Chapter 97 Explain Yourself
The mention of Ophelia made Seraphina's expression grow even tenser. She looked up at Finnegan, weighing whether to tell the truth.
"I..." Seraphina stammered.
"Slap!"
Finnegan's hand came down hard on the table, his voice a stern warning, "I have no patience for lies. You have one chance to explain—why was your resume in the room, and why did you pose as Ophelia?"
Startled, Seraphina trembled, realizing she could hide nothing.
"It was... Ophelia's resume left in the room. I don't know how it got there. You came after me, saying I was the person from that night, but I never admitted to it," Seraphina said, fear evident in her voice.
"Seraphina," Finnegan gritted his teeth, "you took hundreds of thousands from me. That's theft, fraud. If I report this, you could be behind bars for over a decade."
Although a decade was an exaggeration—Finnegan was simply intimidating her—the amount wasn't small, and legal action would certainly mean jail time for Seraphina.
At the thought of prison, Seraphina's legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor, pleading, "Mr. Abbott, I didn't commit fraud. It was a moment of madness. Please forgive me. I won't do it again. Once I've earned the money, I'll pay you back, I'll even sign an IOU."
Seeing Seraphina in such a miserable state, begging for mercy, deepened Finnegan's disgust.
He regretted ever offering her a place at Orchid Garden.
Finnegan's cold voice cut through the tension again, "What exactly is your connection to Ophelia?"
"Ophelia and I grew up together, raised in the same orphanage, sharing meals and a roof," Seraphina said, her face drained of color. "I had no idea you meant Ophelia when you first mentioned her. And then the likes of Mr. Abbott suddenly making a move on me, wanting me to be his girl—how could I resist? I couldn't help myself."
It dawned on Finnegan that Seraphina and Ophelia had lived together and shared a home at Orchid Bay Community.
The thought of being the object of desire for such a vile, manipulative woman made Finnegan's stomach churn, and he scowled deeply. "It's unfortunate for Ophelia to have a friend like you. Does she even know why you moved into Orchid Garden?"
Seraphina didn't dare speak the truth; her silence was her substitute.
Finnegan's gaze darkened, "Seraphina, I'm giving you a chance. Go to Ophelia and clear things up yourself, or you can prepare to face jail time."
Their shared upbringing meant a naturally strong bond, and Ophelia was known for her loyalty and integrity. Ophelia might not readily believe Finnegan if he were to explain the situation.
From Seraphina's actions, it was clear she must have lied to Ophelia.
Seraphina should have known from the start that he was looking for Ophelia.
Finnegan couldn't bear to look at Seraphina any longer. Dropping that final line, he left with his bodyguards in tow.
Trembling with anxiety, Seraphina sat on the ground long after he left, fearing the consequences of telling Ophelia the truth, yet also scared of Finnegan really sending her to jail.
Finnegan didn't know everything yet, but if she continued to hide the truth, he would tell Ophelia.
As Seraphina sat hesitating, she suddenly noticed a pair of leather shoes in her sight. She looked up from the shoes.
When Seraphina saw him, she immediately felt guilty, scrambling to her feet from the ground. "Magnus, when did you get here?"
Magnus looked at her with disappointment in his eyes. "Did you really impersonate Ophelia? How could you do that? Seraphina, you're supposed to be good friends. Do you realize that Ophelia has feelings for Finnegan too? Because of you, she stepped back. She suppressed her own feelings, and you took everything that belonged to Ophelia."
Magnus's accusations cut into Seraphina, prompting an emotional response from her. "How is any of this my fault? They got it wrong, not me. Who she likes is her business. I never stopped her. Magnus, you're really hopeless. You obviously have feelings for Ophelia yet you lack the courage to even speak up. If she actually ended up with Finnegan, what chance would you have? I'm at least brave enough to take a shot."
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