Chapter 17

Their car sped away so quickly that the trailing car soon disappeared from sight.

“Julian must have sent people to spy on me, checking if I still have contact with Aroma Delight,”

Seraphina turned around and said, not surprised by the situation.

“Hmm?” Dashiell raised an eyebrow. “Did you promise Julian not to go to Aroma Delight?”

“I didn’t promise him anything, but he might think he has already convinced me.”

In reality, Seraphina hadn’t made any promises to Julian, but he believed that his lies had successfully fooled her once again. It was just another instance of his habitual lying.

However, Julian didn’t know that Seraphina had indeed trusted him before, but when she discovered his betrayal with Vivian, all that trust shattered. She wouldn’t believe a single word he said anymore.

“What are you going to do then?” Dashiell didn’t interfere with Seraphina’s decision. He was even a little curious about how she would fight back.

To be honest, ever since that bas tar d Julian hurt Seraphina, Dashiell had wanted to seek justice on her behalf. But now it seemed that she didn’t need his protection at all-she had her own way.

Seraphina kept her calm gaze forward and said, “Julian is planning a press conference to have me take all the blame.”

“Really?” Dashiell asked with a cold, calm voice. “When?”

“Julian didn’t tell me, but I assume it’ll be either tomorrow or tonight.”

“Why?” Dashiell wondered.

“Because he can’t wait.”

Seraphina turned to look at Dashiell’s face and said, “What happened last night embarrassed not only Julian but also damaged Prosperian Company’s reputation. He must be impatient. Besides, the organizers are also investigating the matter. It needs to be resolved quickly.”

“And are you going to admit to the accusations?” Dashiell didn’t think Seraphina would be so compliant.

“Unless I’m crazy,” Seraphina enunciated each word. “I will reclaim everything that belongs to me.”

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Dashiell looked at Seraphina. She was as elegant as he remembered. She wasn’t the type of woman who was stunning at first sight, but she had a certain charm that captivated people and made it hard to look away. The more Dashiell looked at her, the more he felt compelled to take care of her.

Dashiell casually brushed Seraphina’s hair behind her ear and said softly, “Call me if you need anything.”

Those simple words warmed Seraphina’s heart.

In her years with Julian, Seraphina had grown accustomed to relying on herself. Julian was busy with building his company, networking, and expanding into new markets. He didn’t have time to have dinner with her, watch movies together, or even listen to her for a while. Seraphina felt fleeting warmth from Julian only during periods of successful new product research and achievements. On other days, she sometimes felt that she was treated worse than other employees in the company.

Whenever Seraphina expressed discontent, Julian would tell her to be more generous and understanding, rather than being unreasonable.

Gradually, Seraphina adapted to this reality.

But when she heard Dashiell’s words, an urge to cry welled up inside her.

Naturally, Seraphina leaned her head on Dashiell’s shoulder and said, “I will.”

Dashiell didn’t expect Seraphina to initiate physical contact. He was slightly taken aback. But when he heard her whisper, a smile lit up his face.

Resting in Dashiell’s embrace, Seraphina felt a sense of calm. She softly asked, “Where are we going now?”

“Let’s grab dinner,” Dashiell suggested. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“How did you know?”

Seraphina was surprised. She thought, ‘Has he installed a camera on me?’

Dashiell seemed to have guessed her thoughts and chuckled. “I’m not into creepy hobbies like spying or stalking. I can tell from what I see and hear.”

Suddenly, Dashiell poked Seraphina’s stomach. She felt ticklish and dodged his touch, finally realizing that she was indeed hungry.

Dashiell escorted Seraphina to Hanging Garden Restaurant halfway up the hill.

This restaurant had gained citywide fame for its distinctive design and breathtaking view.

O <

Unlike many other so-called “high-end” restaurants, this establishment specialized in traditional cuisine and employed a team of talented chefs skilled in various types of dishes, catering to customers with diverse tastes.

Naturally, the prices were quite high, making it unaffordable for the average person. Despite that, patrons still had to endure long waiting periods to secure a reservation. Additionally, some tables were even reserved for specific customers, like…

Dashiell sat across from Seraphina, gracefully picked up the menu, and handed it to her. Since their arrival, attentive staff members had been at their service, indicating that their table had been reserved well in advance.

“Order whatever you like,” Dashiell said.

“What type of cuisine do you prefer, miss? We have special menus tailored for your preferences,” the waiter kindly offered.

Seraphina pondered for a moment and replied, “Something light.”

Then, she glanced up at Dashiell and asked, “How about you?”

“I’m not particularly picky.” Dashiell casually responded.

Dashiell didn’t have strong culinary preferences. As Seraphina perused the menu, she noticed the shockingly high prices displayed.

She knew it would be expensive, but the actual figures surpassed her imagination. Even though she wouldn’t be paying for it herself, she still hesitated.

“What’s the matter?” Dashiell asked with confusion when he noticed Seraphina’s silence.

“Nothing. I’m just not great at making decisions,” Seraphina half-jokingly replied, although she truly hadn’t made up her mind about her order yet.

After exchanging a meaningful glance with Seraphina, Dashiell turned to the waiter and said, “Bring us some signature dishes first. She can take her time with the menu.

“Of course, sir!”

The waiter promptly placed the order, and Seraphina simply accepted Dashiell’s choice. She closed the menu and set it aside, deliberately avoiding looking at the jaw- dropping prices listed.

Although Seraphina wasn’t poor, she rarely indulged in such lavish feasts. Moreover, Julian constantly reminded her to be frugal during the early stages of their startup, and she had grown accustomed to it over time.

Habits could be truly entrenched.

The food arrived swiftly. Just as Seraphina took her first bite, her phone suddenly rang. Emily’s name appeared on the screen. Seraphina glanced apologetically at Dashiell before picking up the call.

“Seraphina, I managed to get some time off,” Emily exclaimed.

“Did Julian approve it?” Seraphina guessed, noticing the happiness in Emily’s voice.

“Yes! He approved it right away! Seraphina, you were right. Julian probably wants me to be far away now. When I mentioned wanting to travel and unwind, he even suggested taking a few extra days off.

Seraphina, he must have something up his sleeve!”

“I know,” Seraphina responded.

Emily’s voice was quite loud, possibly audible to Dashiell. Seraphina awkwardly cleared her throat and added, “Well, enjoy your vacation. Have a great time.”

Emily responded, “I don’t really feel like it now. Seraphina, are you sure you don’t need me to stay and assist you? If Julian intends to defame you, at least I can be your witness to help you.”