In this world, there aren’t as many dramatic billionaire CEOs as in the stories. Without Seraphina Arden, Leon Everhart simply hired a new driver and another secretary.Although Seraphina Arden’s office remained vacant, it seemed Leon Everhart didn’t feel much regret or longing over her departure. Leon Everhart was still as busy as ever, running around like a dog.Harper, carrying her son, came to Leon Everhart’s office but didn’t see Seraphina Arden.Sophia explained, “Seraphina has found a new job. I heard she’s working as a secretary for another CEO, and she’s doing quite well.”Only then did Harper completely let go of her suspicions about Seraphina Arden.However, Harper regretted everything. She didn’t want Lucas anymore—she wanted to work things out with Leon Everhart.But lately, Leon Everhart seemed to show even less interest in her. Harper’s main asset was her physical charm, and without that leverage, she began to panic.She vented all her frustrations on Seraphina Arden. O
Seraphina Arden wasn’t as ambitious as Leon Everhart described. After working under him for nearly five years, enduring the exhaustion of constant toil, she finally quit. Free from the relentless grind, Seraphina Arden spent her days sleeping until the world outside seemed to fade. With peace and quiet surrounding her, she even neglected to eat properly.Ethan had gotten married before the new year. The bride, rumor had it, was a fresh graduate—a petite, sweet, and demure girl who looked perfect standing beside him.Elijah and Chloe didn’t attend Ethan’s wedding.When Seraphina Arden heard the news, all she could manage was a soft, indifferent “Oh.”Fleeting as a dream, the emotions of the past no longer surfaced actively in her mind, yet they were never truly forgotten. Hearing Ethan’s name still pricked her heart—it was the name of someone she had loved since childhood.Even so, Seraphina Arden wished Ethan happiness.But gossip spread like wildfire, and the rumors were relentless.T
Seraphina Arden had no lofty ambitions like Leon Everhart to become a boss. She just wanted a peaceful, stable life.She didn’t want to run away either. How could she? Running would only show guilt, and if she fled, those people might target her parents. Instead, she decided to remain still and let time resolve things.Leon Everhart had promised her, “Seraphina Arden, give me six months. I’ll take care of everything and then come find you. I promise I won’t bother you during this time and will give you your freedom. But you must promise me, no other men, and no falling for anyone else.”Seraphina Arden treated Leon Everhart’s words like a passing breeze, as meaningless as air. She had finally escaped his grasp and didn’t want to see his face or deal with the women constantly surrounding him.After years of intense work, suddenly having nothing to do left her restless. She decided to find a job—not for the salary, but to keep herself occupied and prevent overthinking.A low-paying job
When Jerry arrived at the office the next day, he was stunned. The windows sparkled, the once-wilted pothos plants by the tea table were revitalized, and the documents on the desk were neatly arranged.Jerry wasn’t used to this level of cleanliness and organization.When Seraphina Arden saw him, she greeted him cheerfully, “Good morning, boss!”Jerry looked at Seraphina Arden, smiled awkwardly, and said, “Uh… What’s your name? I don’t think I even know that yet.”Seraphina Arden laughed. “My name is Seraphina Arden.”Jerry replied, “Nice to meet you, Seraphina, and thank you.”Work at the company was scarce, so Seraphina began going through the materials Jerry had mentioned. These were research results from Jerry’s former classmates and mentors, who had developed various patented technologies that hadn’t found any buyers. Knowing Jerry was working on commercializing patents, they simply handed them over, saying, If you manage to sell these, just share a portion of the profits with us.
Lucas’s wedding was attended by Elijah and Chloe, though Seraphina Arden didn’t accompany them.No matter how much they fought, they were still family.Lucas’s mother personally called Chloe to make amends, and Chloe and Elijah had to accept. This was how the world worked.Even though Seraphina Arden had left the scene, rumors about her continued to swirl.At the wedding, Lucas’s mother couldn’t help herself. “Chloe, why isn’t Seraphina here today? Isn’t it her day off?”Chloe responded immediately, “Seraphina went out with some friends. She’s still single, but we eat our own rice and drink our own soup. We don’t need others worrying about her marriage.”The words Lucas’s mother had prepared to belittle Seraphina Arden and brag about her son were stuck in her throat.Lucas, slightly drunk and flushed, carefully supported Olivia as they moved about.The newlyweds first approached the Everhart family’s table to toast. Lucas was visibly nervous; he hadn’t managed to smooth things over wi
Harper sensed Leon Everhart’s increasing disdain for her. She suspected he had someone else outside and began worrying about her situation once the truth of her infidelity came to light. To secure her final leverage, Harper believed she needed to get dirt on Leon Everhart.The people tailing Leon Everhart were indeed hired by the Henry family.Liam caught the driver following Leon, but the man refused to reveal anything.From that day on, Leon Everhart added two bodyguards to his entourage.As the Henry family continued to decline and the Everhart family’s profits remained steady, the Henrys started targeting Leon Everhart directly. They asked him for loans, which they had no intention of repaying.In Leon Everhart’s office, Henry pleaded with him, “Leon, the Henry family is genuinely struggling right now. Could you lend us $2 million? I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”Leon Everhart chuckled inwardly: What nerve.Outwardly, his expression turned somber as he replied, “Dad, the stee
That night, Harper was dragged away by her mother. Clutching her heartbroken, wailing child, she turned back as she stepped out the door, her tear-filled eyes pleading with Leon Everhart.Leon’s gaze was full of sorrow as he looked at her.He felt no triumph in this moment. Harper had been the wife he carefully selected based on strict standards. The outcome was entirely his design, and yet, his heart felt heavy and tired.The one who suffered the most was Leon Everhart’s mother. From the day Harper entered their home until now, she had truly treated Harper like her own daughter.On Olivia’s wedding day, Mrs. Everhart overheard a guest comment, “That little Everhart boy looks so much like his uncle, but not at all like Mr. Leon Everhart.”When she turned back, she couldn’t figure out which guest had said it.The comment embedded itself in her mind like a nail. Once back home, she started holding the child daily, examining him closely but unable to shake her doubts.She didn’t dare sha
On Seraphina Arden's end, things started off smoothly.Jerry, fresh out of university, was full of ambition. He wanted to achieve great things, but despite having read countless books, studied numerous business cases, and absorbed loads of motivational content, he couldn't sell a single product.The truth is, a competent entrepreneur is an all-rounder—a person of sharp intuition, unique vision, strategic foresight, detailed execution, the capacity to endure failures, and the resilience to rise again after setbacks. All these qualities are indispensable.Most people only see the glamorous success and invincible façade of wealthy entrepreneurs, without realizing the countless battles they fought to get there—beneath the surface lies a body full of scars.Jerry was initially amazed when Seraphina Arden seemingly brought him a pot of gold during his darkest days. He thought it was just luck since she herself called it a coincidence.But when Seraphina Arden went on to sell many more paten
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