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
Lucas’s audacity was fueled by Harper. On the day of the engagement banquet, Harper had noticed Leon Everhart’s small gestures toward Seraphina Arden.She told Lucas, “That man has never treated me like that, but look at the way he is with your cousin Seraphina Arden—gentle and attentive. During the banquet, his eyes were glued to her the entire time. With all the wealth of the Everhart family, and Leon Everhart being handsome and rich, it’s rare for a man like him to be genuinely drawn to a woman. If Seraphina Arden puts in just a little effort, Leon Everhart will undoubtedly agree to marry her. All of Everhart’s fortune would then still belong to her. A wealthy man who loves her—any woman would say yes. Go and ask Seraphina Arden to hold onto Leon Everhart. Tell her that if she wants, Leon Everhart will surely agree to it. I’ll step aside and let her have everything."At least this way, we’ll have a slim chance of survival. Olivia has been scheming against us for so long. She doesn’
That night, Seraphina Arden drove Leon Everhart home.In the car, Leon Everhart said to her, “Seraphina, don’t let anyone else know about this. Don’t let Lucas or Harper find out that you told me either. If Lucas asks, you must tell him you didn’t say anything to me.”Seraphina Arden had seen Leon Everhart silently deal with many things before, but now that it was her turn to witness his methods, she couldn’t help but feel scared.Leon Everhart seemed to sense her thoughts. He smiled and said, “What are you afraid of? I won’t do anything to you. I’m genuinely happy that you told me. Otherwise, I would’ve remained in the dark. In fact, even if you hadn’t told me, I would’ve found out eventually. But it’s different now that you were the one to tell me first. Go home and don’t overthink it. Oh, and remember to bring me breakfast tomorrow morning.”Leon Everhart got out of the car and went upstairs alone.Once inside his home, he ripped off his suit jacket and threw it forcefully onto the
Seraphina Arden grew up in a loving and nurturing family. The violence and schemes she saw in TV shows and movies never touched her life. When watching such dramas, she might have felt a little pity but never true empathy—those pains didn’t belong to her.But yesterday, Leon Everhart’s words utterly shocked her. If it hadn’t been for him stepping in, her parents might have been hurt. Her mother could have either died or been paralyzed. Even if they had investigated, it would have just been written off as an accident. Just thinking about it made Seraphina’s scalp tingle, her body tremble, and her heart race. She had been holding back her emotions all this time.When she entered her home and saw her healthy mother smiling as she opened the door for her, Seraphina immediately hugged her tightly and began to sob uncontrollably. Clinging to her mother, Seraphina felt as if she were experiencing a second chance at life.Society constantly forces people to grow up. In just one night, the heav
A year had passed quickly, and soon it was the start of a new year.One day, Elijah received a call from Sebastian:"Elijah, there’s a municipal renovation project coming up for bidding. Let Mr. Everhart know to keep an eye on the online announcements in the next couple of days."Hearing this, Seraphina Arden immediately understood that this was Sebastian repaying Leon Everhart’s favor.Sebastian believed it was Leon who had provided Seraphina with the photos and videos of Ethan and Jenny, effectively saving Ethan, Sebastian, and Seraphina’s family from disaster.Leon Everhart’s seemingly casual actions at Lucas and Olivia’s engagement party—the small gestures toward Seraphina Arden—had not gone unnoticed by her family. Seraphina’s aunt even asked her, “Seraphina, is there something going on between you and your boss?”Seraphina immediately denied it: “Absolutely not. He’s just a showy peacock who flirts with everyone.”Sebastian and the Ardens believed in the principle of repaying ki
Leon Everhart’s repeated concessions had given the Henry family a taste of benefits.However, after their failed manipulation of Ethan, the Henry family hadn’t secured a single piece of land in the past year.The deals they managed to secure were only possible by borrowing credentials from others, for which they had to pay transfer fees.The parties lending their credentials bore responsibilities and charged a management f*e of 3% to 5% of the contract value.Even when the Henry family secured projects and resold them, their profits were minimal. The term "declining fortunes" perfectly described their current situation.Yet, even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. The Henry family still maintained their façade. Their materials factory, having been established locally for over a decade, still boasted a considerable client base.This was why Leon Everhart advised Seraphina Arden not to provoke the Henry family—they still wielded influence and could back Harper.While they might not ex
When the Henry family father and son came to visit, there was no real need for Seraphina Arden to leave. However, Leon Everhart had started putting Seraphina Arden ahead of himself without realizing it. He didn’t want her to get hurt, nor did he want anything to happen to her.Seeing the Henry family, Seraphina Arden felt a deep resentment. She had never even met these people before, yet they had almost destroyed her family. She wanted to do something about it but felt utterly powerless.At this point, Seraphina Arden had no reason or leverage to fight them. Even if she did, she knew she wouldn’t win. Compared to them, she was like an ant trying to shake a giant tree.Seraphina Arden sat motionless, staring at her computer. Suddenly, she received a text message from Leon Everhart. Reading the contents, her eyes welled up with tears. She realized that Leon understood her emotions and was giving her a chance to step away.Leon Everhart had many flaws, but he also had his strengths. Serap
The company’s annual party was as lively as ever. This year, however, Seraphina Arden was absent—she had caught a cold and was resting in her apartment.Elijah and Chloe had joined a group tour and were traveling again.Harper sat elegantly beside Leon Everhart, holding their son.The aura between a working professional and a wealthy, full-time socialite was simply incomparable. Those untouched by financial worries carried a graceful, languid air about them, their every gesture exuding an almost otherworldly charm.In contrast, the weariness of working life had etched itself into the bones and features of those who labored, embodying the rawness of human existence. Yet, Harper’s subtle smiles and serene demeanor were utterly captivating.From his seat at a neighboring table, Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off Harper.Noticing his gaze, Olivia pinched Lucas sharply, pulling him back to reality. When he turned to her, she responded with a cold smile.Standing on stage, Leon Everhart radia
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
The next day, Leon Everhart returned to his family home, while Seraphina Arden accompanied her parents back to their hometown to visit her grandmother.On the way, Chloe brought up her cousin Eliza.Chloe said, “Eliza came to see us during Christmas. She mentioned that Eugene has graduated and found a job, though the pay isn’t great, and he’s living in the city’s old town with his mother. Eliza couldn’t bear to see their situation, so she sold her own house and car, added some money, and bought a second-hand three-bedroom apartment. In October, Eugene and his mother moved in. Eliza said that his mother recently found a job as a cleaner. With no mortgage, they can get by on Eugene’s income.”Seraphina Arden remained silent.A few weeks ago, Eliza had met up with Seraphina and shared that she had finally settled down with a man.The man was in his fifties, a widower with some savings. His son, older than Eliza, was successful, married, and living in Switzerland.Eliza admitted that they
The Everhart family’s old mansion, with its sprawling estate, had repurposed former bedrooms into guest rooms. The Everharts lacked nothing. Mrs. Everhart, who was a vegetarian, adhered strictly to her own rules and traditions.Chloe had already visited beforehand to scout things out for her daughter, Seraphina Arden.She advised Seraphina, “When you’re there, eat and drink as you should, smile more, and speak less. Their family is wealthy and powerful. From the way his mother carries herself, it’s clear that the men in their household are the ones who call the shots. Don’t get involved in their family matters or the business. You have your own company. ‘A wise person plays deaf and mute to keep the peace.’ Just focus on running your own home and managing your own affairs.”Seraphina smiled and agreed.Chloe added, “During holidays, accompany Leon back to stay for a few days, but don’t overstay. His mother may seem kind on the surface, but she’s controlling and deep-minded. Don’t get
After Seraphina Arden’s parents finally gave their approval, Leon Everhart hurried back home to tell his own parents, declaring that he wanted to finalize the wedding arrangements before the Lunar New Year.The first step was for the two families to meet.The Everhart family, being wealthy, had always harbored a certain disdain for those less fortunate. Even though Leon’s mother knew Elijah and Chloe were not the kind of people to covet money, there was still a subconscious arrogance embedded in their attitude.In this society, after all, people tend to toast the rich first.On the surface, Mr. Everhart Sr. presented himself as polite and humble, but deep down, he carried an air of superiority. He believed that money could solve anything. Despite Seraphina’s family’s earlier firmness, they had eventually agreed to the match, and in his mind, it only proved that nobody could resist the lure of wealth.Leon Everhart, however, took everything seriously. His nervousness over the matter di
The world says that an unattractive bride must eventually meet her in-laws. As for the "peacock" Leon Everhart, if he truly wanted to marry Seraphina Arden, no matter how difficult it was, he had to press forward.Now in his late thirties and single for far too long, Leon was eager for some companionship. Constantly lingering around Seraphina Arden, he would use every excuse to stay by her side, hoping to remain in her presence for as long as possible.To counter this, Elijah and Chloe moved into Seraphina’s apartment, specifically to keep Leon at bay.One evening, after work, Leon called Seraphina, saying, “Seraphina, I heard you’re not feeling well. I’ve bought you some food. Let me bring it over.”Seraphina glanced at her parents bustling in the living room and replied in a soft voice, “I’m at home with my mom and dad.”Leon looked at the packed beef chow fun and chicken soup sitting on the passenger seat. He had gone out of his way to buy it from a distant restaurant. Knowing that
Chloe and Elijah, hearing that Seraphina Arden would be coming home for dinner, went shopping for groceries and busied themselves in the kitchen.Seraphina Arden felt a bit awkward, unsure how to bring up the topic with her parents.She and Leon Everhart weren’t kids anymore. Both were focused on the goal of marriage. As mature adults, they clearly understood what they wanted, and there was no need for unnecessary delays. With mutual intentions, they naturally moved toward a shared future.Leon Everhart was in a hurry. Previously, he’d been so busy with work that he barely had time for bathroom breaks, but now he was calling Seraphina Arden several times a day, urging her to speak to her parents and arrange a meeting between the two families.Annoyed, Seraphina Arden retorted, “Why are you in such a rush? You weren’t like this before.”Leon Everhart replied, “How could I not be? I’ve always been anxious, and whenever I rushed, you’d hit me. And you didn’t hold back!”Seraphina Arden r
Seraphina Arden’s simple “okay” left Leon Everhart overwhelmed with emotion. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and looked up at the sky, finally letting go of the tension that had gripped him for so long.When Leon called Seraphina, he had been incredibly nervous. Despite his many experiences, he didn’t truly know how to handle relationships with women. He had always relied on instinct and mimicked his father’s ways, stumbling his way through interactions.While his mother was bedridden during her illness, she gave him and Liam heartfelt advice:“Life is like a vast river; you only need one cup of water to drink. A mansion may be vast, but you only need one bed to sleep in. The more you seek, the more you lose. If you truly want peace, do not wrong your wife. Marry a woman you truly love and stay faithful to her for life. I once dreamed of growing old with your father, but his infidelity broke my heart. If it weren’t for you two, I would have left this world long ago.“You thi
The next morning, Seraphina Arden emerged from her room, fully dressed and ready for the day. She noticed that the sofa had been tidied up, the bedding neatly folded. Leon Everhart sat upright on the couch, waiting.When Leon saw Seraphina, he greeted her with a radiant smile, a far cry from the persistent and clingy man he had been the night before.Standing, Leon approached Seraphina, stopping a meter away.In a serious tone, he said, “Seraphina, everything I told you last night was true. I understand that you might not love me, and that you probably feel a great deal of resistance toward me. I also know you yearn for the kind of love your parents share—a lifetime of commitment, growing old together. I didn’t understand that before, but I do now. I’ll work on myself and learn from your father. Seraphina, when I said I want to marry you, I meant it. Please don’t reject me outright. Think about it, okay?”Seraphina looked up at Leon, her lips pressed tightly together as though she wan