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

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~ London ~

"Enjoying?", Mona asked me from the massaging table that was next to mine.

As a response, I groaned in pure bliss.

Mona told me that I will get the full VIP treatment when I come to London, and I didn't think much of it, but this is heaven.

I could lay down on this table the whole day and let this young lady knead away.

I tilted my head sideways and saw that Mona's eyes were closed and her smile told me that she is enjoying the massage as well.

Our relationship progressed over the years. I see Mona as a reliable person. A friend.

It all started while I was stuck on Lost Isles with a bunch of harpies.

Mona collected DNA samples of my so-called parents and Aldus ran tests against my profile.

Just as we suspected, they are not my biological parents.

Aldus advised me to watch them and to see if they will contact anyone suspicious because he had a hunch they worked under someone's orders. Aldus concluded this based on their financial history which told him that they are not a couple that does long-term planning, and pretending to be my parents for two decades was long-term.

Thanks to Mona's cooperation, I have a constant stream of information (and rumors) about happenings in London, and she is also keeping an eye on my parents.

I am amazed by Mona's abilities in managing a business and collecting gossips.

In return for Mona's spy-like services, I invested in her spa. At that time, she was struggling financially, and she eagerly accepted my help. As part of the fresh start, we rebranded the company into the "Beauty Sphere".

Aldus paid for the investment in the Beauty Sphere, and I used Aldus's channels to sell potions and pills I created with alchemy. It didn't take me long to repay that debt. I was surprised by the high demand for body and energy enhancing pills.

Currently, I own 25% of the Beauty Sphere as a silent partner.

As part of the deal, Mona gets to use beauty products from Notte Pharmaceuticals. Also, some of the commercials for Notte Pharmaceuticals are shot in facilities of Beauty Sphere, instantly boosting her popularity.

Mona's business bloomed and now she owns a chain of 4 luxurious spas across London that cater to high-end customers.

It's unbelievable how posh ladies talk about anything and everything during a massage or facial treatment. They are Mona's main source of information.

Since Mona and I established our cooperation, we are exchanging texts and emails. This is my first time in London after I attended the event where Aldus introduced me as his daughter to executives in London's branch of Notte Pharmaceuticals. That seems like forever ago.

Now that I'm here, Mona insisted for I to see all four locations of the Beauty Sphere, and to meet the staff. As a co-owner, I guess they should know my face and Mona was super excited, so I didn't deny her this.

If this relaxing massage is a sign of how the rest of my stay in London will go, I will make sure to come more often.

Other than spending time with Mona, I plan to visit my old house.

When my parents lost the trust, they moved to a more affordable area and the house my grandmother left me went for auction. Aldus purchased it.

Mona said that she will join me in searching through the place. I hope to find some answers about my parents and grandmother. Mona knows that they were not my real parents, so she is a perfect sidekick to help me search for hidden compartments and clues, if any.

Marius sent me photos of the house, and I saw that the furniture, books, and accessories are still there, so I have an idea about what to expect.

My parents sold most of the things they could within the three days from the eviction notice, before people from the bank came to escort them off the property.

With the trust invalid after it was confirmed that I failed to graduate per requirements, my parents lost the right to live there, and they could take only their personal belongings.

To be honest, I was nervous about the possibility of bumping into Duke.

Even after all this time, occasionally, Duke visits me in my dreams and those are the moments when I relax and enjoy in his embrace while selfishly getting lost in an illusion.

Duke is sweet and caring and asks for only one thing, that I come to him. Of course, I say that I will, because I don't want to bicker in my dream and spoil the lovey-dovey mood, but I have no intention of facing those demons.

After returning from the Lost Isles, I came a long way.

I learned many things and molded my mind and body into a young woman worthy of a father like Aldus Mezzanotte.

I am confident in my abilities and my status. I am not timid in front of people, and I don't shy away from speaking my mind and putting others into their place.

No one can intimidate me… no one... other than Duke.

It's ridiculous that a sheer thought of Duke makes my knees weak, and I act like an enamored teenage girl.

London is a big city, but I fear that I will end up seeing him just because he is the only person I want to stay away from.

Yes, I know… I'm a coward for avoiding to confront him.

Yes, I know… I'm a liar for promising that I will seek him out, without an intention to do so.

Yes, I know… I'm weak for not being able to let go of these emotions that have roots in my dreams.

I know it's not real, but every night that I spend in his embrace, enveloped in the scent of pine trees with a hint of the ocean, my soul is at peace.

Those are dreams and it's fake, but I'm drawing strength to push through my days with the comfort my not-real Duke provides me.

Every night before I go to sleep I hope that I will get to feel his arms around me, inhale his scent, enjoy his warmth and those gentle kisses that he plants all over my face (except on the lips).

What will I do if I meet him for real? Probably pretend that I'm someone else.

Argh! Why am I overthinking this? Even if we meet on the street, he will probably ignore me or not recognize me and there is no need to panic just because I dream that Duke is embracing me a few times a month. That is in my head, and he is not sharing my delusions.

Thanks to Mona and news from the business world, I know that Duke started an investment company two years ago, and currently has about one hundred employees. Eclipse (that's the name of Duke's company) is doing very well, and they have a number of high-profile customers.

Related to Duke's private life, officially, he is single. Unofficially… there are many rumors, and Magdalena Thompson still appears in quite a bit of them.

Mona is assuring me that those are only wannabe girlfriends because none of her contacts is seeing Duke partying or dating, but I can't prevent myself from thinking that all those rumors contain some truth.

Who am I kidding? Even if the rumors are completely false, it has nothing to do with me.

I tell myself that it doesn't matter, but whenever I hear news about him, my heart flutters.

Yes, I am that weak. Pathetic.

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