Semua Bab I Was Reborn To Marry This Annoying Man?: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Seraphina's face burned when she realized Lucien was just staring at her.He looked… stunned. Quiet. Focused in a way that made her suddenly too aware of herself.Then his lips curved—slow, dangerous, amused."So," Lucien said lightly, leaning back against the sofa, "you can't wait to taste my body now?"Her brain short-circuited.Her eyes betrayed her first—flicking to him, to the thin sleep shirt clinging to his frame. She hated that her mind immediately supplied memories she absolutely did not need right now: the solid line of his chest, the firm planes of his abs, the way his body felt every morning when she rode behind him on the e-bike to the studio, arms braced, back pressed—Oh no.She swallowed. Hard. Bit her lip.And then—panic.She jolted upright like she'd been caught doing something illegal."Me?!" she blurted, pointing at herself. "No! Of course not! I just— I mean— I was just thinking—"She gestured wildly toward the sofa. The very wide, very unnecessary sofa."You've b

It didn't stop there.Seraphina's phone rang again.And again.And again.By the fifth call, she didn't need to look at the screen anymore. She already knew what she would hear.Each investor said the same thing—carefully worded apologies, polite distance, no real explanation. Just a clean withdrawal. No room for negotiation. No room for questions.When the last call ended, Seraphina slowly lowered her phone onto the desk.She didn't speak.She didn't move.Now it was real.This wasn't just a setback. This hit her operations directly. Without capital, acquiring materials would be difficult—some designs couldn't even begin without upfront costs.Irene stood nearby, hands clenched tightly in front of her, panic written all over her face."Ma'am…" she whispered. "What do we do?"The studio felt smaller. Quieter. Heavy with tension.Lucien stepped closer to Seraphina without a word. He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder—not pressing, not demanding—just there. Solid. Steady."Hey," he s

Margaret slowly turned back around.She looked Lucien up and down—deliberately, dismissively—then laughed."Show some manners?" she echoed, amused. "Who do you think you are?"Her eyes flicked toward Seraphina. "And who do you think she is?"She laughed again, louder this time, like she'd just heard a particularly funny joke.Lucien tilted his head slightly, unfazed."That's an excellent question," he said calmly. "Let's start simple."He gestured around the studio. "This is Aureline. Seraphina's studio. Which means—" he smiled politely, "—you're guests."Margaret scoffed. "Guests? In this rundown place?"Lucien nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. Guests. The kind who usually say hello before insulting the host, and goodbye before threatening them."A few snickers escaped from the remaining clients.Margaret's smile twitched. "You're bold for someone standing on shaky ground."Lucien chuckled. "Funny. You're very confident for someone who needs to bully their own daughter to feel powerful."Th

Irene's eyes lit up the moment she heard the news."Thank goodness," she said with a relieved laugh. "Finally—some good news."Seraphina nodded. "Thompson Enterprise reached out. The investment they're offering is… substantial. Enough to cover what the previous investors pulled out."Irene visibly relaxed, shoulders dropping as if a heavy weight had finally been lifted. "At last—the Thompsons are stepping in." She smiled wider. "A first-rate family in Lunada City."The Thompson family was known for their discretion and strength. Thompson Enterprise wasn't flashy, but it was everywhere—luxury real estate, private equity, logistics, and high-end manufacturing. They rarely made public moves, but when they invested, they stayed long-term. No empty promises. No sudden withdrawals. Their name alone was a shield.Seraphina's expression shifted—thoughtful now. "But… why would Thompson Enterprise invest in Aureline?"Irene laughed softly. "Ma'am, isn't it obvious? They see your talent."Seraph

Seraphina's hand clenched tightly at her side.She took one step forward—And Clinton moved, blocking her path."Are you really going to let your studio shut down?" he said sharply. "Think about it."His voice softened, turning persuasive again. "All the effort you poured into it. How you started from nothing. The nights you stayed up sketching, revising, perfecting every detail." He tilted his head. "Is this really how you want it to end?"Seraphina stopped.For a brief second, his words hit their mark.She remembered the early days—the empty room that became a studio, the first client who believed in her, the countless drafts crumpled and redone until her fingers ached.Clinton saw the hesitation and pressed on."You're smart," he said. "You know this is the fastest way out. One bottle. One signature. You walk away with everything you need."He leaned closer. "Pride won't keep Aureline alive."Seraphina lifted her head.Her eyes were clear."If the price of saving my studio is becom