Chapter 3

I looked at him coldly. "Oh? And what concern is that of mine?"

Julian stared in disbelief. The Sera he once knew would have been even more frantic than he was whenever anything concerned his father.

My love for him once extended to all he held dear. But that love was gone now.

"Sera! How can you be so cold! I get it now. You're angry because I gave your graduation project to Delilah, so this is your revenge, isn't it?"

Delilah, who had rushed over just then, heard his words. Her eyes instantly reddened, tears welling. "Sera! How could you be so heartless! Had I known, I would have died before taking your graduation project!"

With that, she crumpled to her knees before me with a soft 'thump'.

"Sera, you're the only one who can save Mr. Croft now. Please, don't be angry with Julian anymore. It's all my fault. I was the one who insisted on having your graduation project, that's why you're upset. Go on, hit me."

As she spoke, Delilah grabbed my hand, trying to slap her own face with it.

"Delilah!"

Julian cried out, his gaze fixed in anguish on the red mark already forming on her cheek.

He whirled on me, his voice raw with even greater fury, "Sera Vance! When did you become so venomous? If you have a grudge, take it out on me! Stooping to hurt Delilah—what does that make you?!"

I was utterly astonished. "Julian Croft, are you blind? She grabbed my hand and made me hit her."

Julian wouldn't listen, his heart was already entirely on Delilah's side.

"Sera, stop trying to argue. Now, apologize to Delilah, then apologize to my father and help him pay off his debt, and we can still make this work. Otherwise, we're completely through!"

Delilah paled, her voice laced with panic, "Julian, don't! Please don't fight because of me!"

"Sera, don't you love Julian deeply? He's just upset, those were just harsh words spoken in the heat of the moment. Don't take it to heart. If you help Mr. Croft pay off his debt, Julian will still marry you."

Hearing this, I let out a laugh dripping with sarcasm. "Why on earth should I help his father pay off his debt?"

Julian's face flushed crimson. "Sera, haven't you always helped my dad with his debts to try and please me?"

I gave a dismissive smile. "Who said I was trying to please you? It was just a whim—I felt like playing the good Samaritan for a change. But now, I don't feel like it anymore."

Delilah grew flustered. "Sera! Stop being so willful! Mr. Croft desperately needs money right now; you should help him!"

"If you're such a saint, why don't you go help him yourself?""It's not that I don't want to help, but I've already given you my most profitable graduation project. It's sure to sell for a good price then, why don't you use that money to help your Julian's dad pay off his debts."

Hearing my words, Delilah frowned, the smile on her face freezing.

"This..."

"What? You can't bear to part with it?"

My words were interrupted by Julian: "Stop trying to get your hands on Delilah's money. I've said it before, the proceeds from this auction are Delilah's own money, for her to handle as she sees fit."

"In that case, if Delilah is truly a kind and understanding girl, she surely couldn't bear to see your dad in debt and would definitely help pay it off, right, Delilah?"

Delilah glared at me hatefully, gritting her teeth as she said, "Yes... Yes."

Julian was deeply moved, pulling Delilah into his arms and sneering at me, "And you claim to love me? Loving me to the point where you're not even willing to help pay off my father's debt! From this day forward, you are not worthy of being Julian Croft's girlfriend! We don't need you. Once the artwork is sold, my father's debt will be settled!"

Watching their smug, triumphant expressions, I began to eagerly anticipate the graduation exhibition. A thrill went through me as I imagined what a devastating price Julian and Delilah would pay when, after Delilah’s artwork was bought by Alexander Sterling, its connection to Crimson Thorn was finally discovered...