CHAPTER 55: A BOYFRIEND?

Seraphina’s POV

Mrs. Lancaster was finally back from her trip. And the moment my eyes met hers in the hallway, I knew that living under the same roof with her again would be a war.

People say a woman becomes a mother when she gives birth, but that’s the biggest lie I’ve ever heard.

Because a mother isn’t someone who just gives you life... She’s the one who gives you warmth and a place to return to.

And for me... Mrs. Lancaster was just a woman who gave me life, not someone who ever wanted me to live it.

She had never looked at me like I was her daughter in this life or the last.

The orphanage dean I grew up with... She was better than her. She had more warmth in her wrinkled hands than this woman ever had in her entire soul.

So when Mrs. Lancaster raised her voice and told me to get out, I didn’t flinch.

I didn’t beg to let me stay. There was nothing left inside me that would shatter anymore.

I just stood there with my head high and eyes locked on hers.

After saying what I had to say, I turned around...And walked out like her words, and the Lancasters didn’t matter to me.

But the moment I stepped out of that mansion, The cold wind snapped me awake with a question that I didn’t even bother to think about when I left the house.

Where the hell am I supposed to go now?

Fuck.

I stood there, outside the gates, and reality hit me.

I had nowhere to go.

Damn! I had learned nothing from my last life!?

I swore to myself I’d become stronger, smarter, better this time... Yet here I was, still broke, lost, and dependent.

I should’ve worked harder to save some money.

But all I had done was bury myself in school and those damn exams.

Because somewhere deep down, I got a little too excited about studying, about finally getting a normal life.

And about school? Yeah, that was a battlefield on its own.

My school life wasn’t a fairy tale either. It was poisoned before it even began— All thanks to Melissa and her little social butterflies spreading rumors like wildfire.

But I didn’t care as I didn’t have any time for that shit.

I didn’t want to waste time proving myself to idiots. I wanted to bury those rumors with my results.

My IQ was high, I knew that— But I’d never really studied this many subjects, this hard, this seriously before.

So this time, I wanted to give it my all.

I was walking down the road, lost in all those tangled thoughts,

my bag swinging on my shoulder and my shoes kicking tiny stones, trying to figure out where the hell I was supposed to go now.

I had no home to return to, and I wasn’t in the mood to beg anyone for a place to stay.

After a while, I made up my mind. I’d just stay at a hotel for a few days.

But I didn’t want to end up at some dirty cheap motel where people bang on your door in the middle of the night or stare at you like they’d devour you the moment you’re not focused.

I wanted a place where I could rest properly and not feel scared.

And for that... I needed money.

Thankfully, I had some.

Well, that’s not exactly mine... but

It was Asher’s card.

Before leaving for his post, he had handed it to me and said, "This is for you. Use it however you want."

He didn’t say much more. He just gave it and left, as if he were afraid I’d decline it.

No one had ever given me something like that before,

With the card tight in my hand, I sat down on the footpath and pulled out my phone and started searching for a safe place on the internet.

I didn’t even realize how far I had walked from the mansion. Everything around me looked unfamiliar now. There was no going back, so I had to move forward.

I scrolled through hotel listings. And then I found one.

"That’s it," I muttered under my breath.

A good place. Not too close, not too far. Looked safe, too.

I stood up, dusted off my clothes, and hailed a taxi. When it stopped, I opened the door and told the driver the name of the hotel.

Then I leaned back in the seat and stared outside as the car pulled away.

"Thank you," I said politely as the car came to a stop in front of the hotel.

I paid the driver, stepped out, and made my way toward the entrance when someone blocked my path.

"Excuse me, where are you going?"

I stopped and looked up at the man. His face looked familiar. My brows furrowed for a second before I figured it out.

"Aren’t you... Mr. Joseph?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Oh..." he gave a cheeky smile. "So you still remember me."

"Of course," I said flatly. "You’re one of those big shots Asher knows, right?"

"Well," he chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "I didn’t expect to run into you here."

"Well, I’m a bit busy right now," I said, waving it off. "So if you don’t mind..."

"Ah—pardon me," he said quickly, stepping aside. "Didn’t mean to hold you up."

"No worries," I replied. "Just help me get a room here. That’d be enough."

His smile returned as he nodded. "Consider it done."

"But why are you staying here?" Joseph asked, right after handing me the room key.

I looked at him for a second. I didn’t want anyone asking too many questions, so I just shrugged and said, "I couldn’t meet my boyfriend at home... so I’m bringing him here."

Joseph blinked. "Oh... I see."

"To be honest, it’s not a big deal," I added quickly. "By the way, how much should I pay for the room?"

He stared at me for a second too long, and then his face went pale, like he’d just seen a ghost.

"No... Not a penny," he said in a hurry, his voice shaky. "Everything’s covered."

Before I could even ask what was wrong, he spun on his heel and ran off.

"...What the hell?" I muttered to myself, watching him disappear like he was running from death.

I could’ve just booked the room myself. That would’ve been better.

Now look at this mess... I blurted out something stupid, and God knows what that man’s gonna do with that little lie.

I let out a long sigh. Why did I have to be so dumb?

I could’ve kept it simple. But no... I just had to throw in a whole imaginary boyfriend.

Sometimes, I really was my own worst enemy.

But I was afraid that they’d ask too many questions as I was still in my school uniform, and it would be even more trouble.

"Let it be..." I muttered under my breath. "It’s time to meet my ’boyfrined.’

"Who did you say you are going to see?"

A cold voice appeared from behind, making a chill run down my spine.