Seraphina's POV
Mrs. Lan's face twisted in disgust, like I'd slapped her across the face. "How could I give birth to such a person?" Her voice was laced with barely-contained fury, her teeth grinding as she struggled to keep her composure.
But I wasn't interested in her outburst. I had bigger things to worry about. I was still that girl with no name, no backing, no place in this world. What I needed right now—what I really needed—was money.
This mansion, this suffocating place, would only drag me down further. But first, I had plans. I had revenge in mind, but I couldn't afford to be reckless. Not yet.
First, I needed to secure myself.
Then? Then, I'd make them regret everything.
Revenge was like a fire, and I wasn't sure how close I could stand before it consumed me. But since this was what I chose, I would walk on my path happily.
I slammed the door behind me, cutting off the noise from the rest of the mansion, but it didn't stop the fury bubbling inside me. My so-called "room" was a joke—a prison cell disguised in faded wallpaper and cobwebs. The instant I opened the door, the stench hit me, thick and suffocating. The dust was so dense it almost choked me, coating every surface like a reminder of how long I'd been ignored.
"Damn it!" I muttered through clenched teeth, my fists clenching so tightly I could feel my nails digging into my palms. "Look at them, they really didn't leave me a single way to live. But this won't be the same this time. I swear it."
The maids had never cared for me. They treated me like some unwanted piece of trash, always sneering, and ready to take whatever I had. And they had taken plenty—my personal belongings, things that were important to me, things that were mine. But they crossed the line when they took my brother's gifts.
Asher might've resented my very existence in this house, but my other brothers had been more... tolerable.My second brother, had always been the one to show me support, even if it was half-hearted at times. And Adrian, my eldest, was cold and distant, but his gifts had always been a silent gesture of care. I never asked for their pity, but the gifts meant a lot to me—they were the only proof that I wasn't completely invisible to them.
But all those gifts had been taken, stripped away the moment I'd been locked in that damn mental hospital on my birthday. The maids had done it. They'd taken everything from me—stolen what little connection I had left to my family.
And I couldn't let that go.
I was done with being the quiet, invisible one. Done with being a victim.
Without a second thought, I marched straight for the servants' quarters, fury guiding my every step.
I didn't knock. I didn't ask permission.
I threw open the door, not caring that the hinges screeched with protest. The maids inside jumped back, startled by my sudden appearance. But they were too slow to react. I was already inside.
Just look at their room, it's a thousand times better than mine! I thought.
"Where are they?" I demanded, my voice slicing through the air like a blade.
The head maid, Maria, narrowed her eyes as she straightened. She clearly hadn't expected me to show up, but she quickly regained her composure. "What are you doing here?" she sneered, hands on her hips. "This isn't your place, Seraphina. Leave before you embarrass yourself."
Her words hit like a slap, but I didn't flinch. Not this time. Not anymore.
"This is my place," I said, my voice cold and deadly. "And I'm taking what's mine." I stepped farther into the room, not giving an inch, my eyes scanning the cluttered space. I could already tell—they'd hidden the gifts. But I wasn't stupid. I knew where they kept things.
One of the younger maids, frightened by my sudden intrusion, took a step back, clutching her apron like it could protect her from what was coming. "Seraphina, you—"
I silenced her with a look. "Not a word."
I moved toward a small, wooden chest in the corner, shoved aside a pile of old sheets, and there it was. The box. I ripped it open, and there they were—my brothers' gifts, still wrapped, untouched. The sight of them sent a jolt through me. They were mine. No one, not even these wretched women, would take them away again.
Maria's voice cut through the air, sharper now. "You can't just take—"
"I can," I interrupted, spinning to face her. "And I will."
Before she could stop me, I grabbed the box and turned on my heel. "You should've left them alone," I added, my voice low and dangerous. "Because now, I'm taking everything back."
One of the other maids tried to block my path, but I didn't hesitate. I shoved past her, sending her stumbling back in surprise. Maria reached out, her fingers grazing my arm, but I jerked away, my eyes flashing with fire.
"I said, don't touch me." My voice was icy, cutting her attempt at control. "You don't get to touch me. You don't get to take anything from me. This is my home and if I want something, I'll take it."
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. But I didn't care. I didn't care about their stares, their disdain, their contempt. I wasn't the weak one anymore like they remembered.
With my brother's gifts clutched tightly in my arms, I turned and walked out, leaving the servants' quarters behind me. For the first time, I felt something shift in the air. It wasn't just my anger.
This house could try to break me, but I was done being broken.
"Since I had already found what I wanted, It's time for me to leave here," I muttered and without even going back to my room, I exited the Lancaster Mansion.