My Poor Roommate is a Billionaire

Upper East Side, New York.

"Sorry, but you have to move out."

The woman, dressed in a beige cashmere cardigan and dark camel-colored silk pants, spoke with a cold tone. She was around 50, with delicate makeup, and her long red waves casually cascaded over her shoulders, exuding a mature elegance.

The young man seated at the opposite end of the opulent marble table didn't respond. He picked up a soda cracker next to his plate, spooned some caviar onto it, and took a bite with satisfaction, as if none of this concerned him.

"Also, you don't need to come to the office tomorrow." She added, flipping her hair. The large diamond ring on her finger sparkled brightly.

The young man still didn't respond. He speared another piece of smoked salmon and took a bite.

Noticing he wasn't responding, the woman's tone grew more irritated:

"It's your fault to begin with, so don't blame me for being harsh...And by the way, you can't access the money in the trust fund anymore."

At this, the man finally stopped. He lifted his gaze, locking eyes with his stepmother. His voice was calm, but deep:

"Is this all for Alex? He's only twelve, and you're already setting things up for him?"

"..."

"Does my father know about all this?" Seeing that she was silent, he pressed further.

"Of course he does! This was his decision!" The woman spun around angrily, ready to leave.

"You even convinced him to change the will, didn't you?" The woman stopped in her tracks at the man's question.

"Is that all you care about? The money in your father's will?" She sneered, turning back with a mocking tone.

The man's eyes hardened, and his voice turned cold:"Let me make one thing clear: what my mother left behind, you'll never get your hands on."

His voice was emotionless but firm, as if the man who had been indifferent moments ago was someone else entirely.

The woman froze for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh: "Oh? Really? And what's your plan? Rely on that foolish little startup of yours? Don't be so naive."

Without another word, she turned and walked away. The sharp click of her high heels echoed through the empty room, growing more louder until it finally faded into silence.

The young man casually continued eating his brunch, as if the conversation had never happened.

A few weeks later-

Bridgefield, New York.

"I'm sorry, but I have to move out."

At a small dining table in an apartment, a young Asian girl with black hair lowered her head, her hands clasped together. She glanced up at the person across from her with one eye, then continued:

"God, I'm so sorry, Sera...I got promoted, but I have to move to Philly for work."

The girl sitting across from her, Seraphina, put down her plate of pasta, her eyes wide with surprise.

She blinked, her brown eyes bright and lively, with thick eyebrows and lashes, small but full lips, and a few faint freckles dotted the sides of her nose. Her brown, slightly wavy hair was casually clipped up with a red claw clip.

Seraphina paused for a moment, then said in surprise: "Amy, isn't this a good thing?"

After a moment, she repeated: "Amy, this is great! It's really great... Congratulations!"

"But you just got here to New York, and now I'm leaving! I promised I'd take care of you-are you mad at me?" Amy, the Asian girl, said.

"Don't be silly! How could I be upset? You got promoted! That's amazing news! We need to celebrate!"

"Sera! You're the best! You're my lucky star! You just moved here, and I get promoted! The company was bought out, and positions shifted-It's a crazy-big opportunity!" Amy's voice grew more excited.

"Amy, you work so hard, you totally deserve it." Seraphina smiled warmly at her friend, her smile was so bright that her eyes turned into crescent moons.

They had known each other since seventh grade, and Seraphina always knew that Amy was someone full of passion and energy for everything.

Seraphina, on the other hand, was completely different. She always felt like she was being pushed through life. She had this easygoing, almost lazy air about her, doing things at her own pace and seldom getting excited about anything. She lacked drive and energy-nothing like Amy's endless enthusiasm.

"I'm moving out in a couple of days. The company has found me a place in Philly." Amy said.

"That soon?"

"Yeah... so here's the deal-we really need to find someone to split the rent with." Amy said, clasped her hands again, she hesitated before adding:

"I know you've been here for a few weeks and haven't landed a job, so money probably kinda tight... and you know me-I live paycheck to paycheck... I don't have extra cash to cover the rent...So, finding a roommate is kind of our top priority!"

Seraphina thought for a moment and realized Amy had a point. Their financial situation couldn't really handle the extra rent.

The apartment they were living in was an old place with three rooms and two bathrooms. Besides the two of them, there was a male roommate who was hardly ever home. Seraphina'd heard he was a photographer, always traveling for work, barely ever in New York.

"You really think we can find someone decent that fast?" Seraphina asked, her voice tinged with worry. She was always the type to overthink.

"Let's just post the ad online and see what comes up!" Amy replied. Taking her advice, they quickly put together a roommate listing and published it.

They chatted for a while longer-about Amy's new position, the weather in Philadelphia, and life in general-before heading back to their rooms.

Seraphina's room was about 150 square feet, just big enough for a single bed, a desk and chair, and a simple wardrobe.

It was late autumn, Seraphina was curled up on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, sitting cross-legged.

Her mind was still processing their earlier conversation. Seraphina had always been this way-she was slower to adjust to change. Unlike others, She needed time alone to sort through and absorb the rapidly changing information around her.

"I'm sorry." Amy had apologized to her several times today, and Seraphina realized that "sorry" had become the word she heard most often lately.

Ironically, these three simple words had begun to fill her with genuine disgust.

Just then, her phone buzzed sharply, dragging her out of her thoughts. She glanced down to see a message from her mom:

"Honey, D stopped by again today. He said he really needs to talk to you-something important. Would you maybe consider unblocking him so he can reach out? "

Then another message popped up:

"I just feel like it's too soon for things to end like this between you two. Maybe give him one more chance?"

Seraphina sighed deeply and quickly typed a response:

"Mom, what Daniel did to me is exactly what Dad did to you back then. And you still want me to forgive him???"

A moment later, her phone buzzed again. Reluctantly, she opened the new message:

"Someone has responded to your roommate ad."