MTLNOVEL Chapter 182
At that moment Serenity was confused because she doesn't know what happened to Noah and she doesn't know why they are also accusing her of that.
At that moment someone said.
" You're acting as if you don't know, Noah is dead, and your father we don't know of he's going to Survive the shock and the Consequence of your action."
"Dead?"
Serenity's voice cracked, her knees threatening to buckle.
The visitor's badge slipped from her trembling fingers, clattering against the floor.
"What do you mean, Noah's dead? And Dad..."
Her fingers clutched at the wall for support, her nails scraping against expensive wallpaper.
"Someone please, what's happening?"
"Don't pretend with us!"
Her uncle's face twisted with fury, veins bulging beneath designer glasses. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the room's perfect temperature.
"Noah's body was delivered to his family mansion tonight. And your father—"
His voice broke, hands shaking as he gestured toward the ICU doors. "The doctors don't know if he'll make it through the night."
immediately Serenity's eyes darted to Ethan, confusion warring with dawning horror on her tear-stained face. Her lips moved soundlessly, trying to form words that wouldn't come.
"I don't understand. How could Noah be..."
"Enough!"
Her uncle's hand shot up, the wedding ring catching the soft lighting as he lunged forward.
The sound of his Italian leather shoes squeaking against the floor echoed through the hushed space. His face contorted with grief-fueled rage.
However The slap never landed. Ethan's grip locked around the man's wrist like iron, and suddenly the waiting room fell deadly silent. One by one, heads turned toward him - nurses frozen at their station, relatives rising from plush chairs.
Serenity uncle was shocked to see someone holding his hands.
"Who the hell are you?"
Spittle flew from the uncle's lips, his wrist still caught in Ethan's grip. The Rolex on his captured hand glinted under hospital lights, ticking away seconds of tense silence.
"Her dinner date."
Ethan's voice carried quiet certainty through the sterile air.
"That's why Serenity wasn't available earlier."
Continue your journey on empire
A pause, measured and deliberate. "I apologize for keeping her out late."
His grip still tightened imperceptibly.
"But you don't dare to hit her. Not while I'm here."
At that moment the uncle's eyes traveled slowly from Ethan's simple clothes to his unassuming stance, performing the instantaneous wealth assessment ingrained in their social class. A wheeze of disbelief escaped him, half-laugh, half-scoff, his cologne failing to mask nervous sweat.
"A date?"
His free hand gestured dismissively, "With this... this nobody?"
At that moment Murmurs rippled through the gathered family members like wind through expensive silk. Aunt Helen's fingers found her pearl necklace, twisting it anxiously. Cousin Margaret pressed her Birkin bag closer to her chest, as if Ethan might snatch it.
"Really, Serenity?"
The uncle's voice dripped with contempt, though his eyes kept darting to his trapped wrist.
"First you ruin everything with Noah, now you're slumming with street trash?"
His laugh came in short.
"What would your father say if he wasn't lying in there fighting for his life, hoping you have a better explanation to this madness?"
Serenity stood frozen between them.
"Your fiancé killed himself, and here you are, gallivanting with some..."
His lip curled as he looked at Ethan,hand gesturing dismissively. "Some nobody from the streets."
However The word 'suicide' hit Serenity like a physical blow. Color drained from her face as her legs wobbled, hand reaching blindly for support.
"That's... that's not possible. Why would Noah..."
"Why?"
Her uncle's laugh held no humor, only bitter rage. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tugged at his silk tie.
"Because of you! And now..."
His perfectly pressed suit seemed to deflate, shoulders sagging under invisible weight.
"The Silvers have pulled out from our business, they gave us 24 hours to pay back One billion dollars, Or they take it all - the house, the companies, everything."
"One billion..."
Serenity whispered, her world spinning. Tears started tracking down her cheeks.
"But that would mean..."
Her fingers clutched at her wrinkled dress.
"That can't be right."
Ethan's voice cut through the panic, making everyone turn. His frown deepened, eyes narrowing slightly. The uncle's face reddened further at the nobody daring to question their reality.
"Who do you think you are?"
Her uncle's laugh echoed against sterile walls, his perfectly maintained veneers flashing.
"You're just a street boy, You have no idea. No idea what the Silver family can do."
At that moment his finger jabbed toward Serenity, trembling with rage.
"Look what you've done. Your father is lying there, machines keeping him alive."
His voice cracked, spittle flying. "And now..."
He tugged at his silk tie like it was strangling him.
"Now you fix this."
He stepped closer, expensive cologne and fear mixing in the air between them. Aunt Helen clutched her Hermès bag tighter, backing away from the growing tension.
"You have to prove one billion dollars. I don't care how you get it."
His voice dropped lower, uglier, decades of refined education crumbling into raw hatred.
"Sell yourself on the streets if you have to. Sell your soul."
Each word dripped venom.
"But you'll pay for this. Everything we're about to lose - that's on you."
Upon hearing her uncle's words Serenity's legs gave out, sending her slumping against the wall.
At that moment Serenity's shoulders shook with silent sobs, each harsh word from her uncle another blow, she couldn't believe they would treat her in such a manner, when she hasn't done anything wrong.
Without being told she could tell the silver family's revenge had cast a wider net than intended, they think she's the reason Noah committed suicide, when it's not true.
Noah kidnapped her.
'My fault.'
The thought burned through Ethan's mind as he watched Serenity break under the weight of consequences meant for him. The Silver family's reach into her family extended further than he'd imagined.
At that moment he cleared his throat, the small sound somehow cutting through the chaos of accusations and grief.
"Don't worry,"
his voice carried quiet certainty through the sterile air.
Serenity looked up, tears still tracking down her cheeks.
"I'll fix this."