Chapter 4

I kept my legs open, meeting Gabriel's steady, unreadable gaze. Maybe he was beginning to feel the same thing I did the fire pulsing through our blood. I was certain he wouldn't resist me. I was beautiful, desirable, and confident. Many men had fallen for me. Compared to me, Selly was nothing. She was old, plain, and unworthy of being Luna to a man like Gabriel.

But instead of moving closer, he pulled out his phone.

"Hello, schedule my daughter for a session with the psychologist. I believe she's not in a stable condition right now."

I froze. When he hung up, his eyes still held that calm, detached expression.

"Daddy, do you think I'm crazy? I'm not crazy! The crazy one is your ugly girlfriend!" I snapped.

"Seraphina, I've been too busy lately and I've clearly missed something. You can talk about everything tomorrow with the psychologist," he said before leaving the room.

Frustration burned in my chest. I ran my hands over my face, shame creeping in. My cheap attempt had only humiliated me further. Still, I wasn't giving up. I would find another way. I would win his heart.

^^^

Night fell, and the house grew silent. From behind my slightly open bedroom door, I heard footsteps. Curiosity tugged at me, drawing me out. As I reached the living room, I froze.

There she was.

Selly stood before a tall mirror, wrapped in a thin, revealing nightgown that barely deserved the name. She sprayed perfume along her neck and smiled smugly at her reflection. I didn't need to be a genius to know what her plan was to seduce Gabriel.

My hands curled into fists. I wanted to confront her, and when she caught my glare, her head turned. That same fake smile spread across her lips.

"Oh, Sera. Still awake?"

"What are you doing?" I asked coldly.

"What do you think?" she whispered, stepping closer. "I just want to make Gabriel happy. Something you clearly can't do since all you bring is trouble."

The muscles in my neck tightened. Before I could respond, the front door opened. Gabriel walked in, still in his suit, his face weary from the long meeting. Selly immediately shifted into her innocent act.

"Darling," she called sweetly, hurrying toward him. "I need to talk to you. It's important."

I waited, suspicion gnawing at me, and sure enough, she pulled something from her hand a condom wrapper.

"I found this in Sera's laundry. I'm worried she's getting involved in things you can't control."

My eyes widened. "What? That's not mine!" I shouted.

But Selly was already looking at Gabriel with a pitiful expression. "I'm really worried. I found it in her dirty clothes. I just want to make sure she doesn't ruin herself or your reputation. And I have proof she's been to those wild parties with her friends last week."

"You're lying! You planted that! I've never done anything like that!" I argued.

"Liar. How many times have you deceived your Daddy? You're reckless and ungrateful. Don't you realize your comfortable life exists only because of his mercy? Without him, you'd still be a filthy street rat," Selly spat.

Her words hit like knives. Deep down, I knew where I came from. I bit back my tears, glancing at Gabriel, hoping for defense, but he said nothing.

I stepped forward, confronting her, denying her lies. But then Selly stumbled backward, her hand clutching a chair as if losing balance. With exaggerated drama, she fell to the floor.

"Ah! What are you doing?" she screamed.

"I barely touched you! You threw yourself down!" I protested.

Gabriel rushed forward. "Enough, Sera!"

He crouched beside Selly, checking on her as she winced a performance I could see straight through.

"She needs stricter discipline, darling. Maybe it's time you send her to the Pack academy. At least there she'll be under supervision," Selly said weakly.

"What? You want to get rid of me?" I snapped.

Gabriel stood tall, his eyes sharp. "I don't want this to happen again. We'll discuss it tomorrow. For now, go to your room."

I wanted to scream, to argue, but his piercing gaze silenced me. Selly bowed her head, pretending to be hurt, yet I caught the faint smirk curling her lips. A smile of victory.

With my chest burning, I stormed back to my room, slamming the door shut. I clutched my blanket tightly, tears spilling down my cheeks. Selly's lies echoed in my head the planted condom, her fake cries, Gabriel's silence. It all swirled together, choking me with anger.

Then I heard raised voices outside. Not the usual calm tone, but Gabriel's loud, commanding voice.

"That's enough, Selly!"

I sat up straight, heart pounding. I pressed my ear against the door.

"I'm only trying to protect your reputation, Gabriel! That girl is out of control. You don't see it, she—"

"Enough! You think I'm blind? I know exactly what you're doing. I won't let you keep cornering Sera with your lies."

My heart skipped. Was he defending me?

I cracked the door open just enough to peek. In the living room, Gabriel stood tall, his suit still immaculate. Selly stood across from him, eyes glassy with fake tears.

"I'm not lying! I only—"

"Stop lying! I've seen the way you look at her, the way you twist every word to make her seem guilty. You think I don't notice? This isn't the first time. You've always tried to drive her out," Gabriel said firmly.

"I'm only worried."

"You're worried about your own reputation. I need a partner who understands and accepts my daughter as she is. You? You've failed this time, Selly."

I almost cheered.

Selly's face went pale. "You can't be serious."

"Leave. Take your things and get out of this house right now."

"I have nowhere to go tonight," she pleaded softly.

"Not my concern. I don't want to see you here again. Bloodfang Pack doesn't need a fake Luna who only cares about herself," Gabriel declared.

Selly sobbed, covering her face with her hands, before turning toward the door. Her heels clacked against the marble floor, fading until the front door slammed shut behind her.

I pressed both hands over my mouth, trying to contain my joy, but my body couldn't hold it. I jumped onto my bed like a child celebrating a birthday gift.

"Finally," I whispered, barely believing it.

The witch was gone. For good.

I hugged my pillow tightly as tears flowed, this time from relief, not pain. No more pretending at breakfast. No more fake kisses on Gabriel's forehead. No more false accusations.

I pressed my ear to the door again. Gabriel's footsteps echoed through the hall, steady and firm. He was heading to his study. I heard him mutter softly, almost to himself.

"I can't afford another mistake."

I sat back down on my bed, breathing hard, unable to stop smiling. Maybe Gabriel still didn't understand how I truly felt. Maybe he still saw me as the daughter he had to protect. But one thing was clear, Selly was no longer between us.

I gripped my blanket, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "You thought you could beat me, Selly. Look now. You're the one who lost."

Her shocked face flashed in my mind, making me giggle again. I bounced on my bed, whispering in triumph, "This time, I won."

But just as I jumped one last time, the door opened.

I froze. My breath caught. My face flushed crimson.

Gabriel stood at the doorway, his piercing blue eyes locked on me as if reading every thought in my head.

I sat down quickly, hiding the grin that had been plastered on my face. "D-Daddy, I didn't hear you knock."

He stepped in, closing the door behind him. The click of the lock sent my heart racing. I straightened my back, trying to look composed though my hands trembled slightly.

"Why were you jumping around like a child?" he asked.

I swallowed hard, searching for an excuse. "I'm just happy the house is finally quiet."

One of his brows lifted. "Quiet because Selly's gone?"

I bit my lip. There was no point denying it. "Yes."

He sighed, walking closer until he stood right in front of me. I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.

"Sera, you know what happened out there. It's not something to celebrate like a party."

I lowered my eyes, though my heart screamed in defiance. "I can't pretend to be sad. She kept setting me up, trying to make me look bad. She's gone now. Is it wrong to feel relieved?"

"I know Selly had her flaws. Tonight she went too far, and I couldn't overlook it anymore. But that doesn't mean you should cheer like a child who's won a fight."

"Because I did win. I've always been treated like a burden. I just wanted, for once, to be seen. And tonight, Daddy finally chose me, not her," I said quietly.

"I didn't choose anyone tonight," he replied.

"But you defended me."

"That's my duty because I'm your Daddy."

I fell silent. There it was again that word, Daddy. For him, it was a boundary. For me, it was a cage. I wanted to be seen as more than a child he rescued.

"Go to sleep, Sera. Tomorrow, we'll start over."

"Start over?" I asked softly.

He nodded, eyes unreadable. "We'll reset our lives."