Chase’s guess was right on the money—Stefan did indeed n topletely distance himself from


    Carmine Pawnshop, so he would never turn up anyway under the guise of “Mr. Q” ever again. He even


    intended to discard the SIM card with the hidden IP address. But as soon as he saw the video of


    Renee being tortured in the water prison sent by Chase, he instantly lost his mind, retaining not the


    slightest trace of reason.


    At the moment, he was apanying Seraphina as they attended a very important family banquet of


    the Murphy family where they discussed the cooperation between the Hunt family and the Murphy


    family for the next season.


    Seraphina’s father, Ethan Murphy, was fully satisfied with the agreement he had reached with Stefan,


    and all throughout the evening, he had been dropping hints every now and again that they should start


    nning for the wedding between Stefan and Seraphina.


    “You must be aware of how I’ve treated you all these years, Stefan. You and my darling Sera have


    been childhood sweethearts—both of you basically grew up sharing the same pants, so it’s only natural


    that you’d be sharing the same bed now!”


    “Daddy!” With face flushed red, Seraphina hastily stopped her father from continuing on, fearing that if


    she was not careful, Stefan might suddenly stop keeping up the act. “Stop it! You’re drunk! How can


    you say such embarrassing things? Didn’t I tell you that Stefan and I are only dating now? We’ll only


    think about marriage when the timees.”


    “What embarrassing things? I worked my *ss off my whole life to turn the Murphy family into what it is


    now, and I intend to hand it all over to you one day. If you’re with Stefan, then it means that the Murphy


    family will be in Stefan’s hands one day too. Stefan’s a talented man, so I’m sure that with him at the


    helm of the Murphy family, we’ll certainly get richer and richer…”


    Ethan patted Stefan’s shoulder with eyes full of admiration and added, “My son-inw, the Murphy


    family’s future is in your hands. Just think about it, with the joining of the two great families—the


    Murphys and the Hunts. Who would even dare to touch us?!”


    “That’s right! Who else in the whole of Beach City besides Stefan is worthy of bing the Murphy


    family’s son-inw?”


    “Come on, let’s stop talking and start drinking!”


    The other Murphy family members started joining in, each of them eagerly raising a toast to Stefan.


    “Excuse me,” Stefan began with a stony face. “I have to leave now.”


    And then, without even ncing at the sses raised in his name, he got up and was ready to leave.


    Seraphina quickly grabbed his wrist and tried her best to put on a gentle smile before persuading him,


    “But the banquet has only started, Stefan! Everyone’s still drinking happily! It might be inappropriate to


    get up and leave in the middle of everything, don’t you think?”


    “I’ve got an urgent business to attend to.”


    “What could be so urgent that you have to leave now?” Seraphina asked with a lowered voice as she


    smiled and continued pleading, “Please, I beg you! My daddy is a proud man. You’ll embarrass him if


    you leave now! Just endure another ten minutes, okay? Just ten minutes!”


    Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “I can’t stay even for another minute,” Stefan replied sternly as he shoved Seraphina’s hand away and


    immediately left the banquet hall.


    “Stefan, wait! Stefan, please don’t go!”


    At first, Seraphina was still able to keep herposure, but now she could not pretend anymore and


    just started to sob uncontrobly with her face buried in her hands.


    The lively banquet now suddenly became so silent that only the sound of breathing remained.


    “This is ridiculous! The Hunt family is clearly on the brink of copse and he still has the audacity to be


    so arrogant! He’s clearly stomping on the honor of the Murphy family! I’ll never forget this!”


    Ethan Murphy was so enraged that he saw red. In one violent shove he overturned the table as he


    threatened to fight the Hunt family.


    But Stefan ignored all this as he hurried out of the Murphy residence and headed straight to his


    supercar. He put the pedal to the metal and sped towards Carmine Pawnshop as quickly as his car


    could take him.


    “Where is she? Where is Renee?!”


    Still wearing Mr. Q’s ck and white mask, he headed straight to the water prison courtyard and


    sharply questioned Chase of Renee’s whereabouts as soon as he saw him guarding at the door.


    “She’s inside,” replied Chase cautiously. “Our boss said he wants you to unlock the chains yourself and


    exchange your life for Ms. Everheart’s.”