Hughes was at the wheel, with Seraphina Sterling and Terrence Grant in the back seat. Seraphina had wanted nothing more to do with Terrence Grant, but it was too late in the evening. There was no telling how long it would take to get home on foot; a car was much faster. Even so, she pressed herself tightly against the door, as far away from him as possible.
Being shunned yet again put the young master in a foul mood. 'I'm Terrence Grant, Mr. Grant of Aethelgard,' he thought. 'Countless women throw themselves at me, yet she avoids me like the plague?'
The silence in the car was so eerie you could almost hear them breathing.
Finally, Seraphina Sterling broke the silence. "Hughes, you can just drop me off at the fork in the road ahead. We aren't heading the same way."
"My apologies, Miss Sterling, but I am neither your servant nor your subordinate." His voice was as robotic and impersonal as a machine. 'Does this kind of person really exist?' Seraphina wondered.
Seraphina turned to look at the imperious Terrence Grant. "I don't think we need to get any more involved with each other. This whole incident had nothing to do with me. Besides, I just saved your life. That should be more than enough to repay you for your help this morning, don't you think? Or does Mr. Grant feel his life isn't even worth a simple favor?"
How could a voice soft enough to melt a glacier produce such piercing words? There wasn't a trace of anger on her young face, only a calm that made her seem less like a girl of seventeen or eighteen and more like an old soul who had weathered the storms of a long life.
Just as Terrence Grant was about to speak, a massive truck came barreling toward them. The driver didn't seem to notice their car and aimed straight for them. Fortunately, Hughes was an experienced driver. As the truck was about to collide, he violently wrenched the steering wheel. The sedan swerved, dodging the truck and screeching onto a dirt path, sending dust flying everywhere.
Just as Seraphina was about to sigh in relief, a black sedan that seemed to have been lying in wait shot forward from behind them. The road was narrow, leaving no room to turn. To their left was the Tollan River, to their right was the truck, and behind them was the black car. Hughes had no choice but to accelerate! But it was as if their pursuers had calculated everything. No matter how fast he went, he couldn't shake the black sedan on their tail!
As danger closed in, Seraphina's mind went blank. In her two lifetimes combined, she had never experienced anything so terrifying.
The headlights behind them grew blindingly bright. In a split second, Terrence Grant made his decision. "Jump!"
The moment he spoke, he grabbed a stunned Seraphina, threw open the door, and leaped into the Tollan River. The agile Hughes was right behind them. At the exact instant the three of them cleared the vehicle, the black sedan slammed into it. The smaller car's rear end completely caved in, the frame twisted and mangled by the sheer force of the impact.
Seraphina stared at the massive explosion, a wave of terror washing over her. If not for Terrence Grant's decisive action, they would be dead right now.
"The life debt you owed me? I've just repaid it. So, you're still in my debt!" Terrence Grant's deep eyes flashed with wild arrogance. Even in such a perilous situation, he showed no trace of panic or fear.
Seraphina really wanted to roll her eyes at him. 'How can a grown man be so petty and hold such a grudge!' she fumed. 'And what's our current situation? Is this really the time to be talking about debts? This was clearly a planned assassination, with every step meticulously arranged. We can't even be sure we're safe yet! How can he have the energy to fuss over such trivial matters at a time like this!'
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be in this mess in the first place! Saving me was the least you could do!" Seraphina retorted, swimming forward with all her might. 'I have to get as far away from this man as possible!'
"Wait!" Terrence Grant suddenly grabbed her by the waist, drew a dagger, and viciously stabbed out to the side. It turned out their enemies had anticipated that a mere car crash wouldn't be enough to stop him. They had already set an ambush in the Tollan River, waiting for him to fall right into their trap.
Seraphina was already numb from the string of shocking events. First the car explosion, then the ambush on the road, and now an assassination attempt in the water. It was all beyond her comprehension. In that moment, all she could do was watch in stunned silence as Terrence Grant fought against four assailants at once.
Hughes arrived just in time, a sharp dagger also in his hand. But before he could join the fray, he saw a hand signal from Terrence Grant. He immediately halted his advance, swam quickly to Seraphina's side, and began pulling her away from the danger zone.
Seraphina never imagined that Terrence Grant would actually have Hughes save her first.
Until the very last moment before she was pulled away, Seraphina's gaze remained fixed on Terrence Grant, who was still locked in a desperate battle against four men. 'In a situation this dangerous, why didn't he let Hughes help him? Is he really that confident he can beat all four of them? Or is it...?'
Seraphina's mind was still a chaotic blur right up until the moment she walked through her front door.
"Seraphina, where have you been? Why are you back so late?" Kimberly Jennings cried out, her heart aching as she saw her daughter dripping wet. "Why are you soaked to the bone? Did you go fishing in the Tollan River again? Didn't I tell you I was making fish for dinner tonight? Why would you go in the river?"
"Mom, I'm fine, don't worry. You made fish? I haven't had that in so long!" Seraphina put on a flawless act. Though she was exhausted and had no appetite whatsoever, she forced herself to eat a large portion of fish and a bowl of rice.
The moon was bright, the stars brilliant, and the night air was filled with the chirping of crickets.
Seraphina was utterly exhausted, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. Hughes's masterful driving, Terrence Grant's sharp and ruthless fighting style, the enemy's relentless, unpredictable attacks—it all replayed in her head over and over.
'Even though I've been reborn, what do I really have?' she thought. 'I know how major events will unfold and the fates of certain people, but beyond that, I have nothing to rely on. I can't even protect myself when danger strikes.'
'The Hale Family has been a powerhouse for generations, with immense wealth, power, and connections. My path to revenge will be long, and there's no telling what dangers I'll face along the way. It looks like I can't just focus on the world of business. I need to improve my own skills, too!'
'But where am I supposed to find a teacher who will genuinely train me?'