Chapter 18
Seraphine let the silence stretch before clearing her throat.
“7 PM. If you don’t come, you’ll only get 100 million.”
Then, without waiting for a response, she hung up.
I lowered my phone, thoughtful.
Sherry had warned me about Seraphine.
I knew better than to underestimate her.
She had despised me from the start—my background, my independence. For four years, she had kept me out of the Shaw residence, making sure I was never fully inside their family. Cold glances, sharp words, carefully placed insults—she wielded them like weapons.
But beyond that, she had never taken direct action.
This meeting at the Hilton…
Was it a final attempt to insult me? To ensure I signed the compensation agreement?
Or was there something more?
I wasn’t sure if I should go—until an hour later when Gary messaged me again.
“Ms. Frost, will you come?”
I frowned. Why was he pressing me?
I had considered leaving Evan’s suit with the building manager—after all, Evan lived upstairs.
But ignoring Gary wouldn’t be wise.
And offending Evan? Even worse.
So, I made my decision.
I replied: Fine. What time works?
Gary responded almost instantly. “8 PM.”
After applying light makeup and changing, I went to my parents’ house first.
The Ocean Rose situation had made me more aware of my surroundings.
For the past few days, a suspicious car had been lingering near the villa.
I was being watched.
I wasn’t surprised.
On the way, Julian called.
“Are you napping?”
I scoffed. He was testing me.
“Nah,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Going to my parents’ place.”
“To deliver the suit?”
I glanced at the suit in the passenger seat.
“…Yes.”
Hearing no hesitation in my voice, Julian didn’t push further.
But as soon as he hung up, he sent a message to his men: “Keep an eye on Olivia.”
At my parents’ house, my mother looked surprised.
“Not working today?”
“I had a cold and took a day off,” I said, touching my throat for effect.
“You must take care of yourself.” She frowned, brushing my cheek gently. “You’ve lost weight. Has Julian been treating you badly?”
No matter how much I tried to hide it, my mother always saw through me.
I smiled. “If he’s bad, I’ll ditch him.”
She didn’t laugh.
I quickly changed the subject.
I wouldn’t tell them about the divorce until it was finalized.
No need to make them worry.
After dinner, I changed clothes and left, telling my parents I had a meeting with a friend.
In the elevator, I pulled on a mask and hat.
I slipped out of the complex unnoticed.
I arrived at the Hilton before 7 PM.
The exterior was classic; the interior, understated elegance.
I left Evan’s suit at reception and called Seraphine.
“I’m here.”
A staff member came to escort me.
They led me through a series of winding corridors to a private room.
Inside, the scent of incense, tea, and jasmine filled the air.
Seraphine sat regally in a dark green silk cheongsam.
She tilted her chin toward the chair opposite her.
“Sit.”
I lowered myself onto the cushioned seat.
“I thought we were here to sign the compensation agreement. Where is it?”
She waved a manicured hand.
“No rush. Have some tea; let’s chat.”
I raised an eyebrow, examining the porcelain teacup.
“This isn’t poisoned, is it?”
Seraphine scoffed. “If you don’t trust me, put it down.”
I set the cup down without taking a sip.
Her lips tightened.
I sighed. “Look, if this is going to be another one of your speeches about my lowly background, can we skip it? Aren’t you tired of that line?”
Seraphine’s face twitched with irritation.
Still, she slid a folder across the table.
“Sign it.”
I picked it up and flipped through the pages.
The compensation clause should have been one page.
Instead, it was buried beneath ten pages of legal jargon.
She thought she could bury the details so I wouldn’t read them.
I took my time.
After a while, I calmly set it down.
“I’ll have my lawyer review this. I’ll call you tomorrow at noon.”
Seraphine’s eyes darkened.
“If there’s a problem, tell me. I’ll amend it.”
I leaned back. “Just because you say you’ll amend it, doesn’t mean you will. Why don’t I draft a new one?”
“Not happening.” Her voice was like stone.
I tilted my head.
“Didn’t you just say you could amend it? What does that mean?”
Her expression hardened.
“It means you must sign today before you leave.”
I didn’t react.
Instead, I feigned thoughtfulness.
“Alright,” I said. “Let me call my lawyer. If she says it’s fine, I’ll sign immediately.”
I stood up. Took the contract with me.
And walked out.
Something felt off.
One clause in particular stood out.
“If the wife engages in any extramarital entanglement before the official divorce, the agreement will be void.”
On the surface, it seemed reasonable.
But I knew how these games worked.
They didn’t need real evidence to accuse me.
All they needed was a story.
A fabrication.
I had overestimated Seraphine’s conscience.
Back inside the tea room, Seraphine dialed a number.
“She’s gone,” she said coolly. “And she took the agreement. Rita, are you sure she won’t get my money?”
On the other end, Rita’s voice dripped with fake sweetness.
“Don’t worry, Auntie. Everything is under control. The Shaws won’t lose a cent. And Olivia?”
A pause.
“She won’t dare blackmail you again.”
Seraphine’s lips curled into a smile.
“That’s wonderful, Rita. You’re such a sweet girl.”
“Just leave it to me.”
Seraphine sipped her tea, pleased.
Tomorrow night was the charity gala.
The Shaw-Crowe engagement would be announced.
As for Olivia?
Seraphine had no idea what Rita was planning.
And she didn’t care.
Rita, still holding her phone, smirked.
Her eyes burned with malice.
“This isn’t over, Olivia Frost.”
