Leon Everhart’s gaze toward Seraphina Arden had softened significantly. With Ava gone, at least Seraphina was still by his side.Seraphina had lost a noticeable amount of weight and looked much better now. However, despite her physical transformation, she maintained a strictly professional relationship with him. She adhered to boundaries and treated everything with a businesslike approach.Leon’s subtle gestures of warmth and hints of intimacy fell flat. Seraphina either didn’t notice or intentionally ignored them.One night, after Leon had a bit too much to drink, he asked Seraphina to help him upstairs. She refused outright. “Mr. Everhart, you’re too tall and heavy. I can’t carry you. Hold on, I’ll call security to help.”Leon was left speechless. A direct confession would certainly result in rejection. She’d made her standards clear before—her husband must have eyes and a heart for only her. If he were unfaithful, she’d “find a thousand ways to destroy him.” Just thinking about it
Ethan’s father, Sebastian, was the head of the city’s Urban Development Bureau, and Seraphina Arden’s father, Elijah, was his chauffeur.When Ethan was eleven, his mother passed away after a prolonged illness. His grandparents were elderly and frail, and Sebastian, overwhelmed by his responsibilities, hired housekeepers, but none could truly take care of Ethan.Ethan, a proud and reserved boy, didn’t like being around others. He often sat alone in his father’s office, waiting late into the evening for Sebastian to finish work.One day, Elijah suggested to Sebastian: “Mr. Sebastian, why don’t you let Ethan come to my house after school? My wife Chloe cooks very well, and my daughter Seraphina is still young. They can keep each other company.”Sebastian looked at his scrawny son, barely holding it together, and asked gently: “Would you like to go to Uncle Elijah’s house after school? Daddy will pick you up later.”Initially, Ethan was reluctant. But after Elijah coaxed and cajoled him,
There’s a Korean drama called What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim that once went viral. Movies and TV shows often portray secretaries as glamorous women—gorgeous, seductive, and impeccably dressed. They revolve around their powerful bosses, fall in love with them, and compete with their bosses’ lovers for attention, living lives of luxury in upscale venues.Seraphina Arden told her best friend Emily, “It’s all a load of crap.”Seraphina was the secretary to Leon Everhart, the CEO of TerraVantage Group. On this particular Sunday night, she was out with Emily, enjoying street food and doing some window shopping, when her phone buzzed.“Seraphina,” Leon’s familiar, authoritative voice rang through the line. “My flight lands at 12:30 tonight. Pick me up at the airport.”Seraphina silently cursed him with every swear word she knew. But for a paycheck that was more than double her father’s salary, she forced a smile and said, “Of course, Mr. Everhart. Text me your terminal and gate number, and
Leon Everhart, age 31, is the eldest son of the Everhart family and currently single. From a young age, his parents groomed him to inherit the family business. A graduate of a top engineering university with a degree in civil engineering, Leon began immersing himself in the family’s business ventures as early as his freshman year. After completing his undergraduate degree, he attended Cambridge for two years to study management. Upon returning, he joined Everhart Properties under his father’s mentorship and officially took over the reins three years ago, now wielding absolute control over the company.Leon has a younger brother, Liam, who is more of a free spirit. Liam wasn’t particularly inclined toward academics and couldn’t get into college on his own. However, with the family’s wealth, a hefty donation secured him a spot at the university he had his eyes on. After retiring from real estate, their father began guiding Liam in managing the family’s hotel and bar businesses.The Ever
At lunch, Seraphina Arden swiped her card to enter the cafeteria. It was self-service, offering a variety of dishes. If you didn’t eat, the leftover meal allowance would be refunded with your paycheck at the end of the month.Ever since she became Mr. Everhart’s secretary, Seraphina suddenly gained a lot of “friends.” Everyone warmly called her by her first name, and some even brought her small gifts. Seraphina rarely accepted any.Her father had always warned her, “Stay away from people who give gifts without reason. They always want something in return, and it’s never good.”Despite her cheerful demeanor, Seraphina maintained an unspoken distance from everyone.Seraphina loved food and feared being hungry. Every meal, she piled her plate high, determined to eat her fill. She couldn’t relate to her bird-like female colleagues who seemed to survive on a few bites.Meanwhile, Leon Everhart and his team managers always worked through lunch, huddled together at their corner of the cafete
Seraphina Arden returned home, and her mother asked, "How was the blind date today?"Seraphina replied, "The guy was really handsome, like a movie star."Her mother, already sensing it didn’t work out, consoled her, "Never mind. I made some fish soup. Come eat—think of it as seeing a celebrity for free, without even buying a ticket."The little bit of disappointment in Seraphina’s heart instantly dissolved after hearing her mother’s words.Since she rarely got home early, Seraphina had dinner and then went out arm in arm with her mom to browse the shops.Meanwhile, Leon Everhart also arrived home earlier than usual. Dinner was already prepared by Ava, a young woman from TerraVantage Group’s administration team.Ava was 24 years old. Her parents were divorced, and her mother worked as a cook in Leon’s family home. The house was massive, with separate quarters for the staff. Ava had grown up in the vicinity, attending a nearby school.When Ava was 17, she started being involved with Leo
“This Noah guy is even more capable than Glonetix Design Company’s boss,” Leon Everhart calculated in his mind. He quickly came up with a plan: he would poach Noah and his team.When they returned to the company that day, Leon Everhart and the two executives headed upstairs first. Seraphina Arden parked the car, grabbed her bag, and deliberately lagged behind, far from them.Seraphina Arden was hungry. Whenever she got hungry, she felt miserable, so she intentionally stayed back to sneak a quick bite.Back in her office, Seraphina Arden rummaged through her desk drawers for food. Finally, she found a cookie. She popped it into her mouth just as she looked up and saw Leon Everhart standing in her doorway, watching her.Caught off guard, Seraphina Arden shoved the entire cookie into her mouth and stared at Leon Everhart like a deer caught in headlights.Leon Everhart, both amused and annoyed by her lack of decorum, scolded her lightly, “Once you finish that, organize today’s meeting not
Leon Everhart spent the night having a long conversation with his father, who was visibly pleased with how well his eldest son had turned out. That night, Leon stayed at his father’s house.Meanwhile, Ava was left alone in Leon Everhart’s home again. The house was massive—a two-story duplex equipped with every luxury imaginable. Leon favored bright spaces; the interior was simple and modern, with white and natural wood tones dominating the decor.Ava, dressed in a pale yellow robe, sat curled up on the couch in the vast, cold living room. At just 24, she looked more like a resentful queen in an empty palace, waiting for her emperor’s rare visit. Every day after work, Ava would rush back here, groceries in hand, hoping Leon would come home. Most of the time, her wait was in vain, but she couldn’t afford not to be there.Leon gave her $3,000 a month for living expenses, with the condition that she must be home whenever he returned. Ava had no social life—she couldn’t go out with friends
Ethan’s father, Sebastian, was the head of the city’s Urban Development Bureau, and Seraphina Arden’s father, Elijah, was his chauffeur.When Ethan was eleven, his mother passed away after a prolonged illness. His grandparents were elderly and frail, and Sebastian, overwhelmed by his responsibilities, hired housekeepers, but none could truly take care of Ethan.Ethan, a proud and reserved boy, didn’t like being around others. He often sat alone in his father’s office, waiting late into the evening for Sebastian to finish work.One day, Elijah suggested to Sebastian: “Mr. Sebastian, why don’t you let Ethan come to my house after school? My wife Chloe cooks very well, and my daughter Seraphina is still young. They can keep each other company.”Sebastian looked at his scrawny son, barely holding it together, and asked gently: “Would you like to go to Uncle Elijah’s house after school? Daddy will pick you up later.”Initially, Ethan was reluctant. But after Elijah coaxed and cajoled him,
Leon Everhart’s gaze toward Seraphina Arden had softened significantly. With Ava gone, at least Seraphina was still by his side.Seraphina had lost a noticeable amount of weight and looked much better now. However, despite her physical transformation, she maintained a strictly professional relationship with him. She adhered to boundaries and treated everything with a businesslike approach.Leon’s subtle gestures of warmth and hints of intimacy fell flat. Seraphina either didn’t notice or intentionally ignored them.One night, after Leon had a bit too much to drink, he asked Seraphina to help him upstairs. She refused outright. “Mr. Everhart, you’re too tall and heavy. I can’t carry you. Hold on, I’ll call security to help.”Leon was left speechless. A direct confession would certainly result in rejection. She’d made her standards clear before—her husband must have eyes and a heart for only her. If he were unfaithful, she’d “find a thousand ways to destroy him.” Just thinking about it
When Seraphina Arden visited the budget department to meet with James, a former colleague exclaimed, “Wow, Seraphina, you’ve lost so much weight!”Seraphina beamed. “Really?”The colleague grabbed her hand, inspecting her face closely. “Your face is so much slimmer! What’s your secret?”Seraphina sighed dramatically. “My mom makes me drink this ‘seven-day slimming soup’ every night. I thought it was just for a week, but she’s been making it every single day! And she doesn’t let me eat dinner either. The other night, I got so hungry that I raided the fridge in the middle of the night. My dad caught me and only gave me one measly egg! I swear, I’m going to starve to death at this rate. Tonight, I’m eating before I go home.”The group burst into laughter.Babi, sitting nearby, watched Seraphina with a small smile. Seraphina noticed her and went over to hug her. “Babi, let’s grab some late-night snacks tonight, okay?”Babi shook her head, still smiling. “Can’t tonight—I have plans.”Serap
Seraphina Arden might come across as a classic mama’s girl. She shared everything with her parents—details about her boss Leon Everhart, his girlfriends, his private life, and even her work challenges. Whenever she encountered a problem, her go-to move was to consult her parents for advice.Elijah and Chloe, open-minded and deeply devoted to their daughter, were her unwavering support system. Regarding Leon’s personal affairs, they advised her: “Stay out of it. Don’t talk about it, and if you come across anything, act like you didn’t see a thing.”When Seraphina hinted at wanting to change jobs, Chloe was firm:“Every job comes with its own problems. Life is never perfect—if it’s not an issue here, it’ll be a flaw there. What matters is solving problems, not running from them. Think it through. If it becomes unbearable, of course, we’ll support you. How much could you possibly spend? Your dad and I can afford to take care of you.”Elijah added, “The purest water holds no fish. Some th
Babi made it a habit to invite Seraphina Arden for lunch every day, slyly probing for information about Leon Everhart.“Boss is a good boss,” Seraphina replied. “He pays for the overtime and hard work, but he’s not a good man. Don’t be like the other women swooning over him. He’s young, rich, and charming—do you really think a man like that wouldn’t have a girlfriend?”When Babi pressed further, asking who Leon’s girlfriend was and if she worked at the company, Seraphina found herself at a loss for words. She truly believed Leon Everhart wasn’t someone worth getting attached to. He had Ava, Harper, and probably a host of other women she didn’t know about.Sometimes, Seraphina would drop Leon off at nightclubs or luxury spas. He never let her come inside; she could only wait in the car. Neon Haven and Crystal Palace were among his regular spots. When he returned, he often reeked of expensive perfume. Only a fool would believe he wasn’t up to anything.Later, she learned that both Neon
Harper was the daughter of Henry’s second wife. Henry also had three children from his first marriage: two sons and one daughter. One son managed his real estate business, while the other oversaw the aluminum profile factory. His eldest daughter was a disappointment in Henry’s eyes—uneducated, unskilled, and infatuated with a minor celebrity. But she was Henry’s firstborn, cherished and spoiled. Unable to bear seeing her suffer, Henry demanded that his sons allocate shares from their businesses to support their sister. The dividends alone were enough to fund her extravagant lifestyle.Harper’s mother, on the other hand, was a young, beautiful, but shallow woman. To Henry, she was merely a decorative trophy wife to boost his image. Harper, their daughter, was groomed by Henry for a purpose—to be a valuable asset in his business dealings.Henry spared no effort or expense in Harper’s upbringing. She received private lessons in music, art, etiquette, and all the qualities of a well-bred
Leon Everhart’s feelings for Seraphina Arden were markedly different from those he had for Ava.To him, Seraphina was in a league far above Ava. Seraphina’s skill in managing tasks, her ability to navigate complex situations, and the unspoken understanding they shared made her indispensable. While she appeared unassuming, her keen attention to detail and capacity to maintain control were unmatched. Even if Leon were to marry, he could easily see Seraphina as his “second.” Leon had made up his mind—he would have Seraphina.Ava, on the other hand, was nothing more than the daughter of a household maid. Despite her looks, she lacked substance. Her tactics were petty, her ambitions shallow. Though she had a few years of college education, she hadn’t gained any true knowledge or sophistication. Ava’s shallow mindset irritated Leon; her desire to bear his child was laughable at best. She was a phase—someone he would inevitably discard.Meanwhile, Harper, Henry’s youngest daughter, had enter
Using Leon Everhart’s name to give Noah a subtle warning was not Seraphina Arden’s usual style, but in this case, it seemed harmless and effective enough to prevent unnecessary trouble.With spring came an avalanche of work. Leon Everhart was so overwhelmed that he began experiencing shortness of breath and heart palpitations. Concerned, he scheduled an appointment with a doctor. The results were swift and clear: Leon was dangerously overworked and needed to rest to avoid risking his life.Watching the director of the hospital personally attend to Leon made Seraphina sigh. “Rich people truly live in a different world. No waiting in line, and results come out instantly.” Then she thought to herself, “But these people… no matter how much they earn, when will they think it’s enough? What’s the point of money when you lose your life? Who would even enjoy it after they’re gone?”As the doctor assured them that Leon was not in immediate danger and simply needed rest, Seraphina exhaled deepl
Running away is easier said than done.On the third day of Christmas, a single text message from Leon Everhart was all it took for Ava to pack her bags and return to the shared space they called home.Leon, having had a bit too much to drink, was rough and relentless with her that night. He showed no tenderness, no regard for her feelings. Afterward, as Ava lay in his arms, Leon abruptly pushed her away and remarked, “You need to put on some weight. It’s like lying next to a pile of bones—uncomfortable and downright unpleasant.”Ava froze. She knew she was slim, but she had curves in all the right places. Her figure was envied by many during her school and work life, even complimented by Leon himself in the past. And yet, here he was now, calling her a skeleton. The nerve of him—after thoroughly enjoying her body just moments ago!Her thoughts spiraled: Could it be that Leon is starting to prefer that chubby secretary, Seraphina Arden?Ava had been considering walking away, but the me