Chapter 6: Cousin Lucas

Leon Everhart spent the night having a long conversation with his father, who was visibly pleased with how well his eldest son had turned out. That night, Leon stayed at his father’s house.

Meanwhile, Ava was left alone in Leon Everhart’s home again. The house was massive—a two-story duplex equipped with every luxury imaginable. Leon favored bright spaces; the interior was simple and modern, with white and natural wood tones dominating the decor.

Ava, dressed in a pale yellow robe, sat curled up on the couch in the vast, cold living room. At just 24, she looked more like a resentful queen in an empty palace, waiting for her emperor’s rare visit. Every day after work, Ava would rush back here, groceries in hand, hoping Leon would come home. Most of the time, her wait was in vain, but she couldn’t afford not to be there.

Leon gave her $3,000 a month for living expenses, with the condition that she must be home whenever he returned. Ava had no social life—she couldn’t go out with friends her age, stroll around holding hands with anyone, or even attend casual team dinners. If she texted Leon asking for permission, it was a sure sign her department would end up working late that day.

Ava envied and resented Seraphina Arden. That plump woman didn’t have to try hard to please Leon—no coquettish looks, no entertaining tricks, no dressing up. Yet she could spend at least 12 hours a day by Leon’s side, standing close to him with no shame or restriction.

Ava thought bitterly, If I were in Seraphina Arden’s place, I’d do just as well—probably better.

Little did Seraphina know she had become someone else’s object of jealousy.

Seraphina, young and oblivious, never considered how women in love view any female who comes close to their man—whether it’s a mosquito or a pig. If you happen to share space with him daily, you’re instantly labeled a threat.

Seraphina was only a bit overweight and ordinary-looking, not even outright unattractive. She was single, which, in this case, was a crime in itself.

Mid-dinner, Seraphina sneezed several times in a row. She covered her mouth, laughing, “Must be some petty soul cursing me again. Eh, I’ll be the bigger person.” She popped a meatball into her mouth and chewed slowly.

Chloe chimed in suddenly, “Oh, I heard from your dad yesterday that Ethan brought his girlfriend home. They’re already discussing marriage.”

Seraphina’s chopsticks paused mid-air. She didn’t flinch, nor did she lose her appetite. Calmly, she replied, “If I see him, I’ll congratulate him.”

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. She had worried Seraphina might have feelings for Ethan. After all, they weren’t in the same league, and their family couldn’t afford to aim that high.

That evening, Seraphina took a shower. Still feeling stuffed, she sat on her bed, watching Spirited Away on her iPad. One line in particular caught her attention: “Life is like a train headed for the grave. Along the way, there are many stops. It’s rare for anyone to stay with you for the entire journey. When someone has to leave, no matter how hard it is, you should be grateful and wave goodbye.”

She rewound the scene several times, deeply moved.

The next day, Seraphina was her usual energetic self, busy as ever at TerraVantage Group. Her days were filled with tasks, meetings, and errands.

Unfortunately, her period had arrived, and given her weight, she often felt unwell during her cycle. On the second day, her flow was heavy, and she frequently had to visit the restroom.

Leon called for her several times, but she wasn’t at her desk. Eventually, he stormed into her office and, in front of everyone, shouted, “Seraphina Arden! Don’t you know we have a ton of work today? Where the hell have you been all day? Get to the meeting room—people are waiting because of you!”

Ever since Leon discovered Seraphina’s knack for shorthand and summarizing, he had made it a habit to bring her along to important meetings. Afterward, her detailed notes would give him fresh insights into issues discussed, proving invaluable.

Seraphina wanted to explain but couldn’t. By the time the workday ended, she was completely drained. Her pants were stained, and she waited until the meeting room was empty to carefully clean the leather chair with water and tissues.

She called her mom quietly, “Mom, I’m not feeling well. I can’t take it anymore. Is Dad off work? Can he come pick me up?”

Her parents were heartbroken. Elijah, her father, replied immediately, “Hang tight, sweetie. I’m on my way. I’ll call when I get there.”

As Leon left his office, preparing to head home, he noticed her office lights still on. Through the glass, he saw Seraphina slumped over her desk. Knocking lightly on the open door, he asked, “Why are you still here?”

Struggling to her feet, she replied with a faint smile, “Waiting for someone. I’ll leave soon.”

Leon gave her a once-over and said nothing more before walking out.

Not long after, Seraphina’s phone rang. “Sweetie, I’m downstairs,” Elijah said.

She shut down her computer, grabbed her bag, and locked the office door. As she walked to the elevator, she saw Leon waiting there. “Come on,” he said, expressionless. “Let’s go down together.”

“Thank you, Mr. Everhart,” she murmured, smiling weakly.

In the elevator, Leon asked casually, “You feeling okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, her smile forced. “Thanks for asking.”

The elevator reached the ground floor. As the doors opened, Ava stepped out of another elevator, immediately noticing Seraphina and Leon standing side by side. Her eyes flickered with something unspoken, but she quickly lowered her gaze.

Seraphina stepped out first, turning to Leon. “Thank you, Mr. Everhart.”

He didn’t respond, following her out. Outside, Leon’s ride was waiting for him, but before Seraphina could find her dad, a young man she knew well appeared.

“Lucas!” she screamed, running toward him and throwing her arms around him. “What are you doing here?”

The handsome young man hugged her back. “Weren’t you just on the phone, saying you were dying? I rushed here thinking I might miss your funeral. Turns out, you’re fine. What a drama queen!”

She kicked him lightly. Lucas grinned, pulling a thermos from his bag. “Here, drink something warm. There’s food waiting for you in the car.”

Seraphina was spoiled by her family, especially Lucas, who was in his senior year of college and job-hunting. Hearing her distress over the phone, he insisted on coming along with Elijah to check on her.

The two bickered playfully as Lucas helped her into the backseat of the car, drawing the attention of passing colleagues. With practiced ease, Lucas placed a pillow on his lap for Seraphina to rest her head, tucked a blanket around her, and handed her a hot water bottle.

As the car drove off, a coworker sighed enviously, “No wonder Ms. Seraphina is so cheerful—she’s living in a honey jar.”

Leon saw everything. His face remained neutral, but for some inexplicable reason, he felt a tiny pang of... something.

By the time his car arrived, Leon had already shoved the scene to the back of his mind, focused on the file handed to him as he got in.

After a good night’s rest, Seraphina was back to her usual bubbly self. At work, Sophia teased her, “Look at Seraphina! Nothing like a little love to brighten you up!”

Seraphina just grinned cheekily, offering no denial.