After His Sweetheart Moved In, He Came Home Every Night-Chapter 128: She Would Rather Die Than Come

"You know me?"

Julian Dalton’s eyes narrowed as he sized up Seraphina Sheridan at the bottom of the steps.

It had been three years. Seraphina never thought she would see Julian Dalton here again. ’Didn’t he live in Washington full-time? Why would he suddenly come back here?’

A thousand questions flooded her mind, and Seraphina’s thoughts were a tangled mess. She turned her face away and denied it. "I don’t."

Julian crossed his arms, his expression intriguing. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I..." Recalling the warning the Quinn Family had given her, Seraphina didn’t want—and was afraid—to have anything more to do with this man. "I came to the wrong place," she said. "Sorry to have bothered you."

With that, she turned to leave, not intending to stay a second longer.

Julian signaled to the security guard. "Stop her."

The guard nodded and moved to block Seraphina’s path. "Please wait."

Seraphina: "..."

Behind her, Julian was slowly descending the steps, walking toward her.

Hearing his footsteps, Seraphina’s back stiffened. Her heart suddenly began to race. Even though she knew he wouldn’t recognize her face now, she grew inexplicably nervous.

"The wrong place, you say? Then may I ask where you were trying to go?" Up close, Julian studied her carefully.

Seraphina could clearly feel Julian’s eyes on her. ’I can’t get any more nervous.’ She took a deep breath, turned, and put on a natural smile. "The place I’m looking for is a bit further down. I just misread the address."

Julian’s face was devoid of expression. "Where, specifically?"

"..."

Seraphina was struggling to maintain her expression. "It’s, it’s..."

Julian applied more pressure. "If you don’t give me a clear answer, I’m calling the police and reporting you for trespassing."

"..."

Seraphina nearly ground her teeth to dust. ’I haven’t done anything to deserve this lately. How could I run into him today?!’

’Why couldn’t he just stay in Washington? What’s he doing back here?’

"Not talking, are you?" Julian glanced at the guard out of the corner of his eye. "Call the police."

As the guard pulled out his phone, Seraphina immediately blurted out, "Shorecrest! I’m looking for Shorecrest."

The guard looked up. "This is Shorecrest."

Seraphina closed her eyes. ’Of course I know that. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let me in in the first place.’

She could only blame herself for not asking who the employer was. The thought of a ’high salary’ and ’Alice York’s recommendation’ had been enough to send her rushing over in a fit of enthusiasm.

If she had known it was Julian Dalton, she would have rather died than come here.

"Well?"

Julian looked down at her with cold eyes.

Seraphina took a breath. "Alice York sent me. She said it was to take care of a child for about four or five days. Daily pay, address at Shorecrest."

Julian let out a long, meaningful "Oh." "So you’re the nanny Alice York recommended."

Seraphina flinched. For the past three years, she had gotten used to the word "nanny"—some people had even called her a garbage collector. But hearing those words come from Julian’s mouth felt particularly humiliating.

She looked up at him and said solemnly, "My name is Seraphina Sheridan."

Julian’s brow furrowed, and he repeated the name slowly. "Seraphina... Sheridan?"

When she heard Julian say her name, Seraphina’s heart skipped a beat. Her memory flashed back to that passionate night four years ago, when she had whispered from beneath him, "My name is Seraphina."

He had laughed. "Is that what I’m supposed to scream?"

But looking at his reaction now, there was only indifference and a lack of recognition.

"Follow me."

He turned and walked inside.

But Seraphina remained rooted to the spot. She raised her voice. "Mr. Dalton, I’ve given it some thought, and I don’t think I’m cut out for this job."

Julian looked back at her. "Saying whether you’re cut out for the job before you’ve even passed the interview? You seem pretty confident in yourself."

Seraphina gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Well, you have to have a little self-confidence."

Julian’s lips twitched into a smirk. "Also, I don’t recall introducing myself, yet you know my surname."

"..."

’Crap, I forgot.’

Fortunately, she was quick on her feet. "Alice York told me beforehand," she said immediately. "That the employer’s surname was Dalton."

Julian turned back around. "Come in for the interview."

Seraphina sighed. ’Since I can’t get away, I’ll just have to play along for now.’

Besides, the child had been taken away right after birth. She had never once seen them.

She couldn’t quite describe her current mood. Perhaps because she had never seen, held, or fed the child, she hadn’t thought about them at all these past three years.

With her weak family ties, she was destined to be an unfit mother.

’When I see the child later, I probably won’t even have a reaction.’

So she thought. But the moment Seraphina actually saw Yael, she realized that all her supposed indifference, lack of maternal instinct, emotional detachment, and distance were just things she had imagined.

...

「Afternoon.」

Alice York headed for the intensive care unit, holding Vernon Lancaster’s medical file.

As she rounded a corner, she heard Melody Lancaster crying and stopped abruptly. Voices came from up ahead—or more accurately, Melody’s voice.

"Rhys, Dad’s condition is more critical this time than ever before. I’m so worried..."

"It’s my fault for being so busy with work. I didn’t even know his illness had progressed this far."

This was followed by another bout of aggrieved, suppressed sobs.

But the man beside her remained silent, not offering a single word of comfort.

Alice didn’t stand there for long. She stepped out from around the corner. When Melody saw her, she immediately wiped her tears and called out, "Dr. York, you’re here."

Alice’s gaze fell on Melody’s face.

’Scheming against the Lancaster heir, being detained, being punished... only to be freed a day later. Not because she was cleared of suspicion, but because Vernon Lancaster was admitted to the ICU.’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’The truth behind it probably wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny.’

"Mr. Lancaster’s surgery has been scheduled for eight o’clock tomorrow morning. This is the surgical consent form," Alice said, handing it over.

As Melody took it, tears welled in her eyes. "This surgery is very dangerous, isn’t it?"

Alice gave the standard reply: "All surgeries carry a certain degree of risk, even the most routine ones. The risks are all listed on the consent form. You can take a look."

After speaking, Alice looked at the man standing to the side.

She could only see his profile and couldn’t make out his features, but she was fairly certain that this was the recently returned heir of the Lancaster family, Rhys Lancaster.

"Rhys," Melody walked to Rhys’s side, her eyes brimming with tears. "The form lists so many risks, big and small. I’m so worried..."

Rhys glanced sideways, his expression devoid of emotion. "When Fourth Uncle had his surgery abroad, I don’t recall you being this nervous."

Melody explained, "I was still young back then. I didn’t understand these things."

Rhys narrowed his eyes. "Don’t overdo the acting. A touch of genuine emotion is more appropriate. And more natural."

Melody’s face stiffened.

Alice had to fight to keep the corners of her lips from turning up in a smile. She silently turned to leave, but after only two steps, Rhys called out to her. "Dr. York, I presume."

Alice stopped and turned back to face him.

Rhys said, "Regarding Vernon Lancaster’s medical history, I want to know everything."

At his side, Melody became visibly tense. She was about to speak, but Rhys shot her a warning look, and she immediately shut her mouth.

She had neither married into the Sterlings nor escaped the Lancaster Family. This dilemma held her in a death grip. Coupled with the fact that Rhys was a ruthless man, she didn’t dare say a single word against him and could only endure it.