Chapter 43: Chapter 43 – The blacklisted one.
Orders were placed, drinks were brought over, and while Corvine skimd through his phone with that distant, guarded calm he always carried like armor, Seraphine used the mont to properly get acquainted with the family sitting across from them.
The woman straightened in her seat, smoothing imaginary creases from her blouse before offering a warm, practiced smile.
"I’m Mila Hawthorne," she said, and Seraphine imdiately noticed how different she looked compared to the other day.
She looked brighter now, lighter sohow, like a weight had finally been lifted from her shoulders, and Seraphine realized it had nothing to do with the absence of sunglasses and everything to do with the improvent in her son’s condition.
Hope had a way of changing people’s faces, and even their mood and deanors. "That’s my son, Tyler Hawthorne," Mila continued, gently pulling the little boy closer to her side, her fingers automatically brushing through his hair, protective even in relief. "And my husband is on his way."
Seraphine smiled warmly, leaning forward just a little so she wouldn’t seem distant or intimidating.
"I’m Seraphine Walker," she said easily, then gestured toward Corvine. "And that’s Corvine Stone."
She didn’t notice the way Mila stiffened at first, didn’t catch the slight delay in her blinking, didn’t see the way the woman’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second, before being carefully rebuilt.
It wasn’t until Mila repeated the na that Seraphine realized sothing was off. "Seraphine... Walker?"
Her tone had shifted, subtle but unmistakable. Seraphine tilted her head, suspicious gracing her words. "Have you heard the na sowhere?" She asked casually, not suspecting anything serious, but Mila forced another smile, this one tighter around the edges.
"Among the Sovereign Circle," Mila replied after a pause. "My husband is a mber, and he ntioned your na when he received a call from Voren Ashkael."
A frustrated sigh slipped from Seraphine’s lips before she could stop it, and just like that, her appetite started evaporating.
She leaned back slightly in her chair, suddenly aware of the familiar knot tightening in her chest, that uncomfortable sensation she always got whenever politics, elite circles, or powerful nas entered the conversation.
She was already considering making an excuse to leave when footsteps approached their table.
A middle-aged man, tall and elegantly dressed, walked toward them with an air of authority that ca from years of being listened to.
"Hi," he said, extending his hand. "I’m Jas Hawthorne. My wife told
what you did for our son, and I wanted to co thank you personally."
Seraphine stood halfway out of her seat to shake his hand, returning the gesture with genuine politeness.
"You’re welco," she replied softly. "I’m glad he’s doing better."
Jas nodded, gratitude written plainly across his face before his attention shifted to Corvine.
His gaze lingered there, assessing, asuring. "Are you," he hesitated slightly, "her boyfriend?"
Corvine let out a quiet chuckle, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, but Seraphine answered before he could. "He’s close family."
The mont the words left her mouth, sothing dimd inside Corvine’s eyes, not dramatically or obviously, but just enough that Seraphine would’ve noticed if she had been looking.
Close family. That was what she ant to him in front of strangers. In clear terms, a brother from another mother kind of thing, nothing more.
"That’s good to hear," Jas said, oblivious to the subtle shift in energy beside Seraphine. "My first son is the director of Saint Peter’s Hospital, and he’d like to make you an offer."
Seraphine blinked, caught off guard. Sainte Peter’s Hospital was the largest private hospital in that part of the city and one of the places she’d want to work when she was ready to embrace dicine again.
Jas continued, clearly excited now. "When Tyler’s pediatrician shared your diagnosis with him, he was absolutely srized. He doesn’t usually get impressed easily, but he said your assessnt was sharp, thorough, and way ahead of what anyone else picked up."
Seraphine shifted uncomfortably in her seat as he asked with expectation. "Would you consider it?"
Seraphine paused, because to her, he was talking too fast, stacking expectations on top of gratitude, and her mind hadn’t caught up yet.
"Well," she said carefully, choosing her words, "I love dicine, but right now my focus is on building other important businesses before I go back into full practice, so honestly, this isn’t the right ti."
She watched disappointnt flicker across Jas’s face, and sothing in her softened. "If I’m ready later on, I’ll contact you," she added gently.
Jas stared at her for a solid five seconds, studying her like she was a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve.
Then he asked, "If you won’t accept the offer now, how exactly do you want
to reward you for helping my youngest son?"
Seraphine pressed her lips together before shaking her head slowly. "Kindness doesn’t require a reward."
Jas frowned slightly. "There has to be sothing."
Corvine cleared his throat, stepping in before Seraphine could respond, and had no idea about how he would regret it later.
"Why not help her get into the Sovereign Circle," he suggested. "She wants to start her business, and she’ll need partnerships, maybe even so billionaires willing to invest."
Jas raised an eyebrow, amusent dancing in his eyes as he turned back to Seraphine. "A dical doctor who wants to jump into ruthless business?"
Seraphine nodded without hesitation. "Yes," she said calmly. "That’s exactly what I plan to do."
Jas pursed his lips, leaning back slightly as he thought it over, fingers tapping lightly against the table.
"I—"
He was about to speak when Mila suddenly cut in, her voice sharper than before. "She’s Seraphine Walker."
The words landed like a dropped glass, Jas froze instantly. Whatever he had been about to say died in his throat.
His expression shifted from thoughtful curiosity to stunned recognition in less than a second.
His eyes widened just slightly as he stared at Seraphine. "You’re the blacklisted one?" The air around the table turned heavy.
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