Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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Mona glanced at the young man who brought her coffee. "Thank you…"

She looked at me with her big blue eyes. "I changed a lot. Didn't I?"

I didn't want to confirm or deny my identity, but I had to ask, "Why did you sit here?"

"I was looking for you."

I frowned. "Why?"

Mona smiled a little. "Three months ago I opened a beauty salon two blocks from here. I am happy to return to this area and show all those who looked down on my family that we are not dead yet. I remember you as a nice girl and I asked around, hoping that we can reconnect. I know it was a long time ago and we didn't interact much, but when everyone is looking at you like trash, those few that treat you as human stand out. I even stopped by your home after I settled in, but your mother said you are not in, and she doesn't know when you will be back. The rumors are that you went on a vacation and found yourself an Italian sugar daddy and decided to stay. Is that true?"

I pinched the roof of my nose. Is that what Ruby, Willow, and Adele said? That I found myself an Italian lover? A nice way to cover up that they drugged me and set me up with a guy to molest me which ended with my death while they ran away and pretended that nothing happened.

"I guess it's not the truth…", I heard Mona say with relief. "You look amazing, and I am happy for you. I assume you escaped your strict mother. I remember asking for another playdate, but your mother said how you are mentally unstable and that too much time outside with strangers can trigger an episode. I never believed that nonsense. You were the most normal girl I met while living here…"

I couldn't believe this! My mother was telling people that I am mentally unstable! No wonder everyone avoided me like I am contagious. So other than thinking I'm dirt poor and unworthy, they also saw me as psychotic. Great. Thanks, mom.

"Mona…", I interrupted her chatter. "Why are you here?"

She blinked. "Do I need a reason to be here?"

"Uhm… I'm sorry. I guess I am used to everyone wanting something and when they are nice, it means they will backstab me the moment I look the other way."

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "I know that feeling. But I don't want anything other than a chat. If I'm bothering you, I can go to another table." She paused for a moment while giving me a chance to chase her away. When I didn't, she continued talking, "If you tell me what your skincare routine is, I will appreciate it. I spend an hour daily cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and your skin looks a million times better than mine. Spill your secret and I will owe you one."

I laughed weakly. What skincare secret? Immortality is the recipe, but that is not a secret I can disclose.

I looked at Mona and somehow, I could relate to her. Her family's business collapsed, and everyone shunned her.

I heard Aldus's voice at the back of my head, telling me to be careful, not to trust people, but there was another voice telling me that Mona is a good person. As long as I don't disclose any sensitive details, it will be fine. Right?

"Mona, can you keep it a secret that you saw me?"

Mona frowned in confusion.

"As you know, my relationship with my parents is not the best, and as much as I don't have a sugar daddy, I left home and changed my name. I don't want them to know I'm in the area. You can call me Serina."

Mona looked at me with a complex expression, but she didn't ask questions. "Understood. Serina. Your secret is safe with me."

"How is your business going?", I asked.

"Every start is rough. It's difficult to stand out and attract customers unless I offer them something extra. They come for promotions and take free samples out of curiosity, but then they return to their regular place..."

Mona was chatting about how she is working on the marketing strategies that are showing limited results, and when she exhausted that topic, she asked, "How are you doing?"

"I'm still adjusting to my new life.", I told her the truth.

Mona's expression turned solemn. "Your parents wronged you for many years. You will just let them off?"

I was touched to see that Mona was angry for me and I didn't want to cause misunderstandings. "They isolated me, but I had a roof over my head and food on the table. I don't like it, but what can I do? If I go to the police, they will not get jail time and even if they do, it won't matter to me. I am an adult, and they can't touch me."

Mona let out a long exhale. "It just doesn't sound fair. Why did they do that?"

"I don't know.", I responded honestly. "Part of me questions if I was adopted."

"You can check that."

"My birth certificate lists them as my parents."

Mona waved her hand, indicating how that is not important. "Those can be faked. Anything can be faked these days. If you want to know, do a DNA test."

Mona is smart and a fighter. When her family's business collapsed, they left and Mona returned with an intention to prove herself. I'm sure that Aldus would like her.

"You say like it's easy for me to get their samples to run tests."

"I can help you.", Mona said without missing a beat.

I was interested. "You can?"

Mona nodded earnestly. "I just opened a beauty salon. Other than manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and makeup services, we have massages, skincare, and waxing. I can give them promotional coupons for free treatments. It will be easy for my staff to collect a few hairs."

I wanted to refuse, but Aldus said how my parents are stuck at home and that it's difficult for his men to get samples. "You would do that for me?"

"It's more against the woman who denied me playdates. And also, I expect you to tell me about your skincare routine.", Mona grinned.

My chest swirled with unknown emotions and a small voice in my head whispered that Mona was not lying and that this will evolve into more than just an accidental meeting in the sweet shop on Chelsea Manor Street.

I remembered alchemic products that can do wonders for the skin, but I couldn't talk about it without Aldus's approval. However, if he can dilute his creations and turn them into products for Notte Pharmaceuticals, I was confident that we can come up with something useful.

I felt my lips lifting into a smile. "Do this for me and I will share with you my skincare secret, but only if you promise that no one will find out from where it came."

Mona's eyes lit up. "Really? You are not just blessed with perfect skin, but there is a secret?"

"Mhm…", I hummed mysteriously. "And if you do one more thing for me discreetly, I will set you up with a supplier so that you can use these secret products at your salon."

Mona's internal conflict was tangible. "What discreet thing?"

I liked that she didn't just blindly accept. "I'm trying to find out who this man is… He went to my high school and I know him as Duke, but that is just a nickname…"

I showed the photo of Duke's sketch to Mona and she scrutinized it. "That's it? Just to find a guy?"

"You don't need to find him. But if you can figure out his name, that will be great."

Mona gave me a funny look. "You didn't turn into some stalker, did you?"

I stifled a laugh. Wait. Am I a stalker? Damn. I am one!

"We were close in high school and we lost touch. Now that I started a new life, I was curious what he is up to. It's not a big deal." Nothing was a lie, except for the last part. It was a big deal, the biggest one there was.

"Alright.", Mona agreed. "Send me this photo and I will ask around, starting with my employees."

"Mona, make sure this is done discreetly.", I reminded her.

Mona assured me that she will come up with some story and not mention me. "I returned to this neighborhood recently and I can say that I'm trying to reconnect with some friends. And if this is the only thing you need, and your beauty products work, I am willing to give you a percentage of my business. We can be partners..."

We exchanged contact information and Mona promised to keep our meeting a secret and that she will get back to me when she has something.

I realized that we spent more than two hours in that sweet shop chatting, and it was time for me to return to the villa and prepare for the party at Notte Pharmaceuticals.

After paying for my coffee and pie in cash, I left Mona with two tasks and a promise. A task to collect DNA samples from my so-called parents, and to find out Duke's identity, and a promise that I will share my beauty secrets. I didn't think much about her partnership proposal.

Other than my nickname and a phone number, I didn't leave anything else behind, so even if Mona was not discreet, I can just ghost her. And if she delivers, I will talk to Aldus about what we can offer Mona in return.

Now that I can operate the alchemic cauldron, I can create potions, creams, and pills, but I hoped that Aldus can advise me on something more sustainable. Maybe there is a product from Notte Pharmaceuticals that Mona can use. That will be a good solution.

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