Ethan carried Seraphina Arden’s shopping bags, walking a step or two behind her—just as he used to many years ago. They moved slowly, unhurried, their pace almost nostalgic.Seraphina didn’t dare look back. Even though so many years had passed, even though they had walked far along separate paths, walking side by side like this again felt like a luxury. Her chest felt tight, her eyes warm with unshed tears. She worried that if she blinked, they would spill over.Ethan’s voice broke the silence, soft and familiar. “Why so many bags?”Seraphina answered in a quiet voice, “They’re not mine. They’re for my boss’s sister. She’s back from overseas and wants a makeover. I was just tagging along.”After a long pause, Ethan said, “You’ve always had an easy tendency to gain weight. But you look good just as you are now. Don’t skip meals—it’s bad for your health. If you want to slim down a bit, try exercising to tone up. Don’t starve yourself.”It took Seraphina a while to respond. “Okay.” Her v
Ethan returned to the bridal boutique. Via sat in a red wedding gown, staring blankly at the mirror. When she saw Ethan, her expression was distant. She opened her mouth and asked, “Ethan, does this red wedding dress look good on me?”Ethan glanced at her and said casually, “It looks great. You look beautiful in anything.”The light in Via’s eyes dimmed.She changed out of the dress, and the two headed to a nearby restaurant in the mall for dinner.When the waiter brought their food, he announced, “Two servings of black pepper bone-in ribeye, cooked medium well. Let me pour the sauce—please lean back slightly.”Via’s eyes welled up with tears. She controlled her emotions, excused herself, and walked to the restroom. She had always disliked black pepper sauce, preferring red wine gravy or satay sauce. Medium-well steak was too cooked for her tastes; medium was perfect.Earlier, she had donned a white wedding gown, hoping to show Ethan her most beautiful self, but he hadn’t even been th
The next day, Seraphina Arden didn’t bother contacting Olivia. She decided to enjoy a rare day off.Since starting her job under Leon Everhart, Seraphina rarely got to rest. Even on weekends, she was often on call to drive him somewhere. But now her boss was out of town, Olivia’s hair was dyed black, and new clothes were bought. Olivia was an adult; Seraphina didn’t feel the need to babysit her.She slept like a log, from the previous night straight through to midday.Chloe came home for lunch, and seeing the house so quiet, assumed her daughter had already left. She poured herself a glass of water and sat down on the couch. As she took a sip, a soft voice startled her.“Mom, I’m starving. What’s for lunch?”Chloe nearly choked. “Seraphina! You’re home? Why didn’t you say anything? You scared me!”Seraphina Arden rushed over and patted Chloe on the back. “I overslept and just woke up when I heard you. I’m sorry, Mom.”Chloe touched her daughter’s face affectionately. “Go wash up, and I
Out of the blue, Olivia invited Seraphina Arden to go shopping with her.That day, Olivia treated Seraphina to lunch and even bought her a Swarovski silver necklace worth nearly $300.Olivia, despite being a rich heiress, lacked social finesse and life skills. She’d never held a job, and her parents hadn’t properly taught her the ways of the world. She assumed that being a member of the Everhart family automatically granted her a higher status, and Seraphina should be grateful for even the smallest scraps of generosity she offered.But Seraphina wasn’t one to be easily impressed.Elijah, having worked as a driver for Sebastian for many years, had been approached countless times by people seeking favors. Some wanted insider information, others sought introductions, or just a casual mention of their company to Sebastian. Lavish gifts and bribes were commonplace, but Elijah never accepted a single one.He had often told Seraphina, “The moment you take something once, you’ll find it harde
This was the first time Seraphina Arden mustered the courage to boldly pursue love.Two days had passed, and there had been no messages or calls from Daniel. The silence weighed heavily on Seraphina, suffocating her as her heart sank deeper into despair with every passing hour.Aside from her unspoken infatuation with Ethan, Seraphina had never truly experienced a romantic relationship. She could only rely on the life lessons her parents had instilled in her and her own observations of people to judge whether someone was worth getting closer to. Daniel had left her with a good impression—he seemed like a man of integrity, polite in his actions, and not the sort to cause harm.Ethan was getting married, and Seraphina felt a growing urgency to find a partner herself. She wanted to settle down, ideally with someone like Daniel, whom she deemed suitable.At the beginning, Daniel might have had a slight interest in her, but it wasn’t enough to solidify into anything meaningful. His feeling
The world is full of surprises. Just a short while ago, Seraphina Arden had been lamenting her struggles to find a husband. Now, out of nowhere, a rotten and unwelcome romantic entanglement had popped up, one she wanted to escape as quickly as possible.That evening, while Elijah hadn’t yet returned home, Seraphina debated whether to tell her mother about what had been going on. She wanted to vent but feared it would only make her parents worry.Out of the blue, Chloe said, "Ethan’s wedding is off. He gave the apartment they were supposed to live in to the bride’s family. Dean, our upstairs neighbor, put their place up for sale, and Ethan bought it. He came by earlier today to check on the apartment. At lunchtime, I ran into him and asked if he’d eaten. When he said no, I made him a hamburger."Seraphina stopped mid-bite, staring at her mother, the apple in her hand forgotten.Chloe continued, "He mentioned wanting to renovate the place and asked me if I had any suggestions. He said h
Sebastian was known for his clean reputation. As a bureau chief, he hadn’t achieved any major accolades, nor had he made any grave mistakes. His tenure was a smooth ride.What Ethan never expected, however, was to be simultaneously targeted by both the Henry family and Olivia.The Henry family’s grudge against Ethan stemmed from an earlier incident. Back then, they had schemed to use Harper to seduce Ethan. When Ethan uncovered their ploy, Sebastian was livid and launched a thorough investigation into all of the Henry family’s construction sites. Several of their rush projects were found to have safety hazards and were forced to halt for months of rectification.The two-month shutdown caused catastrophic financial losses for the Henry family, who had since nursed a deep hatred for both Ethan and Sebastian.Attempts to bribe or seduce the father and son had failed. So, the Henry family decided to shift their focus to people around Ethan. That’s when they identified his fiancée, Via.Wh
When Seraphina Arden began college, it was supposed to be Elijah who took her, but Ethan had volunteered enthusiastically to do it instead.That day, Ethan was full of energy, helping Seraphina pack her belongings at home. When they were about to leave, Seraphina insisted on bringing her plush clownfish, Nemo. Ethan couldn’t help but tease her: “You’re going to college now. Don’t you think it’s childish to still cling to this thing?”Seraphina replied earnestly, “Hugging it helps me fall asleep faster.”The plush toy was a gift from Ethan when Seraphina got into high school.Ethan sighed, giving in to her whims as always. Seraphina walked ahead, hugging Nemo, while Ethan followed behind, dragging her suitcase.After settling Seraphina into her dorm, Ethan breathed a long sigh of relief. He returned to the apartment he shared with Via, flopped onto the bed, and felt an overwhelming sense of peace.Lying there with a gentle breeze flowing in from the window, Ethan felt lighter than ever
It had been a while since Lucas last contacted Seraphina Arden, but today, he suddenly called her.“Hey, Sis, what are you up to?” Lucas asked.Seraphina lowered her voice and said, “The boss is yelling at someone downstairs. Looks like someone’s in big trouble, so I’m finding a place to hide before I get caught in the crossfire.”Lucas chuckled, “Got time to grab lunch with me?”Chloe had repeatedly warned Seraphina not to get too close to Lucas. But Seraphina and Lucas had grown up together like siblings—how could she truly cut ties with him? She also felt she should take the opportunity to remind Lucas to be careful.“Alright, I’m free on Sunday. You pick the place, and lunch is on me,” Seraphina replied.Lucas said, “How about 11:30 at Century Square? I’ll treat you to some Mexican barbecue.”On Sunday, Seraphina arrived as promised.Lucas had already ordered the barbecue and picked up drinks and side dishes. He was sitting at a table, waiting for her.When Seraphina saw him, she
Seraphina Arden and Leon Everhart returned to the office together.It was Saturday afternoon, with Sunday being a holiday. Generally, weekends were less busy, and the office atmosphere was more relaxed. However, seeing Leon Everhart walk in with a bright expression while Seraphina Arden followed behind with a sour look, everyone assumed that Seraphina had been scolded again.As Seraphina headed toward her own office, Leon called her from the front, “Seraphina, come to my office for a moment.”Her aunt had brought many gifts for her today, and the day’s schedule was light. During the banquet, Leon had already promised Seraphina she could leave early to head back with her parents.But Leon Everhart was a man who often went back on his word. This unexpected call felt like he was deliberately holding her back. Seraphina suspected Leon was doing it on purpose, and she couldn’t shake off the faint sense of ambiguity in his tone, which she found inappropriate and prone to misunderstanding.L
Leon Everhart never liked Olivia, and everything about her was something he preferred not to concern himself with. When Olivia expressed a desire to start her own business, Leon told her to prepare a proposal. She came back with less than two pages of nonsensical words, expecting to get $300,000 from him without lifting a finger.Olivia’s brazen and shameless attitude infuriated Leon. He handed her over to Liam and specifically instructed him not to indulge her sense of entitlement.Although Liam wasn’t fond of studying, he was sharp and quick-witted. Despite his dislike for Olivia, he still maintained an outward show of civility. Leon, however, didn’t even care to keep up appearances for her.Even the smartest people can be blindsided at times. Leon Everhart, despite his usual shrewdness, never imagined that someone like Olivia could successfully outmaneuver him.One time, when Leon went to visit Liam’s establishment with some guests, Liam casually mentioned that Olivia was seeing a
Seraphina Arden felt cold all over. With her sharp intuition, she was certain that something was off about Lucas and Olivia’s engagement. The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. She couldn’t believe that Lucas would dare to take such a risk.The next day at work, Seraphina found herself looking at Leon Everhart’s face with a sense of disorientation.After a meeting, she should have returned to her own office, but with her mind preoccupied, she absentmindedly followed Leon Everhart into his office.Leon noticed her dazed and clumsy behavior, and his heart softened.He stopped, but Seraphina kept walking forward. Leon reached out and locked the door from the inside.When Seraphina turned around to look at him, her eyes were clouded with confusion, a stark contrast to her usual cheerful demeanor.Leon’s heart ached slightly. He gently cupped her face and asked, “What’s wrong, Seraphina Arden?”Seraphina stared at his face, her usual quick wit nowhere to be seen. In
Leon Everhart’s concession gave the Henry family a renewed sense of Harper’s value. Harper’s mother began visiting the Everhart estate much more frequently.However, beyond this, the Henry family’s increasing demands were met with mere observation by Leon Everhart, who never intervened again.The collaboration between Seraphina Arden and Leon Everhart grew increasingly seamless. A glance or a gesture was all it took for one to understand the other’s meaning. In work, the two complemented each other perfectly.But when it came to feelings, there was no progress at all.Seraphina Arden’s stance remained clear: she would never be someone’s mistress or destroy another family. For marriage, she wanted someone who truly resonated with her. She had no intention of settling for less again. Her previous attempt at settling with someone she thought she knew well had left her wounded. To settle with a stranger for the sake of companionship could result in an even worse outcome. If, in this life,
The news of the Everhart family's mining company's massive profits eventually reached the Henry family.The Henry family was deeply unsettled.The Everhart family had leveraged their connections to help the Henry family secure land certifications for their residential projects. In exchange, the Henry family had promised Leon Everhart 20% equity in their materials factory. They also sealed their alliance with a marriage and verbally agreed to include the Henry family in future mining ventures.But once Leon Everhart smoothed things over, the Henry family began to feel burdened by the heavy fines they had to pay—fines they claimed cost them nearly everything. After the issue was resolved, the Henry family reneged on their promises, refusing to acknowledge the Everhart family's goodwill. They diluted the equity and forced Leon Everhart to withdraw from the materials factory altogether.After Leon married Harper, Mr. Henry personally approached him, asking him to source construction mater
On the baby’s one-month celebration, Olivia gave Harper a special gift.Standing in Leon Everhart and Harper’s bedroom, Olivia smiled and said, “Sister-in-law, it’s my nephew’s one-month milestone, so I’ve brought you a present. I think you’ll be thrilled when you see it.”Leaning close to Harper’s ear, Olivia whispered, “I had a paternity test done for the baby and Lucas. Turns out, they’re the real father and son.”Harper already knew the truth, but hearing it from Olivia’s mouth struck her differently.The Henry family had pressured Harper to conceive Leon Everhart’s child as quickly as possible. Without a child, they were certain Leon would never marry her.Her brother had bluntly warned her, “You’ve already slept with Leon Everhart. If you can’t marry him, your worth will be even lower. Don’t blame me when I handpick someone else for you to marry.”Harper’s mother had confided in her that the Henry family had deceived Leon Everhart, which had enraged him and led the Everhart fami
Returning to work after the New Year holiday, Seraphina Arden had no desire to visit others for red envelopes. Outwardly, she appeared the same as before, but deep down, her state of mind had undergone a complete transformation. She frequently felt inexplicably weary.After this holiday, an indescribable sense of desolation welled up inside her. Even when playing with her younger siblings during the New Year, the usual joy was absent.At lunch, when most of her colleagues had gone downstairs, Seraphina stayed behind, organizing and checking her office belongings. Leon Everhart appeared at her door and knocked lightly, "Seraphina, why aren’t you eating?"Startled, Seraphina immediately stood up, "Good afternoon, Mr. Everhart. I’ll go in just a moment."Leon Everhart smiled, "Let’s go together."Seraphina shut down her computer, locking the office door as she stepped out.Her careful, meticulous approach always set her apart from others.Seraphina’s sense of despondency didn’t last long
In this region’s custom, families celebrate the birth of a baby boy with a "Lamp Lighting Banquet" in January of the following year, inviting family and close friends to a feast.At the beginning of January, Harper sat at the head of the table holding her son. Leon Everhart reached out to gently pinch the baby’s chubby cheeks, his eyes filled with rare tenderness as he gazed at his son.This was Leon Everhart’s firstborn son, whom he named Maple Everhart.The banquet was lively, with many guests in attendance. Leon Everhart, holding Harper and their son, toasted each guest in turn.Leon was on top of the world—he drank a lot that day, his joy evident. After ten years of investment, he had finally seen substantial returns. His beloved mother was still alive, allowing him to serve her with filial piety. And now, he had a beautiful wife and adorable son by his side—everything in his life seemed perfect.Only Olivia sat there, her head lowered, a cold sneer curling her lips.Leon Everhart