Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Call Me Big Sister
"It’s nothing urgent. It was just too crowded downstairs, and the air wasn’t great, so I came up to say hello to Mr. Hale." Seraphina Sterling looked at Justin Hale and gave him a warm smile. "I trust Mr. Hale doesn’t mind?"
"Of course not." Justin Hale smiled gently, the very picture of a perfect gentleman.
"Bro, aren’t you going to introduce your handsome, dashing younger brother?" Zion Hale even straightened his collar and tossed his dyed-blond hair, full of energy. The very epitome of youth!
"Hello, I’m Seraphina Sterling."
"Hello, Seraphina! I’m Zion Hale! From the looks of it, I should be older than you. Come on, call me Mr. Zion and let me hear it!" Zion Hale had an air of ’I’m older, so I’m the boss.’
"Zion, stop talking nonsense! That’s so rude!" Justin Hale adopted the air of an older brother. Though it was a reprimand, his tone wasn’t overly stern.
Seraphina Sterling didn’t mind, however. She understood Zion Hale. He was always goofy and energetic; it was just his personality, and there was no malice in it.
Seraphina Sterling smiled faintly. "I think I might be the one who’s older. Why don’t you call me ’big sister’ and let me hear it?"
Uh—
Zion Hale was momentarily stunned. He’d used this line on many girls, and most of them would just shyly lower their heads or say nothing at all. No one had ever reacted like this! This girl was totally his type!
Aiden Faulkner was already deeply annoyed seeing Justin Hale defend Seraphina Sterling, but she had been holding it in due to the occasion. Seeing Zion Hale’s reaction, however, she immediately seized the opportunity to stir up trouble.
"People should have some self-awareness. Don’t you know your own status? If you want to curry favor with the powerful, aren’t you a bit too impatient? You should take a good look at yourself. Do you really think someone like you is qualified to latch onto the Hale Family?"
"Ms. Faulkner, Seraphina is my little sister now! You can’t bully her anymore!" Zion Hale slung an arm directly over Seraphina Sterling’s shoulder. Clearly, he was taking her side.
Aiden Faulkner looked as if she had swallowed a fly. She never thought Zion Hale would defend someone he had just met less than five minutes ago! She had known Zion Hale for so many years, yet he had always been lukewarm toward her. She had tried all sorts of ways to please him, but nothing worked! And yet today, he was actually defending Seraphina Sterling!
The anger in Aiden Faulkner’s heart spread like wildfire, but aside from shooting Seraphina Sterling a few glares, there was nothing else she could do.
"Come, come, Seraphina. See if there’s anything you like at this auction. Your big brother will bid on it and give it to you!" Zion Hale reached for the auction catalog. The catalog was on a table by the window, and to get it, one had to walk over to the window.
Just as Zion Hale leaned out halfway, Seraphina Sterling yanked him back with a sudden pull. Immediately after, a bullet ZINGED into a blue-and-white porcelain vase in the room! The vase that was hit was right behind where Zion Hale had just been standing.
If Seraphina Sterling hadn’t pulled him back just then, Zion Hale would probably be reporting to The Reaper’s Court by now!
The sudden assassination attempt stunned the other three—everyone except Seraphina Sterling.
Zion Hale glanced at the shattered pieces of the blue-and-white porcelain vase on the floor. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as a wave of fear washed over him. ’If Seraphina hadn’t pulled me back, there’d be an extra hole in my body right now, wouldn’t there?’
Aiden Faulkner, who had never experienced anything like this, lost all reason after the initial shock. She shrieked, "Seraphina Sterling! How dare you hire an assassin! Do you think we’re all blind, or just plain stupid? You think we can’t see through such a simple scheme?"
"To latch onto the Hale Family, you actually hired a killer to go after Zion. You’ve got it all planned out beautifully, haven’t you? Swoop in during a crisis, save Zion, and then not only would Zion be eternally grateful to you, but the entire Hale Family would owe you a huge debt! You’d go from being the one who hired the killer to the savior, just like that!"
Aiden Faulkner sneered at her. "Hmph! Once you’ve latched onto a big tree like the Hale Family, everything you want to do in the future will be twice as easy! But don’t you think you’ve oversimplified things? Who do you think you can fool with your petty little tricks? Don’t assume you’re the smartest person in the world and that everyone else is an idiot!"
After the initial shock wore off, both Hale brothers frowned as they listened to Aiden Faulkner’s tirade.
"I don’t know if they’re idiots, but I can certainly confirm that Miss Faulkner’s intelligence is... lacking." Seraphina Sterling stood up and dusted herself off.
"I never said I was saving Zion Hale! That was just a coincidence. Zion Hale’s arm was on my shoulder the whole time, and the cufflink on his wrist got caught in my hair. That’s why I pulled away. Who knew a bullet would fly by at that exact moment? It was just a lucky coincidence! Miss Faulkner, you really shouldn’t overthink things! Don’t project your own thoughts onto everyone else!"
Seraphina Sterling gave a warm smile, her bright eyes reflecting all of Aiden’s earlier mockery right back at her.
Zion Hale looked at the few strands of hair caught on his cufflink and immediately sided with Seraphina Sterling. "Ms. Faulkner, you’re overthinking it. It was just a coincidence."
"Aiden, you were just frightened. Don’t let your imagination run wild." Justin Hale had also regained his composure.
Seraphina Sterling shot a glance at Justin Hale. ’Could it be that he’s the one who wants to kill Zion Hale?’ She didn’t dwell on the thought. While Zion Hale seemed impulsive, he wasn’t an idiot. This incident had put him on high alert; it would be much harder to harm him next time.
"Miss Faulkner, it’s okay to not be the sharpest tool in the shed. After all, you’re not the only person in the world with a low IQ. But to slander someone based on wild fantasies and baseless speculation—now that’s where you’re in the wrong!" Seraphina Sterling’s smile grew even more brilliant.
Just as Aiden Faulkner was about to fly into a rage, there was a knock at the door!
