Chapter 7
Flynn Campbell stood frozen in the doorway, his face looking like he'd been struck by lightning.
He stared at Seraphine, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
Seeing his odd expression, Wesley hurried forward. "Mr. Campbell, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No—no, I'm fine." Flynn swallowed hard. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Seraphine lifting her teacup. Those cool eyes flicked toward him—a clear warning.
A chill ran down his spine. He understood immediately.
The boss didn't want her identity revealed.
Flynn took a deep breath, forcing down the storm raging inside him, and pulled his face into a smile. "Mr. Windsor, forgive me. Your daughter's presence is simply extraordinary. I was momentarily captivated."
As he spoke, his posture bent slightly, his tone deferential.
Wesley didn't suspect a thing. He beamed with pride. "Mr. Campbell, this is my biological daughter, Seraphine Wipere. Sera, this is Mr. Flynn Campbell, an internationally renowned design master. He'll be your private tutor from now on."
"Ms. Wipere, it's a pleasure." Flynn quickly approached and extended his hand.
Seraphine set down her teacup and shook his hand lightly. The touch was brief, but Flynn broke out in goosebumps.
"Mr. Campbell, nice to meet you." Seraphine's tone was flat.
Ondine stood off to the side, watching everything closely.
She noticed the way Flynn looked at Seraphine.
It wasn't the way a mentor looked at a student. It was the way a subordinate looked at a superior—with awe and a hint of flattery.
Why would an internationally renowned design master show that kind of expression to an ordinary design student?
Ondine's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained neutral.
"Mr. Campbell, I've heard so much about you." She smiled and stepped forward. "I'm Ondine Windsor. I also study design. When Sera takes lessons with you, could I sit in?"
"Well…" Flynn glanced at Seraphine. Seeing no objection from her, he replied politely, "Ms. Windsor, you're too kind. Mr. Windsor asked me to focus exclusively on teaching Ms. Wipere. If you're interested, perhaps we can exchange ideas after the lessons conclude."
The refusal was polite but unmistakable.
Ondine's smile stiffened for a moment before she recovered. "I see. That was presumptuous of me. Please don't take offense, Mr. Campbell."
Valencia quickly smoothed things over. "Ondi, your design skills are already excellent. Don't interrupt Mr. Campbell's teaching."
"Understood, Mom." Ondine nodded obediently and stepped back.
Flynn stayed at Windsor Manor for a while, discreetly observing Seraphine the entire time.
He noticed that the boss's life here didn't seem easy. That adopted daughter, Ondine, called her "Sera" affectionately to her face, but her eyes occasionally flashed with calculation.
And the butler—his gaze toward Seraphine carried a certain scrutiny and rejection.
Flynn quietly filed it all away.
When he was about to leave, he made a point of approaching Seraphine, bowing slightly. "Ms. Wipere, I'll begin lessons tomorrow. Do you have any special requests?"
"No." Seraphine looked up at him briefly, her gaze cold as frost. "Follow Mr. Windsor's arrangements."
"Understood, understood." Flynn nodded repeatedly, his posture ridiculously deferential.
The scene didn't escape Ondine's notice. Alarm bells rang in her mind.
After Flynn left, Ondine returned to her room, her expression immediately darkening.
Zane walked in carrying a bowl of chicken soup. Seeing her face, he sighed.
"Ms. Windsor, don't take it too hard. Ms. Wipere is, after all, Mr. and Mrs. Windsor's biological daughter. It's natural they'd favor her a bit."
"I'm not bothered." Ondine forced a smile. "Sera suffered so much out there. It's only right that Mom and Dad treat her well."
Zane shook his head. "You're too kind. I've worked in this household for thirty years. I'm good at reading people. Ms. Wipere is no simple character."
He lowered his voice. "Look at the main hall. She'd barely been here an hour before she completely redid all your arrangements. And Mr. and Mrs. Windsor not only said nothing—they praised her for it. She was clearly asserting dominance."
Ondine's fingers clenched tightly.
She'd spent a month carefully arranging the main hall, selecting each item with care.
And Seraphine? She'd changed everything in minutes and earned their parents' praise.
Why?
"And there's Mr. Campbell," Zane continued. "He's world-renowned, yet he was so deferential toward Ms. Wipere. She must have used some trick to make him regard her differently."
Ondine's eyes darkened.
She also thought Flynn's reaction was off, but she couldn't figure out why.
Seraphine was just an adopted daughter raised in a minor household. What could she possibly have done to make an internationally acclaimed design master bow to her?
Unless… there was something about Seraphine she didn't know.
"Zane, I understand." Ondine took a deep breath. "But Sera just got home. I don't want to start a conflict with her."
"As long as you know." Zane nodded and left with the empty bowl.
The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from Ondine's face.
She walked to her vanity and stared at her reflection—her flawless features, her carefully styled appearance. Her eyes grew cold.
'Seraphine, no matter what tricks you have up your sleeve, this is the Windsor family. I've lived here for over a decade. You're just an outsider who just got here. What gives you the right to take everything from me?'
The next morning, Flynn arrived at Windsor Manor right on time.
Wesley had specially set aside a study as a classroom, stocked with various design tools and materials.
When Seraphine walked into the study, Flynn had already been waiting for ten minutes. A thick stack of design materials sat on the desk.
Seeing her enter, Flynn immediately stood, his posture ramrod straight. "Good morning, Ms. Wipere."
"Morning." Seraphine sat at the desk and casually flipped through the materials.
Flynn spoke carefully. "Ms. Wipere, today we'll start with the basics. I've compiled a framework of design theory. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like adjusted."
Zane, passing by the door, looked utterly confused. What kind of teacher asked a student to adjust the curriculum?
Seraphine didn't respond, only nodding slightly.
Flynn, relieved, began explaining design concepts.
He spoke until his throat was dry. Seraphine remained expressionless the entire time, giving no indication whether she was listening.
But Flynn knew better. The boss was absorbing everything.
That indifferent look? Just her being too lazy to show interest.
Halfway through, there was a knock at the door.
Ondine walked in carrying a tray, smiling warmly. "Sera, Mr. Campbell, I brought you some snacks and tea. Take a break."
"Thank you." Flynn politely acknowledged her.
Ondine set down the tray but didn't leave. Instead, she stood to the side, studying the design sketches on the desk with apparent interest.
"Did Sera draw these designs? They're beautiful." She sounded impressed, though a trace of disdain flickered in her eyes.