Chapter 42: Fighting Over Mom

After Janna finished speaking, her eyes turned red and she looked at Seraphina with a hurt expression.

"Mom, why are you with her? Why are you hugging her? You just called her baby. How could you call anyone else baby except me!"

Seraphina's expression stayed cold and she said nothing.

But Alicia, still in her arms, sniffled and looked confused. "Your mom?"

She glanced over at Susan. "Janna, isn't your mom the one your dad is holding? You told me your mom brought you to the amusement park today when I ran into you at the flying chairs!"

Janna bit her lip, her face turning red. "I never said that. You're making things up!"

"All the kids at school can back me up. Your mom came to open class for you before, and you dragged her around showing her off to everyone for ages!"

Alicia blinked her big eyes, like she'd just figured something out, and nodded. "I get it now. Seraphina is that maid and nanny you always said could never be your real mom, right?"

The whole area went quiet.

Those words hit hard. The panic on Janna's face was impossible to hide.

The Talbot Family was one of the most prominent families in Silverpeak City, with deep roots and a strong reputation. Some things could be whispered about in private, but never brought out into the open.

The dignified Mrs. Talbot — treated like a servant by her own husband and daughter?

If word got out, people wouldn't just laugh at Seraphina. They'd laugh at the entire Talbot Family.

Lucky for them, this spot was tucked away, and no one nearby had noticed what was going on.

In the silence, Warren let out a quiet laugh.

"What a coincidence. I happen to have a video on my phone that might satisfy everyone's curiosity."

He tapped his screen and held it up for everyone to see.

One glance was all it took. Susan, already pale in Michael's arms, went completely ashen.

It was a recording of the moment she had grabbed at Seraphina — caught on camera.

The footage was crystal clear. You could see that Seraphina had done nothing more than flick her wrist. She barely used any force at all.

It was Susan herself who had lost her footing and tumbled straight into the rose bushes.

By the time she fell, Seraphina had already pulled free. There was zero physical contact between them.

Susan had fallen all on her own.

In the silence, the video played three times in a row. Warren put his phone away with a satisfied look.

"Well, how about that. I just thought the scenery over here was nice, and Ms. Borgia happened to be in the frame — beautiful scenery, even more beautiful person — so I figured I'd record a little memory. Didn't expect to catch something this interesting."

Michael's arms tightened around Susan. He looked down at her.

Susan's heart sank. She said weakly, "I never said Seraphina pushed me. I just felt dizzy all of a sudden and fell. Turns out it really was my own clumsiness. I'm so useless."

Tears rolled down her face as she spoke.

Janna's face flushed too. She hung her head and said quietly, "I didn't notice either. I just saw Mom standing close to Susan, so I assumed Mom pushed her..."

"So you accused me without a single piece of evidence."

Seraphina's voice was cold and cutting.

Janna went stiff, then started to tremble slightly.

"Janna, how could you treat Seraphina like that? That was way out of line!" Alicia frowned and spoke up with clear disapproval.

Janna burned with shame but refused to admit she was wrong. She stiffened her neck and shot back, "It's because Mom is always so mean. She started it by picking on Susan!"

"That's not true. Seraphina is the best person in the whole world. She treats me like her own daughter. She's not a bad person at all — you guys are the bad ones!"

"Just like right now — the three of you ganged up on her, blamed her for something she didn't do. You're all terrible!"

She finished by sticking her tongue out at Janna.

Janna stood frozen. She watched her mother — the one who used to rush to her side and gently comfort her whenever she was sad — still holding Alicia close, softly patting her back. A sharp pang of jealousy twisted inside her.

It felt like someone had snatched away her favorite toy. She couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a whimper.

"Get away from her. That's my mom. You're not allowed to hug her!"

"Why should I? So you can keep being mean to Seraphina? No way. Starting today, I'm going to protect her!"

With that, Alicia planted a big kiss on Seraphina's cheek, staking her claim.

"Alicia! Who said you could kiss my mom?"

The two kids kept bickering, their sharp voices making Michael's brow furrow. A flash of irritation crossed his eyes.

"Whose kid is this anyway?"

"My niece. Got a problem with that?"

Warren raised an eyebrow casually. "Alicia has never really warmed up to anyone, but she clicked with Ms. Borgia right away. So I hired Ms. Borgia specifically to take care of her. They get along great."

Michael's frown deepened, a dark look flickering in his eyes. "You'd rather go take care of someone else's child than take care of Janna?"

Janna was already upset. Now she cried even harder.

"Mr. Talbot, is there something wrong with your reasoning? Obviously it's because in your household, Ms. Borgia was treated like a servant who could be insulted and walked all over whenever anyone felt like it. But taking care of Alicia means she gets a very generous salary and is treated with respect."

"All those years Ms. Borgia spent as a housewife — did you ever pay her? Surely you know that the work a housewife does is actually worth a lot."

Seraphina lowered her eyes at those words, hiding the flash of sadness that passed through them.

Seven years of giving everything she had. No pay. No thanks. Just their criticism and cold looks in return.

She truly couldn't think of a single reason to go back.

She had walked away. And she was never turning around.

Warren's words cut straight to the point. Michael's face darkened. He warned in a cold voice, "Mr. Churchill, Talbot Family matters are none of an outsider's business."

Warren nodded like he understood, then looked with genuine puzzlement at Susan in Michael's arms. "Is that so? That's strange then. I'm an outsider who has no business getting involved — but the Miss Dixon you're holding seems to have a say in everything. Is she family?"

Michael's expression went cold. He had no interest in continuing this conversation. He turned to Seraphina and said quietly, "You've been out long enough. Come back with me. Janna needs someone to look after her, and Susan's hurt. She needs care too."

"Not a chance."

Seraphina's face was blank. Her refusal was flat and final.

Janna's eyes went wide with disbelief. "You're not coming back to take care of me? Why not? You're my mom!"

Seraphina acted like she hadn't heard a word. She looked down at Alicia in her arms and spoke gently.

"That ice cream you dropped earlier — what a shame. Let me take you to get a new one, okay?"

Alicia pouted, then nodded.

Seraphina stood up and started walking with her toward the shops.

Then Janna suddenly stepped forward and blocked her path.