ログインSERA'S POVThe next day.Gabriel was still fast asleep. His large body was folded on the single bed that was too narrow, one leg dangling off the edge, his arm stretched out to the side where I had been lying. His face was slightly furrowed in sleep, as if he was dreaming of something unpleasant.I didn't wake him.I got up quietly, grabbed my jacket, and went down the creaky wooden stairs. In the small bathroom behind the shop, I splashed cold water on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were a little puffy, my hair still messy, but not too bad. I took a deep breath, tied my hair back, and walked to the front to open the shop.I opened the metal shutters, arranged the flowers in front of the display case, changed the water in the vases that had started to cloud. This routine had been my solace for months. The scent of flowers, the quiet of the morning, the occasional sound of birds or passing cars.But this morning was different.The small TV in the corner of the
SERA'S POVMidnight.I woke up because of something. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it was the bed being too narrow for two people, or maybe it was because Gabriel was no longer holding me.I opened my eyes.He wasn't beside me.I sat up, my heart beating faster. My gaze swept across the dark room, and I found him near the window. Gabriel was sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, one knee bent, his hand resting on top of it.He was staring outside, toward the wet streets, toward the city lights blinking in the distance. In the dim light filtering in, I could see the tension in his jawline, his shoulders slightly slumped, and something in his eyes that he couldn't hide when he thought I was asleep.Sadness.A very deep sadness, the kind he hid behind those words of "relief" and his faint smile.I stayed quiet for a while, just observing. He didn't move, didn't know I was awake. And in the silence of that night, I saw everything he had tried to hide since he arrived.It wasn't
SERA'S POVI quietly brought Gabriel into my apartment.Not because I was embarrassed, but because I didn't want Mrs. Harrison to see him. The shop downstairs was already closed, but who knew if she was still in the back kitchen. I held his hand tightly, guiding him through the back hallway, up the creaky wooden stairs, then opened the door to my small room.Gabriel was too big for this space. His broad shoulders almost touched the doorframe. His height made the ceiling feel lower. His jacket was gone, his shirt was wrinkled, his hair was disheveled, but he was still Gabriel. Still handsome in his own messy way.I closed the door, locked it, then looked at him.He stood in the middle of the room, looking around with eyes I couldn't quite read."Neat," he finally said.I snorted. "Liar. It's a mess.""Neat by human living standards.""Do you want to die?"He smiled faintly.I observed him carefully. His face showed no sadness. No traces of tears, no wrinkles of grief, no signs that tod
SERA'S POVA few days after Gabriel came to my apartment, I was still trying to live life as usual. Opening the shop, arranging flowers, serving customers. My phone still had his number blocked, but I knew he wasn't going anywhere. The same black car was often parked at the end of the street, never coming in, never bothering anyone. Just there, like his promise to wait.I wasn't ready to unblock him, but every morning, when I opened the shop curtains, I always glanced toward that car. And every morning, that car was always there.Until this morning.That car was gone. Strange, but I thought maybe he was busy, or maybe he finally gave up and left. I didn't want to think too much about it. I had work to do.But during the afternoon break, Mrs. Harrison turned on the small TV in the corner of the shop, as usual. I was arranging a bouquet for an order, not really paying attention. Until I heard that name."—a leadership crisis at Bloodfang Corporation. Gabriel Bloodfang, the CEO who has b
SERA'S POV That night, I didn't expect him to actually come. I had already turned off my phone, blocked his number, and decided to go to sleep and forget about him. But around eleven at night, loud knocking on my apartment door made me jolt awake. I got out of bed and opened the door. Gabriel stood there. He was soaking wet. His hair was disheveled, his white shirt clung to his broad chest, his jacket was nowhere to be seen. His eyes were red, his breath was ragged, and I could see his chest rising and falling rapidly. "You..." I leaned my body against the doorframe, crossed my arms over my chest, and smiled. A wide smile. A smirk that I deliberately put on to annoy him. "Hello, Father," I greeted sweetly. His face changed. From panicked to red with restrained anger. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" "Call you what? Father? That's what you wanted, isn't it? You said I was your daughter." "SERA!" "Why are you shouting? The neighbors will hear." He clenched his fists, trying to contro
SERA'S POVUpon arriving in Seattle.I parked the shop car behind Petals & Memories, my body still warm from the memories of a few hours ago, but I didn't let that warmth linger.I turned off the engine and sat still for a moment, then stared at the rearview mirror showing the empty road behind me. No one was following. I was alone.My phone vibrated.A message from Gabriel: "Have you arrived? Be careful."I read it once, then placed my phone on the dashboard.I got out of the car, carrying the leftover unused bouquet, and entered the shop through the back door. Mrs. Harrison had already gone home.My phone vibrated again.Did you get home yet?I changed my clothes, taking off the sweater that still held the scent of his cologne. That scent. The scent that used to comfort me now only reminded me of my weakness.I took a shower. Warm water ran over my body, but it couldn't wash away the guilt in my heart. Not guilt for going back to him.I opened my towel, wrapped my wet hair, and sat
After Elena entered her room, Gabriel pulled me. His hand gripping my hip felt hot through the fabric of my evening dress. His breath was heavy, mingling with the short gasps that escaped my lips as he pushed me against the wall of the room. The door locked with a loud click, isolating us from the
The desk lamp lit the sheet of paper where I slowly wrote the list. I wrote a few items with hands still trembling, daily clothes, lecture notebooks, assignment folder, one thin blanket, two mugs. Then my hand stopped in the middle of the seventh line. I stared at the words for a long time before c
“I heard you are no longer in a relationship with Selly,” Elena said.“That is correct,” Gabriel replied.Elena tilted her head slightly. “The Bloodveil Pack family has been waiting for confirmation.”Gabriel let out a short breath. “We have separated.”“Why? The Bloodveil family is not a minor all
The next day, the aroma of sautéed garlic and meat broth filled the apartment. The servants moved deftly in the open kitchen, while Elena stood by the island, arranging vegetable cuts with the precision of an expert.I stepped inside. "Let me help with the cutting, Madam," I said carefully."No nee







