Chapter 5

Seraphina

Lucia froze completely, her lips wobbling, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. I pressed my hands against his, feeling the warmth of his skin against my own before darting my eyes back to her with a dangerous smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

“You seem shocked, is there a problem?” A mischievous smile graced my lips and at that moment, her hands flew over my mouth as she took a step back, then another until she almost lost balance.

But before she could fall completely to the floor, Mason was quick to catch her. The shocked expression did not leave his face as he glanced back and forth at Lucia and me.

At that moment, I leaned into Rowan’s embrace while Lucia swallowed, removing herself from Mason’s grasp, her eyes blinking continuously as she fixed her gaze on me.

Every time that her lips parted to speak, no words came out—She looked lost.

Mason finally broke the long silence between us, taking a step forward, not sparing me a single glance as he stared daggers at Rowan.

His eyes reddened, and a growl rumbled from his throat. “Is this a joke? How can you introduce the woman who killed my sister as your wife?” He almost yelled.

Rowan’s hands left my wrist, taking a step forward, almost closing the space between them, speaking calmly. “The last time I checked, she was vindicated! Shouldn’t you be sympathetic and apologetic towards the woman you accused falsely?”

The longer I locked eyes with Mason, the more fury surged through my veins. All I craved was to repay him tenfold for everything he had done. If he had only taken responsibility as Chloe’s father, she would never have gone missing in the first place!

But because of him, Chloe wasn’t here! All that mattered to me was Mason and Lucia going through all the same pain that they put me through.

Mason ran his hands through his hair frustrated, moving away from Rowan as he laughed bitterly. “That is what you think, and I can’t blame you for thinking she is innocent but this woman—” He threw a glare at me, a muscle in his jaw ticking while I smiled.

That smile pissed him off as he darted his eyes back to Rowan. “—you don’t know what she is capable of. I am sure that she made the housekeeper go back on her word. Look at me Rowan, this woman is out on a mission to destroy you, plus she is my ex-wife!”

Rowan scoffed. “So you could marry her twin sister, but I can’t marry your ex-wife?”

Mason opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He lowered his head slightly, raising it before he shook his head gently. “No matter how you try to justify this, it doesn’t change the fact that I would do everything to throw this woman back in jail!” He pointed his fingers aggressively at me.

Rowan laughed calmly before it escalated into full-blown laughter and slowly the smile on his face died, his expression darkening and the aura that swirled around him at that moment sent shivers down my spine.

Rowan rolled up his sleeves. “You intend to send Seraphina back to jail in my city?” His voice was so cold that even Lucia shuddered, and it made me wonder what he meant by his words.

Mason shook his head. “Bro, what are you talking about? Sophia fucking died because of her! Do you even know how she got out of jail?”

Rowan scoffed, staring deep into Mason’s eyes. “Tell me what I don’t know? Are you this clueless?”

Those words caused Mason to flare up, and before a fight could break out between the two of them, Lucia rushed into their midst, fear in her eyes as she pushed Mason away from Rowan.

“Guys enough!” She almost yelled.

“You guys are not only relatives, but you treat each other like brothers. Can’t you see what Seraphina is trying to do to you? She is trying to tear you two apart—” Her words trailed while she shot me a glare.

“—and a cunning woman like her shouldn’t be given the chance and…”

Before she could complete her words, and before I could retort at her, Rowan cut in bursting into a peal of hysterical laughter. “If the word cunning should be used with anyone here, it should be for you two, who made her adopt the child that was as a result of your affairs!”

Tears welled in Lucia’s eyes as her bottom lip shook. “This isn’t you, Rowan. You don’t even know the full story but anyway, I would let you know how it happened if you give me the chance. But what you need to know right now is that she is using you”

Rowan shrugged nonchalantly. “I would be glad to let her use me any way she wants”

Mason and Lucia’s shockful expression couldn’t compare to mine. My lips parted in shock, squinting my eyes at Rowan suspiciously.

As much as the way he defended me delighted me, I knew Rowan.

He was like the devil, who wouldn’t give without demanding more than what he gave in return. I knew he talked about having a score with Mason and that was why he wanted to help me—Bullshit.

Deep down, I knew he had something he wanted to get from me, and knowing how cunning he was, I would be ready to match up his energy when he removes his pretentious mask and comes up with his absurd demand.

For now, I would play along and let him find my daughter.

So low-key, Lucia was right. I was using Rowan the same way he was using me.

I exhaled sharply, strutting towards where they stood. “Wait, I thought you all were excited to meet Rowan’s wife, and isn’t that a gift for me?” My eyes darted over to the gift box that Lucia soon hid behind her.

I rolled my eyes, teasing Mason with a mischievous smile, and he looked more like he could almost tear me apart. “I guess not. Anyway, enough with the argument. The government already set me free and if anyone is pressed to send me back to jail, I am here to let them know that I am here to stay” I glared hard at the two of them.

“While you try to bring me down, I will be taking back everything that was taken from me. You get what I mean?” I smirked, staring daggers at Lucia.

Since I came from a conglomerate family, my family-owned Henderson Pharma— One of the biggest pharma companies in the world. Before I went to jail, I took over the pharmaceutical company when my grandfather fell ill.

When I became the CEO, I took the company to a whole new high, producing medicines and creating vaccines for deadly illnesses around the world.

But when I was sentenced to jail, I was canceled everywhere, and apart from claiming my ex-husband, Lucia took over my position, living off my achievements and glory, using my research to further her career, and taking awards that were supposed to be mine!

Plus, I swear that Mason would pay back all the huge sums he loaned from me to boost his own company while we were still married. He would pay back everything with his blood, sweat, and tears!

I will also prove how she made me take the fall for her crime. Soon.

Lucia glanced at Mason, trying to put on a bold font. “Are you trying to declare a war on me?”

I shrugged. “If the shoe fits!”

She clenched her fist in anger, and she was about to respond when her phone rang. I exchanged fleeting glances with Rowan, giving him a thumbs-up while he stared at me blankly.

I sneered. What did I expect from the devil himself?

Lucia, who answered the call, screamed while Mason rushed towards her.

“What happened?”

Lucia’s eyes widened. “Grandfather…” Her bottom lip shook and with the glint of fear in her eyes, fear clawed at the back of my neck.

However, I was soon taken aback by the glint of fear in her eyes after hearing the words that came next.

She was supposed to be excited, so what was that reaction?

Mason gripped her gently as he shook her violently by the shoulders. “Don’t tell me that the worst has happened?”

“No, he has woken up from his vegetative state after so many months.” She said with dread.