Chapter 6
Seraphina trailed behind Sharon as they returned to the bedroom.
After setting down the pastries, Sharon turned to leave, while Seraphina sat at the table, her gaze drifting aimlessly out the window. The setting sun painted the hills with a breathtaking any of colors, its fading light catching in Seraphina’s eyes and making them shimmer like polished gemstones.
Something about Seraphina’s serene face in that moment touched Sharon. “You look lovely, Ms. Johnson,” she said softly.
Seraphina turned, offering a gentle smile. “Thank you,” she murmured.
As Sharon quietly closed the door behind her, Seraphina felt an unexpected sense of peace wash over her. ‘Sharon’s so kind, she thought. ‘She must have noticed how uneasy I felt and tried to comfort me with that compliment.
After nibbling on a slice of cake and sipping some tea, Seraphina found that the silence of the room was making her drowsy. With no idea when Clarence might show up, she leaned back against the headboard, and before she knew it, she had slid down onto the bed and drifted off to sleep.
Elsewhere in the mansion, the study door swung open. Randy emerged with Clarence close behind him, his expression cold and distant. The two men headed downstairs, clearly intending to leave.
Shapon, catching sight of them, called out, “Mr. Vanderbilt, are you leaving?
Clarence gave a curt nod while striding towards the gate. “Don’t bother with dinner for me.”
Sharon hesitated, words hovering on her lips.
Noticing her hesitant look, Clarence paused, turning slightly. “What is it? Something wrong?”
“It’s nothing, really,” Sharon said, forcing a smile. “It’s just Ms. Johnson is still waiting for you upstairs. If you’re leaving. I’ll tell her that she can go.”
Clarence’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly as he remembered the girl waiting for him–or more accurately, waiting for his money. With a slight frown, he changed course and headed up the stairs,
As he pushed the bedroom door open, Clarence’s gaze immediately fell on the woman asleep on the bed without a blanket.
She lay curled on her side, one arm tucked beneath her head, her hair fanned out across the pillow. The last rays of sunlight streamed through the window, bathing her in a golden glow that seemed to make her skin glow like the finest porcelain with just a hint of rose.
ting
Clarence found himself rooted to the spot, unexpectedly captivated. In her sleep, Seraphina looked like a peaceful angel, her serenity somehow soothing Clarence’s tumultuous thoughts. At the same time, she reminded him of a gentle, kitten, stirring an unexpected protective instinct within him.
The frustration of the meeting just now had been simmering inside him, but the moment he caught sight of Seraphina, peacefully asleep, all that pent–up irritation melted away. It was an unfamiliar, almost magical sensation, like something within him had softened, and with it came a surprising sense of calm and acceptance.
He quietly made his way to the bed and gently draped a blanket over Seraphina’s body. Despite his careful movement, the slight shift startled Seraphina awake. Her eyes fluttered open to meet Clarence’s cool, steady, unreadable gaze.
Seraphina’s eyes, still clouded with drowsiness, held a crystal–clear quality. They reminded Clarence of a tranquil lake veiled by a thin mist–serene, pure, and untouched by the complexities of the world.
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Chapter 6
For a brief moment, Clarence’s gaze softened. He was used to being surrounded by women from high society–those molded by rigid rules and polished appearances, all of them so alike it was almost suffocating Their every word and gesture felt rehearsed, their smiles never revealing more than they were supposed to.
Though young and impeccably groomed, their pretty eyes were always calculating, filled with vanity and self–interest as they fawned over him. He had grown weary of these women, who smiled and flattered with ulterior motives in mind.
But Seraphina was different. She might have her reasons for being here, too, but there was something about the innocence in her sparkling eyes that caught him off guard, which was a stark contrast to the dull, rehearsed expressions of the socialites he knew.
Her eyes were amazingly bright, untainted by the pretenses he had come to expect, stirring a sudden instinct to protect her along with a touch of curiosity.
Caught in Clarence’s intense stare, Seraphina blushed. She propped herself up, mumbling. “I… I dozed off.”
“Go back to sleep if you want,” Clarence said, his tone noticeably warmer than before.
Seraphina blinked in surprise, noticing the absence of disdain in his eyes. “No, I’m awake now,” she replied sofily.
“Alright. Get ready for dinner then.”
As Clarence turned to leave, Seraphina found herself staring at his retreating figure, still somewhat confused, “Why is he suddenly being so nice to me? she wondered.
Before she could think more on it, Clarence paused at the door and glanced back. Startled, Seraphina immediately flashed a nervous smile and scrambled out of bed. “I’ll be ready in a moment,” she blurted out, assuming he was impatient. Surelya man of his status wouldn’t like to be kept waiting.
Her small flurry of nervousness brought a faint smile to Clarence’s lips. ‘Good girl, he thought to himself.
After freshening up in her room, Seraphina made her way downstairs.
A young
maid led her to the dining room, where Clarence was already seated at an opulent round table. Spread across the table was an array of seafood, the most striking of all being the enormous, glistening plate of bright red king crab, Seraphina had never seen, let alone tasted, such a luxurious meal.
Clarence, wearing an earpiece, was engaged in a phone conversation and paid no attention to Seraphina’s arrival. She approached the table, intending to sit farther away from him, but noticed her place setting was right next to his. After a moment’s hesitation, she reached out to pull the chair next to him.
Just then, Clarence’s hand brushed over hers as he stood up, startling Seraphina into quickly withdrawing her hand. He pulled out the chair for her while continuing his phone conversation.
“Just handle it as we discussed. I’m about to have dinner.” Clarence said, ending the call as he finished pulling
the chair.
The chair was quite heavy, and his unexpected chivalry caught Seraphina off guard. A small smile tugged at her lips. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Clarence, now seated beside her, just nodded. “Help yourself to whatever you like,” he said.
Seraphina offered a polite, almost hesitant smile in return, her eyes scanning the extravagant seafood delicacies in front of her. These were dishes she had only ever seen on television. She came from a modest background, and it was a rare occasion for her to eat out, let alone indulge in such high–end cuisine.
She found herself staring at the elegant place setting a beautiful plate, pristine napkin, and an assortment of utensils including a knife, fork, crab crackers, and various spoons. She was at a loss as to which utensil to use first or for what
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Chapter 6
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Inwardly, Seraphina grumbled. ‘Seriously, what’s with all this fancy cutlery? Can’t a pair of knife and fork do the job? Rich people really live in another world.
To avoid embarrassing herself, she picked up the fork. After a brief pause, she reached for the salad and took a few cautious bites bef
