Chapter 122: Uninvited Visitors

A harsh knock against the door jolted Seraphina awake.

Her body reacted before her mind did, arms tightening instinctively around Phoenix where he slept curled into her chest on the large bed.

She had been dreaming, and the remnants of her dream clung stubbornly to her.

In a very beautiful garden that looked like it came out of a fairytale, Julian had slided a diamond ring onto her finger, as he promised to leave his chaotic world behind. Phoenix had been their only audience, clapping excitedly in the dream.

She had been genuinely happy.

The echo of it lingered painfully.

And the reality that she was on bed, while Julian was in prison, and very sick even made her chest tug more painfully.

Another sharp knock came on the door, bringing her sense back to the present

Seraphina exhaled, dragging her hand over her face as she gently eased herself away from Phoenix. The early light filtering through the curtains told her it was still too early for disruptions. Her chest tightened with irritation as she stood up.

“Who is it?” she called out, her voice hoarse with sleep. There was no immediate response, just another knock.

Her gaze flicked toward the bedside table. Without hesitation, she reached for the knife resting there, her fingers curling around the handle as she moved toward the door with careful, measured steps.

Her life hadn’t been normal since she was born, every moment of her life had required her to be on alert- just like she was right now.

She would kill first before anyone can seperate her from her son.

Just as she was ready to face the worst, a familiar voice came through.

“Ma’am… it’s me.” The maid’s voice.

Seraphina paused.

A breath of relief slipped from her lips, though her grip on the knife didn’t loosen immediately. She stepped closer and unlocked the door, pulling it open with a frown already forming on her face.

“Why are you knocking like that?” she asked, her tone edged with annoyance. “You nearly—”

Behind her, the bedsheets rustled.

“Mum… is that daddy?”

The words hit her harder than the knock ever could.

Seraphina’s heart stumbled violently in her chest. She turned quickly, her expression softening as she walked back to the bed.

Phoenix blinked sleepily at her, his small voice hopeful in a way that made her chest ache.

She crouched beside him and brushed a hand over his hair gently. “No, baby,” she said softly, forcing steadiness into her voice. “It’s not daddy. Go back to sleep, okay? It’s still very early.”

She pressed a kiss to his forehead.

Phoenix let out a small, disappointed sound before turning over, pulling the blanket up as sleep slowly reclaimed him.

Seraphina stayed there for a second longer than necessary, watching him, swallowing the tightness building in her throat before she stood and walked back to the door.

Her expression hardened slightly as she faced the maid again.

“What do you want? It’s still very early,”

The maid shifted slightly. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But two men are asking for you. The security has kept them at the gate… he’s waiting for your approval.”

Seraphina’s brows furrowed. “Knox?”

The maid shook her head. “No, ma’am. I’ve never seen these ones before.”

A flicker of caution passed through Seraphina’s eyes.

She nodded once. “Alright.”

She stepped out, closing the door quietly behind her before following the maid downstairs and out toward the main gate. She acknowledged the security guard who bowed to her and also informed her about the guests.

The morning air hit her lightly, but her attention was already locked on the figures standing beyond the security barrier.

She recognized one of them immediately.

“Lawyer Conrad,” she muttered under her breath. She hadn’t seen him since the Civic square.

His public admission of falsifying a will had led to his quiet downfall. He had lost everything tied to his profession, his name dragged through mud, clients abandoning him. She had chosen not to press charges, but the consequences had come anyway.

“Miss Seraphina,” Conrad acknowledged, guilt coloring his features immediately.

The second man who stood beside him looked older, composed, dressed in an expensive suit that fit him too perfectly to be anything less than intentional. His presence carried weight— like the kind that didn’t need to announce itself. His hair, a mix of gray and black, was neatly trimmed, his posture relaxed, screaming authority without him speaking yet

He looked familiar to her.

Seraphina’s gaze returned to Conrad suspiciously. “Good morning, Conrad.”

Conrad stepped forward as if he had been waiting for her clue.

“Miss Seraphina,” he greeted again respectfully, a hint of urgency in his tone. “I apologize for coming unannounced. I should have ensured my call went through, but this couldn’t wait. And I’m sorry to bring another with me when I don’t have your permission first. He’s someone you can trust though.”

Seraphina’s gaze lingered on him briefly before her attention shifted to the other man who was still silent.

Then the man surprisingly smiled, then speaks. “I had no idea it would feel this relieving to set my eyes on you again, Seraphina. Do you remember me?”

The familiar tone this stranger had just used with her made her study him more carefully this time, her eyes narrowing slightly as she searched her memory.

“You look familiar,” she admitted slowly.

The man inclined his head. “Declan Jackman. Your father’s friend… and a board member of the Moreau Dynasty.”

The recognition finally struck her.

Seraphina straightened slightly. Of course. The Jackman name carried weight, one she hadn’t heard in years but still remembered faintly even though she was little back then.

He was one of her father’s close circle. But what was he doing here?

She glanced toward the gate, then back at them. “We shouldn’t be having this conversation out here,” she said. “Come in.”

The security opened the gate immediately at her signal, and she led them inside, her mind already beginning to race.

~

They settled into the guest room, the quiet elegance of the space wrapping around them as Seraphina took a seat opposite the two men.

“I remember you,” she said, folding her hands calmly. “But I didn’t hear from you after my father’s death.” The slight accusation in her tone wasn’t missed.

Declan gave a small, knowing nod. “That would be accurate.”

He leaned back a little, his expression turning more serious. “I won’t pretend I didn’t know about your return, Sera. I did. Just… not immediately. I was out of the country for business when everything… unfolded.”

Seraphina’s gaze sharpened. She was impatient to see where this conversation was going.

“And I also won’t pretend I reached out,” he continued. “I didn’t. I was… cautious. The situation surrounding you was volatile, and with the position I hold, I couldn’t afford to be entangled in it.”

Seraphina scoffed lightly, disappointment flashing across her face. “Really?”

Declan maintained his firm expression. “When your father died, I was among those investigated. Being associated with him almost cost me everything. It took a lot to clear my name.”

His voice lowered slightly. “And when news broke that you were dead… I mourned you.”

Seraphina’s expression flickered as she was once again reminded of the lie she had had to make others believe to save her own life.

“When you came back,” he continued, “I hesitated to check on you. But now that the truth is out, that you are the rightful heiress… and Talia isn’t even Richard’s biological daughter, I couldn’t keep my distance any longer.”

Seraphina leaned back slightly, her patience thinning. “Then say why you’re here and leave the history behind.”

Declan swallowed once before nodding. “Have you seen the news?”

Seraphina frowned. “No. I haven’t been paying attention.”

Without another word, Declan pulled out his phone, tapped on the screen, and extended it toward her.

She hesitated for a brief moment before taking it.

Her eyes scanned the screen.

Each headline hit harder than the last.

“Billions at Risk: Silence From Moreau Heiress Raises Alarm”

“From Tragedy to Negligence? Seraphina Moreau’s Absence Sparks Corporate Panic”

“Inherited Power, Missing Leader: Who’s Really Running Moreau Dynasty?”

“Too Fragile for the Throne? Questions Mount Over Seraphina Moreau’s Leadership”

Her chest caved in immediately, hands dampening anxiously. It felt like her eyes were glued to the screen as she read again.

Of course.

She should have expected this.

She had been publicly acknowledged as the true heiress. Talia and Sheryl were gone. The world would be waiting for her to claim what had always belonged to her.

And workers would await their new head. A billion-dollar empire…and she hadn’t even regarded it since. She had been totally occupied with Julian’s case. Nothing else had mattered more.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Declan watched her carefully before speaking again, his tone even much more serious now.

“I’m afraid the headlines are the least of your problems.”

Seraphina slowly lifted her gaze to him.

“What do you mean?”

Declan held her stare.

“Your father’s cousin,” he said evenly, “is preparing to step in as CEO.”

Seraphina’s head jerked up fully, shock flashing across her face.

“What?”