphina's laugh was icy. Play the innocent bitch in front of me?

Isn't this tactic a bit low-level?

"Seraphina, you misunderstood; I didn't mean anything by it.

"I accidentally spilled some wine on Mr. Dros's clothes, so I brought him up here to get change. I didn't know you were here."

Grace bit her lip. She wore a grieving expression as she swept a glance at Seraphina.

Seraphina's gaze briefly swept over Orion's chest, and she noticed the dark stain on his suit.

It appeared that wine had spilled onto his shirt.

lowever, she couldn't tell whether it was accidental or intentional.

Seraphina grinned.

"Well then, it seems like we've interrupted your little moment. Hansen, why are you still standing there? Waiting for a show?" Hansen raised an eyebrow and immediately stepped forward, offering his arm for Seraphina to take, as though serving a queen. As they reached the door, Grace graciously moved aside to let them pass.

Orion still stood, rooted in the same spot.

His gaze was dark and unreadable.

He had no intention of stepping aside.

Seraphina raised her eyes slightly.

G

A Kiss

"What did you mean by 'little moment"?"

A cold edge laced Orion's voice.

Haha! So, he wanted to play word games right now? Then he shouldn't blame me for not holding back. This is my turf, after all.

As Scraphina's gaze swept over Grace's anxious face, her smile deepened and took on a hint of sarcasm.

"It means exactly what you think it means.

"With all these people here today, Grace is being so considerate as to spill wine on your clothes and bring you to the lounge. Nobody would believe if it wasn't to set the stage for what comes next." Orion's expression grew cold. His eyes were icy. His expression was taut and grim.

He looked extremely dissatisfied.

Grace naturally wouldn't admit anything after being exposed.

Flustered, she glanced at Orion.

"Of course not; I didn't do it on purpose."

Her eyes filled with tears as she looked pitifully at Seraphina.

"Seraphina, even if you dislike me, don't insult me like this?" Seraphina laughed.

"Insult you? Do you really need anyone else to do that for you?"

Given her actions, there wasn't much left to say.

Seraphina didn't spare Grace a second glance.

Not wanting to waste any more time, she continued to walk away.

Orion stood there with his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression dark, and his brow furrowed.

As Seraphina approached him, she caught the faint scent of his cologne, mixed with the subtle aroma of spilled wine. His presence was sharp and chilling.

He didn't budge.

Seraphina reached out and lightly touched the stained area on his chest. She raised an eyebrow slightly at him.

They were close-so close that Seraphina could hear the steady beat of his heart.

She smiled faintly. Her eyes were narrowing in a way that was both alluring and icy, casting a haughty glance at him. "Mr. Dros, you'd better hurry and change."

G.

A Kiss

D

Her words were loaded with meaning.

Orion's gaze grew colder. Unexpectedly, he grabbed Seraphina's hand and led her away.

Before she could resist, she was pushed into the adjacent room.

Bang-

The door was slammed shut.

She found herself pinned against the wall, one of his hands bracing against it beside her.

His scent was all around her.

It took her a few seconds to react. Seraphina's face furrowed as she glared at him. Her voice was icy.

"Mr. Dros, what do you think you're doing?"

Chapter 202

The Forced Kiss

Such intimacy, such closeness.

It made Seraphina extremely uncomfortable.

She wasn't the same person she was three years ago.

Gone were the days when a mere glance from Orion could make her heart race and fill her with infatuation.

This kind of atmosphere gave her a sense of losing control.

14,

Orion's expression was cold, his face emotionless.

He fixed his gaze intently on her face.

"I wanted you to see for yourself that the 'show' you were expecting won't happen."

His voice carried suppressed anger, but mostly it was calm and cold.

He looked at her without any expression as he withdrew his arm.

His gaze was like that of a beast holding back its rage.

Slowly, he began to unbutton his shirt.

He removed his soiled suit right in front of Seraphina and tossed it onto a nearby chair without a second glance.

There was a rogue charm in his deliberate actions.

With one rough motion, he pulled off his tie and threw it on top of the jacket.

A button popped open, revealing his Adam's apple. The disheveled look added an irresistible allure.

The mix of untamed and icy energy in his aura was suffocating.

Seraphina stared for only a moment before quickly looking away.

She tried to calm her pounding heart.

Seraphina spoke in a steady voice.

"Mr. Dros, you're overthinking. ver bother with things that don't concern me."

She didn't care whether Orion and Grace would put on any show.

What did it matter to her?

Orion's actions were truly puzzling.

"Doesn't that concern you?" His voice lowered and hurt

The Forced Kiss

"Of course."

She clicked her heels on the floor and began to walk away.

As soon as she turned, someone grabbed her arm.

One thing led to another, causing confusion.

What was the point of all this?

What was Orion trying to do?

Seraphina's expression turned grim, and she was ready to demand an explanation. Before she could speak, he pushed her against the wall, his body pressing close.

Without hesitation, he cupped her face with both hands, his lips crashing into hers.

It was a kiss filled with madness and loss of control, overwhelming her with its intensity.

It was exactly as he'd imagined-her lips were sweet and intoxicating.

Seraphina was unprepared and unable to respond:

The scent of his cologne mixed with a faint trace of alcohol-both foreign and familiar-had once left her spellbound.

When his cool lips tried to delve deeper, she suddenly snapped back to reality.

She bit down hard on his lip. When he paused, she slapped him sharply across his handsome face. The sound was crisp and loud.

His face darkened, and his eyes locked onto hers.

Furious, Seraphina pushed him away.

"Mr. Dros, let this be clear-I am not a woman who can be disrespected with a mere gift. If you're looking to play games, there are plenty of others out there!" Orion's heart sank, and his voice was hoarse and cold.

"But you're the person I want."

I was thinking of Hansen's preparations for a proposal. Haha! How absurd it seemed! Orion's anger flared.

He didn't know when it started, but she had occupied a place in his heart, growing roots and sprouting leaves that were impossible to ignore.

Seraphina's pupils narrowed sharply, her chest constricting as if she had ripped open a wound and was bleeding heavily.

She decided she had had enough.

"Orion, we're divorced. As you wished, I'm finally out of your life. We have no connection now, and we

never will I don't love you anymore, and I hope you stay far away from my life"

The Forced Kiss

Why?

☐☐☐☐☐☐☐ 89%

Why did he have the right to storm into her life when she was at her most vulnerable, exposing all her Scars?

Did he think she didn't feel pain?

What was he trying to do?

To humiliate her?

To mock her?

A kiss that made her heart race was cut to the bone.

She was sick to her stomach as a result of the momentary sweetness that she did not desire.

Without hesitation, she refused to look at him again, fearing he'd see the despair and turmoil she was trying to hide.

With swift movements, she opened the door and left.

"Bang-"

She shut everything behind her.

Orion remained quiet; the slap mark on his face was stark, and a drop of blood was seeping from his lip.

He didn't even notice.

His chest ached dully.

He whispered, "Happy birthday, Seraphina."

At that moment, it felt like he had truly lost the most important thing in his life.

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Chapter 203

Who Is She?

Hansen emerged anxiously from the side. The sight of Seraphina brought him a sense of relief.

"I thought you were kidnapped. But then again, you're the one who usually does the kidnapping." Especially when it comes to Orion.

Seraphina quickly composed herself and descended the stairs with a calm demeanor.

However, the heaviness in her heart didn't lift one bit.

When she heard Hansen's words, she shot him a cold glance.

Her expression was unchanging as she gracefully stepped down in her high heels.

"Seraphina, Mr. Dros ... is he okay?"

Grace hurriedly caught up. She bit her lip and asked uneasily. Grace summoned the courage to ask, despite Seraphina's grim expression.

Seraphina smirked and cast a sidelong glance at Grace

With just one look, she saw through Grace's thoughts.

If Grace had been more straightforward, Seraphina might have admired her ambition.

She despised her type the most. A woman like her was timid and goody-two shoes. Seraphina lifted her chin slightly.

Her expression was icy as she pointed towards the room she had just exited.

"If you're so curious, go see for yourself."

What she despises, others would eagerly pursue.

However, Seraphina was no longer the person she was three years ago.

She can now hide her feelings flawlessly.

Grace's face flushed with embarrassment.

"No, that won't be necessary."

Hansen frowned as he listened from the sidelines..

He had known the Crosses for a long time, but he had never heard that Seraphina had a cousin.

Surely, all the daughters of the Crosses were expected to be well-known? How could someone like her cousin be unknown?

Without taking into account Grace's presence, he bluntly asked, "Why does your cousin have the last name Royle? Shouldn't she have the same last name as you, Cross?" 1/3

Who Is She?

Grace's face stiffened slightly, and her eyes filled with hesitation as she looked at Seraphina, fearing what she might say.

Seraphina didn't even spare her a glance.

Her tone was nonchalant as she replied, "Her mother is with my uncle Alexander."

She had no intention of elaborating further-after all, family scandals were best kept private.

Hansen merely grunted, not pressing further.

After all, it wasn't something that particularly interested him.

Grace secretly felt a sense of relief.

She paused her steps, narrowing them slightly.

If only she could take on Alexander's last name and become a Cross ... but no matter how many times she had asked Flora, Alexander had always evaded the question. Sivir and Justin immediately surrounded Seraphina and Hansen as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Luckily, the rest of the guests were too busy dancing to notice what was happening.

Hansen's expression froze slightly. The atmosphere, combined with their momentum, caused his legs to weaken.

Sivir's cold gaze held an intimidating authority and was laced with a sharp chill.

Justin, though strikingly handsome with finely chiseled features, stood in front of them with a slightly wickedly cold smile. Seraphina frowned and looked at the duo in confusion.

"What's going on?"

Justin blocked her path with a serious attitude.

"Don't worry about it. We just need to have a word with Hansen about what happened earlier."

Fireworks and roses... There had to be some explanation, after all.

Seraphina looked at her siblings, lost for words.

"Fine, I won't interfere."

She wasn't in the mood to deal with any of this anyway. That kiss ruined the good mood she'd been in earlier, Damn it! Hansen fell into silence.

He gave Seraphina a look, saying, 'You've got to handle this!'

Hansen blinked at Seraphina, silently pleading for her help.

Who Is She?

Seraphina skillfully avoided his gaze, directing her attention elsewhere.

Sivir frowned slightly. His eyes were cold and distant.

"Hansen, although you and our Seraphina are close, I hope things like this don't happen again in the future."

He said each word politely, but as they strung together, Hansen couldn't help but feel threatened!

Justin chuckled lightly.

"Exactly. One day, our sister will become the richest woman in the world. She doesn't have time for romance. If you're unconvinced, you can have a chat with me." Hansen twitched his lips.

What's there to discuss with you?

However, he smiled, and his attitude was warm and bright.

"Don't worry, nothing like this will happen again. I'll keep my feelings to myself."

Chapter 204

She Disrespected Me!

Sivir frowned. His gaze is sharp and dangerous.

Justin couldn't stand it any longer, goosebumps crawling all over his skin.

"Just shut up!"

Seraphina turned on her heel and walked away. Her face was devoid of emotion.

The music band Justin hired was exceptional, and their live performance mesmerized the guests.

Many people were dancing, lost in the music.

Others were in a smaller banquet hall and engaged intion.

Seraphina followed the voice and

ked towards the hall.

When she reached the entrance, someone'suddenly appeared, grabbing her wrist in a hurry and pulling her inside.

"What are you doing here? Come quickly!"

Seraphina frowned slightly-it was Flora.

She hadn't invited them, so how did they manage to come uninvited?

Of course, when she saw Grace earlier, it should have been a warning sign. This mother-daughter duo would never miss an opportunity to mingle with the elite.

Sure enough, people you dislike always find a way to make you despise them even more.

Seraphina struggled to free herself, not wanting to make a scene and draw attention.

Flora held onto her hand. Her expression was warm and affectionate as she looked at the CEOs across the room.

"Seraphina is beautiful and capable. I'm sure you all will have many opportunities to work together in the future."

Naturally, the guests wouldn't disrespect Seraphina.

They stepped forward to toast her.

Seizing the moment, Seraphina pulled her hand free from Flora's grasp.

She grabbed a glass of red wine from a passing server and lightly clinked glasses with them out of

courtesy.

The CEOs were eager to please her and downed their drinks immediately.

Seraphina barely lifted her glass without intending to drink.

Flora was unwilling to let it go, so she continued to urge her on.

She Disrespected Me!

"Seraphina, you should drink. How could you disrespect our guests? Now that you're the president of Cross Group, you can't act like a child anymore! It's considered rude not to drink in a business setting." Those guests exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by Flora's words.

For someone of Seraphina's

said that Seraphina had beatus, offering a toast was already a great honor. What did she mean when she

said that Seraphina had been rude by not joining them for drinks?

Seraphina narrowed her eyes, glancing coldly at Flora. Her voice was icy.

"Are you teaching me how to do

job?"

Flora stiffened slightly. She was shocked that Seraphina would question her in front of so many people.

Seraphina had the nerve to question her?

Flora had decided to let the previous incident slide, but Seraphina really disregards anyone.

Flora was so furious that she began to tremble.

She suppressed her rage. Her voice took on a sarcastic tone.

"I'm just looking out for you. After all, I am your elder, and your family should be able to offer a few words of advice, shouldn't they?"

This was the experience Alexander had given her.

He intended to introduce her to everyone present.

As Alexander's wife, Seraphina shouldn't be treated lightly.

"Elder?"

Seraphina sneered coldly. What kind of elder was she supposed to be?

This woman was seriously overestimating herself.

Flora was provoked by Seraphina's tone.

All these years, she has lived beside Alexander without any recognition. She had swallowed her pride for years. Did Seraphina have any idea how difficult it was for her?

She had been living under the false pretense of being Mrs. Cross, always on edge, afraid that someone would expose her true identity.

Flora had suffered because of Emeris and his family.

Why did Seraphina look down on her so much?

Her face turned pale with anger. Just as she was about to argue back, she saw Alexander and Emeris approaching.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Flora turned and buried her face in Alexander's chest.

"What hannened?"

M

She Disrespected Me!

Alexander frowned as he glanced at Seraphina and the others.

Flora sobbed and complained.

"This life is unbearable. I was just worried that Seraphina wasn't sincere in her toast and afraid that others might think poorly of our family. Seraphina got upset with me. Am I not part of the family? Doesn't she see me as her elder?" H

Chapter 205

Farce

The few executives who approached Emeris greeted him with a smile, completely ignoring the noise Flora was making.

Emeris clinked glasses with them. His demeanor was calm and composed, much like Seraphina, but he didn't drink.

He saw everything that had just transpired here with crystal clarity.

Although they were the hosts, the number of attendees had far exceeded the original invitation list.

Everyone appeared to be taking advantage of this opportunity to connect with the Crosses and make their presence known among the other guests.

Many had invited friends or family, despite not being on the official guest list.

Emeris turned a blind eye to this. He knew it was impossible to engage with everyone. Those who managed to share a drink with him should consider themselves lucky. As she observed this, Flora's expression froze slightly.

What had she just accused Seraphina of? She was rude. Not drinking?

Alexander glanced at Seraphina, then at Flora, his expression full of exasperation.

What's the point of making a scene now? Couldn't she see what kind of event this was?

"Enough," he muttered, his tone laced with frustration. "Today is Seraphina's birthday. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Emeris shot her a cold, commanding glance, his authority unmistakable.

His voice carried a chilling finality that left no room for objection.

"Al, take her back. Our family cannot afford this embarrassment."

The moment he spoke, both Alexander and Flora froze.

Flora's tears were still wet on her cheeks.

Was she going to be kicked out just like this?

All the elites in the town showed up at Seraphina's birthday party to show their support.

It was such a wonderful opportunity to be in the spotlight. Flora had gone to great lengths to convince Alexander to take her.

Previously, she had left the Cross Estate in an unpleasant manner and was utterly humiliated.

She would lose her reputation among the elite if she left midway through this party.

"Emeris, isn't this going a bit too far?" Alexander said it awkwardly, looking at his brother.

Farce

At Alexander's words, Flora tugged at his arm in grievance.

"Did you hear that? Emeris doesn't even consider me part of the family. No wonder his child disrespects me and humilates me at a whim. I've wasted so many years with you for nothing." Emeris's expression darkened with growing disdain.

Had it not been for the fact that causing a scene would embarrass the family and ruin Seraphina's party, he might have already exploded.

Seraphina was standing nearby. She watched the scene unfold with a cold, mocking smile.

She didn't care who was around.

This was her party, and anyone who dared to disrupt it had no place here.

She spoke icily, "Stop claiming you're part of the family. We never considered you one of us. My aunt passed away years ago, year we pay our respects to her. Everyone knows you aren't his mistress." and ever

Flora's eyes widened in disbelief.

How could Seraphina say such humilating things openly in front of so many people?

Some knew about Alexander's household affairs but never discussed them openly.

Others didn't know, so naturally, they wouldn't mention it either.

When Seraphina brought it up, it was out in the open for everyone to see.

"Seraphina-" Alexander glared at her, his expression grim and angry.

Before Seraphina could respond, Grace rushed over. She couldn't stay silent in the face, of Flora's humiliation.

"Seraphina, how could you say that? My mother has taken care of Alexander for nearly ten years. Even if she doesn't have a title, she's done more than enough! They love each other truly, and if it weren't for ... Grace paused, her gaze flickering between Seraphina and Emeris with an air of grievance.

"If it weren't for certain circumstances, they would have been together for a long time."

Grace looked to her father for support, clinging to Alexander's arm. "Dad, isn't that right?"