Three years ago, Seraphina Devereaux vanished without a trace, leaving behind her powerful billionaire husband, Lucian Devereaux, and the life she once knew. She thought she had escaped him, thought she had erased every trail leading back to her. She was wrong. Now, Lucian has found her. And he’s not letting her go. Dragged back into his world of wealth, power, and control, Seraphina refuses to be the obedient wife he once knew. But as she fights to break free, she must protect the one secret that could shatter everything—a secret Lucian can never know. But Lucian isn’t the same man she left behind. He’s darker, more ruthless, and he’s determined to unravel every lie she’s ever told. Because this time, there’s no running. And in Lucian’s world, she belongs to him.
View MoreSeraphina knew something was wrong the moment she stepped into the grand hall. The air inside the Devereaux estate was thick with something she couldn’t quite place suffocating, charged, almost electric. It wasn’t the usual quiet luxury of Lucian’s world. The usual hum of servants moving discreetly through the corridors had ceased. The chandelier above cast an almost eerie glow, its light catching the polished marble floors, but the warmth of the estate had disappeared. The silence was the first clue. Then, she saw him. Lucian stood near the grand staircase, his expression unreadable, his presence commanding as always. But it wasn’t just him. Evelyn stood by his side, her body angled ever so slightly toward him, her lips curved into a victorious smirk as if she had already won a battle Seraphina didn’t know she was fighting. Seraphina’s stomach tightened. This was it. Lucian’s voice broke the silence, smooth and deceptively casual. “You’ve been avoiding me, sweetheart.” Seraph
Chapter 12: Shattered Illusions The mansion was quieter than usual that night, but the silence wasn’t peaceful it was waiting. Seraphina felt it pressing against her skin as she walked through the dimly lit halls, her thoughts tangled. Lucian hadn’t confronted her again. Not since he walked away after asking if she was sleeping with Raphael. And that silence was far more dangerous than his anger. She knew Lucian well enough to understand that when he stopped talking, stopped reacting he was planning. And that terrified her,more than she cared to admit. As she reached her room, a voice stopped her. “Elise?” she asked, surprised to see her best friend stepping out of the shadows. Elise’s expression was tense. “We need to talk.” Seraphina frowned. “What is it?” Elise hesitated, then whispered, “Lucian’s planning something. I don’t know what, but Evelyn’s involved.” Seraphina’s stomach twisted. Evelyn. Of course. Before she could respond, heavy footsteps echoed
Seraphina sat on the edge of the lavish bed, her fingers gripping the soft silk of her dress as her mind raced. The golden glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, but all she could focus on was the storm brewing outside—and the even bigger storm raging inside her. She had made a mistake. Returning to Willow Creek had never been part of her plan. She had spent years ensuring she and Ava remained hidden from Lucian, carefully crafting a life where his shadow never reached them. Yet, somehow, fate had dragged her right back into the lion’s den, into the home of the one man she swore never to face again. And now, she had to make the biggest gamble of her life. A sharp knock on the door made her stiffen. She quickly composed herself before calling out, “Come in.” Elise stepped inside, shutting the door quietly behind her. Her eyes flickered with something between concern and frustration. “You shouldn’t be here,” Elise whispered. Seraphina let out a dry l
Lucian stood frozen in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but Seraphina knew what he was thinking. Raphael, ever the opportunist, smirked and took a step closer to her, deliberately invading her space. “Well, this is awkward.” Lucian’s gaze darkened, shifting between them. His jaw was tight, his breathing controlled—but Seraphina saw the telltale signs of rage. The storm brewing beneath his carefully composed mask. Raphael, however, was enjoying every second of it. He stretched his arms lazily before speaking. “You know, Lucian, barging into a woman’s room in the middle of the night is a bit rude.” Lucian’s fists clenched. “Get. Out.” Raphael chuckled, shaking his head. “I was just leaving anyway.” Then, just to push it further, he turned to Seraphina and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. It was the final straw. Lucian moved. In a blur of motion, he lunged—grabbing Raphael by the collar and slamming him against the wall. The room shook with the impact. Seraph
The room seemed to shift as Raphael approached, his presence commanding. He was just as she remembered—dark-haired, effortlessly powerful, with a smirk that hid too many secrets. Lucian tensed beside her. “Raphael,” Seraphina greeted smoothly. “What a surprise.” He took her hand and pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to her knuckles. “You look stunning, as always.” Lucian’s glass shattered in his grip. A slow smile spread across Raphael’s lips. “Still breaking things, I see.” Lucian stood, towering over them. “What are you doing here, Moretti?” Raphael slid his hands into his pockets, eyes gleaming with amusement. “I heard Seraphina was back. Thought I’d come see her for myself.” Seraphina lifted a brow. “So this is a social visit?” Raphael’s smirk deepened. “You could say that. But I also came to warn you.” Lucian’s expression darkened. “Warn her about what?” Raphael’s gaze locked onto Seraphina’s. “That the walls are closing in. And soon, you won’t be able to hide the truth
She didn’t stop walking. Not when she reached the hallway. Not when the burn in her throat became unbearable. She needed to breathe. To think. To forget. But as she pushed open the balcony doors and stepped into the cold night air, she knew one thing for certain. No matter how much distance she put between them, Lucian’s fire would never stop burning inside her. And that was the most dangerous part of all. Seraphina slammed the door behind her, the echo ringing through the dimly lit room. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths as she pressed her back against the wood, eyes shut tight. Don’t think about it. Don’t feel it. Don’t let him get to you. But the image of Lucian and Evelyn was burned into her mind, taunting her. Evelyn’s smirk. Lucian’s silence. The way his eyes held hers like she was the only one who mattered—until she wasn’t. Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "Pathetic,
Seraphina moved through the dimly lit hallway, her pulse pounding with each step. The silence in the mansion felt unnatural, as if the walls themselves held their breath, waiting for something to unfold. She hadn’t intended to wander. But after her call with Ava, the suffocating weight in her chest had become unbearable. She needed air. She needed clarity. And that was when she heard it. A soft, feminine laugh. Evelyn. Followed by a deep, husky murmur. Lucian. Seraphina’s heart clenched. Her fingers tightened into fists at her sides as she followed the voices down the corridor. They led her to Lucian’s private study—a place that had once been hers as much as his. The door was slightly ajar. She hesitated. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, to not look—but she couldn’t stop herself. Slowly, she pushed the door open. And what she saw made her stomach plummet. Lucian sat on the leather couch, shirt unbuttoned, his muscular chest exposed. Evelyn straddl
The chandelier above cast a golden glow over the grand dining hall, but Seraphina felt none of its warmth. She sat stiffly at the long mahogany table, a place set for two, but the atmosphere was anything but intimate. Lucian sat across from her, calm, composed—watching her like a predator watching its prey. “I expected you to be more talkative,” he mused, twirling his wine glass between his fingers. Seraphina picked at the untouched food on her plate. “I have nothing to say.” Lucian smirked. “That’s a lie. But I’ll let you keep it—for now.” The weight of his words settled over her like a noose tightening ever so slightly. He was getting closer. Too close. The doors creaked open, and Evelyn strode in with effortless confidence, her black dress hugging her every curve. Seraphina didn’t miss the way Evelyn’s fingers trailed along Lucian’s shoulder as she leaned in, whispering something in his ear. He chuckled. Seraphina’s stomach twisted, but she refused to react. She wouldn’t
Seraphina sat at the vanity, staring at her reflection in the gilded mirror. Her hair was still damp from the shower, strands clinging to her skin like delicate chains. The dress Lucian had left for her—a silk gown in a shade of midnight blue—clung to her body, fitting too perfectly. He still remembers my size. The thought made her stomach twist. She wanted to rip the dress off, to throw it in his face, but she knew better than to provoke him now. Lucian was playing a long game—one she had no choice but to endure. A knock at the door made her tense. Before she could respond, the door swung open, and she walked in. Evelyn. Lucian’s right-hand woman. Tall, poised, and breathtakingly beautiful, Evelyn had an air of effortless elegance that made Seraphina’s stomach churn. She wore a fitted black dress, her blonde hair pulled into a sleek bun, and when she smirked, it was with the confidence of a woman who knew she had power. Seraphina's gaze flicked to the wine glass in Evelyn’s h
Seraphina had spent the last three years perfecting the art of disappearing. She had learned how to blend in, how to live without leaving a trail. She had abandoned everything—her old name, her wealth, and most importantly, her past. The quiet town of Willow Creek had been the perfect hiding place. Here, she wasn’t Seraphina Devereaux, wife of a ruthless billionaire. Here, she was just Sera Lane, a waitress at Evergreen Café, earning just enough to survive. And survival was all that mattered. At least, until today. A strange feeling had settled in her chest the moment she stepped into work that morning—a tight, suffocating unease that she couldn’t shake. It was irrational, she told herself. Until the café door swung open. And she heard his voice. "You thought I wouldn’t find you, wife?" Seraphina’s entire body froze. The world around her faded—the quiet chatter of customers, the scent of roasted coffee beans, the soft jazz playing in the background. Everything di...
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