Chapter 67 Absenteeism
Looking at the stack of money Seraphina offered, Ophelia felt beyond disappointed and angry – she felt the chill of betrayal.
She didn’t want to utter another word.
Seraphina’s anxious gaze, the fear that Ophelia might not move out, was all too clear to Ophelia.
Ophelia let out a cold laugh. "Wow, Miss Kingsley sure throws her weight around with money these days."
"Ophelia," Seraphina continued, attempting to gaslight her further. "You've always been there for me – we said we'd share our high times and face the low ones together. You've helped me a lot in the past. You deserve this money. Or, are you saying you don't want to be friends anymore?"
"Keep the cash, I'm moving out today," Ophelia said, cutting the conversation short with Seraphina. "Please, Miss Kingsley, go back to living your own life. Rest assured, I’m moving out immediately. I'll stay at Magnus's place for now, so you don’t have to worry about me."
Finding a new place to live on such short notice was unrealistic, but to put Seraphina's mind at ease, Ophelia felt she had no choice but to move in with Magnus temporarily.
"Alright then," said Seraphina, "do you need any help with your things?"
"No, thank you," Ophelia shot back, her frustration boiling over. Why would she want help from Seraphina?
Her decision to move wasn't just to make Seraphina feel better. Ophelia wanted a fresh start. A clean break from Finnegan was necessary for her life to get back on track.
The whole pregnancy scare had been a false alarm. It seemed to symbolize that her relationship with Finnegan was nothing more than an illusion, a fleeting dream. Now, it was time to wake up and live her life her way.
Despite her refusal, Seraphina insisted on staying by Ophelia's side as she packed up her belongings. Only when she saw Ophelia actually leave with her suitcases was Seraphina truly content.
Ophelia hopped into a cab, heading for Magnus's place, the entry code to his home already in her possession. She thought about calling Magnus to give him a heads up but figured he was busy. She decided to wait until he got home to talk.
Ophelia informed her landlord she was leaving, not minding the approaching end of her lease – less than a month away. Naturally, this gave the landlord a ready excuse to withhold her security deposit. Annoyed by Seraphina's actions, Ophelia had no energy left to argue over money.
That same afternoon, after a morning full of hesitation, Finnegan arrived at Orchid Bay Community. He lingered at the entrance to the complex before heading upstairs.
He had contrived a reason to see Ophelia – he hadn’t approved her resignation, and as her boss, it was reasonable for him to seek her out for an explanation. Finnegan approached unit 1512 in building three, pausing as he recognized the familiar setting. He recalled visiting Seraphina in the same complex. Noticing the identical corridors, he didn't dwell on it and continued on his mission.
It had been over a month since Finnegan last ventured into the neighborhood to find Seraphina, and he couldn't quite remember her house number—it seemed like it might be in this very building though.
Finnegan had knocked on the door for quite some time with no response from inside. Was she not at home?
Just then, an elderly lady from next door ambled back from a stroll with her grandson and noticed a tall, handsome man outside Ophelia's door. She couldn't help but indulge her curiosity, “Young man, are you looking for Ophelia? Are you her boyfriend? You sure are a looker.”
Finnegan didn't confirm or deny it, simply asking, “Do you know where she is?”
“I saw her leave with suitcases earlier, looked like she was headed out of town,” the neighbor speculated, adding with a gossip's enthusiasm, “You should call Ophelia and check in, young man. You have a good eye; landing Ophelia as a girlfriend would be a stroke of luck. She's a real good girl, you’d be fortunate to have her.”
Hearing this, Finnegan found himself wanting to know more about Ophelia.
“How long have you been neighbors with Ophelia, ma'am?”
“Oh, it must be two years now,” the neighbor replied. “She's an orphan, a hardworking one, everything she has, she's earned on her own. I even thought of introducing her to my nephew at one point.”
A positive reputation with the neighbors meant she probably wasn't all too bad. But who was this man that Ophelia kept locked away in her heart, unwilling to reveal?
Even if it was a fake pregnancy, there had to be a man involved—who was he?
This was not a question Finnegan could comfortably ask the friendly neighbor, as it might tarnish Ophelia's reputation.
Having not made contact with anyone, Finnegan left the area and, once in his car, made a call to Atticus. “Tell Ophelia to continue coming to work. I haven't signed her resignation letter yet; if she doesn’t come in, it’ll be marked down as absenteeism.”
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