Chapter 4: He and I, Living Together?

Despite Seraphina's bravery and optimism, everyone laughed.

Even Vivian, Fiona, Sean, and the twins were surprised. Seraphina was obviously challenging Jayden, the campus genius. Topping the exam? No one had ever been top from section F. In fact, most of the top 20 students came from sections A to C. The rest of the sections hardly made it, let alone section F.

Jayden smirked, feeling amused. "Okay," he said plainly as he put the bill in the box, then left. The other students started to leave as well.

Seraphina and her friends were left feeling so down.

"Sera? What got into you? Why did you challenge him to something so difficult?" Fiona asked, looking concerned.

"Did I just..." Seraphina started to say.

"Seraphina, you're famous now. Almost everyone will expect you to meet this challenge," Sean said.

Vivian tapped her shoulder. "From confessing to him and now challenging him? You're quite special, Sera," she said, her voice tinged with tease.

Seraphina shook her head and started to walk inside. Now, she had just given herself a problem.

I admit I was frustrated by Jayden looking down on us, but I don’t want to study! I don’t want to stress myself about academics! Why did I have to say that? Argh! I should have stayed quiet earlier! I hate you, Jayden!

---

*Ring ring ring*

The school bell rings. It’s recess time, and Seraphina stares out the window. Without her noticing, Sean approaches her with another lunchbox. Vivian and Fiona also come over.

"Sera, don't take it too seriously. It's impossible anyway. Never in history has anyone from Section F made it," Fiona says while scrolling through movies to watch. It's unclear if she's trying to comfort Seraphina or just adding to her burden.

Vivian grabs her phone, "Fiona, let's do that later. Let's eat first." She takes out her lunchbox. "But it's true, Sera. Don't think about it. Let's just eat," she adds.

But Seraphina keeps gazing out the window.

"What are you talking about! Seraphina can definitely make the top 20! Never in history? Seraphina will make history! I believe in her!" Sean says confidently while opening the lunchbox.

A glimmer of hope blooms in Seraphina's heart. Sean has a point; she hasn't tried yet. What if a miracle happens? She won't let Jayden and Section A treat them like this.

Jayden, I don't know why I liked you! But now I know what to do! I'll forget you, and I'll prove to you that we're not just Section F, treated like a disease.

"Eat—" Sean didn't even finish his sentence before Seraphina grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich from the lunchbox and ate it in one go. They were surprised, but her mood visibly shifted.

"I'll prove to Jayden and everyone else that we’re not stupid!" Seraphina declared. Vivian and Fiona gaped at her, while Sean smiled proudly.

Sean clapped and said, "That's right! I know you can do it, Sera!"

"Have these two lost their minds?" Fiona whispered to Vivian.

Vivian shook her head, "They're in their fantasy world again."

After class, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, Seraphina quickly said goodbye to Vivian and Fiona because they were moving houses today. She was going to help her father with the arrangements. Vivian and Fiona understood, though they wanted to help. Vivian had a test painting to attend, and Fiona had an exhibition to go to. Sean also had been assigned by their instructor to paint at a facility.

After they had finished packing their things, they got into Seraphina's father's red car. They only needed one truck for all their belongings.

"Sera, your seatbelt," her father Arthur reminded. Seraphina nodded and put on her seatbelt. Arthur started the car and began driving.

While on their way, Seraphina noted it wasn’t too far and still within walking distance to school. Curious about the kind of people she might encounter, she couldn't help but ask.

"Dad, who is Uncle Magnus?" she asked while taking a bottle of water from her bag.

"He's my childhood friend. We used to be neighbors. His family was wealthy, but they got scammed and their company went bankrupt. Since then, your grandma, my mother, often cooked meals for them, and I would deliver the food. Magnus would always return the dishes," Arthur said with a smile. He and Seraphina chuckled together.

"Grandma was really kind," Seraphina commented, thinking about how long it had been since she last saw her grandmother.

"Yes, she was. When he transferred to public school, we became classmates. And now, he's a businessman who has started his own company. I'm sure you're familiar with FM Group," Arthur said. Seraphina's eyes widened at this revelation. Not only was FM Group well-known, but it was also one of the most influential and powerful companies in the country. She hadn't expected her father to know its CEO.

"Many people say he's strict, but he's very kind and quite the joker. You'll meet him soon, along with his very kind wife," Arthur added.

For a few seconds, they stood before a grand mansion. The mansion was painted in shades of blue and white, its vastness reminiscent of a royal residence. A fountain graced the entrance, surrounded by a lush garden with a paved walkway in the center. The garden boasted an array of flowers—roses, lilies, sunflowers, and tulips—filling the air with a captivating fragrance. The property seemed highly secured, with CCTV cameras visible everywhere and a face recognition system at the gate. It was not easily accessible.

Seraphina stood there, mouth agape, her eyes wide with astonishment as she took in the sight. The mansion was breathtakingly beautiful, and she could hardly believe that this would be their new home for now. It felt as though she had stepped into a fairy tale and was now living as a princess.

Wait... is that...

At the right side of the gate, she noticed a carved name.

“Finman… family?” Seraphina read aloud, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to grasp the significance.

Her father nodded in confirmation, and as the massive gate swung open, he drove them inside.

Finman? Could it be Jayden Ace Finman? No... it can’t be. There must be many Finmans in this country. It's impossible that this is Jayden’s family, right? But what a staggering coincidence. No, stop thinking!

Seraphina shook her head vigorously, her brow furrowed in confusion, which made her father, Arthur, raise an eyebrow in concern.

At the mansion's main entrance stood a man in his 40s with a stout build, black hair, and amber eyes, and a woman, also in her 40s, dressed as though she were a fashion model. As they approached, Seraphina could clearly see the woman's brown eyes and short black hair.

The couple greeted them with warm smiles. Seraphina felt a wave of relief and comfort as she saw them and quickly exited the car.

“Arthur!” Magnus called out, enveloping Arthur in a tight embrace. “Magnus!” the two men exclaimed emotionally, clearly moved by their long-awaited reunion.

Meanwhile, Magnus’s wife turned her attention to Seraphina. “Are you Seraphina? You’ve grown so much! It’s true what they said—you look just like Emille! Oh, by the way, I’m Elizabeth Finman!” she said with a warm smile, extending her hand for a handshake.

Seraphina shook her hand eagerly. “Have you seen me before?” she asked, curiosity and apprehension mixing in her tone.

“Yes, I have. You were just a toddler back then, probably around three years old.” Elizabeth said cheerfully. “You were such a beautiful child. Come in, my children are inside.” She gestured towards the entrance.

Her children? Boys? Girls?

Seraphina felt a flutter of nervousness. As she entered, she saw a grand gold chandelier hanging in the center, with a staircase leading to the second floor on the left side.

“Stupid!”

Suddenly, Seraphina looked up to see a boy with eyeglasses glaring down at her with a sneer. He had gray eyes and brown hair, and looked to be around 13 years old, with a small but strikingly handsome face.

Seraphina’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion, but she felt a strange sense of relief that this boy wasn’t Jayden.

How does the kid know I’m stupid?

“Hermes! Stop that! Come down here,” Elizabeth called out sternly. The boy, Hermes, complied and descended the stairs. “Seraphina, this is my youngest, Hermes Finman. I apologize; he can be a bit troublesome.”

Seraphina gave a reassuring gesture. “It’s okay, that’s how kids are. Hi, Hermes! I’m Seraphina. You’re very cute,” she said, patting his head. Hermes shrugged off the gesture and made a face.

“Hermes!” his mother scolded.

“Look, Brother! Here’s this stupid girl who stole my room!” Hermes exclaimed as he approached his older brother, who had just arrived home from school.

Seraphina’s world seemed to collapse around her.

Are you punishing me, Lord? Is this really happening?

“Jayden! There you are. This is Seraphina. Introduce yourself,” Elizabeth urged.

What????? Should I just bury myself here right now? Is this real? I can hardly breathe.

“Hi, I am Jayden Ace Finman.” He introduced it as if Seraphina didn’t know him.

WHAT?! I’m not dreaming?! He and I, living together?