On the other side, Dominic and Mr. Langford waited anxiously, and finally someone from the Ashford family arrived.
Dominic immediately breathed a sigh of relief, not forgetting to say smugly, "I told you. Serena loves me so much. There's no way she wouldn't come to marry me. The news is already out. If she doesn't come, the Ashford family will lose all face."
Mr. Langford grew even more delighted, his eyes slightly red as he looked at Dominic with affection, the picture of a loving father. "Good boy. You haven't wasted all my years of nurturing you. From now on, remember to mention the Langford family often in front of your wife. If the Langford family rises, it'll be good for you too."
Father and son were excitedly planning for the good days ahead, completely failing to notice that the butler delivering the dowry had a somewhat strange smile on his face.
"If the young master wishes to marry Miss Ashford, here is the prenuptial agreement. If you have no objections, please sign it."
Before the butler could even finish speaking, the agreement was snatched by Dominic and signed immediately. Then, filled with joy, he looked eagerly at the butler. "When will Serena come to take me to the Ashford estate?"
The butler looked at Dominic's name on the agreement, smiled meaningfully, and spoke to give an order. "Men, detain them."
Before Dominic and Mr. Langford could react, guards rushed forward and roughly pinned them to the ground. Because they used such force, Dominic's face was even slammed into the floor. No longer bothering to maintain his innocent image, he cursed viciously.
"I'm the future son-in-law of the Ashford family. Do you have a death wish, offending me?"
The butler threw the agreement in Dominic's face. "Didn't you read the contents of the agreement carefully? It clearly states that if you want to join the Ashford family, you must endure everything the eldest young master of the Langford family endured — all the false accusations and suffering you caused him."
Dominic heard the butler's words and looked at the contents of the agreement, trembling with fury. "No. Impossible. Why would Serena do this for Julian? That bastard. Do you hear me? I want to see Serena. Doesn't she love me the most? Doesn't she hate Julian the most?"
The butler found this even more amusing, but still kindly reminded him. "The one Miss Ashford loves isn't you. She treated you well only because she mistook you for the benefactor who saved her life years ago. But now everything has been investigated clearly. The eldest young master of the Langford family is that person. You're just a fake. Not only that, Miss Ashford has also investigated all your schemes over the years. Miss Ashford said she must make a vicious impostor like you pay the price. Conveniently, you've already signed the marriage agreement. You're her husband now, which makes it much easier for her to deal with you."
Dominic's face instantly turned pale, the blood in his body running cold, terror washing over him, a chill that made even his soul tremble as he was being dragged away. Dominic turned his head back and screamed desperately at Mr. Langford.
"Father, don't you always say you love me most? Think of something to save me. I'm begging you. I'm begging you."
Faced with the cries for help from the son he had once doted on, Mr. Langford just hung his head low, not even daring to breathe loudly.
The butler looked at Mr. Langford's cowardly appearance and couldn't help but sneer. "Mr. Langford, don't worry. Miss Ashford said that as a daughter-in-law, she's also prepared a big gift for you as a reward for your years of heartlessness. Please enjoy it."
With that, the butler led his people away. As soon as they left, Mr. Langford suddenly received a phone call. It was from the company.
"Mr. Langford, this is bad. The company's tax fraud and evasion through falsified books has somehow been exposed. The tax bureau is already here. Not only that, important documents and data from our company have all been sold to outsiders. You need to think of something fast."
Hearing this, Mr. Langford immediately knew who was responsible. His face went ashen as he collapsed to the ground, crying and laughing at the same time. The so-called fall from heaven to hell in a single second — this was exactly that feeling.
In just three short days, Dominic had been pushed into the water, drugged, rolled down the ninety-nine steps at Clearwater Temple, and had his fingers crushed underfoot. Had he ever suffered such humiliation and torture before? At first he could still cry and pretend to be weak while begging, but later there were only ugly curses.
Now his body was covered in wounds, clothes tattered, hair disheveled, nothing like the high and mighty young master of the Langford family he once was.
Dominic seized a moment when no one was watching and crawled on his hands to grab his phone. He shakily called Serena. Even at this point, Dominic still believed this wasn't Serena's decision. He had heard long ago that Serena's father didn't approve of him.
The video call connected quickly. Dominic ignored his wretched appearance and burst into tears. "Serena, save me. It hurts so much."
But Serena on the other end of the video looked at Dominic with nothing but coldness in her eyes.
Dominic cried for a long time. But seeing Serena on the other end of the video show no reaction at all, his crying gradually grew softer, a hint of worry in his voice. "Serena, say something. Are they threatening you too?"
Serena in the video just silently and coldly stared at Dominic, her gaze deep, as if a storm was quietly building. Then Serena suddenly spoke. "Butler Jang."
The butler quickly ran in, bowing to Serena on the other side of the screen. "Miss Ashford."
Serena's voice was full of displeasure. "What is the meaning of this?"
Hope flickered in Dominic's eyes, until he heard Serena's next words.
"Didn't I say to throw him into the sea? Why is he still here?"
The spark of hope Dominic had just kindled was instantly shattered. Serena suddenly leaned close to the screen. On that beautiful face growing larger, her dark eyes were full of gloom and madness.
"Dominic Langford. You tricked me into hurting Julian. You humiliated him and wanted to destroy him. All of this I will repay on you. You don't need to be too desperate either. After all, haven't you already gotten your wish to become my husband?"
Dominic shook his head in despair. He frantically kowtowed toward Serena on the other side of the screen, begging. "Serena Ashford, I was truly wrong. Can I apologize to you? I'm begging you. Forgive me. Divorce me. Please divorce me."
Dominic screamed in terror, but could only watch helplessly as Serena, face expressionless, ended the video call. His phone was also snatched away by the butler at that moment.
The butler stared coldly at Dominic and gave an order. "Men, bind his hands and feet. We're going to see the sea."
In Dominic's terrified eyes, someone roughly stuffed something into his mouth, tied him up, and dragged him out like a bag of garbage.
Serena set down her phone and looked at the brightly lit estate not far away, her eyes complex, with a hint of longing.
Julian, I'm here.