Chapter 8

Callum’s expression darkened.

“Can’t get through?How could her phone suddenly be unreachable?”

The servant didn’t know how to explain it.She could only say,“Sir,you could try calling her yourself.”

Callum took out his own phone and called Tamara personally.

But he never got the chance to hear her answer.He had been blocked.

His expression turned frighteningly grim.

“That’s what happened when you called her too?”

The servant nodded.“Yes,Mr.Blackwood.Even the house phone has been blocked.”

The atmosphere in the living room grew unbearably tense.Not a single servant dared to speak.

Finally,Callum let out a cold,humorless laugh.

“Good.Very good.She took my daughter and ran.Tamara,you’ve got some nerve.”

He immediately called his secretary and ordered them to search everywhere for Tamara.

“Find her no matter where she’s hiding.Even if she’s buried six feet underground,dig her out.”

By the time Callum had finished making all the arrangements,Seraphina had come downstairs after freshening up.

“Callum,why are you still down here?Come upstairs and get some rest.”

Callum hesitated for a few seconds.

If this had been the old him,he would have gone upstairs without a second thought to keep her company.

But now,for the first time,he found himself questioning his own actions.

Tamara could be a little headstrong at times,but she had always been a good woman at heart.

For her to leave home with their daughter without saying a word,she must have been genuinely hurt this time.

After all,he was the one who had cheated on her.It would be a lie to say he didn't know he'd done something wrong.

He had always believed Tamara would never leave him,no matter what he did.That certainty had made him careless,even arrogant.

But now,he finally understood.

Tamara really could leave him.

He could keep up a front in front of the servants,but with no one else around,the panic he'd been suppressing finally surfaced.

What if Tamara never came back?

For the first time,Callum turned Seraphina down.

“Seraphina,tomorrow I’ll find you a place of your own.Or you can choose one yourself—anywhere in the country,as long as it’s at least 200 square meters.”

“Once you’ve picked one,let me know.I’ll have my secretary handle the payment and transfer the property into your name.Then you should move out as soon as possible.”

Seraphina froze for several seconds.

She had already sensed where this was heading,but she still couldn’t accept it.

“Callum…are you saying you don’t want me anymore?”

Callum fell silent for a moment.

It wasn’t that he wanted to cut her off completely.He just needed some time to clear his head.

“Seraphina,Tamara left with our daughter.I do care about you.I really do.But what I feel for you is just affection.”

“With Tamara,it’s different.I have a responsibility toward her.She gave me a daughter,and what we have is more than love.There are years of memories and feelings between us that I can’t simply erase.”

Seraphina bit down hard on her lip,refusing to let the tears fall.

“So you’re going to abandon me for her?”

“Callum,if it’s because of the child,I can give you one too.Just give me a chance,and I will.”

“Please don’t make me leave.I have no parents,no family,no children.You’re all I have.”

Seraphina rushed down the stairs and threw her arms around him,clinging to him as though letting go would mean losing him forever.

Every other time,Callum would have held her back.

But this time,his arms remained at his sides.

After a long silence,he slowly pulled away from her.“Seraphina,I already have a child.”

“I’m not asking you this time.Tomorrow,I’ll have my secretary come and help you move.I hope you’ll understand and cooperate.Don’t make this harder for me than it already is.”

With that,Callum turned and walked away.

No matter how desperately Seraphina called after him,he never looked back.

At that moment,Seraphina finally understood what Tamara had meant when she called Callum selfish and self-serving.

Whenever something threatened his own interests,he would abandon anyone without hesitation.

Callum didn't truly love anyone.

He only loved himself.

Outside the mansion,Callum had just stepped out,intending to clear his head,when his secretary called.

The secretary's voice trembled slightly.“Mr.Blackwood,we've found something concerning about Tilly.”

Callum was already in a foul mood.Hearing the hesitation in his secretary's voice only made his temper flare.

“If you have something to say,just say it.Why are you dragging it out?”

The secretary took a deep breath.“Mr.Blackwood…we've confirmed that Tilly has passed away.”