CHAPTER 3

Elowen stepped off the train, her heart racing as she scanned the bustling city of Alphacrest. The cacophony of voices and the rhythmic clattering of luggage on the platform felt like a distant storm, but one familiar face stood out amidst the chaos. Seraphina beamed at her from the crowd, a handmade sign with Elowen's name scrawled in bright red letters held high.

“Elowen!” Seraphina called, her voice cutting through the noise like a beacon. Before Elowen could respond, Seraphina swept her into a tight embrace. The familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine enveloped her, grounding her in memories of laughter and simpler times.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” Seraphina said, grabbing Elowen's suitcase with a determined tug.

As they drove through the city, the lights blurred past like fleeting memories, but Elowen felt the weight of unspoken tension thickening the air between them. She stared out the window, lost in the shadows of her past.

Once inside Seraphina’s apartment, silence stretched painfully until Seraphina broke it, her voice steady yet probing. “So, what now? What’s your plan?”

Elowen clenched her jaw, her hands gripping the back of the chair so tightly her knuckles turned white. "I want revenge." The words were sharp, each syllable dripping with cold fury. "Caspian and his mother took everything from me."

Seraphina’s expression softened, concern mingling with empathy. "I’m with you, Elowen. I always have been." She paused, searching for the right words. "I knew Caspian didn’t love you, but I never imagined he’d go this far."

Elowen’s silence echoed through the room as she fixed her gaze on the floor, her thoughts racing faster than she could articulate. Just then, her phone buzzed, jolting her from her spiraling thoughts. The name on the screen sent a cold shiver down her spine: Mrs. Williams.

Hesitant, she answered. "What do you want?"

Mrs. Williams’ voice dripped with venom. "Just a reminder I’ve disposed of your parents' ashes. We’re done paying for them."

A surge of rage ignited within Elowen, boiling beneath her skin. “You what?”

The line went dead, leaving her holding the phone as if it were a live grenade.

Hands trembling, she lowered the device, her breath coming in jagged gasps. “She can’t do that… not to my parents."

Seraphina moved closer, her presence a steadying force. "Elowen, look at me. What are you going to do?"

Elowen lifted her head, eyes ablaze with determination. "I’m going to make them pay for every single thing they’ve done."

Seraphina's lips curved into a sad smile. "Then we’ll need to start somewhere. What’s your plan here?"

"I’m a baker," Elowen said, her voice steady, though the undercurrent of anger still lingered. "I’ll open a bakery. And a wedding planning company."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, a spark of excitement igniting in her gaze. "I’ll help you. But first, you need to focus. Leave the past where it belongs for now. We’ll make them pay, but on your terms."

Elowen's reflection in the mirror caught her attention; she looked cold and unrecognizable. "I have no feelings for him anymore. They’re gone." Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Mom, Dad... I’ll make them pay."

Days turned into a blur of flour and icing, the rhythmic hum of her mixer blending into the background of her life. Elowen poured herself into her work, her cakes quickly becoming the talk of Alphacrest. Each order felt like a small victory, a step closer to reclaiming her identity.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Elowen leaned against the cool edge of the bathroom sink, her knuckles white as another wave of nausea washed over her. She barely made it to the toilet in time, retching until her stomach was empty. The taste of bile lingered in her throat, bitter and unsettling.

“Elowen, this isn’t normal. You’ve been vomiting all morning. We need to see a doctor,” Seraphina insisted, her voice a soothing balm against Elowen’s rising panic.

“I’m fine. I’ve got cakes to bake and weddings to plan,” Elowen replied, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her.

“Don’t be stubborn.” Seraphina’s tone softened, but her determination shone through. “Let’s just get you checked, okay?”

Hours later, they sat in the doctor’s office, the sterile smell of antiseptic swirling around them. The doctor entered with a smile, a piece of paper in hand. “Congratulations, Ms. Elowen. You’re going to be a mother.”

Elowen's breath caught in her throat, her heart racing as disbelief coursed through her. "What?" she whispered, the weight of the news crashing down like a tidal wave.

Seraphina’s eyes widened, shock painting her features. “A mother? But... Caspian never who’s the father?”

Elowen gripped the armrests, knuckles turning white as she swallowed hard. “I’ll explain when we get home.”

The drive back was cloaked in heavy silence, the hum of the engine filling the void. Elowen stared out the window, memories flooding her mind fragments of that night, the hotel room, the stranger’s touch, the delicate necklace he had left behind. A single, reckless mistake now threatened to upend everything.

“I can’t keep this baby,” Elowen murmured, the weight of the decision crashing over her like a cold wave. “I’m not ready. I want revenge, not... a family.”

Seraphina squeezed Elowen’s hands, her grip firm and unwavering. “The baby isn’t at fault, Elowen. They’re a blessing, not a burden. Don’t make a decision you’ll regret.”

Tears welled in Elowen’s eyes, blurring her vision. “But what about my revenge? What if I can’t work, can’t take back my parents’ company?”

“You will,” Seraphina assured her, her voice steady and resolute. “I’ll quit my job, help you build your business. We’ll make it strong together.”

Elowen looked up, tears spilling down her cheeks as gratitude and fear intertwined within her. “You’d really do that for me?”

Seraphina smiled softly, a light shining in her eyes. “Of course. We’re best friends, remember? I’ll always stand by your side. But you still haven’t told me... who’s the father?”

Elowen's throat tightened, words catching like thorns. “I don’t know. It was just... one night. I was drunk, and the next morning, all I had left was a necklace and a torn note.”

“It’s okay,” Seraphina whispered, enveloping her in a comforting hug. “We’ll figure it out. For now, just rest.”

Later that evening, Elowen flipped through the channels aimlessly, her heart racing each time she caught a glimpse of Caspian’s face on the screen. His voice cut through her like a knife.

"My dear wife is dead," he declared, his expression stoic as ice. "I’ve searched everywhere, but she left me only a note, saying never to look for her."

Elowen shot up from the couch, fury igniting within her, the fire of betrayal burning hotter than ever. "How dare he!" Her voice trembled with rage, each word a dagger aimed at the screen. "I’m still alive, and when I return, he’ll pay for everything.”