Chapter 16

Daphne froze, then her face lit up. “You agree to marry me?”

Sebastian leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Are you that happy to marry me?”

She was beyond thrilled. If anyone could bring Wilson down, it was Sebastian. In her previous life, their rivalry had been evenly matched; Sebastian only lost because of her. But a marriage in this lifetime would create a powerful alliance. Wilson wouldn't stand a chance!

Excitedly, Daphne grabbed Sebastian’s arm. “Of course, I’m happy! I know this is my second marriage, which might embarrass you, so how about we skip the wedding and public announcements? We can just get a marriage certificate.”

Sebastian frowned, clearly displeased. He gently traced circles on her palm. “I have no intention of hiding my marriage.” He wasn’t into sneaking around with his wife.

Daphne, however, didn’t notice his mood shift. “The public doesn’t have a good opinion of us right now. If we announce our marriage too soon, they’ll accuse me of cheating and you of being a homewrecker. We can wait for the right moment. Otherwise, those two scumbags will benefit!”

“Good point,” Sebastian said thoughtfully. “Come inside. Let’s talk.”

Before Daphne could react, he pulled her into his private room. Inside, a group of men in business attire sat with laptops and several phones. She recognized Barney Myers, a computer genius Wilson had tried—and failed—to poach, even offering a large salary. Barney’s abilities were unparalleled, but his character was extremely quirky. Wilson had personally flown to Celestia Bay and offered him a five-million-dollar salary, but Barney hadn't even acknowledged him. Yet, here he was, working for Sebastian.

Before Daphne could process her surprise, Sebastian introduced her: “This is Daphne.” Then, nonchalantly, he added, “These are top talents from various industries my company needs.”

His explanation was brief, and she didn’t press. For a moment, she thought she saw her photoshoots on someone's computer screen, reflected in the marble walls.

The group stood, bowing respectfully. “Hello, Daphne!”

The sight shocked her. During her marriage to Wilson, she’d never been treated with such respect. She awkwardly waved. “Hello, nice to meet you.”

Sebastian’s lips curved into a faint grin. “Carry on. I need to speak with Daphne.”

A peculiar feeling stirred within her. The Sebastian she remembered was flirtatious and as capable as Wilson. But this man, in casual clothes, effortlessly blending in with his serious team, felt entirely different.

She couldn’t recall getting home; all she remembered was him discussing marriage terms: they could postpone going public, but she had to meet his family first. They didn’t have to fulfill marital responsibilities yet, but they couldn’t live apart. Most importantly, she had to maintain boundaries and avoid closeness with other men, particularly Wilson. Finally, only he could initiate a divorce.

The more Daphne considered it, the weirder it felt. It was almost as if he’d planned these conditions in advance. She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Even in her previous life, before the incident, she’d had little interaction with Sebastian. They first met on her wedding night with Wilson. In a room full of people, he seemed the least delighted to be there. She wasn’t surprised; he and Wilson openly despised each other. If not for his grandfather, he probably wouldn’t have come.

Later, at various events with Wilson, she’d crossed paths with Sebastian, and they became acquaintances. But having lived through it once, Daphne knew Sebastian better now. His conditions felt both logical and oddly unsettling.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Ava’s call, delivering both good and bad news. “The fan club has calmed the fans threatening to leave. They’re organizing posts to clear your name. The trending topic is still up, but the hashtags are now positive.”

“Huh?” Daphne blinked. She hadn’t paid much attention to the initial fan reaction, but the forum had been total chaos, with fans leaving en masse. “How did things stabilize so quickly?” She’d expected days of backlash.

Ava replied confidently, “Your fan club is incredible, especially the president. They’ve been working all day, organizing posts to defend and promote you. Even late last night, they were coordinating responses.”

Unexpected warmth flooded Daphne. The president had supported her since her debut. She’d planned meet-ups and events, but the president was always too busy to attend. They’d never met in person. Daphne vowed to meet this loyal fan and express her gratitude once the storm passed.

“It’s rare my fans are still willing to do this without company support,” she muttered sadly. She felt guilty for dragging them down. If not for her failed marriage to Wilson, her fans wouldn’t be suffering.

Sensing her sadness, Ava reassured her, “Your fans are staying because of your hard work and dedication. If you hadn’t created so many wonderful works, they wouldn’t be defending you. They’re not stupid.”

“You’re right!” Daphne’s mood improved. “I can’t let them down. I need to fight too!”

She grabbed her recorder and opened her laptop. Wilson was cautious, Yvonne cunning. There wasn’t much usable in the recording, but one key point could counter-attack. From the 30-minute recording, she only needed ten seconds: “Even if Yvonne is behind that defamatory post, I’ll still protect and spoil her.” Wilson’s deep voice was easily identifiable.