The Villainess Wants a Divorce:Beast Husbands Regret It to Tears-Chapter 16: Protecting Her Proactively

She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to steady her voice and turned around.

"Can you... just... turn around?"

She paused, her voice lowered a bit, tinged with a hint of embarrassment.

"Don’t... don’t watch me undress, okay?"

Seraphina Caldwell’s voice sounded somewhat weak as she spoke.

Her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of the beast skin skirt she was wearing.

Although she was well aware that these Beast Husbands were still gritting their teeth with hatred over her previous actions, they wouldn’t have any other thoughts about her.

But right now, five pairs of eyes were staring at her.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable.

As soon as she said that, the actions of the Beast Husbands froze simultaneously.

They exchanged glances, full of astonishment.

Could it be... that she was embarrassed?

When this thought surfaced, even they found it absurd.

What was the former Seraphina Caldwell like?

Did she ever care about such things?

When her father tried to wash her, she’d either sit in the wooden tub, crying and making a scene, scratching and clawing until he was covered in scratch marks, or she’d scream and curse at the top of her lungs.

Not to mention avoiding males, she didn’t have a shred of shame.

But now, she actually lowered her head and asked them to turn around?

Was this still the same unreasonable and unruly Seraphina Caldwell?

Wyatt Yardley was the first to recover his composure.

His gaze casually swept over the tips of Seraphina’s slightly red ears.

He didn’t say much, nor did he question further, he merely turned around silently.

"I’ll be here guarding, I’ll call if there’s anything."

As he finished speaking, he crossed his arms and scanned the shadows of the trees around.

Gideon Larkin, seeing this, hurriedly turned his head, faking a "hmph."

"I’ll go see if there are any beast tracks around! No point in staying here and blocking the way."

As he said this, he intentionally walked a few steps away.

But in truth, he couldn’t help but sneak glances towards the riverside.

Evan Orwell and Kaelan Hawthorne exchanged a look.

Both of them silently turned around too.

Kaelan Hawthorne then slightly shifted, leaning against a sturdy old tree.

The rough bark rubbed against the beast pattern tattoo on his shoulder.

They all knew that bathing outdoors was extremely dangerous for females.

No matter how strong they were, they could easily find themselves in dire straits against beasts and venomous creatures lurking in the shadows.

If she were torn apart by a beast, the corresponding male would experience the bone-crushing pain repeatedly in their waking consciousness.

Isaac Vaughn stood quietly by the wooden tub, his gaze never leaving Seraphina.

He watched her stand alone by the riverside, her feet on the pebbles in the shallow water, her hands gripping the skirt hem tightly.

Her frame was slender, her shoulder blades slightly protruding.

His gaze slowly moved down to the fading scar on her slender neck.

Isaac’s eyes deepened, remaining silent, only rising slowly from the wooden tub.

Water flowed down his solid back, reflecting a sparkling shine in the sunlight.

He stepped gradually into the river, the water climbing over his calves, knees, and up to his waist.

Then he stopped, turning his back steadily to Seraphina, and slowly submerging himself in the water.

As a Merfolk, he was naturally attuned to water, sensing its flow far more clearly than the dust and gravel on land.

In the water, his senses were amplified many times over.

It was for this reason he was willing to take the initiative to go into the water to protect her.

Seraphina felt a sense of relief as the tension that pressured her shoulders finally began to ease.

She could finally feel a bit more at ease.

At least, for this moment, she was not so alone and helpless.

It seemed that the Contract Seal was effective.

No matter how much resentment these Beast Husbands held for her, the power of the Contract still firmly suppressed their urge to act.

She nodded gratefully to Isaac Vaughn, her gaze gentle.

Then, to the backs of the others, she spoke softly, "Thank you all, I won’t take long."

She was no longer the original Seraphina Caldwell.

That ruthless, unpredictable Seraphina was long gone.

She had no binding system, no tasks assigned to her, and no cold mechanical voice forcing her to act.

No rewards driving her, no threats of punishment, what was the point in pretending?

Even if they discovered she had changed, she wasn’t afraid.

As soon as she finished speaking, their bodies stiffened almost simultaneously.

Wyatt Yardley’s straight posture tensed even more.

What had he heard Seraphina say the most in the past?

Sharp, grating curses, commanding orders from above.

But now, she was saying "thank you" without a trace of sarcasm?

That wasn’t like Seraphina at all...

Gideon Larkin’s foot stopped mid-air, hovering there, unable to touch the ground.

His eyes were filled with shock, pupils slightly contracting.

He suspected his ears were deceiving him.

Evan Orwell’s hand, hanging by his side, quietly clenched into a fist.

From proposing to break the contract, to distributing the roasted meat without hesitation to the males, and now to that heartfelt "thank you."

Every step she took was strange.

How could a person change so completely overnight?

Could this be a new trap?

Intentionally using gentleness to confuse them, only to mercilessly shatter their hopes afterward?

Or... had she truly changed?

Kaelan Hawthorne slightly shifted his body against the tree.

A trace of exploration flitted through his dark green eyes, his gaze deep.

Initially, he was convinced this was just Seraphina’s new trick.

He was waiting to see when her true nature would reveal itself.

But up until now, not only had she done nothing against them, she had even said "thank you."

Only Isaac Vaughn remained in the water, his silver-white tail fin batting the surface.

Seraphina didn’t speak, just took a deep breath.

She turned and walked behind a protruding large rock by the riverbank.

Knowing full well those Beast Husbands had their backs turned, not looking her way at all.

Still, she instinctively sought some cover, even if just for a sense of psychological safety.

She quickly removed her beast skin top and short skirt.

Each piece of clothing was neatly folded and carefully placed on the dry surface of the stone.

After all this, she tiptoed, arms gently spreading to keep her balance, then with a "splash", she jumped into the water.

The water surface rippled in circles, splashing as several birds nesting by the river took flight.

The water was just waist-deep, not too high or low.

The cool water immediately enveloped her from all directions.

In an instant, the sticky feeling was thoroughly washed away.

She bent forward, scooping a handful of crystal-clear river water, slowly pouring it over her hair.

Her deep purple hair, once dry and voluminous, quickly became heavy upon contact with the water, sticking wetly to her neck and back.

The Beast Husbands on the bank were not fully focused on vigilance.

Each occupied different positions, their gazes seemingly scanning the depths of Veridia attentively.

In truth, a few of them had long had their hearts and minds drift elsewhere.

The occasional sound of water in the air stirred some suppressed emotions.

Isaac Vaughn and Evan Orwell continued to keep their backs to the river, maintaining a vigilant posture.

They never turned back, not even moving their ears.

Yet, who knows whether beneath their calm exteriors, there was an almost imperceptible restraint?

Kaelan Hawthorne was less disciplined.

Leaning against a thick tree trunk, one arm casually slung over a branch, outwardly gazing at the distant rolling mountains with an indifferent expression.