CHAPTER 11: CHAPTER 11: EVERYTHING SHE LOST, SHE WILL TAKE BACK

At noon, Seraphina Thorne specially ordered takeout and kept Ivy Langley at home for lunch.

First, to thank her best friend for all the help these past days.

Second, she wanted to have one last meal at home.

Today was the day the bank came to repossess the house; after this, she feared she’d never again have the chance to walk into this place that once belonged to the Thorne Family.

As she was leaving, Ivy Langley deliberately took out a bank card from her bag and shoved it into Seraphina’s hand.

Seraphina didn’t accept it, just pushed it away, saying she had money.

"I’ll take it from you if I ever really need it."

Ivy was only an intern right now, still living off her family’s pocket money.

Her stepmother had always treated her harshly, so Ivy herself wasn’t flush with cash.

After the Thorne Family’s mishap, Ivy had already given Seraphina everything she got from her little stash; how could Seraphina possibly bring herself to take more?

Knowing Seraphina’s character—gentle on the outside, iron inside, proud to the bone.

Ivy didn’t want to embarrass her, so she snatched back the bank card, then clapped her friend’s shoulder with bravado.

"Don’t worry, when I get my family’s assets back from that mistress and her daughter, we’ll eat fancy and live it up every day!"

"Okay."

Seraphina smiled in reply.

After seeing her friend off, Seraphina carefully cleaned the villa from top to bottom, and used her phone to take thorough photos and videos.

This old house was where she’d been born and raised.

The patch in the staircase where she chipped the paint playing with her brother as a child; the cherry blossom tree her mother planted in the garden; the swing her father built by hand for her...

Every corner was steeped in memories.

Before two o’clock, Manager Morrison from Jadeston Bank’s loan department arrived swaggering with his staff to seize the house.

Seraphina carried her packed suitcase downstairs—Manager Morrison stood there, belly protruding, hands behind his back, listening to staff report the item count.

Noticing Seraphina coming down with her suitcase, the man’s beady eyes flashed cold.

"Open the suitcase."

"These are my personal belongings."

"How do I know you didn’t sneak a couple antiques or paintings in there?" Manager Morrison shrilled, "Open it!"

Since Seraphina slapped him last time, Morrison of course wouldn’t let her off easy.

Seraphina squatted down and unzipped the suitcase.

Manager Morrison came over, pretending to inspect.

He noticed the bag with her underwear, so he deliberately raised his chin.

"What’s in there?"

A few young staffers wore ambiguous, entertained expressions.

The man’s posture was naked humiliation.

If it was the old Seraphina, maybe she’d have felt wronged, cried.

After all she’d been through—she was no longer the little girl protected by her father and brother.

Back straight, she stood in the living room.

Her face was set, her tone calm.

"Not just underwear—there are pads, too. If you’re not convinced, Manager Morrison, feel free to inspect them yourself?"

These days, she’d learned one truth.

If others bully you and you show weakness, they’ll only get worse.

At the mention of pads, Morrison’s fat face twitched. He kicked the suitcase.

"Disgusting!"

Seraphina zipped her suitcase up again and carefully wiped the shoe mark where Morrison kicked it.

Gripping her suitcase, she stared Manager Morrison dead in the face.

"Jadeston Bank, Raymond Morrison. I won’t forget you."

When she’s strong enough, every hurt and humiliation—they’ll pay back double.

Being stared down by the girl unsettled Morrison; he puffed up and roared in bluster.

"Hand over the keys. Get out!"

She slapped the keys on the foyer cabinet; suitcase and violin in hand, Seraphina walked out the old house’s gates.

Instead of heading straight to school, Seraphina first went to Melodia Instruments.

The store manager greeted her with genuine apology, leading her into his office.

"Miss Thorne, sorry about last time. I had no idea something like that could happen."

The police had investigated; the manager was among those they questioned.

So he knew Seraphina had nearly gotten into trouble that night.

"It’s fine, I don’t blame you."

Seraphina knew what happened had been orchestrated by Julia Chamberlain, so she didn’t take it out on the manager.

They signed the consignment contract for the violin; Seraphina filed away her copy, and then picked out a cheap, ordinary violin for personal use.

The manager felt bad—not only did he give her a twenty-percent discount, he promised to let her know first if any good work came up.

She glanced one last time at the violin she’d played for ten years, thanked the manager, and turned to leave the shop.

Dragging her suitcase to school, she didn’t bother unpacking before heading straight to the rehearsal room to get used to the new violin.

Inside the rehearsal room.

The campus orchestra was busy practicing for their upcoming performance.

Director Bennett, the department chair, was frowning as he scolded Julia Chamberlain.

"You’re the lead violinist, the soul of the orchestra—do you even know what that means..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Director Bennett saw Seraphina walk in—his eyes lit up immediately.

"Seraphina, perfect timing—come here. Try playing this piece."

Julia Chamberlain’s brows knit. "Director Bennett, we agreed I’d be lead this time."

Director Bennett snorted, "That is, if you have the ability."

Julia protested, "I’ve practiced this piece for two weeks—she hasn’t at all. How could she possibly handle it so quickly?"

"Yeah, Director Bennett, this is way too risky."

"Exactly, Bennett. We’re performing at a city-level event—if something goes wrong, who’s going to take the fall?"

...

The other campus leaders and teachers present all voiced their objections.

Seraphina’s talent was clear to everyone, but with only two weeks till showtime, swapping out the lead violinist was risky.

"Well..." Director Bennett started to waver himself.

Seraphina strode over with her violin: "Director Bennett, campus leaders, and teachers—may I at least try?!"

Try?

Julia Chamberlain sneered, "Seraphina, don’t be too cocky."

Seraphina opened the case, picked up her violin and bow, and walked forward.

"Please move aside."

Julia curled her lip in disdain but stepped aside.

This was not a piece everyone had rehearsed; it was brand-new and extremely difficult.

She’d been practicing two weeks and still made mistakes.

She doubted Seraphina could nail it on her first attempt.

Seraphina stood at the music stand, flipped through the sheet music intently, closed her eyes to mentally run through it, and positioned her violin on her shoulder.

Everything Adrian Chamberlain made her lose, she would reclaim.

Starting today—with this seat as lead violinist.

She drew a quiet breath, lifted her right hand, and set the bow to the strings.

The soaring sound of the violin instantly filled the rehearsal hall.

She was a little stiff at first—but soon, she was in the groove.

Rhythm, pitch, emotion—

Flawless.

From beginning to end, not a single wrong note.

"That was incredible!"

Director Bennett led the applause, and all the campus leaders and teachers present got to their feet, staring in amazement.

The vice principal made an immediate decision, "Seraphina Thorne, right? You’ll be our lead violinist this time."

"Thank you, sir, and thanks, everyone, for giving me this chance." Seraphina let out a tiny sigh of relief. "I won’t let you down."

Julia Chamberlain whined forlornly, "But, Principal, what about me?"

"You?" The vice principal chuckled, "You can be Thorne’s backup—just in case?"