Chapter 5: Shadows of the Past

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 hand.

“Lucian asked me to bring this to you,” Evelyn said smoothly, setting it on the vanity. “You should drink it. Might help you relax.”

Seraphina met her eyes in the mirror. “If Lucian wants me relaxed, he should bring it himself.”

Evelyn chuckled. “Oh, darling. He’s busy.”

The way she said it, the way her lips curled ever so slightly—it was intentional. A provocation.

Seraphina’s fingers curled into fists. Was this woman sleeping with Lucian? Had she been in his bed all these years?

Evelyn leaned in, resting a manicured hand on the vanity. “It must be strange, being back here. Everything has changed. Well… almost everything.”

The words were laced with unspoken meaning. Seraphina fought to keep her expression blank.

“I see you’ve made yourself comfortable,” she said coolly.

Evelyn smirked. “Let’s just say I know my place in Lucian’s world. Do you?”

Seraphina refused to take the bait. Instead, she rose gracefully from the chair, stepping closer until they were inches apart.

“You must be very proud of yourself,” she murmured. “But let me tell you something, Evelyn.” She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a whisper. “If you think you’ve won, you don’t know the game you’re playing.”

Evelyn’s smirk faltered just slightly, and that was enough.

Seraphina turned and walked away, leaving the untouched glass of wine on the vanity.

A Dangerous Invitation

Lucian sat in his private lounge, a tumbler of whiskey in hand, his thoughts dark and tangled. The moment he had Seraphina back in his grasp, he had thought satisfaction would follow.

But instead, all he felt was restlessness.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. A name flashed across the screen.

Raphael Moretti.

Lucian’s grip tightened. He let the phone ring a few seconds before answering.

“I was wondering when you’d call,” Lucian drawled.

A deep chuckle came from the other end. “And I was wondering how long it would take you to track her down.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. “She was never yours to take.”

Raphael sighed. “We both know that’s not true. She came to me, Lucian. And if she had asked me to keep her hidden forever, I would have.”

Something sharp and dangerous twisted in Lucian’s chest. He forced his voice to remain calm. “If you cared so much, why didn’t you stop me from taking her back?”

“Because this isn’t over,” Raphael said, his voice smooth but laced with warning. “You think you’ve won, but Seraphina isn’t the same woman you lost. And when she finally tells you the truth, let’s see if you can handle it.”

Lucian’s grip on the glass tightened, but before he could respond, the line went dead.

A muscle in his jaw ticked. What the hell did Raphael mean by that?

Lucian stared at his reflection in the darkened window, his own stormy eyes staring back.

What truth was Seraphina hiding?

And why did he have the sudden, nagging feeling that he wasn’t prepared for it?