A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Mr. Grant Appears (5)

”I’m not leaving! I, Genevieve Churchill, am no coward. I could never leave a friend behind to save my own skin! If you want to go, go by yourself!” Genevieve Churchill declared, her refusal firm.

”If a girl like you isn’t afraid, what does a grown man like me have to worry about? If we go, we go together. If we stay, we stay together!” Logan Grant had never for a moment considered leaving Seraphina Sterling behind, so Genevieve Churchill’s words echoed his own sentiments perfectly.

’At that moment, Seraphina Sterling was deeply moved. People say a friend in need is a friend indeed, and it’s absolutely true. Given their backgrounds, there was no reason for them to stay and risk their lives with her. No one knew what this man would do next.’

”Sir, fifty million is an astronomical sum for a poor student like me. Could you suggest a more feasible plan?” Seraphina Sterling met Ronan Winters’s gaze, proceeding with extreme caution. The lives of all three of them were in her hands.

”Whether or not you can produce the money is your problem. As long as my interests aren’t harmed, I’m happy,” Ronan Winters said with an infuriatingly smug grin.

”If you can’t come up with the money, you can go upstairs and entertain the men. You can leave when you’ve earned fifty million for me with your body. Of course, if your friends want to help, they’re welcome to earn money the same way. We have plenty of clients with... special tastes.” The words were utterly cruel, yet Ronan Winters delivered them in a gentle voice. What a waste of such a fine instrument.

’The color drained from Seraphina Sterling’s face. ’This man isn’t making idle threats. If he says it, he’ll do it.’ Most of her cash was tied up in the stock market, with another portion invested in Apex Collections. The antiques business was a veritable money pit; you couldn’t get anywhere without substantial capital. If she’d had that kind of cash on hand, she would have already paid the compensation for Aaron Chaney and Finn Warren. Why else would she have asked the police to reopen the investigation just to buy more time?’

”There is another way,” Ronan Winters offered, pressing a switch. Four large screens lit up the room, displaying a live auction. ”There’s a grand auction here tonight, and the lots are particularly valuable. If you can sell yourself for a good price, you’ll have the money to pay me back. Of course, you should think it over carefully. The women auctioned here... they don’t meet good ends. They’re usually sold to brothels overseas.”

Seraphina Sterling’s gaze swept across the items up for auction: human organs, biological specimens, priceless artifacts, men, women... They truly had everything imaginable.

”So, the reason the Galloway Family’s auction house managed to break into the nation’s top ten so quickly is because of your clandestine support,” Seraphina Sterling said, a brilliant smile blooming on her face.

Miles Galloway’s expression turned ugly. ”You should worry about yourself! The Galloway Family’s affairs are none of your concern!”

Seraphina Sterling gave a charming smile. ”Ronan Winters, what do you say we make a deal?”

’Even Ronan Winters was shocked. ’She knows who I am? The Young Master of the Underground, a man who holds the power of life and death, a figure who commands absolute reverence wherever he goes... and she just says my name so calmly and proposes a deal? What is happening?’’

”A deal?” Ronan Winters concealed the shock in his eyes, his tone laced with disdain. ”Do you think you have anything of value to bargain with?” ’Plenty of people want to work with me, but I’ve never met anyone who tried to propose a partnership while still owing me money!’

”I think this is a matter best discussed between the two of us, in private. I’m certain you’ll be very interested in my proposal.” Seraphina Sterling ignored Ronan Winters’s scorn, her brilliant eyes flashing with confidence.