Chapter 541 - 537: This Is Something I Have to Do

"Don’t look at Ethan!"

Wayne stepped in front of Victor Tucker, blocking his line of sight. "You know him. Even though you betrayed him, he can’t bring himself to say anything harsh to you."

Victor Tucker lowered his gaze slightly. He knew by now that Owen Griffin had double-crossed him, selling him out the moment he’d successfully wooed Seraphina.

The guilt he felt toward Ethan Sterling was real. He was greedy and selfish, but not entirely without remorse.

Seeing his silence, which was as good as an admission, Wayne grew even angrier, mostly because he felt it was all so unfair to Ethan.

"Wasn’t Ethan good to you? When you needed a camera, he lent you his without a second thought. Why would you do this? You knew..." Wayne gritted his teeth, but halfway through, he suddenly lost the urge to keep questioning him.

’What’s the point of saying so much now that it’s come to this?’

He had already done it. The hurt and betrayal were a done deal. The facts were laid bare, and saying anything more was meaningless.

Wayne took a deep breath, turned, and went back to Ethan Sterling’s side. "Ethan, you tell us. How do you want to handle this?"

Ethan Sterling looked at Victor Tucker, his eyes filled with only disappointment and sorrow. It had never once occurred to him to suspect that all of this was because of a friend’s betrayal.

If Owen Griffin hadn’t told him himself, he never would have even considered such a possibility.

After a long moment, Ethan Sterling averted his gaze and said in a low voice, "You should switch dorms and move out. If you stay, it’ll be uncomfortable for everyone."

’Cutting ties is the only solution I can think of.’

"I’m sorry." Victor Tucker bowed his head in apology, then nodded. "I’ll move out as soon as I can. I’m sorry, Ethan."

"Your apology is worthless. No one wants it," Rabbit glared at him and cursed, "Now get the hell out!"

Ethan Sterling patted Rabbit on the shoulder and shook his head.

’This is already ugly enough. Let’s just end it here.’

The next day, Victor Tucker applied for a new dorm and moved out.

Ethan Sterling also took a full day to calm down and think things through. In the end, he decided that no matter what, he had to see Seraphina one more time.

It wasn’t for any other reason than his unwavering belief that Seraphina was a wonderful girl. He had genuinely liked her, so he couldn’t just stand by and watch her be kept in the dark, used, and hurt.

「A coffee shop off-campus.」

Ethan Sterling stared blankly at the iced Americano in front of him until a voice calling his name reached his ears.

"Ethan?"

He looked up to see Seraphina’s bright, smiling face, along with another roommate who had come with her.

Ethan Sterling managed a slight, passable smile. "You’re here. Have a seat. What would you like to drink?"

"We just had bubble tea, so we’re good," Seraphina said, not forgetting to make an introduction. "This is my roommate, Tiana."

Tiana gave Ethan Sterling a slight nod by way of greeting, but she couldn’t help marveling to herself. ’Seraphina’s suitors are such high quality. Owen Griffin has money, and this Ethan Sterling in front of me is gorgeous. If it were me, I’d be completely torn.’

"You said on WhatsApp that you had something to tell me?" Seraphina asked, getting straight to the point. "What’s wrong?"

Ethan Sterling looked at her face, and a wave of sadness washed over him. ’If it weren’t for me, she might not have been targeted by Owen Griffin. She wouldn’t be deceived by someone so calculating.’

"Ethan?"

Seeing him remain silent, Seraphina frowned with a hint of concern. She then wondered if he was hesitant to speak because Tiana was there. She turned to Tiana and said in a low voice, "Honey, could you go wait for me at a table inside for a bit?"

"Okay." Tiana nodded, stood up, and cast a curious glance at Ethan Sterling before moving to a window seat further inside.

"Is it because I’m with Owen Griffin now? Has that affected you?" Seraphina asked gently.

Ethan Sterling instinctively shook his head, then nodded.

Now Seraphina was even more confused.

Ethan Sterling finally composed himself and began, "Seraphina, I understand that who you’re with is your own choice, and I won’t bother you about it. But I have to tell you, don’t place any false hopes in Owen Griffin. He’s not a good person."

Seraphina’s expression cooled slightly. "Ethan, he’s my boyfriend now. It’s not appropriate for you to say that about him to my face."

"I know, but I have to say it." Ethan Sterling looked at Seraphina, his gaze firm. "Owen Griffin only approached you because he has a grudge against me. He probably doesn’t even genuinely like you. All he wants is to make my life miserable."

Seraphina’s brows furrowed as she listened, clearly not believing Ethan’s words right away. "Ethan..."

"It sounds absurd, doesn’t it?" Ethan Sterling couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. "I think it’s absurd too, but that’s the truth. Seraphina, I like you—I’m sure you know that. So even though you didn’t choose me, I still hope you can find someone who is truly good for you, and that person isn’t Owen Griffin."

"You don’t have to argue with me or defend him. You don’t have to react at all. Telling you all this is just something I felt I had to do."

At this, Ethan Sterling slowly stood up. "I’ll only say this once. Whether you believe me or not, I hope you can make the right judgment. This will probably be the last time I ask to see you in private. I sincerely hope you find happiness."

With that, Ethan Sterling turned and walked away without looking back, leaving Seraphina sitting there alone.

She watched his back as he pushed open the door and left, her expression heavy and complex. She also felt a pang of guilt.

No matter how nonchalant Ethan had tried to be, she couldn’t deny that the fact she was with Owen Griffin must have hurt him to some extent.

"Seraphina, what did you guys talk about?" Seeing that Ethan had left, Tiana got up and came over.

Seraphina snapped back to reality and shook her head with a smile. "Nothing."

"Was he pestering you?" Tiana frowned. "Don’t you go having second thoughts now. Owen Griffin is so good to you."

"He wasn’t pestering me. Ethan isn’t that kind of person," Seraphina said seriously. It was precisely because she believed Ethan wasn’t the type to harass her that she had agreed to meet him today.

But Seraphina couldn’t bring herself to truly believe what Ethan had just said. Or rather, as Owen Griffin’s girlfriend, she felt she should choose to trust Owen. If their relationship could be so easily sown with doubt, she never would have agreed to date him in the first place.

「Night fell. A roadside stall.」

Ethan Sterling found a random seafood stall and sat down. The owner tossed a menu over. "Hey, handsome, take a look at what you want to eat. Call me when you’re ready."

"Boss, the check!"

"Coming!"

Ethan Sterling idly flipped through the menu. He used to eat seafood all the time back in Veridia. The seafood in Veridia was fresh and cheap. After coming to Lorcain, however, he ate it much less.

Just then, the sound of haggling came from inside the stall.

"Come on, ma’am, give us a discount! It’s my buddy’s birthday today."