CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: PAST MEMORIES WITH LEO LYNCH

EDITOR: ENDLESSFANTASY TRANSLATION

She was very clever. Her words first expressed Mia Redgrave’s longing for Seraphina Redgrave, attributing her previous unusual actions to this. Then, she persuaded Leo Lynch to return to the mall, to keep Seraphina occupied until Jonathan Redgrave’s bodyguards arrived to take Seraphina away.

Upon hearing this, Leo Lynch’s previous distrust in Mia vanished. He looked at Mia’s bruised face with pain and held her even tighter: "Don’t say anything. I’m not leaving."

"But what about Seraphina?"

Mia wiped her tears as she spoke.

"Before leaving, I told her that Friday was your birthday celebration. Maybe she will remember old times and come. Then we can ask her what happened in those three years."

Leo embraced Mia tightly.

"Okay."

There’s no way Seraphina would go to Kaelor again after narrowly escaping. Going to Kaelor Hotel on Friday would be suicide.

Mia gritted her teeth. She must catch that wretched woman Seraphina. She couldn’t let her live, as Seraphina was supposed to be the scapegoat sent to die on her behalf. If Seraphina lived, then the damned calamity would come upon her again. What then?

Seraphina must die!

Mia obediently leaned into Leo’s embrace. A fierce look flickered across her swollen, pig-like face.

...

The moonlight was as clear as water.

It illuminated the bustling Sovereign City.

Seraphina Redgrave hid behind the ornamental trees, watching Leo’s car drive farther away, while the bodyguards sent by Jonathan Redgrave wandered in and out of the mall, searching for her like headless flies.

Seraphina walked under the moonlight, slowly along the sidewalk.

The moonlight fell on Seraphina’s seaweed-like long hair, cloaking her in a gentle, veiled glow. The night breeze was cool, and Seraphina couldn’t help but rub her chilly arms. The thrill of outsmarting Mia earlier had faded from her eyes.

Seraphina recalled Mia and Leo cuddling together, whispering sweet nothings.

In the past, she had earned money for food by picking up packages for the entire dormitory building.

One day, Seraphina received a task to pass a love letter and gift to Leo from a customer.

By then, Leo was already attending university. Seraphina pulled many strings to find out where Leo would appear.

At that time, Leo was working on a project with a teacher, and the classroom where the experiment was conducted wasn’t open to non-project students. Seraphina, carrying the gift given to her by a girl, sneaked into Leo’s university and slipped to the classroom door where they were conducting experiments.

Unable to enter, Seraphina waited outside, squatting and dozing off.

Half-asleep, she heard a sound and instinctively stood up, but because she’d been squatting too long, she felt dizzy and lost her balance, toppling forward. A strong hand steadied her.

Seraphina looked up and saw her fragile reflection in those gentle, smiling eyes.

This person was Leo.

Seraphina gave Leo the gift entrusted by the girl, explained its origin, and then left.

The next day, after school, Seraphina saw Leo leaning against a beautiful luxury car. In a clean, bright white T-shirt, he gently smiled at Seraphina like a refined nobleman, exuding elegance with every move.

He opened the car door and handed her a large bouquet of roses.

Leo told her he was love-struck at first sight by Seraphina.

Seraphina also asked herself if she had ever liked Leo.

Initially, when Leo appeared clean and pure in her life, she too fantasized about the fairy tale of Cinderella and the prince.

But somehow Mia found out about her and Leo, cried, fussed, and caused a scene. Feeling weak, she had to give up that dream buried in her heart, succumb to Mia, and create chances for Leo and Mia to date.

Later, the Redgrave Family intended to give her to an old man.

She stabbed that person in desperation and ran for her life, with no means to save herself. When about to be caught, her only hope was to seek help from the sole savior, Leo.

She thought Leo would help her escape the nightmare.

Who would’ve thought, before she could tell him that she was the Redgraves’ adopted daughter, Mia made a call, and Leo revealed everything. She was forced to run away again.

Eventually, the Redgrave Family caught her and threw her into a forbidden zone.

Does she hate Leo? But Leo didn’t know anything, so there’s no reason to hate him.

Yet she had clearly told Leo not to disclose her whereabouts, and Leo recounted everything to Mia. After that incident, all her illusions about Leo disappeared.

Forget it.

Nothing worth thinking about.

Seraphina took out the identification card from her sweater pocket.

Ronan Yates told her that as long as the identity wasn’t verified by a machine, this ID could deceive the general public.

So, with this ID, she could still barely survive.

She didn’t need to escape from Hibiscus Garden this early, but Ethan Sterling seemed to have either seen through her disguise or had truly developed some desires towards her.

Staying at Hibiscus Garden might be more dangerous than remaining outside. She didn’t want anything to happen with that man.

Today, she would return to Hibiscus Garden, pack a few necessities, and then escape.

As long as she feigned an episode and escaped from the villa, it shouldn’t involve Granny Coleman and Nanny Lynch.

Upon returning to Hibiscus Garden, Seraphina buried a wooden box she had brought from the Redgraves near the lakeside under the moonlit grass, preparing to take it when she sneaked away tomorrow.

To better face the pursuit awaiting her tomorrow, Seraphina took two of Granny Coleman’s calming pills to ensure a full night’s sleep.

When she woke up, it was already eleven in the morning, having not even dreamt.

Good.

Time to run away.

Seraphina stretched lazily, sitting up from the bed. Just as she was about to swing her legs off, someone pushed the bedroom door from the outside.

She immediately feigned a dazed expression, her beautiful eyes devoid of spirit, like a child who understood nothing.

"Miss, you’re up?"

Nanny Lynch walked to Seraphina’s side, gently tidying her disheveled black hair, her fingertips warm and movements gentle: "Miss slept for so long this time. The Young Master is already waiting downstairs. It’s rare; the Young Master never waits for anyone without complaint."

Ethan Sterling?

What’s he doing here?

Seraphina’s plan for escape instantly crumbled. She didn’t dare enact seizures and flee in front of that pervert.

"Miss, come here, let me help you dress."

Nanny Lynch completely treated Seraphina like a child, carefully selecting a light pink dress for her from the wardrobe, helping her put it on, leading her to the bathroom, and even graciously squeezing toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

Having stayed here so long, Seraphina still wasn’t accustomed to being treated as mentally ill, even needing help brushing her teeth. She faked learning it and received the toothbrush from Nanny Lynch, almost bringing Nanny Lynch to tears in joy as she thought she had taught Seraphina to brush her teeth.

"Miss is truly amazing."

Seraphina glanced at the toothbrush, silently in her heart quipping, "Nanny Lynch is quite the flatterer."

After washing up, Nanny Lynch sat her in front of the dressing mirror, combing her hair while murmuring: "Only when the Miss is tidied up beautifully will the Young Master keep you around."

Seraphina was speechless. She wasn’t Ethan Sterling’s pet, needing to look good just for a chance to stay.

Did she even want to stay here?

Nanny Lynch even attempted to tidy up Seraphina’s eyebrows but, facing Seraphina’s fierce resistance, failed to apply light makeup.

After simply applying lotion, an exasperated Nanny Lynch led Seraphina outside.

The living room window was open, and the rustling of climbing ivy swayed by the wind could be faintly heard.

On the enormous TV screen in the living room, two game characters were battling it out.

Seraphina’s gaze focused on the man lounging on the sofa, his eyes glued to the TV. His body leaned forward, long legs spread, gripping a game controller. His demeanor was relaxed and indulgent, yet it exuded an imperceptible aura of danger.

His profile was chiseled and extraordinarily handsome.

It was Ethan Sterling.

To think he’d be gaming.