Chapter 17 The Action Begins!

Cecilia's Perspective:

I was nervously sitting at my desk, trying to figure out how to get out of this mess, when Silas called.

"Silas, you finally called me," I said, my voice full of excitement.

His calling meant there was still hope for me.

I even thought about rushing back right now and throwing myself into Silas's arms to tell him all my troubles.

"You've had a tough time lately. I'll give you a generous compensation. From now on, keep your distance from me. This compensation will sever all our past and future connections," Silas's emotionless yet sexy voice came through the phone.

I was instantly dumbfounded, overwhelmed by panic and helplessness.

"No!" I couldn't control my volume, and my voice was sharp and piercing. "You can't do this to me! I've been with you for so many years. You can't be so cruel!"

"Cecilia, you know I don't like entanglements. Let's part ways amicably," Silas said, and then he hung up without any mercy.

"Silas!" I screamed into the phone, heard the cold dial tone, and broke down crying.

More than sadness, I felt a deep sense of unwillingness!

In my moment of despair, I thought of someone.

Ray Berkeley.

Silas's mother!

She had always been satisfied with the image I portrayed!

Now, only she could help me!

Seraphina's Perspective:

"Sweetie, where are you taking me so early in the morning?" I asked helplessly, looking at Lucas, who was dragging me along.

We had just finished breakfast and were heading out without any explanation. What was Lucas up to now?

"Mom, I have a very good friend who's sick. I told him my mom is a great doctor and can help him, so he went to the Azure Palace Hotel early this morning, waiting for you to help him."

"What?" I was puzzled.

Lucas had just come back. Where did this good friend come from?

Saki crossed her arms and pouted, "You liar, you just got back like me. I'm so cute, and I haven't made any friends. How could you have a friend? I don't believe it."

The two kids loved to bicker, and I didn't think much of it. But when I saw Lucas not retorting as usual and instead looking at Saki silently before lowering his head, I felt something was off.

"What's wrong?" Saki thought her words had upset Lucas and made him angry, and she started to panic.

"Are you mad? You never used to get mad so easily. Just a few words, and you're upset?" Saki's voice grew softer.

She thought Lucas was really angry at her, and like a child who had done something wrong, she lowered her head and didn't dare to speak.

"What's wrong, Lucas? Your sister is just bickering with you. You can bicker back. Why are you getting upset?" I squatted down, gently patting Lucas's head, and tried to comfort him.

"Yeah, Lucas, if you don't like me saying that, I won't say it anymore. Don't be mad at me. I'm sorry. You can have the first bite of all the snacks from now on," Saki said pitifully, tugging at Lucas's sleeve.

However, Lucas remained silent and wouldn't lift his head, scaring Saki into thinking he was really mad at her. She was about to cry.

"Sweetie, are you worried about your friend being sick? Is that why you're like this?" I asked again, trying to understand.

"Yes," Lucas finally spoke.

Saki smiled in relief, "I knew Lucas wouldn't be so petty."

"But I'm just a psychologist. I can't treat illnesses," I patiently explained to Lucas. "So if your friend is really sick, he needs to see a doctor who can treat him. I might not be able to help."

"But if you really need my help, I can call his mom and talk to her."

Seeing my repeated refusals, Lucas seemed to want to say something but couldn't and finally just lowered his head in frustration.

This was so unlike him. Maybe he and his friend were really in big trouble and needed my help.

"Alright, Mommy will go," I said, patting Lucas's dejected little face. "But you stay home and take care of Saki. Don't run around, okay?"

"Okay!" Lucas finally smiled when he saw I agreed.

With a heart full of doubts, I headed to the hotel Lucas mentioned.

Alex's Perspective:

I was leaning against the hotel window, watching Seraphina get into a cab. I couldn't wait to pull out Saki's watch and send a message to Lucas.

I told him Seraphina had gotten into the cab and was on her way. How were things on his end?

We had discussed it again yesterday and decided that meeting at home wouldn't work, so we changed the plan and tricked Seraphina and my dad into going to the hotel.

Soon, I got a message from Lucas saying everything was going according to plan.

"Great!" I couldn't help but cheer.

Now, we just needed Seraphina to walk into the room and see Dad.

Lucas said his mom loved handsome guys, and my dad was so attractive, she was sure to like him.