Seraphina’s POVAfter that day, Eric kept inviting me out. Sometimes, he would take me to a newly opened restaurant to try new dishes. Other times, he would drag me to listen to opera, which I found painfully boring. The grandiose hall, with its velvet seats and crystal chandeliers, seemed to mock my disinterest while Eric sat beside me, completely enthralled by the performance.I knew what he was after. He wanted to get back together with me because, as the niece of the former Alpha King, I had access to wealth and power far beyond what his fiancée could offer. I couldn’t believe I had ever been attracted to someone as shallow and manipulative as Eric. But I played along. I just needed him to slip up once. Then, I'd have the evidence I needed.One night, Eric took me to a high-end restaurant known for its exquisite whiskey collection. The place was called "La Lumière Noire," and it was the epitome of luxury and exclusivity. From the moment we arrived, I was struck by the opul
Alfred’s POVI had never felt so angry before. My blood simmered just below boiling, my thoughts circling around one central figure: Eric. I couldn’t understand why Seraphina kept getting close to him, especially after knowing his true nature. She deserved better—she was good enough for anyone. Why would she waste her time on someone who had betrayed her?Despite the raging storm of emotions inside me, I had no idea how to approach Seraphina about it. Discussing her emotional decisions seemed both impolite and awkward. What right did I have to interfere? We weren’t actually cousins. We shared no blood relation. My upbringing taught me to respect others' decisions, even if I disagreed with them.So, I kept silent, watching her from a distance, my frustration mounting. But then, it became apparent that Seraphina had something she wanted to discuss with me. The dread that she might ask me to forgive Eric gnawed at me. There was no way I would ever accept that man back into he
Seraphina’s POVI never imagined a single photograph could cause such a whirlwind of chaos. The image of Eric pinning me against the wall, taken in that moment of clumsiness and unintended intimacy, was now plastered across every media outlet. The headline read: "New 'Miss Vanderwood' Secret Boyfriend Scandal: Fiance of Alpha Austin's Daughter Involved."As I scrolled through the articles on my phone, my heart sank further with each word. Alfred had tried to suppress the news, but it was too late. The story had spread like wildfire, and there was no stopping it.That morning, sitting at the breakfast table, the air was thick with tension. I could barely touch my food, my stomach churning with guilt. Alfred was silent, his jaw clenched as he read the news. Garfield, however, seemed unperturbed, sipping his coffee and glancing at the headlines with mild interest as he hummed a delightful tune.Breakfast at the Vanderwood mansion was a lavish affair. The long oak table was l
Seraphina’s POVAnna’s agreement to help had been a gamble. I knew how blind love could make someone, but I also believed in the strength of a woman who had been hurt. Even though Anna was still in love with Eric, she had a sense of justice that I hoped to tap into. I waited and waited until the message finally came through, simply saying, “I’m in. Meet me tomorrow, Princeton Avenue, Block 4 B. 10 AM."The following day, I acted as if nothing had changed. My interactions with Alfred were casual, but I couldn’t miss the curiosity in his eyes.“What did you and Anna talk about?” he asked over breakfast.My heart raced, but I kept my expression neutral. “Oh, it was nothing serious.” I lied. "She just wanted to hear my side of the story."Alfred raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Are you sure? You seem a bit... distracted.”I forced a smile. “Just thinking of some things, that’s all. It’s nothing to worry about.”He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes
Seraphina’s POVAs I began to wake up, I first noticed the biting cold of the air around me. The dampness seeped into my skin, making me shiver. My head throbbed painfully, and I blinked against the dim, flickering light that barely illuminated the basement. Shadows danced eerily on the rough stone walls, creating an unsettling atmosphere.The room smelled musty, like mold and decay, with a faint metallic tang that made my stomach churn. The floor beneath my feet was cold and hard, and I could hear the distant, slow drip of water echoing somewhere in the darkness. The air was thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.I could make out the outline of old, rusted pipes running along the ceiling and a few broken, discarded furniture scattered around the room. The only window was small and high up, covered with grime and barely letting in any light from the outside. It felt like a forgotten place, abandoned and neglected, with an almost palpable sense of despair clinging t
Alfred’s POV*Two days ago*Seraphina paced the room, her steps quick and restless. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of determination and frustration. I watched her, feeling worried. She had been relentless in her pursuit of justice, refusing to back down despite the dangers."Alfred," she said, finally stopping to face me. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. I need to find the evidence that proves my innocence. Eric has to pay for what he's done."I nodded, understanding her resolve. "I know, Seraphina. But you need to be careful. Eric is dangerous. Even if you find evidence against him, he won't let you back down without a fight."She sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I don't have a choice. If I don't do this, he'll continue to ruin more lives. But... I feel so alone in this. It's like every step I take, there's a dead end."I walked over to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone, Seraphina. I'm here with you. We'll figure this out t
Seraphina’s POVI never thought it would end up like this. Sitting here in yet another janky basement, I felt as if my chest was being slowly compressed, making it hard to breathe. The air was thick with tension, and all eyes were on me, or rather, on Eric, who was about to spill the secrets I'd been desperately hiding.Eric's smug face made my skin crawl. His voice dripped with malice as he recounted my past, each word a knife slicing through the fragile fabric of my newfound life."Mr. Garfield," he began, his tone sickeningly sweet, "do you know where your beloved niece has been all these years? I'll tell you where she was. She spent the last three years in prison." Once full of warmth and kindness, Garfield's face twisted in shock and disbelief. He looked at me, his eyes wide with horror."That's enough," Alfred growled, his hand tightening around mine. His presence was a lifeline, grounding me in the storm.Garfield's voice trembled as he spoke. "You're despe
*Seraphina*When I saw Eric was put in cuffs and arrested, I breathed a sigh of relief. Everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours had transpired so quickly that I wasn’t sure I was processing everything properly. The cop who had been the first on the scene was still talking to me, but it was like his voice was nothing but static, my brain unable to unscramble the muffled words into sentences that made sense. The only thing keeping me grounded was the pair of strong arms holding me and the hands rubbing gentle circles on my back. It was Alfred, who hadn’t let go since I collapsed into his arms. Even during the confrontation with Eric, who exposed my past to his father, Alfred stayed by my side. He’d refused to leave, and I, for one, was grateful because I was certain that if he weren’t holding me up, my legs would’ve given out from under me. Alfred’s protective touch, and his warm and comforting scent surrounding me acted as a barrier between the nigh