A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: True Feelings, False Intentions (8)

For such a crucial position, quality was far more important than quantity. She had to be extremely careful with her hiring! Because she wasn’t just competing with any ordinary company—she had an exceptionally powerful opponent: Justin Hale!

At some point in the future, when she finally went up against the Hale Family, her team would need certain traits. They had to be able to face a powerful opponent with a calm mindset, possess the mental fortitude to withstand immense pressure, and have the ability to make decisive choices in a crisis.

If she couldn’t find anyone who met her standards, she would rather manage the company herself for the time being.

”Seraphina, take a break from your studies! We have guests over for the New Year! You should come out and meet them!” Zachary Jennings, the eldest of the Jennings siblings, had come specifically to get her.

”Zachary, who’s here? You probably shouldn’t get Seraphina. She has so much homework and a heavy workload! School is about to start, and if she doesn’t study hard now, she’ll be in for a rough time when her senior year begins!” Kimberly Jennings had just finished watering the flowers and walked in on them.

”Kimberly, our cousin and his family are here! The ones who lived next door to us when we were kids—from our uncle’s side, remember? They’ve been gone for twenty or thirty years, and now they’re back to pay a New Year’s visit to Dad and the rest of us! I heard his family has done very well for themselves, so I wanted Seraphina to meet them. Knowing one more elder means another connection for her future!”

Zachary Jennings was thrilled. Back in the day, he had been the oldest among his siblings and was closest with his older cousin. Now his childhood playmate had returned after so many years, and he couldn’t help but feel excited.

”She’s trying to study, what are you doing causing trouble! She doesn’t even know her own limits, insisting on showing off by skipping a grade! Now look how tired she is! What was the point of it all!”

Ivy Cheney walked out, having changed into a new set of clothes. Her words were laced with barbs. Ever since the ”vice-principal incident,” Ivy’s resentment toward Seraphina Sterling had deepened, but so had her fear. She didn’t dare say anything to Seraphina’s face, only making a few snide remarks behind her back to vent.

”You’re a teacher; you should know this better than anyone. Once someone is in the zone studying, the last thing they need is a distraction! Just let Seraphina stay in her room and focus.”

Ivy Cheney shot Zachary Jennings a venomous glare. ’I seriously don’t know who your real daughter is! An opportunity to meet a distinguished elder and build connections, and you don’t even think to tell your own daughter first? Instead, you come to get Seraphina Sterling! It’s infuriating! How could someone as brilliant as I am, Ivy Cheney, have married such a blockhead!’

”Zoe, hurry up! Don’t keep your uncle and cousins waiting.” Ivy Cheney shot Zachary Jennings another look before leading her daughter away.

Seeing Ivy Cheney’s expression and her whole demeanor, Kimberly Jennings knew their guest must be someone important—at least, someone Ivy thought could be useful for her daughter’s future. Otherwise, there was no way she would have changed into a new outfit, put on new shoes, and even worn jewelry and makeup.

”Kimberly, don’t mind your sister-in-law. You know how she is,” Zachary Jennings said, looking a little embarrassed. With his wife and daughter on one side and his sister and niece on the other, all he could do was try to play mediator.

”Don’t worry, Zachary. You go on ahead. I’ll go see if I can get Seraphina. If she decides to come out, I’ll bring her over,” Kimberly Jennings replied, not particularly bothered by the situation. She wasn’t asking for her daughter to achieve great wealth or status; she just wanted her to live a simple, happy, and peaceful life.

”Mom, was that Uncle Zachary and Aunt Ivy just now?” Seraphina Sterling asked as she came out, having changed out of her loungewear.

”Yes. I suspect our guest is someone important. Not just your Aunt Ivy, but even Zoe got all dressed up before heading to the living room.” Despite saying this, Kimberly Jennings had no intention of telling Seraphina to go back and change.

Seraphina Sterling linked arms with Kimberly Jennings and said playfully, ”So, Mom, you think I should go change, put on some makeup, and try to build a few connections?”

”You little rascal, so that’s what you were getting at, huh?” Kimberly Jennings rolled her eyes at her daughter and gently poked her forehead. ”My Seraphina is so brilliant, what could you possibly not handle? You have no need for pulling strings or using backdoors!” As she spoke, a look of immense pride spread across Kimberly’s face—the expression every mother wears when speaking about her child.

”Am I really that amazing? I had no idea,” Seraphina Sterling teased, a faint blush creeping onto her fair cheeks. It was a rare sight to see such a bashful expression on her face.

Even across two lifetimes, Seraphina could count on one hand the number of times Kimberly Jennings had praised her. To suddenly hear such lavish, almost boastful compliments, even she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

”Elias is just so accomplished! No wonder both of his children are so brilliant! I heard Leo Jennings has already been accepted to Yale University! And Quinn Jennings got into the Aethelgard Comedy Academy! The genes in your family are simply amazing!”

This was already the umpteenth time Ivy Cheney had praised Elias Jennings. She truly never imagined the Jennings Family would produce a businessman—let alone one who was so successful.

As soon as Seraphina and Kimberly walked in, they heard the two of them heaping praise on one another.