Linara was in high spirits, carefully selecting each item with a delighted smile. Just then, Seraphina walked through the door, and Linara, unable to contain her excitement, called out, "Seraphina, come here! Look at these clothes—Dad had someone send them over for me. If you see something you like, just take it!" Her voice was magnanimous, but the underlying sharpness in her words was unmistakable, each one cutting like a needle. Several brand managers turned their attention to Seraphina, their eyes lighting up with admiration. This was the true daughter of the Whitewood family—her beauty far surpassed Linara's, and her elegance and poise left no room for comparison. At that moment, Jane descended the staircase and, upon seeing Seraphina, greeted her warmly. "Miss Seraphina, these clothes were specially arranged for you by Mr. Whitewood. If there's anything you don't care for, just let them know, and they'll replace it." The managers froze, their smiles faltering as realization set in. Had they… gotten the wrong person? Linara instinctively asked, "Miss Hill, weren't these clothes meant for me?" Jane kept her polite smile, though her tone was cool and distant. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding, Miss Whitewood. These clothes were prepared especially for Miss Seraphina." Linara stood motionless, her face a picture of shock and confusion. The managers, now clearly uncomfortable, tried to mask their awkwardness with forced smiles, but the tension in the room was palpable. The only one unaffected by the moment was Seraphina, who remained calm and composed. With a faint smile, Seraphina walked up to Linara. "If you like something, feel free to take it. Choose whatever you want—don't be shy with me." Her words mirrored Linara's earlier ones, but they came across as daggers, cold and cutting, leaving Linara struggling to hold her composure. Her face flushed with both humiliation and anger. She bit down on her lower lip, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. "No, thank you," she muttered, turning sharply and storming out of the room. Chloe shot Seraphina a scornful glare. "How could you speak to your sister like that? You've gone too far!" she scolded, quickly following Linara's retreating figure. Seraphina watched Chloe leave, her lips curling into a knowing, cold smile. Where was this outrage when Linara had spoken to her with such disdain earlier? Ah, the fairness of her mother's love. Realizing their mistake, the brand managers scrambled to correct the situation. "Miss Seraphina, how do you find these clothes?" one of them asked, his voice polite but tinged with uncertainty. "If there's anything you don't care for, we'll have it replaced immediately." Seraphina's gaze swept across the rows of luxurious, meticulously crafted outfits. "These will do," she replied, her tone calm and commanding. "Have them sent upstairs." The managers exchanged looks, a mixture of astonishment and delight in their eyes. Now, this was the true demeanor of an heiress—one simple gesture, and the entire collection was hers. That evening, Linara was so furious that she refused to come downstairs for dinner. Yet, her absence went unnoticed by Oberon, whose focus remained entirely on Seraphina. And with good reason. Earlier that day, through discreet channels, he had obtained a confidential report from the city council. The report confirmed that a particular plot of land was due to be repossessed and redeveloped to expand public transportation. Armed with this critical information, Oberon began his counteroffensive, using the recent conflict involving Bryan as a pretext to apply pressure on Jacob. Far from demanding that Seraphina apologize, Oberon insisted that Bryan come to her and offer a personal apology. This, of course, infuriated Jacob. He slammed the phone down, his face dark with fury. "Well? What did the Whitewood family say?" Melody demanded, her voice trembling with rage as her gaze landed on her son's battered figure. Every time she looked at him, the urge to tear Seraphina to pieces grew stronger. "I underestimated Oberon," Jacob muttered bitterly. "I always thought he was just an old-fashioned patriarch who valued sons over daughters. Turns out I was wrong. When it comes to that daughter of his, he'll go to any lengths to protect her—even if it means burning bridges with me. He had the gall to threaten me with pulling his investments. The man's completely mad." "Has Oberon lost his mind?" Melody exclaimed, her shock palpable. "He's willing to risk his entire business over some little girl?"