Seraphina Sterling and Kimberly Jennings talked nearly all night. They discussed their feelings about the Jennings family and their plans for the future. Ever since leaving the Sterling Family, a deep sense of panic and unease had been weighing on Kimberly Jennings' heart. Having lost the support of her husband and the protection of the Sterling Family, the question of how she and her daughter would face the future had been the greatest weight on her mind.
But hearing her daughter's vision for their future, listening to her step-by-step plans and arrangements, filled Kimberly Jennings with hope for the days to come. The pressure on her heart miraculously vanished, and the smile on her face grew more serene and tranquil, making her stand out in this remote little town.
With a house of their own, new furniture, and a tidy home and yard, the mother-daughter duo was full of hope for the life ahead.
Their days were simple and tranquil, yet filled with a deep sense of warmth and happiness. Seraphina Sterling was quite content with her current life. No one was causing trouble, and no one was making threats. The only drawback was that the town was too small to offer any suitable jobs. 'I need to start saving money. I can't just wait around for the demolition compensation, after all. The plans for the resort are still up in the air. I need a backup plan.'
She spent three days scouting the town for work. While there were plenty of storefronts, they were almost all family-run businesses that rarely hired outsiders. The only place that was hiring was a three-star hotel in town. After much hesitation, Seraphina Sterling finally decided to go.
Unfortunately, it seemed to be an unlucky day. The moment she stepped into The Gilded Lantern Inn, she saw someone she desperately wanted to avoid.
"Well, well, if it isn't the great Miss Sterling? To what do we owe the honor of you gracing this little inn with your presence?" The sight of Seraphina Sterling immediately filled Sylvia Jennings with rage. 'If she hadn't shown up that day, we definitely would have tricked Auntie out of that money!'
Sylvia Jennings's snide, sarcastic remark instantly made Seraphina Sterling the center of attention in the lobby. While Seraphina might not have been a peerless beauty, she possessed a fresh, elegant, and composed aura that even the daughters of prominent families would find intimidating, to say nothing of the girls in a small town.
Tollan Town was a small place; you were bound to run into everyone sooner or later. Even if people hadn't spoken, they recognized each other by sight. Yet, this girl was a complete stranger to them all.
Willow Hale was not pleased. 'I'm the one treating everyone to a meal! They all came here for *me*! *I* should be the center of attention! Why is everyone staring at this woman who just popped out of nowhere?'
Seraphina Sterling frowned. 'I'm here to find a job, not to pick a fight. The best way to handle this is to ignore her.' "Hello," she said, addressing the front desk, "Could you please get your manager?"
Sylvia Jennings's temper flared. Her classmates and friends were all here. Throughout high school, she had always been considered just a notch below the school belle, Willow Hale. Being so blatantly ignored by Seraphina now, in front of everyone, ignited her fury.
"The manager? Seraphina Sterling, do you even think you're qualified? Do you still think you're the esteemed daughter of the Sterling Family? Get a clue about your current status! You're just a nobody who probably can't even afford to go to school anymore. You're beneath even the children of ordinary families! I just hope you don't come crawling to our family when you're starving!"
"Can't go to school? So she's just a pretty face with nothing inside?"
"I don't think so. She seems really poised. Someone from a big city must have good grades, right?"
"What are you talking about? Haven't you ever heard 'don't judge a book by its cover'?"
"It's a good thing our literature teacher isn't here. He'd cry if he heard you say that."
...
"Even if she can't go to school, that doesn't mean she'll starve, right?"
"What century are we in? Who actually starves anymore?"
"You'd be surprised. I heard she and her mom were kicked out of their home without a penny. It's not so impossible that they'd be starving."
...
The lobby instantly erupted in chatter, the voices swelling as the gazes directed at Seraphina grew increasingly complex. Yet, Seraphina stood as if she hadn't heard a thing. It wasn't that she was particularly good-tempered; it was just that, having been reborn, these seventeen- and eighteen-year-old boys and girls were like children in her eyes. She couldn't be bothered to stoop to their level.
"Hello, Manager Hale. My name is Seraphina Sterling. I heard you're hiring, and I would like to apply." Seraphina's demeanor was composed and graceful, and her clear, bright eyes held not a trace of fear. 'The only thing that dissatisfies me is this soft voice of mine,' she thought, 'but it's my natural tone, so I can't do anything about it.'
"The work at our inn is quite demanding." Philip Hale studied Seraphina Sterling carefully. 'Even employees who've been here for three or four years are a little intimidated by me, but she shows no fear at all. This girl... she's not ordinary.'
"You don't need to worry, Manager Hale. Since I came here for the job, I'm prepared for the hard work." 'The truth is, I don't have any other options,' she added silently.
"Alright then, you're..." Just as Philip Hale was about to agree, he was cut off.
"Mr. Hale, I know the inn is short-staffed, but you have to be careful when hiring. What if you hire someone with sticky fingers? Losing a few things from the inn itself is no big deal, but what if a guest loses something valuable? Would anyone dare to stay here after that?" Willow Hale shot a glance at Seraphina Sterling, her eyes filled with a shocking amount of jealousy.
Philip Hale and Willow Hale were family, so hearing her words gave him pause. The Gilded Lantern Inn had been operating in town for over a decade. Its reputation for integrity was built one day at a time; he couldn't let the Jessica name be tarnished on his watch.
"Excuse me, but I don't believe we've met. I'm not sure where this prejudice you have against me comes from." Seraphina's bright eyes locked onto Willow Hale, who stood at the center of her adoring entourage.
Willow Hale gave a contemptuous smile, idly stroking her long, fair fingers. "Prejudice? You're just some girl who can't even afford to go to school. I'm the eldest daughter of the Hale Family. The fact that I'm even looking at you is a favor. Having an 'opinion' about you? Are you even worthy of it?"
If Seraphina Sterling were truly seventeen, she might have been provoked by Willow Hale's words. But she wasn't.
Seraphina Sterling smiled sweetly. "Ah, so you're Miss Hale. I've always heard from the neighbors that the Hale Family is the most prominent family in Tollan, not just incredibly wealthy but also known for its strict, proper upbringing. They said the Hales were all humble and approachable. Meeting you today has really been an eye-opener. Such a fine upbringing... it's truly beyond anything we common folk could ever aspire to!"
At first, Willow Hale preened, assuming Seraphina was finally showing the proper fear for her status and had started to grovel. But the longer she listened, the more the words soured, until finally, the smile was wiped clean from her face.
"Mr. Hale, I want you to make sure she and her mother can't find any work in this entire town! With no income, I'd love to see how this mother-daughter pair manages to survive!" Willow Hale glared at her viciously. "Seraphina Sterling, this is the price you pay for offending me! I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back on your knees, begging me for help!"