CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 296: BEHAVE YOURSELF

Seraphina Sinclair looked at Fiona Dunn’s bright smile, her gaze mixed with too many complicated emotions.

If only she could be as carefree, perhaps many things would become much easier.

If back then she had obediently listened to her father and severed ties with Ethan Lloyd, she might still be as naive as a child now.

Feeling that Seraphina’s emotions were off, Rosalie Quinn reached out and held her cold hand. Although she didn’t speak, Seraphina felt her concern.

She raised her head to meet Rosalie’s clear eyes, and a slight smile appeared on Seraphina’s lips.

Whether in the past or now, she understood that she was no longer alone; no matter what, Rosalie would always be by her side.

To have a friend like this, what more could one ask for?

The auction was held in Bayside City.

Seraphina and the others set off before dawn, and when they arrived, it was still morning.

Returning to the house at Azure Cloud Shores, Fiona Dunn exclaimed in wonder, "Wow, Seraphina, your house is nice!"

"We’re staying here overnight, choose any room you like." Seraphina hadn’t planned to return to Azure Cloud Shores; after all, this house held too many memories of Desmond Fairchild.

However, this was the closest place to the auction venue, and going to Rosalie’s place would waste time.

Just as Fiona was about to pick a room, a figure suddenly rushed out straight towards Seraphina. Skylark thought it was an attack and immediately pulled Seraphina behind her, assuming a defensive posture.

Who knew that the person would stop barely a meter in front of her, tears in their eyes, looking at Seraphina with a trembling voice: "Madam, you’ve finally come back."

"Chloe?" Seraphina looked at the familiar face in front of her, momentarily surprised, "Why are you here? I thought I already sent you all home."

"They all left, but I didn’t want to go. I couldn’t bear to leave you, so I stayed," Chloe Irving sniffed and held back her tears, bouncing excitedly.

She knew Seraphina would come back; she definitely wouldn’t just leave like that.

Seraphina felt a myriad of emotions, unsure what to say, and after a long while, she patted Chloe’s shoulder, smiling brightly, "Chloe, I’m back."

Seeing Seraphina again, Chloe was overwhelmed with emotion, and the tears she had tried to hold back flowed freely as she cried into Seraphina’s embrace, "Madam, I thought you wouldn’t come back again. But fortunately, I didn’t give up, and I finally waited for you."

Seraphina couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to hug the little girl, tears glimmering in her own eyes. She indeed hadn’t expected Chloe to wait for her here.

Leaving Bayside City without any ties, she thought all the maids would be dismissed, but Chloe was truly a surprise.

After crying for a while, Chloe realized her outburst and offense, quickly withdrawing from Seraphina’s embrace, looking down awkwardly: "I’m sorry, Madam, I was just too excited and offended you, I’m sorry, please punish me!"

As a maid, her actions had already been overstepping; no maid would dare hug their mistress, lest they don’t want to survive.

Seraphina waved her hand, smiling, "Silly girl, I’m too happy to even think of punishing you."

"Thank you, Madam." Chloe raised her head, a sparkle in her eyes, as if her whole world lit up with Seraphina’s return.

Others witnessed the deep bond between mistress and maid, unable to help but admire Seraphina’s charm.

Fiona Dunn pouted in jealousy at how Seraphina seemed to be missed wherever she went, envying her deeply.

But she seemed to forget that after Seraphina left Diamond Island, she too was one of those who mentioned Seraphina daily.

Rosalie, on the other hand, was genuinely happy for Seraphina. It showed how good Seraphina’s character was if even a young maid would follow her wholeheartedly; as her best friend, Rosalie felt very proud.

"There’s still a long time until the auction starts, let’s rest and get in good shape," Seraphina said, sitting on the sofa, feeling a familiarity welling up within her.

The auction begins in the afternoon, so there’s at least ten hours to relax.

Seraphina looked at Fiona Dunn, who was pouting, and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong?"

Fiona covered her stomach, embarrassed, "Hungry."

Previously, it was either Desmond Fairchild cooking or the maid, and now with the staff dismissed, the noble ladies here were not used to chores, which put Seraphina in a bind.

She was about to order a takeaway when Chloe spoke up, "Miss Dunn, what do you want to eat? I’ll go buy groceries and cook something."

"You can cook?" Seraphina asked in surprise.

"I always could, though cooking wasn’t my job since the maid did it for Madam, so this skill has been neglected for a while," Chloe explained with a shy smile.

"Then I’ll leave it to you," Seraphina hadn’t expected her maid to be so versatile.

Deferring to Seraphina’s order, Chloe’s eyes crinkled in a happy smile, eagerly replying, "Alright, Madam, I’ll go shopping now."

Fiona watched Chloe dash out the door, her enthusiasm like a little dog tasked with a job, happily wagging her tail.

After a moment, she mumbled towards the now empty door, "I haven’t even said what I want to eat!?"

Seraphina glanced at her, "Getting something to eat is already good enough; believe it, if you’re picky I’ll kick you out."

"Seraphina, how can you be like this? We came from Diamond Island together, can’t you be a bit nicer to me?" Fiona grumbled, glaring at her.

"Behave, and I’ll be nicer to you," Seraphina wasn’t worried about much, but Fiona always seemed to stir up trouble.

"I haven’t even done anything?" Fiona, shocked, looked at Seraphina, "Are you prejudiced against me?"

Rosalie looked at her with a speechless gaze, and even Skylark shot her a glance. It wasn’t prejudice; she just rarely behaved normally, so it was only natural to be wary.

Seeing all three looking at her as if she were foolish, Fiona shouted, "You’re all squeezing me out! I’m going to my room! Not dealing with you anymore!"

She stormed off in anger, but none of them cared.

Fiona’s temperament was easy to handle. Though seemingly difficult, she was actually easy to appease and didn’t require them to go out of their way; soon she’d feel lonely.

Rosalie stood up and gave Seraphina an apologetic smile, "Seraphina, Simon Finch called me, I have to go out."

"Go ahead," Seraphina said without looking up, "You’ve been with me for ages, if you don’t see him, he might want to switch girlfriends."