Seraphina Sterling raised an eyebrow. "Talk? I don’t think I’m very familiar with you, Mr. Hale. I don’t believe we have anything to talk about!"

"Miss Sterling seems dissatisfied with me for some reason. Is there some kind of misunderstanding between us?" Justin Hale was not angered by Seraphina Sterling’s attitude.

"You’re being too sensitive, Mr. Hale! You’re a wealthy heir, and to be blunt, I’m just a village girl. We’ve never had any interactions, so how could there be a misunderstanding?" Seraphina Sterling’s lips curved into a self-mocking smile.

"Oh, and there’s one more thing you should pay attention to, Mr. Hale. Willow Hale and I don’t get along. Next time you bring her out, please put her on a leash! Don’t let her run around biting people. I don’t have a very good temper, and if she provokes me again, I’m afraid it won’t be something that can be settled for fifteen million."

Justin Hale froze. ’I never would have imagined Seraphina Sterling would set a trap to scam me just because of Willow Hale! All I did yesterday was save Willow from Ginny Gable, and today I’m hit with this kind of revenge! She’s so petty, but she’s got some real nerve! A mere village girl dares to scam me? If I don’t give her a taste of her own medicine, people will think I’m a total pushover!’

Seraphina Sterling and Summer left immediately, without giving Justin Hale another glance. ’I hope he believes the excuse I just gave him,’ she thought. ’I was too blatant about targeting him this time.’

Seraphina Sterling didn’t go straight home. Instead, she shouldered her backpack and went to find Hughes.

As soon as Hughes saw Seraphina Sterling, he produced a bank card. "This is your share."

Hughes was now thoroughly impressed by Seraphina Sterling. ’She actually dared to use Stoney to fool Justin Hale, and she even discussed it with me a day in advance, agreeing to split the money scammed from him fifty-fifty! For a young girl to be that cunning!’

"Justin Hale is no simple man. Don’t be fooled by his gentlemanly exterior; he’s more cruel and ruthless than anyone. You’ve set a huge trap for him, and he’s not the type to let someone get away with that! You need to be careful these next few days!" Hughes warned, a note of concern in his voice.

Looking at the seven and a half million in her hand, Seraphina Sterling’s eyes curved into smiling crescents. As if she hadn’t detected the worry in his voice at all, she said, "Hughes, you’re actually pretty cute! Stop wearing such a serious expression all the time!"

’Cute? She actually called me cute? What the hell does "cute" even mean?’ Hughes immediately wiped the smile from his face, his expression returning to its usual poker face. "I just don’t want you to die an early death."

"Thanks!" Seraphina Sterling waved at Hughes, and with the seven and a half million she had scammed from Justin Hale, she departed.

However, she still didn’t go home. Instead, she went to the small inn run by Summer’s family. She couldn’t have gotten all this cash today without Summer’s help. Seraphina Sterling took out fifty thousand and discreetly gave it to Summer.

"Seraphina, what are you doing? I didn’t help you for the money! Besides... this is so much! I’ve never seen so much money in my life!" Summer stared at the thick stacks of cash, her mouth hanging open in shock.

"You deserve this. You’re old enough now; you should start putting away some money for yourself." This was something Seraphina Sterling had decided on long ago.

Summer was in a total daze. ’Am I... rich now?’ she thought. ’I never dreamed I’d have this much money!’ She was so stunned that she walked stiffly, her right arm swinging forward with her right leg.