Chapter 4 The Real Prize
Rashad squinted at Seryna. She was nothing like the meek and
submissive girl that Tehila had described. She was assertive and
confident, always standing up for herself.
In fact, her personality was strikingly similar to his own. His gaze lingered on her pretty face, and deep down, he began to consider marrying her off to a man from another powerful family.
He said with a tender smile, “Seryna, both you and Tila are the apples of my eye. Tila’s room is in a good spot. Why don’t you take it?”
Tehila’s face turned pale. Her dad was seriously asking her to give up her room for that country bumpkin?!
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Not a chance!
Seryna shook her head. “Dad, I don’t want her room. If I stayed there, every time I closed my eyes, I’d be reminded of how her mom took me away and how I lost all those years I could’ve spent with you. Dad, can I stay on the third floor instead?” Her
voice was soft and wheedling, tinged with a sense of grievance.
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Chapter 4 The Real Prize
Rashad was the head of the Willard family. Seryna only needed
to win over him and her grandma. Everyone else was nothing
more than pawns in her game.
The real prize was the Willard family’s power and resources,
and she intended to make it all hers.
Her soft tone softened Rashad’s expression, and his voice turned doting. “Okay, whatever you want. You can pick any room on the third floor, and I’ll make sure all the furniture is delivered
within two hours.”
M
THI
“Thank you, Dad. Now I finally understand what it feels like to be protected by my dad,” Seryna said, her eyes red as she leaned against his arm.
By deliberately bringing up her past hurts, she drew a few guilty looks from the others present, except Tehila.
Blood was thicker than water. Rashad’s heart softened for his biological daughter.
Only Seryna knew that Devona had come today to test her. Devona never liked weak, simpering girls–exactly the kind Tehila was. She despised Tehila’s insincere sweetness and hidden malice.
In her past life, desperate for family love, Seryna had imitated
Chapter 4 The Real Prize
Tehila foolishly, earning only her grandma’s bitter
disappointment.
This time, she vowed to become the next head of the Willard
family.
Seryna picked the best room on the third floor, and Rashad had
the finest clothes and furniture delivered to her.
Everything came so effortlessly now. Just a few nice words and
some well–timed tears, and Rashad was all in. Looking back, she
realized how utterly foolish she had been before.
Tehila kept looking at Seryna jealously.
That jealousy sparked a deep sense of crisis in her heart. She
was never the real daughter and knew one day Seryna would
push her out. She needed to marry Brunell quickly and become
the young mistress of the Fortin family.
But Seryna didn’t care at all about Tehila’s venomous glare.
Right now, her focus was entirely on Devona.
She knew that sly girl was starting to panic.
“Grandma, let me walk you back,” Seryna said sweetly, linking
her arm with Devona’s.
Chapter 4 The Real Prize
Devona’s eyes glowed with satisfaction. “Okay. Have dinner
with me when we get back.”
Tehila watched as Seryna walked away with Devona. With
tears streaming down her face, she turned to Jennett and asked,
“Mom, Seryna is back. Does that mean you don’t want me
anymore?”
Seryna had charmed their dad into such a good mood that he
almost made her give up her room.
Seeing her swollen, red eyes, Jennett felt her heart break. She
held Tehila close and soothed her gently, “Don’t say such foolish
things. You’ll always be my daughter. Seryna’s return won’t
change anything. You’ll never leave me.”
Tehila finally felt somewhat reassured.
Meanwhile, Rashad frowned as he looked at Tehila. She seemed
to lack the calm confidence Seryna had.
After dinner with Devona, Seryna didn’t take a ride home.
Instead, she walked.
Devona’s place sat halfway up the mountain, and it took about
half an hour to walk down. Seryna wasn’t afraid of the dark.
She just wanted to remind herself that this second chance was
real.
Chapter 4 The Real Prize
The night breeze was gentle and refreshing.
As she neared the foot of the mountain, she saw her motorcycle
waiting where she had arranged.
She headed down the path. There were streetlights, so it wasn’t
completely dark, though weeds lined the roadside.
Suddenly, something tightly grabbed her ankle.
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