"Master."
Finally, Seraphelle seized an opportunity to speak, panting heavily as her voice came out almost a whisper.
Lupercus, cradling Seraphelle's waist, settled her upon his lap. In the dim light, she could barely discern the contours of his face.
"Seraphelle, if you wish to gain fame in the lively scenes of Golden Beach, you must learn to please men. Today, as your employer, I will impart your first lesson."
His voice, deep and resonant, bore no emotion, chilling her to the bone. Yet, it was only when the long zipper on her dress was pulled down that she truly felt the cold.
"Must we do this in the car?"
Before her attire was completely shed, Seraphelle instinctively covered her chest with her hands.
"What's wrong with the car? Are you particular about the venue?"
"But…" Though they had shared intimacy just the night before, it had been within the confines of a room, on a proper bed. Now, they found themselves in a narrow alley, with some of his subordinates standing not far away.
"Feeling shy? No one dares to approach; the only sounds you need to concern yourself with are your own."
As his words dwindled, Seraphelle felt the fabric of her dress slide down to her waist.
For a significant span of time, the only sounds echoing in the dark alley were those of the car's movements. By the time Lupercus attained release, Seraphelle had bitten her lower lip, drawing blood.
Not immediately detaching herself from him, she leaned on Lupercus's shoulder, softly breathing.
Yet, compared to her dishevelled state, Lupercus's breathing, besides being slightly heavier, remained steady and composed.
Finally regaining her breath, Seraphelle ventured to speak.
"Master, am I to your satisfaction with this lesson?"
"It was passable."
"Then am I free to return now?"
"…"
Lupercus did not respond but instead lifted her from his lap, producing a clean handkerchief to place in her hands.
"I'm going out for a smoke. Once you've composed yourself, call for me."
Seraphelle wearily leaned back against the seat, watching as he opened the car door and stepped out. Leaning against the rear of the vehicle, he lit a cigarette, it perched delicately between his fingers.
Licking her still-bloodied lips, Seraphelle's gaze turned ice-cold. Indeed, as the system had predicted, winning this man's heart was no easy feat.
Even in the heat of passion, he remained incredibly alert.
With a sigh, she averted her eyes, thinking that time was on her side.
As the car rumbled to life, exiting the narrow alley, it seemed as if nothing had transpired between Seraphelle and Lupercus. He remained the epitome of grace, every inch of him impeccably composed, whereas Seraphelle knew all too well that his subordinates had surely comprehended the nature of their recent encounter.
Soon, the vehicle arrived at the French Concession, but instead of stopping at her hotel, it halted before a quaint European-style villa on the Champs-Élysées.
"You will reside in this house, equipped with a driver and servant. I will visit periodically. Have someone fetch your belongings from the hotel," Lupercus instructed.
"What is this? Employee benefits?" Seraphelle blinked in surprise.
Lupercus cast her a sidelong glance, sharp eyes piercing through the lenses of his glasses as they settled upon her face.
"What do you think?" he retorted, refraining from providing a direct answer.
Seraphelle chuckled, then kissed her fingertips before reaching over to imprint this "kiss" on the corner of Lupercus's mouth.
"I'm off. I'll officially start working tomorrow. Master, you must come to support me. By the way, I don't want any fancy stage name; I'll simply go by Seraphelle."
With that, she exited the vehicle.
Watching her swaying figure, Lupercus felt his throat tighten involuntarily.
This enchantress would soon become the centrepiece for the men of Golden Beach, leaving him curious about the reaction of the Young Marshal, Chen.
Reclaiming his focus, Lupercus instructed the driver to depart swiftly from the scene.
That night, Seraphelle slept exceptionally soundly. Cherry and her luggage had been brought over, and by the time she awoke, the finest tailor and photographer in Golden Beach awaited her downstairs.
After a full day of preparation, as night fell, she donned an exquisite purple jacquard cheongsam and returned to Broadway.
This time, the large promotional poster of Lily at the entrance had been replaced by a draping red curtain.
The manager, having anticipated her arrival, rushed over to open the car door.
"Miss, the Master has said he will personally unveil your poster once it is ready. Truly, your status is elevated!"
"Is that so? Heh." Seraphelle chuckled lightly, not overly concerned by the accolades.
Her thoughts were consumed with the knowledge that on this night, Faolan would surely learn that his not-quite-divorced wife had, not only grasped a powerful alliance but had also taken the stage as a singer on Broadway.
She eagerly anticipated the expression that would grace his face upon discovering this.
However, as Seraphelle mused, Faolan was already aware of everything.
"Young Marshal, it seems that Madame will officially debut on Broadway tonight."
"How dare she!"
Shouting furiously, he shattered a porcelain cup against the floor, the pieces scattering into a million shards.
At that moment, Lily entered, and the fragments sliced into her delicate calf, causing her to cry out and collapse.
Seeing this, Faolan rushed to her side, cradling her bleeding leg.
"I'm so sorry, Lily! I didn't realize you were here. Officer, fetch a doctor now!"
"Yes, Young Marshal."
The officer hurried out, while Faolan frantically pressed a towel against the small wound on Lily's leg.
"I'm fine, Young Marshal. I merely wished to see if you were alright," she reassured him.
"Damn it! It's all that wretched woman's fault! If it weren't for her scandalous actions, you wouldn't have been hurt!" Faolan fumed, his frustration boiling as he watched his beloved suffer the consequences of the other woman's provocations.
"Don't blame Madame. It's only natural for her to feel anger. I believe her desire to sing at Broadway is to provoke you; after all, I have my history there."
As she spoke, tears streamed down Lily's cheeks, her pitiful demeanour tugging at Faolan's heartstrings.
"Lily, your descent into the world results from life's cruel demands; you had no choice. But that wretched Seraphelle has willingly chosen this path. What does she have to compare with you? Besides, I haven't even agreed to our divorce, and she dares to humiliate me like this. I won't let her get away with it!"
"Young Marshal…"
Lily leaned against Faolan, radiating vulnerability and softness, yet her eyes glimmered with concern.
Though Faolan's expression was one of rage, the underlying sorrow and fear could not be concealed. This Young Marshal, it seemed, still clung to thoughts of that vile woman.
Just as Faolan ensured Lily's well-being and donned his dark green military uniform, he resolved to head straight for Broadway, Seraphelle was already clad in a shimmering white gown adorned with sequins.