Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling is Multifaceted!-Chapter 276: Two Days Left

Once Miles Harrington left, one of the subordinates forced a mouthful of water into Seraphina Redgrave’s mouth, then said, "You better think carefully. In the Directorate, no one has ever taken five pills directly. Even we don’t know what the effects are, so I advise you to be honest. This way, you can suffer less and find the Road to Hades less painful."

The sweetness in Seraphina Redgrave’s throat dissipated slightly, only to be replaced by endless bitterness.

Sweat clung to her long eyelashes, pricking her eyes with discomfort.

The subordinate pinched her chin again and forced another mouthful of water into her.

In her daze, Seraphina Redgrave thought of Ethan Sterling, how when she was ill, he would coax her like a child, feeding her ginger tea.

He even built her a candy house, and whenever she ate candy, he would peel off the candy wrapper and place it at her lips.

Now, it was a rough, merciless hand that pinched her jaw.

The plain water that had no taste suddenly turned bitter at this moment.

Seraphina Redgrave smiled bitterly, cursing her own sentimentality. Could she really not survive without Ethan Sterling?

But it really seemed like she was going to die.

There was a fifteen-hour time difference between Z Nation and Y Nation. Z Nation was already late at night, while Y Nation was just at morning.

Sunlight spilled into the room as Ethan Sterling paced the balcony, looking at the meticulously landscaped greenery and beautiful fountain in the hotel’s front yard while playing with a lighter, his emotions unreadable. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He stood there for quite a while, unsure of what exactly to do.

Ethan Sterling, who had been furious not long ago, had now calmed down, so much that even his subordinates couldn’t tell if he was still angry.

He took out his phone, and displayed on the screen was the last message he sent to Nathan Ayers: "What’s her current situation?"

No anger, no anxiety, it seemed as casual as everyday chatter.

Nathan Ayers had received the message some time ago and had spent nearly half an hour in an internal struggle before finally deciding to give Ethan Sterling a call.

When Ethan Sterling saw the caller’s name flashing on his phone, he surely would’ve answered immediately before, but now, surprisingly, he wasn’t in any rush. He set the phone aside and admired the fountain, not answering the call.

It was only after a while that he finally picked up, putting the phone to his ear and hearing Nathan Ayers’ trembling voice, "Young Master Sterling."

"What’s her current situation?"

Ethan Sterling asked the same question, leaving one unable to discern his emotions.

Nathan Ayers stayed silent on the other end, not expecting Ethan Sterling to be so calm, which was unlike his usual self.

After a moment, he dryly spoke, "Miss is currently in the Directorate."

"The Directorate?"

Ethan Sterling slowly repeated those words, as if tasting their meaning, then asked, "What kind of punishment did she receive?"

Nathan Ayers didn’t dare disclose the truth about what Seraphina Redgrave had endured, so he tried to change the subject, "Young Master Sterling, the situation has developed to this point because Miss made her own choices. She expected this day would come and didn’t want to implicate you. If you think about it, from Veridian Isle to the Hibiscus Garden, you’ve always kept her under control, never giving her true freedom. Perhaps this time, you should let her go."

Nathan Ayers wasn’t trying to shift the blame, but if he wanted to calm Ethan Sterling and persuade him to give up on Seraphina Redgrave, it was the only way.

"Did she tell you this? That she’s angry I’ve never given her true freedom."

Nathan Ayers thought he heard a hint of annoyance in Ethan Sterling’s voice, but he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.

Seraphina Redgrave had never said such things, but Nathan Ayers didn’t want to deny it. Yet his conscience told him he couldn’t affirm it either, so he remained silent for a long time.

Fortunately, Ethan Sterling didn’t dwell on the issue for long and returned to the previous topic, "What kind of punishment did she receive?"

"Young Master Sterling, I..."

"Speak."

Ethan Sterling’s words left no room for refusal.

Nathan Ayers had no choice but to resign himself, troubled over how to phrase it so it wouldn’t hurt Ethan Sterling as much, "When I left, Miss Redgrave seemed to be in decent condition. Although she was injured, she still had her vitality. But I think the President intends to use that drug to make her talk."

"Hmm."

The YJ520, a drug the Directorate specifically imported from R Nation to deal with tough individuals, it was notoriously effective. Once, Ethan Sterling even considered using this drug on Ryan Sterling to let him feel what was worse than death.

Ethan Sterling seemed to have anticipated it, so he asked, "How long does Miles Harrington plan to interrogate her?"

"I’m not sure." Miles Harrington hadn’t mentioned anything to him.

But based on his assumptions, at most three days.

If Ethan Sterling couldn’t return within two days, then it might really be a farewell.

Holding up his phone, Ethan Sterling looked at the clouds on the horizon—they were so clear, like someone’s gaze. He calmly said, "Remind Miles Harrington to let me return, or the first thing I’ll do when I get back is pull him down from his position."

This order was futile.

If Nathan Ayers had truly listened, Ethan Sterling would’ve returned long ago.

Upon hearing Ethan Sterling’s words, Nathan Ayers felt an overwhelming sourness, and after some time, spoke through gritted teeth, "Young Master Sterling, once this is all over, I will personally welcome you back to the country. Then, I will accept any punishment without complaint."

The unspoken implication was to keep him from returning home.

Ethan Sterling’s expression remained unchanged; he had expected this outcome, his fingers tightened slightly.

After a while, he suddenly laughed and asked Nathan Ayers, "Nathan, you’re in a unique position at Sterling Corporation—second only to one yet commanding many. Each time I go abroad to handle affairs, I entrust all my domestic power to you to avoid unexpected situations."

"Young Master Sterling."

Nathan Ayers’ voice trembled uncontrollably.

"But you must know, no financial group will trust their subordinates completely without backup plans." Ethan Sterling said, his tone cold.

Nathan Ayers went pale as if all blood had drained from his face.

Was Young Master Sterling implying he had also left contingencies against him, something that could destroy him?

He was fretting about it when Ethan Sterling added, "But with you, I have no such defenses."

That’s why Nathan Ayers could assist Miles Harrington and keep him stuck abroad, unable to return home.

"..."

These words struck Nathan Ayers like a boulder, causing waves of turmoil within him.

Guilt almost overwhelmed him, unable to withstand Ethan Sterling’s complete trust, "Young Master Sterling, I’m sorry, but I really can’t just watch as the work you’ve accomplished over these years gets ruined because of this. I can’t do it."