Chapter 4

Seraphina’s P.O.V

Rowan Whitmore— The black sheep of the Whitmore Family.

My hands flew to my mouth as I ducked my head. He couldn’t have seen me, right? Why would he even be here? To taunt me? No, he might have forgotten about me by now. Knowing how cruel he could be, maybe he was just here to pick up a friend who was also getting released.

So he wasn’t here for me.

I took a deep breath, mustering the courage to walk past him while reassuring myself that all I needed to do was find Chloe and leave New York City.

When I walked past him, my heart kept beating hard in my chest and…

I froze, dread settling at the pit of my stomach, my fingers curling into fists when his voice echoed down my ears. “Flamingo!”

That bastard! How many times would I tell him to stop addressing me as Flamingo?

Biting my lower lip in anger, I removed my sunglasses, turned towards Rowan, and lashed out at him. “My name is Seraphina. Stop calling me flamingo, Seraphina isn’t that hard to pronounce…”

My hands flew over my mouth. Oh no! I just didn’t lash out at him.

Rowan’s grey eyes brightened, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he laughed gently. “I thought you wanted to act like you didn’t know me?”

My cheeks turned red with a mix of anger and embarrassment as I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “What are you doing here? You promised not to have anything to do with me, you bully!”

Rowan laughed and there was something about him now that I couldn’t wrap my head around as he moved away from the car, walking towards me while he leaned down, poking me gently on the nose. “You were the bully, remember?”

I scoffed in disbelief, my cheeks heating up. I opened my mouth to snap back, but the intensity of his gaze stopped me as those grey, unreadable eyes bore into mine, stealing the breath from my lungs.

“Am I?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

I met Rowan after I was adopted by the Henderson family. The Henderson family had ties to almost all the richest families in New York City and while I bonded with all the other kids, I could never bond with Rowan. We both hated each other with immense passion.

While everyone called me Seraphina, he preferred to call me Flamingo for reasons best known to him. He loved getting on my nerves, he just did things that would make me talk about him all day.

When we got into high school, it became worse. Rowan who sat behind me would do horrible things like loosening the hair band around my hair, using a feather around my ear, and doing things to piss me off intentionally.

There was a time when the car taking Lucia and me to school broke down and Rowan on his motorbike happened to be passing. He took Lucia instead and ensured that water from the puddle was splashed on me. He also ruined all my chances of dating anyone in high school and college!

Rowan was just the worst.

So, when my grandfather who currently had dementia proposed marriage between Rowan and me, I had stood against it because I had a crush on Mason whom I wanted. He was nicer to me than Rowan.

That night that I rejected Rowan, he seemed hurt but I never understood why. He had told me that he was never going to have anything to do with me if I ever stayed with Mason.

Since then, he left New York City and the only time was when he came to Sophia’s funeral and he ignored me.

And now, he was here on the day I was released from Jail.

I took a step back, folding my hands behind me. “How can I help you?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I don’t need your help but you need mine”

Confusion swirled through my mind. “What are you talking about?”

“I have an offer for you”

“What offer?”

My breathing hitched when Rowan took a step forward, almost closing the space between us, and the smile on his face died. “Marry me, Seraphina”

My mouth parted in shock as I glanced up at him, before chuckling slowly. “Do you see me as some sort of a joke who will marry just because…”

Rowan cut in. “Nope but considering everything that happened to you, are you just going to let Mason and Lucia go scot-free? If they hadn’t done that to you, then Chloe…” He paused while I wiped off the tears that welled up in my eyes.

“My daughter isn’t dead if that is what you wanted to say”

“We will find her” He assured me and I was glad that he said that.

I swallowed. “So how does marrying you help me?”

“To get back at Lucia and Mason for what they had done to you. You can’t let them have their happy ending”

“I don’t have any power like that anymore. Lucia has taken my place and she is now married to Mason…” I mumbled. “Plus, Mason is a family member of yours…”

Rowan’s face darkened, clenching his jaw. “I have a score to settle with him. Are you marrying me or not, flamingo?”

I scoffed. “What do I get?”

“Everything that you have lost. This marriage would last for as long as you get your revenge. So do we have a deal or not, flamingo?”

“Stop calling me that shit…”

After deliberating on it, I exhaled sharply, staring into his grey eyes while saying. “Deal.”

***

Lucia’s P.O.V

Excitement bubbled deep within me, as I clutched the gift box and slipped my fingers through Mason’s arms while he heaved an exasperated sigh. “Why didn’t you allow Rowan’s servant to take the box from you”

“Because I have to give it to him myself. It has been a long time since he left New York City and he is back for good this time. Plus I can’t wait to meet his wife” I grinned.

The massive doors to the mansion swung open, and my eyes eagerly swept over the opulent interior. Stunning tapestries adorned the walls, intricate artworks filled the space, and grand chandeliers hung from the lofty ceiling that made me gape in wonder.

“I am still mad that he got married without inviting anyone” Mason sucked between his teeth while I shook my head.

“It doesn’t matter baby, I also heard that his wife is also a pharmacist and will be establishing her own pharmaceutical company”

Mason glanced at me, raising a brow. “Shouldn’t you be worried that she will be a rival?”

“No, it doesn’t matter. As long as it is Rowan’s wife, I will be happy to help her” I beamed with a smile.

“You are so pure, Lucia”

I leaned on his shoulder and stopped in my tracks when Rowan strolled down the stairs looking more handsome and breathtaking than the last time I set eyes on him.

“Oh my God, Rowan” I squealed in excitement, pushing Mason aside while rushing towards Rowan. Hugging him, I almost broke down in tears. “Rowan, I missed you so much”

“Lucia, it has been a long time” He slowly pushed me aside and there was this coldness in his voice or was it just me?

He proceeded to exchange handshakes with Mason who stared at him before he shook his head. “I hate you, Rowan, anyways, where is your wife?”

Rowan was about to speak when a voice that triggered all the senses in my head echoed through my ears. Dread settled at the pit of my stomach while the sound of stilettos reverberated through the walls of the house.

I knew that voice.

“Did anyone ask about me?”

Mason turned, his eyes widening and he almost lost balance. “S-Se…”

I spun and at that moment, my heart turned cold in my chest as we both locked gazes. She flashed a cold smile at me even though her eyes screamed terror. “Sister, we meet again”

Before I could even understand what was going on, Rowan walked past me, standing next to Seraphina as he slid a hand over her waist. “This is my wife that you two couldn’t wait to meet, Seraphina Whitmore”

“She is the CEO of Wellspring Pharma and now if anyone dares to come after her, they will suffer my wrath irrespective of whether they are a friend, a foe, or even my family.”