Seraphina felt a rush of anger and hurt, but also a flicker of understanding. She knew Amanda’s words were only part of the healing process. “Why now, Amanda? Why are you telling me this now, after everything?”“Because I realized what I’ve lost,” Amanda said, her voice breaking. “Dad’s death… it made me see how much time we’ve wasted being enemies. I miss you, Seraphina. I want my sister back.”“So if dad didn’t die, this would have gone on for years.. wow,” Seraphina said.“No.. try to understand me,” Amanda said.Seraphina’s eyes filled with tears. “You can’t just expect things to go back to how they were. You hurt me deeply. You took away so much from me.”“I know,” Amanda whispered, tears streaming down her face. “And I know I can’t change the past. But I’m asking for a chance to make things right. Please, Seraphina.”Seraphina looked at her sister, seeing the genuine regret and sorrow in her eyes. She knew that forgiveness wouldn’t come easily, but maybe, just maybe, they could
Seraphina woke up early, the first light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She slipped out of bed and headed downstairs. She found Genevieve already in the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee. Her mother looked up, offering a weak smile.“Morning, sweetheart,” Genevieve said softly. “Did you sleep at all?”Seraphina shook her head. “Not really. Too much on my mind, I guess.”Genevieve nodded, pouring two cups of coffee. “I understand. Today’s going to be hard, but we’ll get through it together.”They sat in silence for a moment, sipping their coffee. Seraphina felt a mix of anxiety and determination. She glanced at her mother, who seemed more fragile than she had ever seen her.“Mom,” Seraphina began, “I’m really sorry for everything… for not being here.”Genevieve reached across the table, taking Seraphina’s hand. “It’s not your fault, Seraphina. We all have things we regret. But today, let’s focus on saying goodbye to your father.”A gentle knock on the door interrupted their mom
“Life’s funny that way,” Amanda said with a shrug. “Sometimes it takes something big to bring everyone together.”“Yeah,” Seraphina agreed, her expression somber. “I just wish Dad could’ve seen how happy I am now.”Amanda reached out and placed a hand on Seraphina’s arm. “I’m sure he knew, in his own way.”The two sisters sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the bond between them feeling a little stronger.Seraphina took a deep breath, feeling a mix of emotions. She glanced at Amanda and offered a small smile. "I’m really glad we had this talk, Amanda. But I need to go check in with Damien for a bit."Amanda nodded, her expression understanding. "Of course, Sera. I’m here if you need anything."As Seraphina left the room, Amanda’s smile disappeared, replaced by a scowl. She sat down heavily, her mind churning with resentment and anger.“Perfect little Seraphina,” she muttered under her breath. “Always has everything handed to her. And now I have to crawl back and ask for her help?
The morning sun filtered through the bedroom window, casting a warm glow over the room. Seraphina stood by the bed, methodically folding clothes into her suitcase. Her mind drifted back over the events of the past few days, a whirlwind of emotions and memories.Damien’s voice called out from the bathroom, interrupting her thoughts. “Almost ready?”“Just about,” she replied, smoothing out a shirt before placing it carefully in the suitcase.Damien emerged, towel-drying his hair. “I can’t wait to be back in our own space,” he said, his tone carrying a mix of exhaustion and relief.“Me neither,” Seraphina agreed, closing her suitcase with a finality that felt almost symbolic. “This trip has been…draining.”Damien walked over and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ll be home soon,” he said, his eyes full of understanding.Seraphina looked up at him, grateful for his steady presence. “Thanks for being here, Damien. I couldn’t have done this without you.”“Always,” he said softly
Damien’s penthouse was as grand as Amanda had imagined. They walked in after the tense car ride, the silence thick between them.Damien broke it. “This is my house, Amanda. You will stay here for now. Seraphina’s place is pretty small. for y’all both”Amanda’s eyes sparkled, but she kept her tone casual. “Well, if you insist. This place is incredible.”As they showed Amanda to the guest room, she couldn’t help but let a bit of envy slip through. “Wow, must be nice to wake up to this view every day,” she said, gazing out the window. “I guess not everyone can live like this.”Seraphina smiled, trying to ignore the undercurrent in Amanda’s words. “We’re just glad you’re here with us now.”Amanda nodded, her face innocent but her thoughts less so. “Thanks for letting me stay. It’s really generous of you.”Damien smiled. “Make yourself at home.”Amanda glanced around the luxurious room, masking her envy with sarcasm. “Oh, I will. Trust me, I will.”As Seraphina and Damien showed Amanda to
Amanda sat at her desk, the hum of the office around her doing little to soothe her seething frustration. Her fingers hammered the keys with growing impatience, her mind racing with thoughts of how unfair her situation was. “Admin and data entry,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing at the spreadsheet on her screen. “This is ridiculous.”As the hours dragged on, Amanda found it increasingly hard to concentrate on the mundane tasks assigned to her. She glanced around at the other employees, noting how they seemed engrossed in their work. “I didn’t beg for a job just to be treated like this,” she fumed inwardly, feeling the sting of humiliation.The clock ticked slowly toward the end of the workday. Amanda clenched her jaw, struggling with the menial tasks she had been given. Each keystroke felt like a personal affront. “I’m better than this,” she thought, anger bubbling inside her.Finally, unable to contain her frustration any longer, Amanda grabbed her bag and left her
The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the airport terminal. Seraphina stood with Damien, her luggage beside her.“I’m going to miss you so much,” Seraphina said, her voice thick with emotion, wrapping her arms tightly around Damien’s waist.Damien pulled her even closer, resting his chin on top of her head. “I’ll miss you too, babe. It’s just a week. We’ll talk every day, I promise.”She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself while I’m gone.”“I promise,” Damien replied, brushing a stray hair from her face and cupping her cheek gently. “And you focus on your work. Paris is going to be amazing for you.”“I know, but it’s hard to leave you,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She traced the line of his jaw with her fingers, memorizing his features.He kissed her forehead gently. “I love you, honey. You’ve got this. I’ll be right here when you get back.”“I love you too,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to ki
Damien settled into the couch, his mind still occupied with thoughts of Seraphina and the emotional intensity of the past few hours. Amanda, sensing Damien’s need for space after his firm rejection, decided to step back momentarily and reflect on her approach.She retreated to the kitchen, tidying up the breakfast spread she had prepared earlier. As she worked, her thoughts raced, analyzing the interaction with Damien. She knew pushing too hard could jeopardize any chance she had with him, especially with Seraphina’s presence lingering in his mind.Amanda sighed softly, leaning against the kitchen counter. She wanted Damien’s attention and affection, but she realized it wouldn’t come easily. Her mind drifted to Seraphina, wondering how deep Damien’s feelings were for her and how much of a challenge it would be to win him over.After a few moments, Amanda straightened up, determined to regroup and strategize her next move carefully. She couldn’t afford to give up, not when Damien was s