Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling is Multifaceted!-Chapter 226: Too Late

Many people cast envious glances at this jade bracelet, but no one knows what lies beneath it.

This bracelet is unlike other hand ornaments—it is designed to fit her arm, oval in shape.

The handcuff hidden beneath has long fused with her flesh, clinging tightly, impossible to remove.

This is the symbol exclusively marking her as one of the humble lower class.

Ethan Sterling winced at her smile, "Why bring this up all of a sudden."

Seraphina Redgrave suddenly turned her head, gazing deeply into his eyes, and asked seriously, "Ethan, have you ever thought about having someone else by your side?"

Ethan, who had been relaxed, now wore a gloomy expression as if his face had turned into a stagnant pool. "What are you saying? Are you trying to make me angry again?"

"I am a person from Veridian Isle."

Seraphina raised her hand, placing the bracelet before Ethan’s eyes.

"I know."

Seraphina was someone he had brought out.

"But starting today, my identity has taken on another layer." Seraphina laughed self-deprecatingly, "Now there’s a new amendment announced regarding the Veridian Isle law—anyone who escapes and comes into contact with more than three people is sentenced to death."

"..."

Ethan’s face darkened further.

This was why Seraphina suddenly felt somber.

Seraphina continued to smile, the curve of her lips growing wider, the bitterness deepening, "I am now a death row inmate."

More than three people—by that standard, she could have died hundreds of times by now.

Yet she hasn’t hurt anyone, hasn’t killed anyone; just because she’s from Veridian Isle, she deserves death.

How ironic.

Seeing the curve on her lips, Ethan felt vexed by her laughter and didn’t want to see her smile like that.

So, he reached out his fingers and forcibly pressed down the corners of her lips until that curve vanished.

Seraphina stopped smiling, but the sarcasm on her face was undeniable.

Ethan suddenly asked, "Do you know why my name has only a ’cold’ in it?"

Seraphina pondered, "Are you testing me again?"

Actually, she found the name quite fitting for him, his whole demeanor was cold and chilling.

Ethan waited for her answer, and Seraphina randomly guessed, "Because your nature is rather chilly?"

Ethan chuckled, "This was the name my mother gave me on her deathbed." He looked at her.

"She said there are many things in the world that are heartbreaking, but I’ll bear them myself; I shouldn’t bring the same coldness to others. So she gave me this name to constantly remind me."

Though he hasn’t met his mother’s expectations now.

Seraphina was stunned, then came to and said, "Then your mother was a very warm person."

But it seemed Ethan hadn’t become someone who brought warmth to others.

But that had nothing to do with her.

The future path, she’d walk alone; even if coldness seeped into her bones, there’d be no one to bring her warmth.

Nor did she need anyone.

Ethan cupped her face, gently stroking it, his voice like the sound of a cello, low and elegant, "Mother left too soon to teach me how to bring warmth to others, but now, I seem to have learned a little."

"Because of your presence, I start to care about your feelings, whether you feel my warmth or if you’re unhappy."

"Seraphina, don’t leave me. Spend the rest of your life feeling my warmth, could you?"

Ethan’s gentle, beguiling voice seemed to transform into electricity, slipping bit by bit into Seraphina’s ears, making her shiver slightly.

With a sudden rush, her mind went blank, Seraphina sat there with her gaze momentarily unfocused.

He said he wanted her to feel a lifetime of warmth.

This sentence fiercely struck her heart.

Such words, she was hearing for the first time in her life.

Seraphina was dazed by this Ethan; the light fell onto Ethan’s face, creating beautiful shadows.

He sat against the light like a fairy, glowing all over.

"What? Moved to stupidity?"

Ethan, seeing this dumbfounded Seraphina for the first time, felt a softness in his heart.

Seraphina didn’t know what to say; she knew that the best response was to kiss him, or at least thank him.

But she felt she shouldn’t do that.

"Thank you." Then Seraphina added, "But this warmth, I don’t need it."

"..."

Silence.

Nothing but silence.

The pressure around Ethan suddenly dropped, making it hard for Seraphina to breathe.

But she steeled herself to continue, "I know this answer is contrary to what you have in mind, and you might think I’m ungrateful."

"I’m very grateful for your care, but all your protection for me is just like this bracelet; it can only cover for peace and fool others."

"Once the bracelet is shattered, beneath it lies the bloody truth."

Seraphina looked steadily into his amber eyes, "I don’t want this; I don’t want to deceive myself."

"Sylvia Shaw will never be me; this jade bracelet will never be worn for a lifetime. I am Seraphina Redgrave, and I only wish to be Seraphina Redgrave."

"Even if it rips me apart, I must remove this handcuff."

This was the first time in so long Seraphina firmly expressed her feelings to Ethan.

There were stars in her eyes, but they stung his heart.

He grasped her wrist, asking somewhat forcefully, "If I find a way to remove the handcuff?"

Seraphina sighed, pulling her hand back, smiling bitterly, "You know, I’m not just talking about the handcuff."

As long as Veridian Isle exists, she’ll always be restrained by this identity, unable to hold her head high.

"You’re not like those useless people, you..."

"They aren’t useless! They’re just sick." Seraphina interrupted Ethan loudly, her tone as cold as could be.

Ethan fell silent, his breathing becoming heavier, his face foreboding and gloomy.

Seraphina spoke deliberately, "Ethan, I’m not joking; I cannot obey your words to safely accompany you through life. Fortunately, I’ve made it clear now, you still have the chance to change your mind."

Having said that, Seraphina no longer cared about him and left on her own.

The last time at the Presidential Palace, she merely tested Ethan’s attitude, and he grew furious.

This time, who knows what she will face.

Enough...

She wasn’t the right person, to begin with.

She couldn’t give him an ideal life.

In the future, someone will come to feel his warmth, just not her.

The summer breeze clearly felt hot, but Seraphina only felt cold.

As she stepped down the stairs, she didn’t notice the light in the eyes of the man behind her was gradually fading.

The wind picked up, loosening her already untied hair even more.

The hair tie blew off, landing not far away.

Seraphina picked up the hair tie, wanting to tie it back securely, but suddenly fell into a strong embrace.

Ethan embraced her from behind, her cascading hair strands swirling around, blinding her eyes.

Ethan’s well-defined hands clasped Seraphina tightly, making her unable to move an inch.

Seraphina seemed to hear the sound of her own heartbeat, pounding so fast, so strong.

"Ethan..."

Seraphina wanted to continue speaking, but Ethan cut her off, "Too late."

Ethan buried his head in the crook of Seraphina’s neck, greedily inhaling the pleasant scent she carried.

"Now saying you’ve changed your mind, it’s too late."