Ch. 451..455: Inherit Billions Chapter 451-455
Chapter 451 A Visit from the Droses
After a while, Seraphina and Sarah slowly made their way downstairs.
Justin quickly pulled Sarah aside after they exchanged greetings to show off the toast he had made.
Seraphina found herself unable to escape the stares directed at her, so she exchanged a few polite remarks before returning to her usual demeanor of cool indifference.
The two families had anticipated this'visit; what they hadn't expected was for Hannah to come along as
well.
As Seraphina glanced at Hannah, she noticed Hannah rising to her feet.
Gone was the haughty attitude that had marked their past encounters; instead, Hannah approached her with an unexpected apology.
"Seraphina, I realize now that I've been thoughtless in the past and caused a lot of trouble. I truly regret my actions. I asked my grandfather to bring me here because I wanted to apologize to you in person. I was wrong before; will you forgive me?" Hannah stood there earnestly, her eyes flickering occasionally to gauge Orion's reaction.
Hannah wouldn't have taken the initiative to visit the Crosses if it weren't for Orion's apparent fascination with Seraphina and her desire to return home.
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She had to endure this situation temporarily in order to return home.
Hannah had no desire to return to the days of depending on others' moods to earn a meager salary.
Seraphina chuckled lighly; her expression was calm.
"Ms. Dros, you must be joking. I've forgotten everything in the past. It's best if we can all coexist peacefully from now on."
She had no time to ponder Hannah's sudden change of heart, yet she remained convinced that one's nature is difficult to change.
Ramona nodded in satisfaction.
"What feud could persist among children? After all, we're all family now, united under one roof. Who knows, we might still be a family in the future. The connections among children are unpredictable."
Emeris chuckled and said, "That's true. Especially since Seraphina is currently single. I should arrange a few blind dates for her before I head back to the office. Many of my old friends insist on introducing their wonderful sons and youngster in their family to her. I'm afraid we might end up going on two or three dates in one day.
His words turned the Drose's expression ugly.
He hadn't intended to be so blunt, but Ramona's hints had been too obvious.
Did they think Seraphina could only marry someone from the Droses?
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Business dealings were welcome, but personal relationships? Those were best left untouched.
Orion suddenly lifted his head to look at Seraphina.
It appeared they had discussed the situation, as her calm expression indicated she knew it.
Having two or three blind dates a day?
Orion's face turned grimly. His gaze turned icy. "If that's the case, we shouldn't impose any longer. Goodbye.
Seraphina raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Orion's abrupt shift in mood.
Still, his departure was a relief; she didn't feel like dealing with him.
Emeris quickly stood up to see them off.
Ramona cast a meaningful glance at Orion before exchanging a few polite words and leading the group
away.
In the car, Ramona snorted. "The Crosses clearly want to distance themselves from us. Are you really able to let go?* Orion's gaze turned cold, a flicker of frost in his eyes.
Just because they want it doesn't mean it will happen. I wonder who would dare to pursue a woman I'm interested in." Ramona scoffed. "If you had followed the methods I taught you, Seraphina would already be yours!"
Orion's expression darkened immediately, his eyes sharp and dangerous.
The atmosphere in the car turned tense and heavy.
"What are you two talking about? Grandpa, what method?" Hannah couldn't help but ask.
Orion shot her a frigid glance and warned, "It's none of your business. Don't meddle."
Hannah recoiled slightly, realizing she had witnessed Orion's ruthless side.
For the sake of one woman, he was willing to imprison his own sister.
After all the hardships she had endured, she had learned her lesson.
Never clashed head on with Orion.
After a pause, she cautiously asked, "Orion, do I have to go back to work in a few days?"
Orion remained silent, his expression cold and unreadable.
Ramona cleared his throat and glanced at Orion before turning to Hannah, his voice hoarse.
"Since you understand your mistakes and came here to apologize to Seraphina, we can consider the past forgiven. Please remember to be mindful of your actions in the future. Understand?" 2/3
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Chapter 451 A Visit from the Droses
Hannah nodded eagerly and said, "I understand! Thank you, Grandpa."
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She clung thrillingly to Ramona's arm, overwhelmed with joy. Finally, she had escaped those wretched days!
Chapter 452 She Still Loves Me
After bidding farewell to the Droses, Seraphina remembered the fireworks Orion had set off the night before. The excitement they created was still lingering in the air. She reached out to her team, who had prepared the copy and product details, and promptly sent them her approval.
Once she thought everything was alright, she uploaded the information to her platform account.
Her account was already buzzing with comments and private messages, but Seraphina never paid much attention to them.
She posted a picture featuring only a delicate right hand holding a coffee cup.
Her fingers were long and slender; her skin was fair and resembled a work of art.
On her right index finger sat a stunning diamond ring, where her hand casually gripped the cup.
Perfect placement of the ring at the image's focal point made it difficult for anyone to miss.
Her caption read, "When I have everyone's attention, how could I not sell something?"
In no time, Seraphina's popularity surged.
Clearly, the purpose of this post was to convey a message.
Internet users were eager to glean any details from her photo, but there was little to analyze except for that ring and its position.
The right index finger symbolized a single woman-a subtle response to Orion's trivial gossip.
No matter what the online commentators said, she had her own opinions and refused to be easily swayed.
This declaration solidified her stance on being single.
Her silence and decisive actions clarified the rumors about her reconciliation with Orion.
The real product she wanted to promote was that ring.
The intricate design, perfect craftsmanship, and sparkling diamond shone brilliantly on her hand, making it a flawless adornment.
No one would believe it was a cheap product.
Before long, the ring Seraphina wore dominated the trending topics.
All sorts of ridiculous rumors faded as the ring's popularity soared.
Seraphina managed to leverage her moment in the spotlight exceptionally well. It served as an exemplary case in the field of public relations. Orion would never have imagined that he would lose to a one-carat diamond.
He wasn't in the mood to hang out with his grandfather. After finishing his engagements, he headed straight back to the office.
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Chapter 452 She Still Loves Me
As he reached the door, his phone rang-it was Lucius.
"Hahaha, Orion! I can see Seraphina is obsessed with making money!"
Orion frowned. "Speak plainly!"
"You don't know? Seraphina has capitalized on your hype to launch Cross Group's unlisted jewelry. Her sales ability isn't just talk; she effortlessly raked in billions, and her company stocks are soaring. Seraphina is undoubtedly the biggest winner this Christmas! Lucius laughed so hard he could hardly catch his breath. "Last time, she at least took your company soaring along with her product. This time, she's not even benefiting you"
Orion didn't want to hear Lucius's smug voice any longer and hung up the phone.
His buddy was struggling to stay afloat, yet he had the audacity to ridicule him. Entering the office with a grim expression, Orion opened a webpage. Was this her response?
He let out a cold laugh, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. Soon after, he called Ken.
"I want a ring just like the one Seraphina is wearing."
Even if it wasn't on the market yet, he was determined to obtain it.
Within two hours, the ring arrived at his study.
As he sat there, staring at the familiar and exquisite ring, a smile broke across his face.
He had kept a close watch on Seraphina's movements over the past few days.
The idea of her going on multiple blind dates heightened his vigilance like never before.
Fortunately, while many visited her family to pay their respects, Seraphina had hardly spent time alone with anyone else.
Deep down, she still had feelings for him.
Chapter 453 Caught in the Act
After Christmas came New Year's, giving everyone a holiday break that stretched over a dozen days.
However, for company decision-makers like Seraphina and Sivir, there was no such thing as a holiday.
Seraphina used the excuse of needing to accompany Sarah abroad to find Bruce, turning down Sivir's invitation to work together. Along with Justin, the three of them spent a couple of days exploring before heading off to Merora with
Sarah.
On Christmas Day, Seraphina hadn't invited Bruce, nor had Sarah brought him along.
Since that day, Bruce had mysteriously vanished; he wasn't answering calls, and Sarah hadn't reached out to him either.
Strangely enough, Bruce hadn't made any effort to contact her, either.
This left Sarah suspicious, wondering if he was hiding something from her.
When Sarah and Seraphina decided to travel to Merora to find Bruce, Justin was bouncing off the walls with excitement, insisting he must go along. Seraphina saw through his intentions. Thankfully, Sarah was too preoccupied to argue. They boarded the plane together.
After landing, Sarah's expression grew darker.
She knew which hotel Bruce was staying at and could easily reach out to his friends, but she was afraid of alarming him.
At the hotel entrance, Justin was brimming with inexplicable excitement. He offered, "Should I check which room he's in?" Seraphina turned to Sarah and suggested, "Maybe we should call and ask where he is?"
Sarah was torn. Her face showed signs of conflict.
"No need. I booked him a suite here for a year. He won't be anywhere else."
Given Bruce's spending habits, he couldn't afford a more expensive hotel.
With that, she pulled out her membership card and led the way to the elevator,
Seraphina and Justin exchanged glances. Honestly, Seraphina felt a thrill of excitement.
She had a nagging feeling that things were about to get complicated.
It felt as though they were gearing up to catch someone in the act.
Once they reached the suite on the upper floor, Sarah's complexion returned to normal, and she confidently rang the doorbell.
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A stunning blonde wearing a sheer silk nightgown opened the door. She looked groggy and irritated.
"Who is it? I told you, no room service!"
The hickeys adorning her neck spoke volumes about the wild night she'd just had.
The three stood speechless at the entrance, taken aback by the unexpected scene.
The woman scanned them. Her eyes narrowed at Sarah and Seraphina before brightening upon spotting Justin.
"You're Justin, right? Were you invited too?"
Justin's face twisted in disgust as a familiar, lazy voice drifted from inside. "Who is it? Hurry back; do you want to miss your turn on stage?" It was Bruce!
The blonde froze, glancing back at him. He asked, "Aren't you inviting them to have fun with us?"
When that blonde was bewildered, Justin kicked the door open, his expression darkening further "Get out here!"
His booming voice startled those inside.
There was a rustle as they hurriedly dressed, clearly on edge.
""Who is it?"
When Bruce finally appeared, his face went pale at the sight of the three of them.
Seraphina was shocked because she had always thought of Bruce as a reserved and self-respecting individual.
How could he betray Sarah while they were dating?
Initially, Seraphina was skeptical when they knocked on the door, but her perspective changed when she saw him in person. Seraphina had to believe it. The atmosphere grew tense, thick with unspoken words.
Just then, another woman stepped out from the room she looked freshly awakened.
Her reaction was similar to the blonde at the door. She draped herself on Bruce's shoulder in a flirtatious manner.
"Bruce, who is it?"
Bruce shuddered, quickly pushing the woman away.
That woman grumbled, "What's going on?"
His face turned even graver as he bellowed, "Get back inside!"
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Chapter 453 Caught in the Act
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He bit his lip and was about to storm out the door. Sarah, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.
"Put some clothes on and meet us in the hotel lobby. We'll be waiting for you there."
Chapter 454 Breakup
Sarah's voice revealed no hints of joy or anger.
However, Seraphina sensed that any woman facing such a situation couldn't possibly be pleased about it.
After speaking, Sarah turned and walked away.
Seraphina followed. She glanced back to see Justin still standing there, his cold gaze fixed on Bruce, who was inside.
Sarah had borrowed an office at the hotel to print some documents.
In less than ten minutes, they were downstairs waiting for Bruce.
When he finally appeared, he was dressed neatly in clean clothes, maintaining the polished look he always had.
Yet his complexion was pale, as if he hadn't recovered from the shock. He looked exhausted, his vitality drained quite simply, it seemed he had indulged too much.
He glanced around and asked, "Where's Sarah?"
Seraphina replied, "She'll be here soon. Have a seat."
Since no one intended to have a fallout, they naturally avoided any disgraceful scenes of cursing and tearing each other apart, even though Seraphina felt tempted to do so.
As soon as Bruce sat down, Sarah arrived with the documents in hand. Bruce immediately stood up, looking anxious and apprehensive.
Before anyone could speak, he launched into an explanation.
"Actually, those two were just friends that someone introduced to me. They wanted to break into the modeling industry with my help. Yesterday, during a party, they accidentally slipped something into my drink. Seraphina rolled her eyes at his excuse. Haha! Did he really believe we're that gullible?
Interrupting him, Sarah remained calm, her face devoid of any other emotion.
She placed the printed documents before Bruce. "Sign here."
As Bruce read the document, his expression shifted drastically.
It was a termination of contract.
Sarah had lifted him from obscurity to a prominent position on the international runway; he had undoubtedly become her most valuable model. And now she was so decisively letting him go?
Bruce seemed incredulous.
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Seraphina let out a scornful laugh. Justin, unable to contain himself, stepped forward and forcefully slammed Bruce's head onto the table.
With a loud bang, Justin lifted Bruce's head by clutching his collar, a tone of cold irritation lacing his voice.
"If she asked you to sign the paper, then you should sign! Are you deaf?"
Blood trickled from Bruce's nose as he awkwardly wiped it away, to no avail.
Terrified of Justin, he wanted to say something but then fell silent.
It wasn't just the weight of the Crosses behind Justin; even Justin himself was not someone to be trifled with in their industry. Head-on confrontation was definitely unwise.
He glanced at Sarah, trembling as he picked up the pen to sign.
Sarah collected the document, her face blank.
She wore a cold smirk and declared, "You're free now, Bruce. You won't have to attend any international shows in a few years. I've officially withdrawn your representation and recommended new talent instead." Bruce's face fell. He exclaimed, "That's impossible! Newcomers can't participate in shows like that!
The prestigious international shows are the center of attention in the fashion world, only featuring models who had gone through rigorous selection processes.
It was unthinkable to use newcomers.
Sarah chuckled lightly, her tone icy as she reminded him, "When I pushed you to the top, you were just a newcomer too. Do you really think you could have made it onto that runway without my recommendation?"
She laid bare the industry's unspoken rules for him-those who can lift you up can just as easily bring you down.
"While talent is essential, there are many equally capable people still struggling in this industry. You were the only one who stood out. Bruce, you were the first rookie to sign with my agency. I promised to do everything I could to help you, and I did."
Sarah smiled, but her voice was growing colder.
"But from today onward, you're on your own."
At this point, she was reluctant to even mention the term 'breakup. She had simply given up on him.
She stood up, looking at Seraphina. "Let's go. I can't let you leave empty-handed. Let's hit the mall; pick out something nice, and it's on me!"
Seraphina smiled and stood up, realizing that Sarah was still very much Sarah-always decisive and efficient in her approach to matters. Without such sharp tactics, how could she have fought her way to where she was today?
She understood clearly that, for Sarah, business came first.
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This was just about breaking the façade, exposing the ugly truth, and cutting losses before it was too late.
Chapter 455 Learning from Orion
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As soon as Sarah walked away, Bruce tried to follow her, but Justin yanked him back with a warning in his voice.
"I just saved some pictures. If you dare to get close to her again, I'll make sure the whole world sees your scandal!"
Bruce's face paled, a look of fear crossing his features.
Justin let out a cold laugh, releasing him before turning away and leaving.
Cowed by the threat, Bruce didn't dare pursue Sarah.
Meanwhile, Seraphina and Sarah went shopping in the mall. Justin was happily carrying their shopping bags behind them.
Observing Sarah's nonchalant demeanor, Seraphina couldn't help but ask, "Sarah, I don't get it. Bruce has always relied on you to get where he is today. How does he have the audacity to act like this now? Was he like this in the past?" Sarah chuckled softly, stroking her crocodile-skin handbag as she smiled at a store attendant. "I'll take this. Thank you.
"He wouldn't have been so brazen in such incidents, but he wasn't completely innocent. Remember, I wanted to set him up with you, and he didn't refuse. You were the one who didn't want him and denied him the chance," Sarah replied. Seraphina raised an eyebrow, recalling how it was Sarah who brought Bruce along to her first auction.
But at the time, she had recently divorced and was only concentrating on her career.
Justin approached them, holding two cups of ice cream. He prompted, "Come on, let's take a break."
Seraphina took a seat as Sarah admired a new dress in front of her, looking quite pleased.
"Wow, that's beautiful! The style and color are great. You should try it on," Justin encouraged.
Sarah nodded in agreement.
Seraphina glanced at Justin; her curiosity piqued. "Did you hear what I just said?"
Raising an eyebrow, Justin replied, "What's your point? Seraphina smiled mischievously. "You don't seem curious at all. I can't help but think there's something more to this." Before she could finish, Justin covered her mouth, giving her a warning look.
He warned, "If you ruin my plans, you can kiss your black card goodbye!"
Seraphina's smile widened. As expected, it seemed she had guessed things correctly.
Bruce hadn't completely lied; he had been drugged. Those women were sent by Justin.
This tactic was something Justin had learned from Orion.
Chapter 455 Learning from Orion
"I'm playing the long game here, fishing for bigger prey. You understand?"
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Seraphina laughed knowingly. "I see, I see! So the real mastermind is you, Justin. You're really putting in the effort for Sarah, aren't you?" Justin snorted coldly, "Counting on you? You'd waste my fortune in no time and make no progress. You have the nerve to tell me that?"
If it weren't for the lesson Orion had taught him regarding Henry, Sarah might have already been engaged to Bruce by now.
When Sarah came out in her new outfit, Justin rushed over to compliment her.
"That suits you perfectly! You look stunning-like you've stepped out of a fairy tale!"
The staff member standing nearby couldn't help but stare in disbelief.
In the end, they left the mall loaded with bags.
Cross Group
Since returning from Merora, Seraphina has been busier than ever at the office.
She admired how tirelessly Sivir worked, like a well-oiled machine.
Having just finished a meeting, she thought about taking a short nap when Thomas walked in, carrying a stack of documents.
She knew that resting was a luxury she couldn't afford.
"Ms. Cross, we've received new hiring information from HR. They've recruited three graduates from overseas. Here are their resumes," Thomas said.
Seraphina flipped through the pages casually, asking, "Isn't it a bit early for this year's hiring season?"
Indeed, a number of employees have resigned, leaving their positions unfilled. We need to bring in fresh talent. They have selected three outstanding graduates from abroad, one of whom you should be familiar with.
As Seraphina reached the last page, her gaze narrowed slightly.
Her cousin Katie?
Katie's resume looked decent, but compared to the other two, it fell short-shallow on the surface and lacking real merit.
"Have our standards really dropped this low?"
She believed that anyone chosen randomly from a crowd would outshine Katie.
Thomas hesitated for a moment.
"Actually, Ms. Katie..."
"Just say it she prompted.
Chapter 455 Learning from Orion
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Gritting his teeth, Thomas blurted out, "Her qualifications are only sufficient for an entry-level position. The HR personnel told me that during the interview, she pulled out a family photo and claimed to be your cousin. She even called Mr. Emeris and referred to him as Uncle Emeris."