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 Everhart family also includes a younger sister, Olivia, who isn’t Leon’s mother’s biological child. She was brought into the family when she was young, the result of their father’s affair. Olivia now studies abroad and is notorious for her extravagant spending habits.
Leon Everhart’s destiny was set the moment he was born: he would carry the weight of the family legacy. His mission is to ensure the Everhart family’s continued prosperity and success. His father’s demands were uncompromising, dictating every aspect of Leon’s life, from his behavior and decision-making to the type of woman he was expected to marry. His path was meticulously laid out, leaving no room for deviation.
Currently, Leon oversees twelve large-scale projects, ranging from residential developments to industrial facilities. His workload is intense, often leaving him with no more than three to four hours of sleep per night.
Among his many hires, Leon is particularly satisfied with Seraphina Arden, his secretary poached from the budgeting department. While her looks might not stand out, Leon isn’t looking for a trophy secretary. Competence and obedience are what he values, and Seraphina delivers on both fronts.
To Leon, Seraphina is a rare find. She’s composed, dependable, punctual, and discreet. While she appears easygoing, she’s sharp and insightful, never letting on more than she needs to. Seraphina is polite and tolerant, never losing her temper, but she’s also impenetrable. No one in the company has managed to pry any sensitive information about Leon from her.
She’s professional to a fault: meticulous, conscientious, and immune to workplace gossip. Seraphina doesn’t take advantage of the company’s resources—she accepts only what’s due to her. Despite her straightforward demeanor, she has a depth of character that’s hard to find in others her age.
Crucially, she harbors no ambitions regarding Leon himself. She never discusses her private life with him or oversteps professional boundaries. Calls and meetings are strictly business, and she keeps his confidences without fail.
Leon has had several secretaries in the past, both male and female, but none have shown Seraphina’s level of dedication or discernment. He considers her a treasure.
However, if there’s one minor issue, it’s her lack of ambition. The moment her workday ends, Seraphina bolts out the door like a rabbit. Calling her back for extra tasks is always met with begrudging compliance, which Leon doesn’t fail to notice.
One late evening, Seraphina prepared for a long drive back after a meeting. To stave off drowsiness, she stashed two bottles of coffee in her car’s console and put on her headphones to listen to some music, careful not to disturb Leon, who promptly dozed off in the passenger seat.
Upon reaching his apartment building, she gently nudged him awake. “Mr. Everhart, we’ve arrived.”
Leon yawned, still groggy. “Already?”
Seraphina stepped out to retrieve his bag from the car. Handing it to him, Leon remarked, “Thanks for today, Seraphina. Your mom’s porridge was amazing—be sure to thank her for me.”
She smiled. “No problem, Mr. Everhart. Get some rest.”
She watched as he walked toward his building before driving off.
Leon’s residence was a penthouse duplex in the most luxurious section of a development his family owned. Though she had clearance to enter the property, Seraphina had never seen his home firsthand and wasn’t curious to.
Seraphina wasn’t envious of Leon’s wealth or looks. She earned her paycheck and stayed in her lane, taking pride in her independence.
Leon, for his part, was generous with compensation. Late-night overtime, for example, was paid at double the rate before midnight and triple afterward.
By the time Seraphina returned home, her parents were already asleep. Her mother had left a note on the fridge: “Seraphina, there’s porridge in the pot—have some before bed.”
After washing Leon’s thermos, she heeded her mother’s advice and ate a bowl of porridge. By the time everything was cleaned up, it was 3:30 a.m. She crawled into bed and, true to her easygoing nature, fell asleep within minutes, soft snores punctuating the night.
The next morning, she arrived at the office by 8:10 a.m., as always, to find the general affairs manager, Sophia, had already placed Leon’s daily schedule on her desk. Seraphina glanced at it and sighed. “Mr. Everhart must’ve been a top in his past life. Look at this—he doesn’t even have time to breathe today.”
Leon’s packed itinerary meant Seraphina would also be on her toes, coordinating appointments and ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The Everhart office occupied floors 16 through 26 of a prime downtown high-rise, with lower levels leased out. Employee elevators were separate from those used by the general public.
Leon’s personal office was on the 26th floor, accessible only through a secure door. Beyond it lay a reception area, a dozen workstations, and smaller offices for Sophia and Seraphina.
Leon’s private office was a world of its own, complete with a luxurious desk, a wall of mineral display cases, and a fully equipped coffee bar. There were also two inconspicuous side doors—one leading to a private suite and the other to an opulent VIP lounge that Seraphina found awe-inspiring on her first visit.
The lounge’s extravagant furnishings—from custom wool carpets to museum-worthy oil paintings—seemed straight out of a period drama. Even Sophia had joked, “Yup, this is the real deal.”
When Leon arrived that morning, he peeked into Sophia’s office for his schedule, then turned to Seraphina. “Did you bring breakfast?”
She grinned. “Good morning, Mr. Everhart. Of course I did.”
Thanks to Seraphina, Leon’s life had found a rhythm, with even breakfasts becoming part of his routine. While her work remained hectic and unpredictable, she handled it all with efficiency and grace.
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
Yesterday, as Seraphina Arden was stepping into the elevator with Leon Everhart, she caught sight of Ava. Their eyes met briefly before Ava quickly looked away, her gaze full of resentment and jealousy.Seraphina Arden felt a chill down her spine and became instantly cautious.“Wait, is the boss's mistress holding a grudge against me? For crying out loud, just because I look like this? She’s gotta be kidding me! I’m not about to poke this hornet’s nest. I’ll just steer clear.”Today, when someone brought up her relationship with Lucas, she left it up to their imagination. Misunderstandings had their perks, after all.When Leon Everhart heard Seraphina Arden had a boyfriend, he simply smirked, offering no comment.Seraphina Arden’s workload was growing heavier by the day, thanks to Leon. He piled task after task on her, leaving her barely any time to catch her breath.One night, exhausted beyond words, Seraphina Arden posted a Facebook status: a picture of a chinchilla sitting forlornl
Leon Everhart held Amelia’s head firmly and kissed her passionately. His hand slid under her blouse, but just as he was about to lose control, he forced himself to stop. Pushing Amelia away, he said in a hoarse voice, “Amelia, we’re colleagues. We’re friends. I like you, but I can’t give you a future. I can’t do this to you.”With a tender gesture, he straightened her clothes, gently touched her face, and whispered, “I’m sorry.”When Amelia stepped out of the office, her eyes were red, her hair disheveled, and her lipstick smudged. Outside, Sophia, Mia, and Seraphina Arden were gathered at the reception desk, reviewing the program list for the company’s upcoming annual party.Although Seraphina Arden wasn’t one to gossip, she couldn’t resist observing drama. The moment she saw Amelia’s appearance, she exchanged knowing glances with Sophia and Mia. The amusement in their eyes said it all.Around the office, employees kept their heads down, pretending not to notice.Outsiders often roma
TerraVantage Group’s year-end party was held at the company’s own five-star hotel, with plenty of local celebrities and suppliers in attendance. The celebrities added glamour, while the suppliers brought their wallets. Even the employee raffle prizes were generously donated by the vendors.After the chairman’s speech, it was time for Leon Everhart, the general manager, to address the audience. Clad in a perfectly tailored suit, his tall and striking figure, combined with his wealth, elegance, and overseas education, made him the center of attention. His single status only added fuel to the dreamy gazes of countless beautiful women in the room.Such events were typically organized by the administrative and logistics departments, with Mia from the executive office drafting Leon’s speech for Seraphina Arden to deliver. Seraphina’s job was to follow closely behind Leon, relaying his instructions to Sophia, who coordinated with the respective teams.Throughout the evening, Seraphina stuck
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
Leon’s StoryWhen his eldest daughter was born, Leon Everhart would rush home every day after work and sit by the cradle, staring at his tiny child for a long time.His daughter looked like him, and Mrs. Everhart said, “A daughter who resembles her father will always have food to eat and never worry about her livelihood.”Leon Everhart chuckled, “Then I must work even harder to ensure my little girl never has to worry about food or clothing for the rest of her life.”With just a wife and a daughter, a man who once stood above all others could be pulled into the mortal world, touched by the warmth of ordinary life.When his daughter was just learning to crawl, she could only move a few steps before crying out in frustration. One evening, as soon as Leon Everhart stepped through the door, still in his black dress pants and white shirt, he heard her cries and felt his heart ache.He immediately rushed to her side, lay down on the floor, and said, “Baby, look at Daddy. Crawl like Daddy.”
That night, Liam had a few drinks and decided to stay at the Everhart family’s old mansion.On the first floor, his nieces and nephews were running around, their parents chasing after them tirelessly.Old Mr. Everhart always said, “When children are noisy at home, it means our family is thriving. It’s much better than hearing the sound of mahjong tiles all night.”Liam never called Harper “sister-in-law.”There was something Liam had never told anyone.He lived on the third floor, and one day, when he was coming downstairs, he ran into Harper. She smiled at him and called out in a soft, sweet voice, “Liam, wait for me.”Liam was no fool. He had been through countless encounters with women and had never been caught off guard. What kind of woman hadn’t he seen?The way Harper called him immediately set off alarm bells. His first instinct was that she was trying to seduce him, but he couldn’t quite believe it—after all, she had just married his brother, and on top of that, she was pregna
Harper’s brother brought her back home. As soon as she entered her room, she collapsed into bed and slept.When she woke up the next afternoon, Harper was still in a daze. She let her mother take her to get her hair done, go to the spa, and get a manicure. She moved like a puppet, allowing her mother to maneuver her as she pleased.These used to be part of her daily routine, but it had been a long time since she last enjoyed such luxuries.Ever since Lucas lost his job, Harper didn’t dare spend money recklessly. Once, she got a manicure that cost $480. When she returned home, Lucas’s mother nearly ripped her apart, acting as if every penny Harper spent belonged to Lucas—or rather, to her.When Miliya brought people to beat up Lucas’s parents and Lucas himself, Harper was the only one left untouched.Lucas’s parents blamed everything on Harper. They insisted that if she hadn’t seduced Lucas, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a miserable state.Harper snapped back, “He came to me on his
When Seraphina Arden said, "I owe you nothing in this life, and I hope we never meet in the next," Ethan knew that there was no way to salvage their relationship.Ethan was born with good looks and intelligence. His maternal grandfather’s family was well-off, and his mother was a beautiful and refined woman.His mother once told him that she had pursued Sebastian—she had chased after his father.Because his mother loved his father deeply, she was always anxious about him. No matter where Sebastian went, she had to ask about it, and if she didn’t get a clear answer, she would sulk.Whenever Sebastian came home late, his mother would pick fights and argue.No matter how exhausted he was, Sebastian would always lower his voice to coax his delicate wife and make her happy.His mother was fragile. Even with a housekeeper managing the home, and even after having Ethan, she paid little attention to him. Most of her time was devoted to her husband, as if she had been born solely for Sebastian
Leon Everhart and Seraphina Arden’s wedding took place as scheduled. However, Leon Everhart did not grant Seraphina Arden’s wish to keep it simple.In this city, Leon Everhart had some money, but there were many people wealthier and more powerful than him. Compared to them, he was far from being a true second-generation heir. He positioned himself as a self-made entrepreneur, the second generation of a growing business.The Everhart family lacked deep roots, and he was not able to marry a truly influential family’s daughter. Even in the past, the wealthy Henry family had looked down on him, and Harper had treated him the same way.Choosing Seraphina Arden was seen as "marrying down" in the eyes of the Everhart family.But for Leon Everhart, it was the perfect fulfillment of his wishes.If the wedding was too casual, people would look down on Seraphina Arden. Leon Everhart wanted to give her a surprise—he didn’t want to shortchange her in any way.At one point, Everhart’s mother had tr
Olivia was now at her wit’s end, isolated and helpless.In her darkest times, the appearance of her biological mother, Miliya, made her feel that there was still warmth in the world, that she still had a mother. She had once been moved and had come to believe that, in this world, only a mother’s love was truly unconditional.During her postpartum confinement, Miliya took meticulous care of Olivia, tending to her and the child with great dedication.Olivia started calling Miliya “Mom.”When Olivia’s child reached one month old, there was no sign of acknowledgment from the Everhart family. Miliya found it strange and asked Olivia, “The Everhart family values bloodline and heirs. Back then, I put such a big scandal on old Mr. Everhart’s head, and he let me go for your sake. He even made me promise never to seek you out again. To ensure I wouldn’t interfere in your life, he gave me a huge sum of money. That house in the village was built with the money that old man gave me. Now that you’v
Not long after Seraphina Arden's technology company resumed operations, an unexpected visitor arrived—Jerry.Upon hearing that Seraphina Arden had started a tech company in the same field as his, Jerry was furious. Subconsciously, he believed that the reason he wasn’t making sales was because Seraphina Arden had stolen his clients.Jerry stormed into Seraphina Arden’s office, slamming his hands on her desk.Seeing Jerry’s furious face, Seraphina Arden remained exceptionally calm. She showed no sign of worry; instead, she was tranquil. “Mr. Jerry, if you have something to discuss, we can talk it out properly. This is a workplace, and I have surveillance cameras here.”Jerry was fuming. “Seraphina Arden, are you stealing my business?”He ranted continuously, repeating over and over how Seraphina Arden was ungrateful and unethical for selling patents that should have been his.Seraphina Arden didn’t respond. She simply waited for Jerry to tire himself out.Once Jerry had shouted enough,
Seraphina Arden’s tech company closed for a one-week holiday and resumed operations afterward.Before the break, her flamboyant Leon heard that she wanted to give gifts to the professors who had supported her. That evening, he returned home with boxes of presents. The gifts, prepared by TerraVantage Group, were impressive and perfectly suitable for the occasion.Having a resourceful and thoughtful partner like Leon made Seraphina’s work remarkably efficient.Seraphina cherished her job deeply, knowing how hard-earned it was. After all, it was the only condition her father had set when negotiating her marriage with the Everhart family.Yet, over Christmas, Everhart’s mother subtly suggested that she quit her job and become a housewife.At the time, Seraphina had retorted sharply, but the suggestion left a lingering discomfort.When they were alone, Seraphina shared this with her mother, asking, “Mom, what do you think Leon’s mom was thinking?”Chloe responded, “She’s spent her whole li
This Christmas, Lucas and his family didn’t return to their hometown to visit his grandmother.The household had turned into utter chaos, with no sign of peace or holiday spirit.Over the past few months, far too many things had happened—things Lucas was afraid to even think about.Olivia’s mother, Miliya, was not someone to be trifled with. When she learned that Lucas and Olivia were still married while Lucas was living with Harper, she became furious. Adding insult to injury, Lucas’s parents didn’t care about their daughter-in-law Olivia but went to care for the mistress instead. This sent Miliya into a rage.She went back home, rallied her husband and two sons, and even hired a few extra hands. Together, they stormed into Harper’s house, where Lucas and his parents were staying. Dragging Lucas and his parents out, they began to beat them in public.With the door wide open, Miliya yelled through a megaphone:“Come one, come all! Look at this shameless family! Their lawful daughter-i