Thousands of Brilliant Stars: You Deserve the Best!-Chapter 103: I Belong to Him, a Stand-In

Inside the hospital room, after Seraphina Colbert finished speaking hysterically, there was unexpectedly a few seconds of silence.

In those few seconds, Jude Hawthorne’s face was filled with disbelief.

He looked at the woman who had always been obedient to him, complex emotions flashed in his eyes, and after a while, he asked, "Do you hate me?"

Seraphina broke free from Jude’s grasp, pushing him away with a trembling hand, which was then held by Iris Crawford beside her.

At that moment, it seemed some kind of strength was transferred to Seraphina, who spoke forcefully, turning Jude’s rhetorical question into a statement, "I hate you."

Jude’s face turned pale, veins bulging on the back of his hand, as if suppressing something, "Without me, you would still be a beggar collecting money in The Federation of Zelaria. What do you have to say to me?"

"Without you, I’m a beggar. With you, I’m a whore."

Tears fell on Seraphina’s face, but unexpectedly, she smiled, "Guess, which one suits me better after all?"

How could someone call themselves a whore... This was, giving her own heart away!

Jude flared up in anger, seemingly provoked by Seraphina’s words, "Aren’t you having a great time with the Young Master Thorne? How many luxurious gifts did he give you that night? Didn’t you accept them all?!"

"I returned them." Seraphina stubbornly stared at Jude’s face, "The very next day, I had someone return them."

Jude was stunned, not expecting this follow-up. That day, he saw Seraphina being brought back to The Hawthorne Dojo by a luxury car from The Caine Family, followed by plenty of servants carrying bags full of luxury brands. It was obvious enough, the Young Master Thorne was quite satisfied with Seraphina, and those were gifts for her.

It was also that night that Jude sulked throughout, not even knowing why he was angry. Normally, Seraphina being noticed by men was a common thing; setting other things aside, her face was beautiful.

But this time, he was indeed bothered by it.

Why, was it because the Young Master Thorne was different from previous plump middle-aged men?

Seeing Seraphina encompassed by servants walking in, in a moment of daze, he thought it was some family’s noble daughter.

Recalling that day, Seraphina only felt humiliated; she remembered how the Young Master Thorne grabbed her chin, with moonlight cool and ambiguously distant. She knew well that he had no affection for her, yet she had to pretend to cater to him.

"Sick?"

"No... Jude would take me for a checkup..."

"Jude?" Others called him Second Young Master, but she directly called him by name.

The Young Master Thorne laughed, "He lets you call him by his full name, your relationship must be unusual."

It is unusual.

She’s merely a pawn in his hand.

Closing her eyes, Seraphina pulled herself out of the memory, looking at Jude right now, she instinctively covered her stomach, "I’ve already drunk alcohol, significantly harming the fetus. This child can’t be kept."

"You just don’t want to give birth." Jude stared, his sharp eyes cold and merciless, "If you give birth, I can control The Caine Family."

Jude’s mind was filled only with controlling The Caine Family, only his own interests.

He never viewed Seraphina as a person.

Iris gripped Seraphina’s hand, "It’s your womb, you decide. We won’t do anything irresponsible to the next generation. I’ll help you make an appointment with an obstetrician!"

Jude got heated, "Iris, can you stop adding chaos? This child can’t be without! Besides, she’s had abortions before, won’t another hurt the body?"

"Did you consider that if drinking has harmed the fetus, what if the child is born with a disease? Did you consider there’s no emotional connection between her and the Young Master Thorne, leaving the child’s family environment irresponsible?" Iris shivered from anger, "Now you know abortion hurts the body? Why did you let Seraphina have repeated abortions before? This child can’t be kept; future harm is much larger than abortion!"

Iris indeed analyzed rationally, but Jude couldn’t find comfort in it, just about to speak, Lachlan Wyatt walked in from outside, his gaze dark, "Seraphina just woke up, stop arguing!"

Iris immediately went silent.

Lachlan grabbed Jude’s shoulder, "Get out, let Seraphina have the room; she needs rest."

Jude sensed Lachlan was taking him away, impatiently saying, "What if this woman secretly aborts the child from me?"

"Mind your own business!" Lachlan, unable to bear it, directly dragged Jude to the door, shouting, "Seraphina is a human, not a breeding bitch!"

In that instant, Jude felt his soul being yelled away by Lachlan.

Lachlan looked back at Iris, casting a look, Iris understood, patted Seraphina’s shoulder, comforted her for a while, then followed outside.

Lachlan’s intention was for everyone to leave, giving Seraphina space to calm down and think.

No one’s decision counts, only Seraphina’s decision counts.

No one can decide someone else’s fate, only oneself can make the choice.

After stepping out, Iris Crawford sighed and leaned against the door, but suddenly heard a loud crash from outside. She turned her head and saw Jude Hawthorne, unable to vent his anger, punch the nearby trash can, denting the metal significantly, showing how fierce his power was.

Lachlan Wyatt clicked his tongue, wanting to offer some advice, but Jude remained silent, storming off with menace. Clearly, Lachlan yelling and dragging him out had not pleased him. Though he restrained his temper in front of everyone, his departure indicated Jude wasn’t feeling well inside either.

As his figure disappeared at the end of the hallway, Iris lowered her head helplessly, saying, "Can those videos and photos about Seraphina Colbert that Jude has be destroyed? Let her be free."

"Have you considered that maybe he’s not refusing to release them?"

Lachlan squinted as he looked in Jude’s direction, "But rather he doesn’t want to let go."

******

Early the next morning, the security post at The Caine Family’s place reported that someone was visiting. Fortunately, the family head woke up early and in a good mood, so he allowed them in with a smile.

The visitor was particularly rude, sneering, "If you hadn’t let me in, I was about to kick the door down, Silvan Caine."

Silvan Caine was pouring coffee, looked up, and saw a man in a black hoodie entering, followed by a woman in a red dress. One red, one black, they seemed worlds apart, entering as though no one else was there.

Addressed as Silvan, he responded with sarcasm, "Oh, a rare visitor! What brings the second young master to my house today?"

"Such sarcasm."

Lachlan scoffed, stepping forward to grab Silvan’s poured coffee, sipping it with a comment that freshly ground coffee was good, only then placing the other’s cup down, sitting opposite Silvan on the sofa, "I’ve got some business with you."

"And her?"

Silvan pointed at Iris, "Why bring a woman along? Though she looks somewhat familiar."

It would be familiar; Iris and Skye Lockwood have the same parents.

Immediately, Iris added with a face full of sarcasm, "Yes, I’m a stand-in for his unattainable love, I’m Iris Crawford. The Iris in ’crossing the Rubicon,’ and the Crawford that ’detests the sky.’ Hello, Young Master Thorne."

"Haha!"

Upon hearing the introduction, Silvan laughed on the spot, "Interesting, where did you find this one? Much more entertaining than Skye Lockwood’s personality."

Lachlan grinned without humor, "Entertaining? She’s Skye Lockwood’s biological sister."

Creak — Silvan closed his mouth, and after a while, he muttered, "What a beast, not sparing either sister."

"I think so too."

Iris nodded in consensus, feeling pleased when others cursed Lachlan, adding smoothly, "But he’s also rather pitiful, not getting either one."

Lachlan could only smile, annoyed, sitting on the sofa with one hand propping his face. The man leaned forward, posture cold and precise, his slender fingertips brushing under his eyes as he watched Iris jokingly like a mischievous fox speaking ill of him with the others, only raising his eyebrow slightly.

"You’re truly amusing."

Silvan’s desire to laugh heightened hearing Iris speak, after seeing too many flattering women, which was dreadfully boring.

Today Skye Lockwood’s sister felt fresh, saying things with thorns and giving no face to Lachlan, appearing wild and untamable. Having such a woman around must be quite interesting.

Silvan instructed the servants to brew more red tea for Iris, and she naturally sat beside Lachlan, carrying an aura befitting a lady, incomparable to others. He asked, "Why are the two of you here together today? Giving me a wedding invitation?"

Lachlan: ... It wouldn’t be impossible.

"You wish," Iris rolled her eyes, then faced Silvan directly.

No wonder he’s The Caine Family’s eldest; he’s quite handsome. His ancestors likely had foreign blood, as his features and contours appeared more profound than usual, with darker eye color leaning toward gray, not purely the gray-green of foreigners but a richer gray-black, carrying an unusual tension.

A man like this must have many women around him. Iris thought of Seraphina Colbert, worrying for her future, "No way. We’re here to talk about the child. It’s related to our friend, so we came together."

"Child?"

Silvan froze, "You’re pregnant? Don’t want the child? Planning to have it adopted by me?"

Lachlan’s expression changed immediately, veins popping on his forehead, "If you have nothing better to do, drain the water out of your brain..."

Silvan laughed brightly, deliberately looking at Lachlan’s handsome face, "I get it! Lachlan is infertile, right? You’ve come to me for heavy compensation for a child, offering you one?"

Lachlan stood up at once, luckily grabbed by the servants of The Caine Family, otherwise Iris felt Lachlan might crush Silvan’s brain into the coffee grinder. He choked on his own saliva, gritting his teeth, "Don’t look for trouble so early in the morning!"

Whoa, he got agitated!

Silvan propped his chin, "Speak seriously, what’s going on?"

"Remember the woman you slept with last month?" Iris felt this was somewhat disrespectful to Seraphina, internally apologizing, and then corrected herself, "Remember your last relationship? She’s pregnant."

Silvan immediately squinted, his eyes glinting coldly, "The one sent by The Hawthorne Family?"