Chapter 123 Taking Her Space

Chapter 123 Taking Her Space
Seraphina sat frozen in the back of Mr Jackman’s car the next morning, her gaze locked on the towering ten-story structure of the Moreau Empire, its glass surface reflecting the pale morning sky like it had nothing to hide, like it had not swallowed years of secrets, power, and blood behind those polished walls.

Her throat tightened.

It’d been six years.

Six whole years since she had last stood here as the hidden daughter no one was meant to see.

She remembered the first day vividly—the way her father had brought her in quietly, his hand firm on her shoulder, his voice low as he told her to observe, learn, but never to speak unless spoken to. She had hated it then. Hated being tucked away like she was fragile glass.

But she hadn’t known back then that her father lived a dangerous life.

Hadn’t known about the kind of empire that didn’t just run on money—but on blood.

Now, arriving before it again, the question clawed at her chest.

‘Can I do this?’

Her vision blurred and a tear slipped free.

And just as she lifted her hand to wipe it away, a much smaller hand reached up beside her.

Phoenix. She had brought her son with her.

He stretched his tiny fingers to her face, clumsily wiping at her tears with all the seriousness of a child who believed he could fix anything.

“You’ve been crying every day, mum.”

The innocence in his voice made her feel heavy guilt.

A soft shaky laugh escaped her lips, her shoulders trembling slightly as she looked down at him.

“Don’t I?” she murmured, her voice lighter than she felt.

From the front passenger seat, beside his driver, Mr. Declan Jackman turned slightly to face Seraphina.

“I’m sorry you had to be pulled from your comfort to take your place, Seraphina,” he said. “But it’s time.”

The words settled into her bones.

She inhaled slowly, wiping the rest of her tears with the back of her hand, her spine straightening with quiet resolve.

“It’s time,” she repeated, nodding to herself. Mr Jackman ordered his driver to open the backseat for her, and he came around to do just that.

Seraphina stepped out with Phoenix’s little fingers in hers.

But before her heels could make another step away from the car, they were suddenly overcrowded.

Flashes blinded her instantly, the sharp clicks of cameras colliding with a storm of voices that surged toward her like a wave she hadn’t prepared for.

“Miss Seraphina—!”

“Over here—!”

“Is it true you’re back—?!”

She froze.

For a split second, she didn’t move, didn’t understand how the quiet moment she had just shared with her son in the car had shattered into this chaos.

Her head snapped toward Mr. Jackman, slight irritation flashing across her face.

“Why would you allow this?” she demanded under her breath. “How did they even know I was coming?”

Mr. Jackman adjusted calmly beside her.

“You need this,” he said, his tone depicting the fact that he wasn’t foreign to the paparazzi’s presence. “The world needs to see you step in. This empire needs a face—and it’s yours.”

Her lips parted, ready to argue, but the cameras kept flashing, the voices kept rising, and she realized then that he was right.

This wasn’t about her comfort. It was about showing a solid presence.

For a brief second, she considered putting Phoenix back in the car to shield him.

But when she turned, she saw him already waving at the cameras, his small face lit with excitement, his smile wide and unfiltered as though he had just stepped into a game he was winning.

Seraphina blinked. And then…she smiled.

That small, unexpected moment softened her posture, and just like that, the cameras caught it.

Security rushed forward, forming a barrier, pushing the press back as questions flew at her from every direction.

“Miss Seraphina, are you fully back to claim the empire?”

“What changes should the tech market expect?”

“Were you planning to abandon the company as rumored?”

“Are you separating from your husband?”

“How are you coping with his sentencing?”

“Is this your son—the one rumored to be a genius?”

The words hit her, one after the other, sharp, invasive, and relentless.

But she didn’t retreat.

Instead, she carried Phoenix and adjusted him against her chest, holding him securely, grounding herself in his warmth as she lifted her chin slightly.

And then she spoke.

“Yes, I’m fully back to claim what has always been mine.” Her voice was all assertive, clear enough to cut through the noise. “And I’m not backing out.”

Then she allowed her nude-painted lips to spread into a firm powerful smile.

The cameras went wild.

But before she could move, Phoenix leaned slightly forward in her arms, his voice bright and completely unbothered by the chaos as he spoke unexpectedly.

“Isn’t my mum so beautiful while doing that?”

There was a slight pause before the crowd erupted, impressed by little Phoenix’s humor and smartness amidst everything.

Cameras kept flashing against their faces, each one not wanting to miss what could make their blogs trend for the entire week.

Seraphina blinked in disbelief, staring down at Phoenix for a brief second before letting out a quiet breath of amusement.

“Phoenix…” she muttered softly, though there was no real reprimand in her tone.

His son winked at her, making her grin sheepishly. At the back of her mind, she wished Julian was here to witness this.

She quickly swallowed the emotional thought down as they started walking through the gates. Security guarded them from the crowd all through. She, Phoenix, and Mr Jackman.

The noise faded behind them as the massive doors closed, leaving only the stern silence of wealth and power.

“I envy you, Sera,” Mr. Jackman finally said as they approached the elevator. “Your son is remarkable.”

Seraphina glanced down at Phoenix, her lips curving gently.

“He’s always been my blessing.”

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and they stepped in. As it ascended, Seraphina watched the numbers climb, her reflection staring back at her from the mirrored walls.

She was clad in a nude-colored jacket and pants suit. Composed face. Controlled breathing. All while pretending her mind wasn’t clinging on Knox’s impending feedback. Knox hadn’t gotten back to her since he informed Joanne and her that he would be visiting the government estate alone this time around.

When the elevator doors opened on the top floor, a different world greeted her.

Staff moved with purpose, conversations hushed, eyes lifting subtly as she stepped out.

Phoenix tugged slightly at her arm, whispering a question about the environment, and she answered quietly. 

A staff member approached her.

“Good morning, how may I assist—”

Mr. Jackman stepped in smoothly.

“This woman right here is your new boss,” he paused then continued. “Not very new—she has always belonged here.”

The staff stilled, calculations happening behind her eyes.

Then her posture shifted instantly as a sharp realization dawned on her.

“Welcome back, Miss Seraphina.”

Seraphina inclined her head slightly. “Thank you…”

“Maeve, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Maeve.”

They moved forward and those who had recognized her from the news bowed to her in respect. She acknowledged them all with polite nods.

Eyes lingered on her and whispers trailed behind her as Mr Jackman led her to the boardroom.

She swallowed, not knowing what to expect after what Mr Jackman told her yesterday about her father’s cousin— one who she had never met before— was said to be aiming for the CEO’s seat.

Phoenix fingers tightened in her hold as if he knew she was anxious. Seraphina smiled down at her son.

The boardroom doors opened and conversations instantly died mid-sentence upon seeing them.

Heads around the long table turned.

Every single gaze in that room locked onto her.

“And who is she?” one of the board members asked, his tone sharp with open distaste.

Mr. Jackman stepped forward.

“She is Richard Moreau’s only daughter,” he said. “And the rightful CEO of this empire- like we’ve all heard. I’m sure this news isn’t foreign to any of us here.” He added with civility.

Seraphina offered a small, composed smile, even though she was anything but composed internally. Their expressions already took her aback, but she wasn’t going to reciprocate the tense energy.

Just when she expected acknowledgement at the least—

A middle-aged man seated at the center of the table threw his head back and laughed loudly. The tone hinting at nothing but obvious mockery.