When Christy first heard the news of Damien and Seraphina’s press conference, she was sitting in her living room, scrolling through her social media feeds. Her phone buzzed nonstop with notifications, each one bringing more bad news. She felt a growing sense of dread as she clicked on a video link, watching Damien and Seraphina calmly and methodically present the evidence against her.Her heart raced as she saw the recording of her conversation with Vanessa play out in front of millions of viewers. She could hardly believe her ears. The walls seemed to close in on her, and she dropped her phone, feeling a wave of panic and nausea wash over her.As the initial shock wore off, anger quickly replaced it. How could Vanessa have betrayed her like that? Christy paced her living room, muttering to herself and cursing Vanessa’s name. She grabbed her phone and tried calling Vanessa, but it went straight to voicemail. In her fury, she left a string of angry messages, threatening Vanessa for h
A few days later, Vanessa felt well enough to leave the hospital for a short outing. Emily helped her into the wheelchair, and together they made their way to a nearby cafe where Damien and Seraphina had agreed to meet them. Vanessa’s heart pounded with a mix of nerves and anticipation as they approached the small, quiet café.Damien and Seraphina were already seated at a corner table, their faces lit up with relief when they saw Vanessa. Damien stood up and walked over to greet her, his expression a mixture of gratitude and respect.“Vanessa, it’s so good to see you,” Damien said, his voice warm. “We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.”Seraphina joined him, her eyes shining with emotion. “You’re incredibly brave, Vanessa. You’ve helped us more than you know.”Vanessa smiled, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. “I’m just... glad I could... help. Christy needed... to be stopped.”They settled at the table, Emily sitting beside Vanessa and Damien and Seraphina across from
The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Seraphina stirred, slowly waking from a deep, peaceful sleep. She felt a gentle touch on her lips and opened her eyes to find Damien sitting beside her on the bed, a tray of breakfast in his hands.“Good morning, most beautiful,” he said with a warm smile. “I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast in bed.”Seraphina sat up, her heart swelling with affection. The tray was laden with freshly baked croissants, a bowl of mixed berries, and a steaming cup of coffee. “Damien, this is wonderful,” she murmured, touched by his thoughtfulness.“Is it? Because I have another surprise for you,” he said. “How do you feel about a picnic today?”Seraphina’s eyes lit up with delight. “A picnic sounds perfect,” she replied, her mind already drifting to the possibilities of the day. “Where are we going?”“It’s a secret,” Damien teased, leaning in to kiss her gently. “But I promise you’ll love it.”They spent the
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying each other’s presence. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble of happiness.“So, tell me something embarrassing about you,” Damien said, breaking the silence.“Hmm,” Seraphina said, pretending to think. “Well, there was that time I tried to dye my hair purple in high school and ended up looking like a grape.”Damien laughed. “I bet you rocked it.”“Not even close,” Seraphina replied, giggling. “I had to wear a hat for weeks until it faded.”“Well, I’m sure you made it look good,” Damien said, leaning in to kiss her.The kiss was sweet and tender, filled with the promise of their deepening love. When they pulled apart, Seraphina sighed contentedly.“This is perfect,” she said, leaning her head on Damien’s shoulder. “Just you, me, and this beautiful day.”“It really is,” Damien agreed, wrapping his arm around her. “Let’s make a pact. No matter what happens, we’ll always find time
Alex sat at his desk, staring blankly at his wall in his office. His mind kept wandering back to Seraphina and Damien's latest social media post. They looked so happy together, so in love.He felt a pang in his chest, a mix of jealousy and longing. Why couldn't he have that with Seraphina? Why did she choose Damien over him?Alex sighed and rubbed his eyes. He had been thinking about this nonstop since their separation, even though it was his own doing. He couldn't focus on work, couldn't sleep at night. All he could think about was Seraphina and how much he wanted her back.He slowly got up from his chair and walked to the window. Staring out at the city skyline, he felt a sense of emptiness, of loss. He knew he needed to do something to get his mind off Seraphina, but what?"Damn you, Damien," Alex muttered to himself. "You think you can just pop in and take her away from me? Not a chance."He paced around his office, his mind racing with plans and strategies. He would show Damien w
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Alex standing before her, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.He was wearing the same cologne she had bought him on their anniversary, the same scent that had driven her wild with desire. She tried to brush it off as a coincidence, but her traitorous body betrayed her, responding to the familiar scent with a flutter in her stomach.Alex's hair was freshly cut, styled in the same way she had always loved. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and his full lips curled into a smile that made her heart race. She tried to step back, but he grasped her elbow, holding her in place."Don't go," he whispered, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine.Seraphina's mind raced as she tried to process the sudden encounter. She had avoided him for so long, and now here they were, face to face, with only inches between them. She was confused - how did he know which street she lived on? She had moved
Seraphina unlocked the door to her apartment, her hands trembling slightly as she turned the key. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her and leaning against it for a moment. The encounter with Alex had left her shaken, and she needed a few seconds to gather herself.Taking a deep breath, she walked into the living room and dropped her bag on the couch. The space felt unusually quiet, amplifying the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She replayed the interaction with Alex, his intense gaze, the way he had held her arm, the cryptic words he had spoken. She felt a mix of anger and nostalgia tugging at her heart.Moving to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of water, hoping it would calm her nerves. As she sipped, her eyes drifted to the small bouquet of peonies on the counter - Alex’s gift. She had left it there that morning, not knowing what to do with it.“Why now?” she whispered to herself, feeling a pang of frustration. “Why did he have to come back and complicate eve
Meanwhile, in her own apartment, Seraphina sat alone at the kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. The once-cozy kitchen felt cold and empty without Damien's usual cheerful presence. He usually comes to her place after work. She glanced at the clock, noting that he had already left for work without their usual morning call.She sighed, a feeling of loneliness settling over her. She missed the little things - the way he would surprise her with her favorite croissants, the affectionate kisses on her forehead, the whispered "I love you" as they started their day. Those moments had become rare as Damien threw himself into salvaging his company from Alex's relentless sabotage.Seraphina picked up her phone, scrolling through the texts they had exchanged recently. They were mostly brief updates or questions about mundane things. There were no sweet messages or romantic plans, nothing that reflected the deep connection they used to share.She set her phone down and took a deep