6. A New Beginning

Seraphina sat upright in the hospital bed, her fingers curling around the rough fabric of the blanket draped over her lap. The air in the room was filled with tension as Eleanor, Bianca, Lila, and her father loomed over her like a pack of vultures circling their prey. Their faces twisted with irritation, barely concealed behind the thin veneer of forced concern.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Seraphina,” Eleanor snapped, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us? Telling us to leave?”

She couldn’t accommodate any longer after what she heard on the rooftop. Although she kept wondering where they heard about the fortune from because it was foreign to her, even as the owner. Her father was the only sane option and that got her wondering why he never mentioned it to her.

The sense of betrayal was more than she could bear. Their presence irritated her soul to the point it made her retch. They were all planning to steal the last thing her mother left behind, without any remorse.

She had endured their bullying, maltreatment, and hurtful words but this time, she would never allow them enjoy what her mother had worked for all her life. She would rather shake hands with the devil, which she had done.

Her father, a stern man with deep lines of exhaustion etched into his face, sighed heavily. “Sera, you’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment. We’re your family. You shouldn’t push us away.”

Seraphina met their gazes steadily, her heart pounding in her chest, but she refused to let them see an ounce of fear. “I said I want to be alone,” she repeated, voice unwavering. “That’s not up for debate. Is it that hard to do?”

Her voice was resolute and firm. She had made up her mind and will stand on her decisions. She didn’t know that she had such a side to herself and wondered where the confidence came from.

Bianca scoffed, tossing her golden curls over her shoulder. “Ungrateful brat. You think you can just dismiss us? After all we’ve done for you?”

“All you’ve done?” Seraphina’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You mean belittling and maltreating me every time? Forgive me if I don’t see the kindness in that.”

Lila gasped, feigning innocence. “We were only looking out for you! It’s not our fault you’re too weak to handle reality.”

Eleanor’s face twisted with frustration. “Enough of this nonsense! We’re taking you home whether you like it or not.”

Before Seraphina could reply, the door to her hospital room swung open with a force that silenced everyone. Three tall men, dressed in sharp black suits, stepped in with an air of authority that sent a chill down her spine. Their presence sucked the oxygen out of the room, making even Eleanor take a step back.

One of them, a burly man with a sharp jaw and cold eyes, scanned the occupants of the room before his gaze settled on Seraphina. “Miss Vale, we’ve been instructed to ensure your safety. You’re to be left undisturbed.”

Eleanor bristled, regaining some of her composure. “Who the hell do you think you are? This is my stepdaughter! You have no right to interfere in our family matters!”

The man didn’t even blink. “We’re under direct orders. You will leave.”

Bianca’s mouth opened to protest, but before she could utter another word, two of the men took a deliberate step forward. The unspoken threat was clear.

Eleanor turned back to Seraphina, eyes blazing. “This is what you want, then? To be surrounded by thugs? To turn your back on your family? Are you into dating thugs now?”

Seraphina’s grip tightened on the blanket. For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel small under their scrutiny. She felt something entirely different and powerful. “I’m not turning my back on anyone,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m choosing myself for once.”

Eleanor’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Fine. Don’t come crawling back when this all falls apart. I promise to pay you back for all these humiliations”

With that, she turned on her heel, leading Bianca and Lila out of the room. Her father hesitated for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Sera…”

She met his gaze, unflinching. “Goodbye.” She had wanted to call him dad but the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth so she just let it be.

His face hardened, and without another word, he left.

As soon as they were gone, the men relaxed slightly. The one who had spoken before turned to her and nodded. “You’re safe now. Mr. Montclair instructed us to take care of everything.”

Seraphina let out a shaky breath, as if releasing years of weight from her shoulders. “Thank you.” She had already guessed that much, it was his doings.

The man merely nodded before stepping out, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She traced her fingers over the business card Adrian had left her and whispered, “I hope I made the right choice.”

***

The next morning, the hospital discharged her, and outside the entrance, a sleek black car waited for her. She had barely stepped out when a man in a driver’s uniform opened the door.

“Miss Vale,” he greeted her respectfully. “Mr. Montclair is expecting you.”

Seraphina slid inside, her heart hammering hard against her ribcage. The leather seats were cool against her skin, and the silence inside the car was oddly calming. The drive was smooth, yet the weight of the unknown pressed against her. She had no idea what awaited her at Adrian’s mansion, but one thing was certain, there was no turning back now.

When the car finally pulled through the iron gates of the Montclair estate, her breath caught in her throat. The mansion was massive, elegant, and intimidating. It looked like something pulled from another world. It was a big depiction of wealth, power, and secrets.

The driver stepped out and opened her door. “Welcome home, Miss Vale.”

Home. The word felt foreign, but as she stepped inside, a strange sense of belonging settled in her chest. She wasn’t standing in someone else’s shadow. She was finally stepping into her own story.