CHAPTER 3: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The drive home was unusually quiet.

The city lights streaked past the tinted windows of the car as Seraphina leaned her head against the seat, finally allowing herself to relax after the exhausting evening.

Vivienne sat beside her, scrolling through her tablet.

"We've received forty-three partnership requests already."

"I expected as much." Seraphina smiled faintly.

"You've caused quite a stir." Vivienne chuckled. "Especially after Blackwood Group approached you personally."

Seraphina remained silent.

Her fingers traced the edge of her phone absentmindedly.

Vivienne noticed.

"You okay?"

She nodded.

"I've waited years for tonight. But somehow...It wasn't as satisfying as I imagined."

"Revenge rarely is." Vivienne's expression softened.

*****

Nearly thirty minutes later, the car pulled into the driveway of Seraphina's luxurious Manhattan penthouse.

Before the chauffeur could open the door, the front door burst open.

"Mommy!" A little girl with long dark hair ran toward her at full speed.

Seraphina's entire expression changed. A genuine smile spread across her face.

She knelt just in time to catch her daughter in her arms.

"You came home in time!" Aurora giggled.

"I told you I would."

Vivienne smiled as she watched them.

"Hi aunt Vivi!" Aurora waved at Vivienne.

"How are you doing sweetheart."

"Never been better," Aurora smiled.

"That's my baby girl," Vivienne winked.

Gabriel's blue Benz was just driving in.

Aurora suddenly looked past Seraphina.

"Uncle Gabriel!"

She ran straight toward him.

Gabriel laughed as she threw herself into his arms.

"Easy there. You'll knock your old uncle over."

"You're not old." She shook her head vigorously. "You're handsome."

Vivienne burst into laughter.

Gabriel pretended to be offended.

"Well... thank you."

"Are you staying for dinner?" Aurora grinned .

Before Gabriel could answer, his phone rang. He checked the screen and sighed. "The hospital."

"You have to go again?" Aurora's smile faded.

Gabriel crouched beside her.

"A little boy needs surgery tonight."

"You always save other people." Aurora pouted.

"And one day, you'll understand why." Gabriel gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. He kissed her forehead. "I'll make it up to you this weekend."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Only then did she let him go.

As Gabriel drove away, a middle-aged woman stepped into the hallway.

"Welcome home, ma'am."

"Thank you, Martha." Seraphina smiled warmly.

Martha had been Aurora's nanny since she was a baby. She wasn't merely an employee. She was family.

"I've already prepared dinner."

"Perfect."

BLACKWOOD MANOR

The Blackwood family gathered in the living room.

Margaret poured herself a glass of wine.

"Aurelia Capital is more impressive than I anticipated."

"I liked Ms Seraphina," Roxanne nodded. "She carries herself well. And she's remarkably humble considering everything she's accomplished."

"Humble?" Margaret scoffed. "I found her rather full of herself."

"I think she's simply confident," Roxanne smiled.

Adrian remained unusually quiet. Margaret noticed.

"What do you think?"

"I think partnering with Aurelia Capital would benefit both companies," he said.

"That's all?" Margaret questioned.

"Yes." He nodded.

Roxanne smiled knowingly.

"I noticed she seemed close to the doctor, Gabriel Sterling. They looked comfortable together."

Adrian spoke before he realized it.

"They're probably just friends."

The room fell silent. Margaret slowly turned toward him. Her eyebrow lifted.

"Why are you so concerned about Ms. Vale's romantic life?"

"I wasn't," Adrian frowned.

"Nevermind," Margaret set down her glass. "Let's concern ourselves with the partnership. Not her personal affairs."

Yet even after the conversation ended, Adrian found himself remembering one thing.

Her eyes.

SERAPHINA'S PENTHOUSE

*****

After dinner, Vivienne checked the time.

"I should head home."

"Goodnight, Aunt Vivi." Aurora hugged her tightly.

"Goodnight, sweetheart." Vivienne kissed her forehead. "Don't give your mom too much trouble."

"I never do."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

"That's debatable." Vivienne laughed.

*****

An hour later, Seraphina tucked Aurora beneath the blankets.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"Did your big party go well?" Aurora yawned.

"It did."

"Were you scared?"

"A little." Seraphina smiled.

Aurora reached out and held her mother's hand.

"You don't have to be scared. You're the bravest person I know."

For a brief moment, Seraphina felt her heart ache. If only her daughter knew.

She kissed Aurora's forehead.

"Goodnight, my sunshine. I love you."

"I love you more."

Within minutes, Aurora had drifted to sleep.

The house had fallen silent.

Seraphina stepped into her study. She removed her earrings and placed them on the desk. Then opened a thick black folder.

BLACKWOOD GROUP

Company reports, financial statements, property acquisitions, board members, shareholders.

Years of carefully collected information.

She turned the first page. A photograph of Adrian stared back at her. Her fingers lingered over it.

For just a second, She wanted to remember.

Seraphina closed the file sharply.

"No," she whispered to herself. "I'm not Sarah anymore."

She opened another file. This one was labeled:

BLACKWOOD FAMILY – CONFIDENTIAL

Her eyes hardened.

"Your empire..."

She slowly turned the next page.

"...is the first thing I'll take from you."