Chapter 49
Mason warmly called Seraphina’s name, his tone filled with a fatherly kindness.
After chatting for a bit, he prepared to leave. “You girls keep up the good work. I’m heading off now.” Then, he turned to remind Jennifer. “I’ll be back in a while. Make sure to manage the company well.”
“I will.” She let go of Mason, her voice brimming with confidence. “Dad, you know what I’m capable of, don’t you?”
He smiled gently, clearly proud of Jennifer. He looked over at Seraphina and said, “Sera, Jeni doesn’t have many friends here in Angoria. Thank you for keeping her company.”
“You’re too kind. Jeni and I hit it off right away,” Seraphina replied.
“That’s great. Well, Sera, I’ll get going now,” Mason said with a friendly smile. “Next time I’m here, let me take you out to eat.” ‘Oh, you’re so kind, Mr. Dickens,” Seraphina responded, waving her hand with a lighthearted smile. “Goodbye.”
Mason paused, staring at her smile, and for a brief moment, his gaze seemed distant. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just left without a word.
After he was gone, Seraphina commented, “Your dad’s really handsome. He’s so well–preserved that you can’t even tell how old he is. Your mom’s a lucky woman.”
Jennifer’s expression dimmed, the smile on her face fading into something more somber. Her tone dropped as she quietly said, “My mom… She passed away.”
Seraphina immediately fell silent. She quickly apologized. “I’m so sorry, Jeni. I didn’t know…”
“It’s okay. There’s no need to avoid the topic. It’s just… I regret that she passed away so early.” Jennifer took a deep breath, pulling herself together. She gave Seraphina a gentle pat on the shoulder, changing the subject. “I got into fitness because of my dad.
“Exercise is truly the secret to staying young. So, let’s get back to lifting some weights.” Jennifer flexed her arm with a bit of a tomboyish attitude.
“Alright,” Seraphina agreed:
The two of them headed to the equipment area, with Seraphina working on her back while Jennifer guided her.
“By the way, Sera, your mom has been hired by the company,” Jennifer said.
Seraphina nodded. “Yeah. She called to tell me. Thanks for that, Jeni.”
Jennifer chuckled, “I should be thanking you. We just started the company, and we need someone like Mrs. Johnson- experienced and responsible. Sera, I didn’t hire your mom as a favor to you. The finance department is not something we can mess around with.
“So, it was your mom’s skills that landed her the job. I only fast–tracked her interview, that’s all. Mrs. Johnson is so gentle and beautiful, and you can’t even tell her age. I bet your dad loves her a lot.”
At the mention of that, Seraphina’s tone softened slightly as she murmured, “My dad passed away too.”
Jennifer instantly went quiet. She gave a slight shrug and wrapped Seraphina in a quick hug. “Let’s focus on crushing those weights and stay happy, alright?”
“Okay, Seraphina agreed and started working out.
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Chapter 49
回家20%包
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After having a simple lunch with Jennifer, Seraphina headed back home.
At that moment, Shirley was cooking a pot of chicken, and the aroma of the free–range chicken filled the entire house. Seraphina stood by the kitchen door, took a deep breath, and said, “Mom’s chicken always smells the best.”
“The meat’s not done yet. But how about I ladle you some soup to tide you over?” Shirley offered.
“Sure.” Seraphina nodded.
She walked over to the dining table and sat down as Shirley brought her a bowl of soup. The golden oil floated on the surface, sprinkled with a few green onions–both appetizing and pleasing to the eye.
Even though Seraphina had just eaten, she couldn’t resist the temptation of her mom’s soup. She picked up the spoon and took a sip, praising it right away. “This is delicious.”
It had been a while since Shirley had seen her daughter enjoying her cooking, and she felt a sense of accomplishment. But there was also a hint of concern. “Why don’t you move back home so I can take better care of you?”
Seraphina didn’t respond right away because whether or not she could move back wasn’t up to her. Even though she and Clarence were in the middle of a standoff, she still had to play the role of the canary in his gilded cage. Until her benefactor decided to let her go, she had no autonomy.
“I’ve been super busy lately, working late almost every day. Once things calm down a bit, I’ll move back in,” Seraphina said, trying to delay the conversation.
Shirley chuckled, “I was just saying it out of concern. I feel bad knowing you’re not eating well out there. If you moved back, you’d be wasting too much time commuting anyway. So, never mind.”
Shirley’s understanding made Seraphina smile faintly. She didn’t dare to continue on that topic, so she changed the subject. “By the way, when’s Tommy coming back? It feels like it’s been ages since I last saw him.”
“He said he’s training out in the countryside, but he’ll be back soon,” Shirley replied, her tone carrying a hint of pride. “He said he’s probably going to make it onto the national team.”
“Really?” Seraphina’s face lit up with excitement. “Our country’s soccer might just depend on him!”
Out in the countryside, Thomas leaned against his motorcycle and pulled out a cigarette. He cupped his hands to light it, and a faint trail of smoke partially obscured his sharp features. His gaze, piercing through the thinning smoke, casually swept across his surroundings.
Just then, one of his teammates called out, “Tommy, let’s go.”
“I’m not heading back to the team tonight. I’m going home,” Thomas replied nonchalantly.
“We’ll head out first then,” his teammate responded. Thomas gave a casual thumbs–up.
A few of the team members boarded the bus, and someone called out, teasing, “Don’t look so cool by the roadside on that bike. You know how crazy your fans are. Watch out. They might come running to stop traffic.”
Another chimed in, “Yeah, man. You gotta protect yourself when you’re out here.”
Thomas curled his lips into a smirk, exhaling smoke with a cool detached air. He figured he’d finish his cigarette before heading off. After hours of training, his craving had kicked in.
The team bus drove away moments later. This was the outskirts of town, nearly deserted. Thomas leisurely smoked, his
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Chapter 49
body slightly leaning over his motorcycle, his posture casual yet with an air of aloofness.
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Suddenly, a taxi pulled up nearby, seemingly broken down. The driver stepped out, opened the hood, and started checking the engine.
In the front passenger seat sat a girl wearing sunglasses. Her long hair was tucked behind her ears. Her skin was smooth and delicate, and her features were strikingly beautiful, though her expression was a bit cold. She glanced at her watch, her face showing a hint of impatience as she noticed the driver was still struggling to fix the issue.
The taxi driver closed the hood and got back into the car, apologizing to the girl. “Sorry, miss. The car’s not going anywhere. You’ll need to find another ride. I won’t charge you for the fare.”
The girl didn’t respond immediately, but her expression visibly cooled. She parted her red lips as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing and simply opened the door. One long, smooth leg stepped out as she exited the car.
She wore a babydoll top and a midi skirt with a slight gap between the two, teasing the outline of her slender waist. Her minty greenish–gray hair, slightly curled, draped stylishly over her shoulders, giving her a chic yet sultry vibe.
Her high–heeled sandals were easily over 10 inches tall, and her feet, delicate like diamond, had toenails painted a deep crimson, like striking red dots in the snow–breathtakingly beautiful.
As she walked, the reflection of Thomas–still casually smoking–appeared in her sunglasses. After a few steps, she was standing right in front of him.
SEND GIFT
