CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: WAS SHE ACTUALLY THE ONE TAKING THE INITIATIVE?

That night, Seraphina had no idea when Ethan fell asleep or where he did so.

By the time she woke up the next day, it was already past nine o’clock.

It was the weekend and the performance had been successfully completed, so she didn’t need to go to school for rehearsals, and she could finally enjoy a rare sleep-in.

Ethan wasn’t in the room, so he must have gone to work.

Being the boss, his new company in the country was just starting up, so naturally, he didn’t have weekends off.

When Seraphina came out of Ethan’s master bedroom wrapped in a bathrobe, Ms. Sawyer, the hourly maid hired by Ethan, was already cleaning the room.

Seeing her, Ms. Sawyer smiled and handed over a cup of warm water and a box of medicine.

"Mr. Sterling said you only need to take one of these pills every twelve hours."

Didn’t he already give her medicine last night?

Besides, they hadn’t done anything, so why would she need to take it?

Seraphina looked at the medicine box in confusion.

On the box was the name of the medicine and instructions.

It was a box of pain relief pills, not the birth control pills she had imagined.

As she walked toward the kitchen, Ms. Sawyer suddenly remembered something and turned around.

"Oh right, Mr. Sterling also said that your hand must not touch water. If you want to take a bath, use the bathtub, not the shower."

Seraphina suddenly realized.

So, that was why he specially called her to his room yesterday.

This means Ethan had no intention of touching her at all!

Then...

Was she the one who initiated it?

Holding the medicine box, Seraphina felt her face heat up.

"Mr. Sterling really cherishes his wife," Ms. Sawyer said as she brought breakfast to the dining table. "My husband, don’t even mention reminding me about taking medicine, it’s already good enough if he doesn’t make me go to the hospital."

Clutching the medicine box, Seraphina stayed silent.

She felt a soft warmth in her chest, a bit touched.

They were just in a contract marriage; he didn’t have to do any of this.

After finishing breakfast, Seraphina took the subway to the house of a new student recommended by her music school manager for a trial lesson.

Her father’s health had stabilized, and by taking on more students, she could earn more money.

While she was still on the road, a call came from Ivy Langley.

"Wow, Maestro Thorne, you’ve made the headlines so quickly. Can I ride on your coattails?"

"What headlines?"

"You don’t know yet? You’ve become quite the sensation! This time you have to treat us, Maestro!"

Ivy, who studied law and is interning at a law firm, was working overtime on the weekend morning and hung up after a few hurried words.

After ending the call, Seraphina opened the news app.

As expected, she saw news about yesterday’s performance on the local headlines.

In the news images, alongside group photos with performers and leaders, there was also an individual photo of her.

Out of all the guest performers yesterday, Seraphina was the only one from Jadeston.

The city’s cultural department leader thought she performed well and specially gave her a chance to be in the spotlight to highlight the city’s cultural heritage.

The news wasn’t just released in articles but was also promoted on various social media accounts.

The musicians who performed last night shared it, and Seraphina had become a minor sensation.

Even the parents of the student she was giving a trial lesson to saw the news.

They not only booked two months of lessons with her but also raised her hourly rate from five hundred to eight hundred, almost equivalent to the price a principal musician in an orchestra would earn.

For the first time, Seraphina truly felt the benefits that fame brought.

Since her family’s incident, Ivy Langley had been both financially supportive and hands-on, helping Seraphina a lot.

After finishing the student’s lesson, Seraphina arrived at the western restaurant she and Ivy often frequented, ready to indulge this time and treat her friend to a meal.

The two found seats and sat down.

While Seraphina was still deciding on the menu, Ivy, sitting across from her, suddenly nudged her arm and jerked her chin toward the restaurant entrance.

Curious, Seraphina turned her head and saw a group approaching the restaurant door.

Leading the way, dressed in a suit, was Adrian Chamberlain.

Beside him, a young girl was clad in designer clothing, adorned with jewels.

As Seraphina watched, the two were chatting and laughing as they entered the restaurant.

Behind them were two middle-aged women with wealthy appearances, one of whom was Adrian’s mother.

Adrian was smiling and chatting with the girl, without noticing Seraphina.

However, Mrs. Chamberlain had just turned in their direction and, upon seeing Seraphina, visibly stiffened.

"It’s too crowded on the first floor, let’s head to the second floor!"

Mrs. Chamberlain took Adrian by the arm and led the group upstairs.

"Let me tell you, Seraphina, he must be here for a matchmaking date," Ivy said angrily, "That scumbag, moving on to someone newer and higher up so quickly."

Seraphina withdrew her gaze, calmly continuing to peruse the menu.

"What do you feel like having, steak or fish?"

"Can you still eat?" Ivy said, incredulous, "If it were me, I’d rush over there and expose him for who he really is and ruin his date."

Seraphina looked up, her tone indifferent.

"Why let a scumbag affect our dining mood?"

"Have you really let go of this scumbag?" Ivy paused, then suddenly laughed, "That’s great, Seraphina, you finally turned back from the abyss. For this, I must treat you to a drink!"

Ivy stood and went to the counter to order champagne.

With the menu in hand, Seraphina was also slightly stunned.

Moments ago, seeing Adrian walk in with the young girl, she didn’t really feel much.

In fact, she felt a bit relieved.

If Adrian truly had someone new, maybe he wouldn’t entangle with her like before.

Could it be, she had really let go of him?

"Seraphina, what a coincidence!"

A shadow flickered across her peripheral vision.

Mrs. Chamberlain smiled, pulled out a chair, and sat across from her.

"It’s been a while. How is your father?"

Seraphina’s tone turned cold, "Just say what you want to say."

"I know you have misunderstandings about our Adrian, but you were the one who called off the engagement, weren’t you? Our Adrian hasn’t done anything to wrong you, right? Well, let’s not talk about this, I know it’s not easy for you. No need to mention it."

Mrs. Chamberlain forced a smile and placed a stack of cash from her wallet onto the table.

"Today’s meal is on me, would you mind having your meal elsewhere?"

Back when the Chamberlain Family had their investment failures, it was the Thorne Family who supported them through their difficulties.

The Thorne family’s current predicament was inseparable from Adrian.

When Mr. Thorne had his accident, not a single person from the Chamberlain Family went to the hospital.

Her precious son repeatedly threatened and forced her.

And yet, Mrs. Chamberlain had the nerve to say they hadn’t done her wrong?

Seraphina didn’t even glance at the money on the table, "Where I choose to dine is my own business, no need for Mrs. Chamberlain’s concern."

"Seraphina, don’t be ungrateful!" Mrs. Chamberlain’s face darkened. "I’ll warn you, if you dare ruin my son’s matchmaking date, just see how I’ll deal with you."

"Can’t the people of the Chamberlain Family show some shame?" Ivy returned with the ordered champagne, grabbed the cash from the table and flung it at Mrs. Chamberlain, "Take your filthy money and get lost!"

The cash fell and scattered across the floor.

All around, the eyes of the diners were drawn, even the guests upstairs became disturbed.

"Mrs. Chamberlain!" Diane Dawson, the vice mayor’s daughter who was on a blind date with Adrian, rushed downstairs and supported Mrs. Chamberlain’s elbow, "Are you alright?"

Adrian and Diane’s mother were right behind her.

Upon seeing Seraphina, Adrian’s eyes narrowed, already guessing at what had happened, he strode over to protect his mother.

"Seraphina, I know you hate me, but... you really shouldn’t treat my mom this way, right?"