Chapter 0045 – Seraphina’s POV
Her words hit like a punch to the gut.
“Bringing the rogues here? Me?” I stammered, my mind racing to process Helena’s accusations.
She let out a cold laugh. “They attacked us because of your stupid Carnival City project, didn’t they? Did you even bother to look into that land before making your plans? Any kind of risk assessment?”
I clenched my fists. “I did! But I didn’t expect the rogues—”
“Which just shows you’re still an amateur,” she sneered. “If you were working for Hawthorne Enterprise, you’d be fired the second you turned in a plan like that.”
Heat flooded my face, a mix of anger, embarrassment, and doubt swirling inside me.
Could she be right? Had I really overlooked something so crucial?
“Enough,” Caden interrupted, his calm voice cutting through the tension.
“Caden, why are you stopping me? This project has serious flaws—”
“This is a project I personally reviewed and approved,” he said, his tone even. “Are you questioning my decision?”
Helena held his gaze, unflinching. “As your CFO, I’m telling you this project is risky. Isn’t my honesty one of the reasons you value me, Caden? We don’t have secrets.”
Her hand landed on Caden’s arm in a gesture that was far too intimate.
He didn’t pull away.
“What do you suggest?” Caden asked, his voice measured.
“When we get back to Obsidian Crest Pack, we need to call a meeting with the shareholders and reassess the project,” Helena said smoothly.
I gasped. “You can’t be serious! We signed the contract already!”
Helena turned to me with a look of disdain, as if I were an insignificant pest.
“If our internal review approves, the contract stands. If not, we’ll pay the penalty. Happy?” she said with a smirk.
“Do you even know how much the penalty is?” I snapped.
“Three billion. Is that supposed to be a lot?” she retorted, her tone dripping with arrogance.
To her, it wasn’t a big deal. But to me, it sounded like a fortune. Her dismissive attitude infuriated me.
“Do the review as soon as we get back to Obsidian Crest Pack,” Caden said, his voice firm. “I want this done before the groundbreaking ceremony next month.”
Helena’s satisfied smile returned. “Of course, Caden. You can count on me. My team will ensure no more attacks during the ride.”
As the crowd began to disperse, I realized I had followed Caden all the way to his door.
He stopped and turned to me, amusement playing on his lips. “Any further, and you’ll have to stay the night.”
I wasn’t in the mood for his teasing.
“Should I be worried about Helena’s review?” I asked bluntly.
“Your project will pass,” he said with confidence.
I frowned, still uneasy. “The contracts are signed already. It’s unfair to review it now. Sure, there’s compensation, but it’s not just about the money—”
“Everything’s about money,” he interrupted casually. “Helena’s an excellent CFO. I trust her judgment. You should trust your project too.”
His words made sense, but they only fueled my frustration.
I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist and spun me back around.
Before I could react, he leaned down and kissed me.
My brain went blank. By the time I thought to push him away, he’d already stepped back.
“What the hell, Hawthorne! I haven’t signed your damn contract yet!” I shouted, my face burning.
“A goodnight kiss,” he said with a chuckle, his green eyes twinkling. “I’ve owed you one for a while. And thanks for the reminder about the contract—you’ve got two days left to decide.”
“I-I know!”
“Good. I hate delays,” he said, kissing the back of my hand before stepping inside his room. “Goodnight, Seraphina.”
I fled to my room, slamming the door behind me. My heart raced for reasons I couldn’t explain.
The Next Morning
I barely slept that night, tossing and turning as I cursed Caden’s forwardness, worried about Helena’s review, and wondered if Trent and the others had met with Eason yet.
By morning, dark circles shadowed my eyes.
When I went downstairs, Helena was already there, looking radiant.
She sat next to Caden, sipping coffee and scrolling through a tablet. Her high ponytail and workout clothes made her look effortlessly perfect.
Caden spotted me and called out, “Morning, Seraphina.”
“Morning,” I muttered, suddenly self-conscious.
“Come have some breakfast,” he said warmly.
“I’m not hungry,” I replied, avoiding Helena’s sharp gaze.
Caden stood and walked over to me. “Fine. Let’s head out then.”
Helena quickly joined us. “Caden, let’s ride together. We still need to discuss stock prices.”
“You can handle the rest with the team,” he said firmly, brushing her off.
Her frustrated expression gave me a small sense of satisfaction.
We left the hotel and drove for hours until we reached Lucian’s boarding school.
When the soldiers tried to take Lucian inside, he resisted violently. I approached to calm him down, but he kicked me hard and screamed, “I hate you! You should die!”
Tears filled my eyes as the soldiers dragged him away.
“Don’t be sad, Seraphina. That brat’s not worth it,” Isolde said sharply.
“He’s just like his demon mother,” Caleb added with a snort.
Caden went to speak with the principal, but I stayed outside, unable to bear the sight of Lucian’s struggles.
Helena approached me, her expression unreadable.
“What are you doing out here, Seraphina?” she asked bluntly.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
She laughed coldly and jabbed a sharp fingernail into my chest.
“You’re no businesswoman. You’re just a desperate divorcee trying to climb into Caden’s bed,” she sneered. “Take your little project and stay the fuck away from Caden, you ugly old twat.”
