Alfred’s PovWhen I saw the notification on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. "Famous Pop star Madeline and Alpha King Alfred Vanderwood will hold a press conference at noon tomorrow to address some of the controversies regarding their relationship," the headline read. I had yet to be informed in advance. Panic surged through me as I immediately dialed Madeline's number, my hands trembling with urgency."Madeline, what on earth are you doing?" I demanded the moment she picked up. "Why wasn't I told about this press conference? Why are we even having a press conference to begin with?""Alfred, please understand," Madeline continued, her voice tinged with desperation. "I didn't want to blindside you, but the media's attention has been relentless. If we made it official, I thought it would take the pressure off both of us.""I thought you'd be used to that sort of thing by now," I said. Why's this any different?"Madeline's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Alfred, I'm s
Seraphina/ Alfred’s PovSeraphina’s Pov"This is it; I am really leaving this place," I thought to myself as I wandered the grand hallways of the Vanderwood castle. Each step echoed my footsteps, a soft reminder of my many years here.My first stop was the kitchen, where the clattering of pots and pans had always been a comforting sound. I could almost hear the laughter and chatter of late-night snack raids with Alfred. We’d sneak down, careful not to wake anyone, and argue who made the best sandwiches. Mine were, of course. Once, we made a towering sandwich with everything we could find and shared it while sitting on the counter, our feet swinging in the air. I dragged my fingers over the countertop as if bidding it a final farewell.Next, I wandered into the banquet hall. The chandeliers sparkled overhead, glowing warmly on the long, polished marble floors. I remembered my first dance with Alfred here. It was at a grand ball, and I had been so nervous. But Alfred had
*Seraphina*“Seraphina?”His voice was gentle, yet hit me full force with the strength of a wrecking ball. The walls I’d tried so hard to build up ever since I decided to accept that he deserved to be with Madeline started to crack. All the old feelings I’d bordered up behind those walls —the rush of attraction, pinpricks of desire, the longing, the fear —all came rushing through like a wave. I was overwhelmed. No, this was ridiculous. There was no way that was Alfred. Sure, it looked exactly like him, even down to the way he usually styled his hair and the way he carried out his unassumingly formal gait. Yes, I could’ve sworn that I heard him call my name. But it must’ve been my imagination because there was no way Alfred would’ve left Madeline to chase after a Welfare brat. Only a fool would trade in a superstar for a jailbird, and Alfred was no fool.It didn’t matter that my heart leaped at the thought that the part of me I tried hard to ignore hoped against hope th
*Seraphina*His words were the last thing I expected. All I’d known of Alfred until now was his stoic resolve, the coldness he usually wore like armor. Yes, there’d been glimpses of affection I thought I could see when he did things out of kindness or offered to help or protect me. But such an open declaration of his feelings had left me completely shaken down to the core. I didn’t think he was the kind of man who said these things to women. But there was such vulnerability in the way he talked to me and touched me that I knew he was sincere. It was like I could see the arrogance I’d first encountered back at Archeron evaporate before my very eyes. It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d strapped him down to that bed and teased him about saving his life. Even though I wanted nothing more than to return his affection and tell him the truth about my feelings, there was still too much that I couldn’t ignore. Madeline was genuinely in love with him, too, and she wasn’t
Alfred’s POVThe sunlight filtering through the curtains nudged me awake. My eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, I was blissfully lost in the memory of last night. The passion, the closeness, the way Seraphina melted under my touch. Her cries for mercy still echoed in my mind, a sweet symphony that played over and over.I reached out, expecting to find her warm body next to mine, but my hand fell on an empty bed. Panic surged through me. Had she left? Had she decided to run away again?"Seraphina?" I called out, my voice thick with worry. There was no answer, only the silence of the room, which felt like a cold void.I jumped out of bed, my heart pounding in my chest. My mind raced with thoughts of losing her, of her slipping through my fingers once more. I could barely breathe as I hurriedly pulled on my clothes.But then, a sound reached my ears—the sizzle of something cooking. I followed the noise, my fear slowly being replaced with hope. I reached the kitchen,
Seraphina’s POVAs Alfred and I walked up the front steps of my Uncle Garfield’s grand estate, a heavy sense of dread settled in my stomach. The tall, imposing mansion loomed over us, its ornate windows and grand columns casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun. I wasn’t ready for what was coming, but I had to maintain my composure. Alfred had dropped me off after a day of learning new recipes from various chefs around town, but explaining that to Garfield would be tricky.When Garfield opened the door, his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Seraphina, back so soon? I thought you had a full day planned.”Thinking quickly, I forced a smile and said, “The chef I was supposed to meet with fell ill, so we had to delay our plans. I thought it’d be nice to spend some extra time here.”Garfield’s eyes softened, and a broad smile spread across his face. “Well, that’s a pleasant surprise! I’m happy to have more time with my favorite niece. And Alfred, it’s good to see you again.”
*Seraphina*“Time to go, Princess.”The prison guard’s words dripped with bored disdain as he shoved me out of the cell that had been my home for the past three years. But even despite his mockery, my heart beat wildly with excitement.“Good luck out there,” said Tina. Out of reflex, my hands balled up into fists. I looked back to see her smirking at me, a reminder of the cruelty I’d faced over my time with her and the other prisoners. But even those memories couldn’t ruin my happiness. Not today. Instead of responding, I walked out with my head held high, ignoring the smug laughter that tumbled out of the cell.I followed the guard out to the release area, barely able to contain myself as I went through the motions of the final steps towards freedom. I’d been dreaming of this day for such a long time that, even when I felt the cool midday breeze lick my face, even when I could view the world outside unencumbered by the four walls of the prison yard, it still took me a whil
*Seraphina*“If you’re done with your laps, we still have business to discuss.”I barely registered James’ labored breathing as he caught up down the block I’d run. I remained frozen, rooted to the spot for what felt like both an eternity and a split second as I watched them long after they disappeared inside the store. Neither Eric nor his new girlfriend seemed to notice me at all. It took me a few seconds to register that James was even beside me. “Miss Lovelace, this can all be really simple. You’re an ex-convict. You have a criminal record now, and you didn’t obtain the degree you started. Your options are limited, and I strongly advise you to take this offer,” he said, once again pulling out the checkbook. “The only requirement is that you stay far away from Mr. Rutherford and never breathe a word of what happened between you two to anyone.”“How could he do this to me?”I hated the way my voice sounded —small, vulnerable, unsteady. I hated how I felt the same way.