Chapter 5

Julian, true to his word, spent several days by Seraphina's side and didn't come home.

Mr. Stone, the private investigator, sent me photos regularly.

Perhaps seeing my silence, Julian and Mrs. Sterling simply moved into Seraphina's mansion.

Julian even began openly referring to Seraphina as the baby's "godparent" (which everyone understood as the father).

Everyone in the city's high society knew exactly what was going on. They'd exchange knowing glances and cast sympathetic looks my way.

Soon, it was Mrs. Sterling's birthday. I looked at the message from Mr. Stone and smiled, then transferred an extra five hundred thousand to him.

On the day of the birthday celebration, I invited the city's most renowned news reporters and every notable influencer I could find.

With over a dozen cameras set up, it was more bustling than a movie set.

Mrs. Sterling, dressed in a red traditional gown, seeing the cameras pointed at her, finally offered me a rare pleasant look.

"Though you're not as capable as Seraphina, at least you're sensible and know your place. It's not for nothing that my Sterling family has kept you."

I smiled and nodded, agreeing with everything she said.

The guests' eyes, when they looked at me, were filled with even more contempt.

The Sterling relatives, with their noses in the air, sneered at me.

"She has no backbone! Her husband is sleeping with his sister-in-law, and she's still fawning over her mother-in-law! She's a disgrace to all women!"

"What do you know? She's a bottom-feeder, a parasite who couldn't find her way out of a paper bag without the Sterlings! She's so spineless, she'd probably be happy being cuckolded as long as it benefits her!"

Ignoring the constant whispers and mockery, I calmly greeted the guests.

As the auspicious hour approached, Julian appeared, arm-in-arm with Seraphina.

All the guests swarmed around them, chatting with Seraphina and trying to forge connections. Julian, still arm-in-arm with her, showed no discretion.

His head held high, he basked in their adulation, as if he were already the rich husband of a tycoon.

Seraphina's belly was prominently rounded, already six months along.

Mrs. Sterling hurried over, greeting them warmly as her daughter-in-law and son, asking if Seraphina was tired, and urging the servants to bring her tea.

Throughout it all, Seraphina remained polite and gracious, revealing no discernible emotion.

Many times, I wondered: Seraphina, a powerful tycoon, had initially married into the Sterling family out of gratitude for a life saved.

But now, the debt of gratitude had been repaid. Wealthy suitors, eager to have children with her and marry her, lined up from one end of the city to the other. Why would she, ignoring all gossip, insist on sleeping with her married brother-in-law?

Just as I was lost in thought, fireworks popped, and the emcee's booming voice rang out.

"Today is a joyous day! We thank all friends and family for coming to celebrate Mrs. Sterling's birthday!"

"Now, we invite the son and daughter-in-law to come forward, pay their respects, and wish Mrs. Sterling a long and prosperous life!"

The moment the words fell, Julian, smiling, took Seraphina's arm and stepped forward.

"Mom, Seraphina and I wish you a long, healthy life and endless fortune!" With that, he pulled Seraphina, about to bow deeply.

Seraphina stood perfectly still, her sharp gaze falling on me. I chuckled and stepped forward.

"Julian Sterling, you've got the wrong person. Your wife is right here."

Julian's face immediately flushed red, then he angrily said,

"Dominic isn't here, so I'm taking his place to accompany Seraphina in wishing Mom a happy birthday. Stay out of it!"

I silently counted the seconds. One, two, three...

Julian again pulled Seraphina's arm, about to bow deeply to his mother, when a sharp voice suddenly rang out.