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
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