Ch. 346..350: Inherit Billions Chapter 346-350
Chapter 346
A Scandalous Scene
The lighting setup downstairs was already prepared. There was one remaining seat in the front row, flanked by Orion and Wilson.
She hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit suffocated by the seating arrangement.
But before she could hesitate any longer, Wilson had already spotted her. He waved at her, and without much thought. Seraphina walked over and sat down.
Orion didn't react in any particular way. Unlike his usual warm greetings, he remained distant, clearly still upset over what had just happened.
Seraphina felt a wave of relief wash over her. Good, she thought. It's better this way.
Wilson smiled and leaned in to whisper, "Justin sure has an incredible influence. The whole place is packed with his fans."
Seraphina's heart swelled with pride at the compliment about her brother, but she responded with humility.
Justin? Well, he's just good-looking, a decent actor, and has a pretty good personality. That's all."
Wilson's lips twitched for a moment, then he nodded in agreement, his smile deepening.
On the other side, Orion stayed silent, but his expression darkened more by the second.
The play ended, and a server approached with drinks, offering three cups of coffee.
Wilson handed one to Seraphina. Without thinking, she passed it on to Orion.
Orion froze briefly before accepting it. His expression softened visibly.
However, before he could get a sturdy grip on the cup, it inexplicably leaked, spilling coffee all over his clothes.
Orion's face twisted in frustration. As someone with a touch of OCD, there was no way he could sit through the rest of the evening in stained clothes.
He stood abruptly. The server quickly handed him his cane and stammered, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Dros."
Orion cast the server a sharp glance and turned to Seraphina. He said, "I'll go change and be right back."
Seraphina nodded and returned to her seat, though something about the server's figure seemed oddly familiar.
He didn't make it far before Seraphina quietly stood and slipped out of the theater herself.
Orion stepped out of the elevator, still looking upset. He found his room and walked inside. It was pitch
black.
He casually switched on the light. On the spacious, soft sofa was a woman's handbag-and a dress.
.
A Scandalous Scene
His sharp gaze freezes,
Finished
The bathroom door opened just then.
A woman, wrapped in nothing but a towel, still dripping wet, stepped out. The towel barely covered the essentials, leaving little room for imagination. It was Lucinda.
Orion's face darkened even further, his gaze cold and derce, radiating a chilling intensity.
"Who sent you here?"
His voice was unnervingly cold.
Lucinda flinched as if startled. After a few seconds, she clutched her barely secure towel tighter and blushed deeply.
"Mr. Dros. W-why are you here?"
Orion shot her a disdainful glance, utterly repulsed and shrouded in cold indifference.
"Get out!"
Before he could finish, Lucinda suddenly screamed, clutching her chest, and threw herself at Orion.
At that very moment, a swarm of reporters appeared at the door, cameras flashing in rapid succession, filling the room with blinding light.
Orion froze. Then he turned around. His eyes were swirling with a storm of fury.
Orion and Lucinda's current intimate position was explosive, to say the least-an image that easily ignited the wildest imaginations.
The reporters, like a pack of wolves pouncing on their prey, snapped away eagerly, taking shot after shot.
Lucinda cowered behind Orion, trembling and appearing utterly pitiful.
Who would have thought? It seemed both Seraphina and Orion had found a new flame.
Chapter 347
Scandalous Affairs
In the very next second, Orion forcefully pushed Lucinda off him, as if he were swatting away a piece of trash stuck to his body. His expression of disgust was blatant.
That she was exposed in front of everyone didn't bother him.
He strode towards the reporters, his dark, stormy eyes fixed on them.
His tone was a mixture of warning and threat.
"I don't care who sent you here. If even a single word of one photo from today gets out, you'll all be out of a job by tomorrow."
Instantly, the sound of shutters clicking vanished.
The room fell completely silent, as if the air itself ceased to breathe.
The reporters stood frozen, eyes wide with fear, as they stared at Orion.
His name usually appeared in the business news or was linked to Seraphina from Cross Group. His private life rarely made the headlines, but there were subtle hints that he allowed some rumors to swirl. People had forgotten the incident from years ago, when several media outlets attempted to tarnish his reputation. Within a week, every one of those outlets had gone bankrupt.
For a time, his name became almost taboo, disappearing from every media outlet.
And yet here they were, trying to dig up dirt on him?
Weren't they bold?
A cold shiver ran through the reporters' bodies as fear invaded every pore. Their gazes shifted uneasily to the disheveled woman on the floor-Lucinda.
It was her. Lucinda had called them here and promised a huge scoop.
Orion, following their gaze, instantly pieced together what had happened.
This woman dared to set a trap for him?
In an instant, his eyes darkened, filled with an icy fury, as a suffocating chill seemed to engulf the room.
He stood there, radiating an aura of cold menace, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
"Get out."
The reporters scrambled out in a panic, terrified that if they delayed even a second, they'd be singled out, and they made an example of his wrath.
As the commotion at the door quieted down, Orion turned his gaze back to Lucinda, who sat trembling on the floor and her face pale.
Her shoulders were bare, trembling slightly as she appeared fragile and innocent.
Scandalous Affairs
Orion had no interest in her pathetic display. All he felt was disgust, disdain, and a cold anger.
This woman had the audacity to try and manipulate him?
The door was still open.
Orion didn't care in the slightest that Lucinda was still exposed for anyone to see.
#Finished
It was Lucinda herself who seemed to retreat in embarrassment, pulling her towel around her, her face flushed with discomfort.
"Mr. Dros, maybe I should... go change," she stammered, trying to salvage the situation.
Her plan had failed, and she felt regret sinking in. Lucinda had hoped that this incident would force their relationship into the public eye, making it impossible for him to deny her any longer. Then she could be with him openly.
But who could've predicted this?
Orion's gaze was sharp and cold as he glanced at her.
I despise being manipulated."
Lucinda's face turned ghastly pale as she instinctively denied, "It wasn't me-"
Orion knew the truth. He turned his gaze away, unwilling to look at her for another second.
Even looking at her felt like it sullied him.
"Finding evidence would be easy, but you're not worth my time."
His voice was sharp and intimidating, leaving no room for argument
"Either get back to where you came from, or I'll have your father drag you home."
Lucinda's face turned ashen, her heart sinking into despair.
Orion's attitude was icy and resolute. There was no way out.
This was nothing like what she had expected.
Lucinda couldn't even put up a defense. Her face reflected her panic, and her eyes welled up with tears that made her look all the more pitiful.
Her bloodshot eyes locked onto Orion as she trembled, her lips quivering as though she was about to cry.
""Mr. Dros, why? Everyone says we're perfect for each other."
She was the youngest daughter of the Chairman of Corcker Group. With her family reputation, the gap between her and Orion should have closed. Why wouldn't he give her a chance?
I'marriage renien use his mesal achar nor chance her?
Scandalous Affairs
Over the past few weeks, she had come to realize that Seraphina didn't care about Orion at all.
So why hadn't she gotten her opportunity?
She was confused and clung on to hope.
Finished
But Orion didn't even spare her a glance. He wasn't interested in explaining anything to someone who didn't matter to him. Why waste his time? He pulled out his phone and called Ken.
"Send someone up to clean the room."
His voice was as cold as a winter night, chilling enough to freeze the soul.
He turned to leave but abruptly stopped.
Across the hall stood Seraphina. His emotions suddenly became complicated at the sight of her.
Chapter 348A Remarkable Performance
He rushed forward with hurried steps, his face darkened. "Seraphina, what are you doing here?"
Seraphina raised an eyebrow and teased. "Just taking a walk after sitting for too long. I didn't expect to stumble upon Mr. Dros's little romantic affair"
She had sensed something off from the start.
When the coffee was accidentally spilled on Orion, she noticed something strange about the server who handed it over.
Therefore, she proceeded as planned and coincidentally witnessed the entire scene without anyone noticing.
This drama was far more entertaining than anything Justin had performed on stage.
Too bad Lucinda's tactic was still lacking. She shouldn't have called the reporters. What she should have done was call their parents.
That way, Ramona and Clarke would have enough reason to force Orion into marrying Lucinda.
Orion stood motionless, his face wearing a mask of sorrow and briefly displaying hurt. Her indifference was what stung the most, where she clearly didn't care about him at all. Anger or even harsh words would have been easier to bear than this detachment.
"Is it amusing?
His voice was calm, almost unnervingly so.
Seraphina grinned and commented, "Cliché, yes, but still quite the spectacle,"
The woman's methods weren't very sophisticated, but sometimes old tricks never get old. After all, who wouldn't find amusement in someone with the audacity to plot against Orion? Her gaze swept across his cold, indifferent stare. It was a shame that Lucinda had missed her chance. Seraphina had actually planned to help her.
Then again, anyone who tried to plot against Orion-and then had the nerve to come after her as well-wasn't someone she could just ignore.
Orion, leaning on his cane, strode forward with an air of cold indifference, his presence wrapped in a faint chill.
As he neared, she could smell the sharp scent
of mint on him.
Seraphina momentarily lost her composure, her thoughts dispersing. She quickly composed herself and looked up at him, but her smile was fading- He looked down at her and asked, "If you were the leading lady, it would've been far more exciting."
That outcome would be too unpredictable to even imagine.
50 Tue, Nov
A Remarkable Performance
#Finished
Seraphina didn't shy away from his gaze. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, she felt her breath catch.
Then she let out a soft laugh.
"If I had a different leading man, I might consider it."
Orion's eyes
darkened. He stared at her, unblinking, a possessive feeling tightening in his chest. Someone else's desire for something that was his gnawed at him.
He stepped forward, pinning her against the wall, holding her still so she couldn't move.
His gaze deepened, while Seraphina's eyes flashed with a hint of panic before she glared at him, annoyed.
Neither of them was willing to back down.
They were so close now that she could feel his breath on her skin.
Her heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, she tried to push him away, but he quickly restrained her hands, his dark eyes locking onto hers. His voice was low and hoarse.
"Seraphina, what else do I have to do? What must I do for you to forgive me?"
The desperation in his voice-the vulnerability-felt like he was baring his soul to her, begging her to see the raw, painful truth he carried. Seraphina tilted her head up to look at him, her heart jolting with an electric current of emotion, but she chuckled quietly
"Mr. Dros, there's nothing you can do. I don't fall for the same trick twice."
Her heart was as hard as stone now.
Just then, heavy footsteps echoed nearby.
Who would be so tactless as to come up here at this moment?
"Ms. Cross, the show's about to end. Shall I escort you back?"
It was Wilson.
His gentle voice was like a lifeline, pulling her back from the emotional whirlpool Orion had stirred inside her.
Seraphina calmly pushed Orion aside, her gaze cold and steady. "Sure, Ms. Rockwell, I'd appreciate that."
Without sparing another glance at Orion, she turned and walked toward Wilson, looping her arm through his and stepping into the elevator. She could feel the sharp, icy gaze that followed them as they left.
Orion stood there, struggling to
Chapter 349
The Price of Plotting Against Seraphina.
The next day.
Seraphina woke up early. The weather outside was perfect, with birds chirping noisily in the trees, their dense branches casting a slight shadow over the balcony.
She stretched lazily and headed straight to the office.
When it came to work attire, Seraphina always dressed as she pleased. Sometimes she wore casual dresses, other times semi-formal suits, but she never forced herself into a strong and assertive career woman image. After all, no one dared to criticize her choices.
Thomas entered her office holding a stack of files,
Feeling utterly relaxed, Seraphina picked up the prepared coffee and took a sip.
She asked with a smile, "You can leave other tasks aside for now. Inform HR to fire Lucinda. Effective immediately."
Thomas paused, surprised.
Additionally, look into the recent projects Corcker Group has worked on. If any projects are worth taking over, we will step in."
Though momentarily taken aback, Thomas didn't dare ask questions or delay.
"Yes, Ms. Seraphina."
He quickly left the room.
Seraphina had always been a kind person, so firing Lucinda after only three days must have meant Lucinda crossed a serious line,
Moreover, Lucinda was Clarke's daughter. She was a socialite from a prestigious family. Dismissing her in this way would undoubtedly spark gossip.
After a morning meeting and lunch with her brother, Seraphina returned to the office in the afternoon. Thomas came over to report. "Lucinda has been waiting for two hours. She refuses to leave until she speaks with you."
Seraphina let out a cold, dismissive laugh. Now she wanted to beg?
What was she thinking before?
I'm busy and don't have time to waste. Tell her to go wherever she needs to.
Thomas wasn't surprised. He had only intended to verify Seraphina's position, and upon receiving her response, he swiftly departed.
In the lounge area, Lucinda sat pale and despondent.
The Price of Plotting Against Seraphina
Since the public hadn't yet learned of her dismissal, there was still time to make amends.
#Finished
Her father had gone to great lengths to get her this position. She couldn't imagine the consequences he would face if he discovered she had failed. After all the effort she'd put into rising from the shame of being labeled an illegitimate child, she was so close to escaping her past nightmares forever. Now, she was like someone hanging off the edge of a cliff-one wrong step, and she would be shattered to pieces. ""Lucinda."
Lucinda stood up nervously when she saw Thomas approach, her anxiety palpable.
Thomas approached, maintaining his polite but distant demeanor.
"Ms. Cross has two more meetings scheduled today. She really can't spare the time. Please, you should go home."
Lucinda's face drained of color and pleaded, "But I don't understand; why am I being fired so suddenly?"
She still clung to a glimmer of hope.
Lucinda hadn't felt this anxious, not even when Orion had publicly humiliated her the day before.
As long as she stayed, there was still a chance.
She couldn't just leave in disgrace.
Thomas smirked slightly and said, "Perhaps you should ask yourself what guilty deed you've committed:
He didn't need to question the reason for Seraphina's rage. Dealing with Lucinda was something he could easily handle.
Lucinda's face went even paler, her eyes momentarily frozen.
Seraphina couldn't have found out that incident so quickly. It had only been one night.
She bit her lip hard.
"ed to see Ms. Cross. I need to explain myself to her personally. If there's anything she's unhappy with. I'm willing to apologize."
Her tone was filled with grievance, as though she were prepared to endure any unjust treatment.
Thomas's eyes flashed with a hint of indifference, though he maintained his professional demeanor.
No apology is necessary. You've been fired, and that's the consequence. It's best you return home. Ms. Cross is the head of Cross Group. She doesn't have the time or interest to deal with issues from regular employees. We simply follow her orders." In a panic, Lucinda blurted out, "I am the daughter of the chairman of Corcker Group. Is Ms. Cross really going to brush me off like this?"
П
Chapter 350
A Woman Destined to be Admired
Lucinda's face was burning hot, as if she had just received a public slap. Her gaze was frantic and confused.
She suddenly understood what Thomas meant
At most, she was only the daughter of the chairman of Corcker Group.
But Seraphina? She was the chairman of the Cross Group.
The two of them were never equals, not even close.
In fact, Lucinda didn't even have the qualifications to meet Seraphina.
She stood there, panicking and anxious, surrounded by bodyguards. "Please come with us," the security guard said.
Leaving the Cross Group and returning to the home that never truly belonged to her would be even more miserable.
But she had no choice but to leave.
Why?
Had Seraphina discovered her scheme!
Lucinda's body stiffened as she stood at the doorway under the hot sun. The heat didn't warm her at all; instead, a cold chill crawled up her spine. Seraphina didn't even bother questioning her. She didn't want to hear any excuses-no, she didn't even want to hear Lucinda's lies!
Perhaps Seraphina had long expected this. Even if confronted, Lucinda would never admit anything.
Never had Lucinda felt such sweat soaking through her body and leaving her weak. She collapsed on the garden steps by the door.
She looked up at the towering, luxurious skyscraper before her, cold as a beast, swallowing souls whole.
And her? She was so insignificant, unworthy of stepping inside
The glaring sun exposed all of Lucinda's petty schemes, leaving her with nowhere to hide.
She sat there, waiting until the twilight hour, when the day almost turned to night.
Lucinda dared not leave
She had thought of countless ways to deal with Seraphina's moves.
How would Seraphina retaliate?
Anger, rage, or perhaps a slap?
Lucinda knew her target was Orion. No matter what, that would make her different somehow, right? 1/3
A Woman Destined to be Admired
At this moment, she suddenly realized that she was nothing in Seraphina's
Seraphina let her into Cross Group with dignity and then threw her out with just as much dignity.
Finished
She stepped out in her high heels, her aura as cold as ice. Around her were not only bodyguards and assistants but also heads of various departments, eagerly seeking her advice on important matters. Their faces were filled with flattery and respect.
That kind of starlit aura, the feeling of being surrounded and admired-Lucinda couldn't even dream of it. She suddenly understood the massive gulf between her and Seraphina.
What difference did it make that Lucinda had gone from an illegitimate child to the daughter of a group
chairman?
The selfish, despicable nature buried deep in her bones couldn't even compare to the noble, open Seraphina, who stood confidently in the sunlight. Lucinda was like a rat in sewage, hidden from the light. At that moment, Lucinda was too afraid to step forward and explain.
She was already a laughingstock. Did she really want Seraphina to laugh in her face?
Lucinda paused, then suddenly turned and walked in the opposite direction.
At Dros Group.
Ken noticed that Orion's expression had been particularly grim lately, and his methods of handling situations within the company had become even more ruthless and merciless. He assumed his boss must have been upset after another confrontation with Seraphina. The employees reported their work in fear and caution
Close to the end of the workday, Ken knocked on the door and entered.
"Mr. Dros, we've just received word that Cross Group fired an employee today."
Orion raised an eyebrow Ken wouldn't discuss a matter as insignificant as the firing of a regular employee.
Sure enough, Ken continued, "It was Lucinda"
A trace of disdain flickered through Orion's eyes, his voice cold.
"She deserved it."
He couldn't care less.
Ken continued. "Mrs. Dros just called. She said Lucinda has nowhere to go and suggested we should let her work here."
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Ken braced himself as Orion's face darkened.
A Woman Destined to be Admired
Orion's gaze was sharp, and his words were ruthless.
"There's no place for dead weight here. Absolutely not!
There wasn't an ounce of mercy in his words.
Ken nodded slightly and said, "Understood."