Chapter 44 Moral Manipulation

Chapter 44 Moral Manipulation

Alicia shook her head, her expression serious.

"Janna has a bad temper, but she's not a bad person. I've seen her help other kids at school."

"It must be that awful woman who said bad things about you, and Janna just believed her!"

At the mention of Susan, Alicia couldn't help letting out a sharp huff.

Seraphina gave a self-mocking smile, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.

If even Alicia could see through it, could Janna really not?

Or was she just too caught up in this little game of hers, refusing to face the truth? Seraphina ruffled Alicia's hair and said nothing more.

She stood up and turned to Warren. "Thank you, Mr. Churchill. That video came at just the right time. Without it, I don't know what they would've pinned on me."

"It was nothing. When we saw Susan heading your way, we figured something was up. Turns out we were right." He smiled and waved it off.

A look of concern crossed Warren's eyes. "But you openly stood up for Alicia today. That's pretty much burned your bridges with your husband and his daughter. Are you sure that's okay?"

Seraphina lowered her gaze, a bitter smile on her lips. "It's fine. You saw how they treat me. Even if I hadn't pushed back, what difference would it make? I'd just keep putting up with their insults."

"This is better. I've made up my mind — I'm getting a divorce."

Hearing that, Alicia could barely contain her excitement.

Seraphina was getting a divorce!

Did that mean she could really become her mom?

That evening, Seraphina got home and told Wendy everything that had happened at the amusement park.

Wendy was furious — she was ready to grab a knife and go warn Susan to back off for good.

Seraphina laughed at her and quickly pulled her back, telling her to go wash some fruit and cool down.

Wendy grumbled and reluctantly headed to the kitchen.

Just then, Seraphina's phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was an unknown number, so she answered.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Her old problem's acting up again. Bring the medicine over now — not tomorrow, right now!"

Michael's voice came through the line, cold and commanding.

Seraphina glanced at the time and let out a cold laugh. "Michael, do you know what time it is?"

"Midnight. So what? My mom's in too much pain to sleep. You should be doing more, not less."

Michael's brow furrowed — he was clearly annoyed by the question.

Since Michael had no shame, Seraphina saw no reason to spare his feelings.

"Michael, why is your mom's stomach pain my problem? If you're such a devoted son, go get the medicine yourself. Don't come looking to me."

She hung up and blocked the number.

How amusing.

If Michael hadn't called, she would've completely forgotten that fetching medicine had ever been part of her duties.

When she kept the household running smoothly, the Talbots looked down on her and treated her like an embarrassment.

But the moment they needed something, they couldn't even manage a shred of basic decency?

They had no shame.

She must have been way too easy to push around before — so easy that the Talbots had written her off as a pushover.

That was never going to happen again.

But Seraphina never expected them to be so relentless.

One day, while Alicia was at her after-school class and Wendy had a rare day off, Seraphina took her out shopping.

The two had just found a café and sat down to rest when an irritating voice cut through the air.

"Seraphina, Wendy — what a coincidence! You're out shopping too?"

Both women frowned at the same time and looked up to see Susan smiling at them, a cool and handsome man on her arm — Michael. His heavy gaze settled on Seraphina, carrying a clear look of displeasure.

"Not much of a coincidence. We'd be a lot happier if you stayed far away from us."

Wendy rolled her eyes and didn't hold back.

Susan didn't seem the least bit bothered. She calmly pulled out a chair and sat down beside them.

"But this is a public café. Anyone can come in. Telling us we can't be here — isn't that a bit much?"

Wendy laughed in disbelief. "You're already sitting down, so why all the talk? Your voice is grating. Just stop."

That seemed to sting.

Susan's eyes went slightly red. She hesitated for a moment, then appeared to make up her mind.

"I really don't want to bother you. But Seraphina, Michael told me Mrs. Bianca Talbot's stomach is acting up again, and apparently you're the only one with the right medicine."

"Could you give some to Mrs. Bianca Talbot? She's really suffering — she's even been hospitalized."

Seraphina set down her coffee cup and smiled coldly. "Whether I give it or not — what does that have to do with you? You're awfully nosy."

"I just don't want Mrs. Bianca Talbot to suffer like this…"

Susan dabbed at the corner of her eye.

Michael's expression darkened and he snapped, "You've always been the one handling this. You should see it through. It's just medicine — it's not going to kill you."

"Right, just a bit of medicine. You can't even manage that?"

Seraphina raised an eyebrow and shot back coolly.

Their argument grew loud enough that people in the café had started to look over.

Before anyone could react, Susan suddenly sprang up, dropped to her knees at Seraphina's feet, and wrapped her arms tightly around Seraphina's legs.

The café erupted in shock. Even Michael hadn't seen it coming.

"Susan—"

He reached out to pull her up, but Susan shook him off and looked up at Seraphina with desperate eyes.

"Seraphina, I know you've never liked me. But you can't take that out on Mrs. Bianca Talbot. She's not well, and you have the means to help her. Why won't you?"

"I don't have much time left. When I'm gone, none of this will matter anymore. Please — just take pity on me. Please."

Susan sobbed, her thin frame trembling as if she might collapse at any moment.

The onlookers in the café didn't know the full story. Seeing this scene, they quickly took Susan's side.

"What is wrong with that woman? Someone's literally begging her and she just sits there? How heartless."

"The woman on the floor has a terminal illness, apparently. How sad. She won't even help her up."

"Didn't you hear? She won't even save her own mother-in-law. Someone like that deserves the worst."

Seraphina listened without expression, her face completely calm.

She knew Susan was an expert at playing the crowd. But as long as she didn't care, none of it could touch her.

She looked down at Susan, her voice cold and dismissive. "And just who are you, exactly, to be demanding medicine from me? On what grounds?"

"Besides, I already told you. I don't have the medicine."