Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling is Multifaceted!-Chapter 286: Changed My Mind

Ronan Yates looked at each member of The Defiance Society, feeling gratified inside, but spoke dismissively, "Alright, you bunch of fools, why are you all rushing to die? Things like this should be done by me alone. You all need to listen to me, after all, I am the vice president."

"Everyone came after making up their minds, surely no one will listen to you."

James Lynch stood aside with his arms crossed.

His expression was a bit exaggerated when speaking, and it hurt him quite a bit, making him grimace. He had been punching his own face for realism earlier.

"That’s right, I object." Claire Ford said on the side, her voice trembling a bit, but still firmly rebutting.

Beatrice Fawcett looked around and then checked her watch, "It’s almost time for the execution. Since no one plans to leave, then let’s not. No matter what might happen next, we must make sure they reopen the investigation and hold a public trial."

There need to be reasonable and evidence-based arguments, instead of hastily assigning blame without even a proper legal indictment, much less a death sentence.

"Yes, hold a public trial!"

"Reinvestigate! I refuse to believe Seraphina would do such terrible things."

Everyone spoke one after another, and the scene was filled with intense passion.

Seeing as it was, Ronan couldn’t tell them to leave anymore. He clenched his fist and raised it into the air, "Come on, everyone, let’s cheer up together!"

They formed a circle, placing their hands one by one over Ronan’s, shouting encouragement.

After the cheer, they all felt something was missing. After careful thought, they remembered that Seraphina’s hand was always at the bottom, providing them firm support.

Not far from them, the crowd was growing denser.

Three men dressed casually in loose clothing were hidden among the people, keeping their heads down to avoid detection.

The man leading them stood not far from The Defiance Society members, satisfied with what he heard, he marveled, "No one else can ever have her kind of capability."

To make others risk their lives for her.

Thankfully, these students didn’t disappoint him or Seraphina Redgrave.

"President Shaw, it’s almost time."

One of the men behind him said, with a tone of eagerness.

"Alright, soon we’ll follow The Defiance Society’s actions. Once they cause a scene in the crowd and draw attention away, we’ll execute the rescue plan."

The man standing in front of them was none other than Hector Shaw, who was supposed to be in the south.

As soon as trouble befell Seraphina, he rushed to Sovereign. Even with the vast intelligence network of the Shaw Family, all he could find out was that Seraphina was being held at The Directorate, but he had no way of discovering the exact location, as the state kept it too secretive.

That’s why he appeared here today, with a plan layed out.

"President Shaw, do we really have to do this? If our identities are discovered, the conglomerates and big families will target us, and the south won’t know peace anymore."

His subordinate expressed concern.

Hector Shaw snorted, "Why, was it peaceful there before my return? If it weren’t for Seraphina, I might never have come back. From another perspective, the stability in the south today is because of Seraphina."

Therefore, he had no reason not to save Seraphina.

His second life was a gift from her, and if she were in danger, he had to save her, even if it cost him his life.

"Yes." The subordinate dared not object further, "Our people are fully prepared and we only await Miss Seraphina to appear now."

...

Two luxury cars were parked on the outskirts of the crowd, side by side, with front and back windows rolled down.

In one car sat Nathan Ayers, deeply gazing at the distant bustling crowd. Lacking rest recently had led to dark circles and pimples appearing, making him look far from his usual refined self.

His hand on the steering wheel clenched tightly, veins bulging on his arms.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Nanny Lynch cried into her hands, knowing it was already too late to change anything. All she could do was weep, feeling a sense of helplessness she never experienced before.

Nathan Ayers had served Ethan Sterling loyally for many years, and this was his first act of betrayal.

It was worse than death.

Every night he tried to sleep but would awake in fright, constantly questioning himself how he would face Young Master Sterling if he returned, knowing it was his betrayal that led to Seraphina’s demise.

In the other car sat Miles Harrington, leaning back in his seat, looking down at a document spread over his lap with a rather unpleasant expression.

He flipped through it page by page, containing everything about Seraphina.

Watching until his eyes became sore and watery, Miles Harrington finally removed his glasses, softly murmuring, "I’ve always believed it’s normal to sacrifice the individual for the sake of the collective. What does sacrificing one person matter for maintaining a nation’s stability? Like soldiers going to war, willing to lay down their lives to cut down the enemy."

"Mr. President..."

The butler, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at Miles Harrington through the rearview mirror, worried about his demeanor, feeling like he was not his usual self.

"But now, I seem to have changed my mind."

He wearily rubbed his forehead.

The words she used to question him still lingered like an echo, unforgettable.

Are Veridian Isle’s people not people? Are they born inferior? Is equality a joke?

Even if soldiers sacrifice themselves, it is of their own free will, instead of...

"Mr. President, you don’t have to think that way. Once today passes, everything will be in the past, and people won’t talk about it any longer."

The butler comforted him.

"She’s only twenty, very young, yet resilient, hardworking, and courageous. She’s an exceptional talent, and yet she faces such a fate, not even able to die with dignity." Miles Harrington sighed, "Then let her become a vengeful ghost and seek revenge on me."

Perhaps only then could he find peace.

The butler noticed a rare redness in the President’s eyes.

Today, peace was destined to be elusive.

...

The Sterling Manor, elite, luxurious.

In the golden hall, a gigantic crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, utterly dreamlike.

Today, Selena Quinn wore an exquisitely expensive custom dress, radiant like the Milky Way under the sunlight. The voluminous hem made her look like a princess.

She held a curly-haired puppy in her arms, pacing back and forth, with an exquisite makeup on her face, and even her hairstyle was done by a professional stylist.

Joy overflowed in her eyes, unable to be concealed, and any remnant of her usual frailty was completely gone by now.