Jason moved swiftly, blocking the man from reaching Seraphina and delivering a powerful kick that sent him sprawling to the ground. Caught off guard, the man landed flat on his back, writhing in pain. "Ouch, that hurts!" he wailed. The sudden commotion shocked all the guests, who shifted their gaze from Seraphina to the man lying on the floor. After moaning for a moment and seeing that no one approached him, he clutched his stomach and slowly got up. "Who are you?" someone demanded. With righteous indignation, the man pointed at Seraphina. "Who am I? She knows better than anyone. Go on, sweetheart, tell them who I am." Calling her "sweetheart" in front of everyone implied a familiarity that left little to the imagination. Oberon was furious, shooting a sharp look at the butler. "Call security immediately. Get this man out of here."His daughter had a bright future ahead, and he couldn't let someone like this ruin it. Jason glanced at Seraphina, noticing the glint of bloodlust and excitement flickering deep within her gaze. The man, seeing her silence, continued, "I know I was wrong to ask you to end the pregnancy back then. But I had no choice. Can't you forgive me? Don't stay mad at me, please? "I searched everywhere for you, thinking you'd vanished. I never expected to find you here. Fate must be on our side, or we wouldn't have crossed paths again." His heartfelt confession was laced with venom, branding her with stigmas of "premarital pregnancy," "abortion," and "reckless behavior." Moments ago, the guests were admiring her; now, they were recoiling in shock. The sudden contrast left them reeling, some even forgetting to mask their expressions. "Forgive me, sweetheart!" the man pleaded, clutching his chest as he looked at her with feigned tenderness. Seraphina's lips curved slightly as she gazed at the man before her, feeling the urge to crush him seethe within her. In her previous life, this very man, with his deceitful face, had publicly ruined her reputation, stripping her of her standing in high society and reducing her to a laughingstock. He had handed her over to her parents, who, alongside the Whitewood family relatives, humiliated and belittled her. No matter how she tried to explain or defend herself, no one believed her. They didn't even give her a chance to tell her side; they simply judged her and sealed her fate. Perhaps, back then, she had no value in their eyes. Or maybe, deep down, that was how they truly saw her, so they believed him without a second thought. Unable to bear it any longer, Evelyn rushed onto the stage, confronting the man with indignation. "You say you know Seraphina, but that doesn't make it true. Have you ever looked in a mirror? What makes you think she'd ever choose someone like you? You're just a toad hoping to snag a swan! Dream on!" Seraphina glanced at Evelyn, then at the tall, steadfast figure beside her, a warm smile touching her lips.What had she done to deserve people who would stand up for her, unafraid to shield her from harm? In her previous life, she had always been the one standing in front of others, bearing the brunt of every blow. No one had ever asked if she was tired; no one had ever stepped forward to protect her.