LOGINSeraphina's eyes darkened at the second thought of the name. "Daniel Crowe," Seraphina repeated. "Her brother?""Yes." Elias nodded. "Her older brother too. He's been obsessed with you since you were children…since before you even knew he existed."Seraphina shook her head. "I don't remember him. I don't remember any boy—"“He obsesses over random women.”“But I don't even remember him…”"You wouldn't." Elias's voice was gentle. "He was always in the background and he was always watching. He was never close enough to be noticed…like he just learned how to be invisible. How to blend in because that's what he's best at.""How do you know all this?"Elias was quiet for a moment. Then he reached into his jacket and pulled out a folder and it was thick, stuffed with documents."Because I've been investigating him for years," he said. "Since long before he started working at Vale Corporation and damn long before he started stalking you openly."Seraphina stared at the folder and her hands
Seraphina leaned against the wall, her hands trembling. “I think I'm going to be sick…”Adrian pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against his chest."I'm not going to let him have you," he whispered against her hair. "I don't care what it takes but I’m not going to let him win."She didn't pull away this time, she just buried her face in his chest and let herself be held but over his shoulder, she saw something.“... what…?”It was a figure, from across the street. Just standing and watching them but when she blinked, it was gone…yet, the message on her phone was still there and beneath the photograph of Elias Hart, one final sentence:"Your new friend won't last long.”The message glowed on Seraphina's phone like a warning but before she could process that, another came in. She screamed out, her eyes watering and voice trembling.“Isn't it enough for one day?!”But it wasn't the stalker…it was–"I know who's been watching you and I know how to stop him. Meet me tonight. A
She hadn't gotten too far ahead when she realized her assistant, Maya, was waiting by the elevator."Madamme!" Maya rushed toward her, her face bright with relief. "You're here! I was so worried—""I'm fine." Seraphina squeezed her hand. "Thank you for holding things together.""Of course, of course." Maya's eyes darted toward the lobby. "Your client is here, by the way. He's been waiting for almost an hour.""Elias Hart?""Yes, ma'am. He's very... persistent." Maya's expression shifted to something almost amused. "And very handsome, if I'm being honest."Seraphina raised an eyebrow, her hands still in hers."Maya.""What? I'm just saying."And Seraphina laughed… despite everything. It felt strange and foreign but good…like her life should have been."Send him up," she said. "I'll see him in my office."******Elias Hart was not what she expected at all.He was tall, with broad shoulders and warm brown eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled…a type of smile that would melt ic
The name hung in the air like smoke.Elias Hart.Seraphina stared at her phone long after the call ended, her mind racing. The name was familiar…she'd seen it somewhere, heard it somewhere but she couldn't place it or figure out why it made her chest feel tight."Who's Elias Hart?" Adrian asked, his voice carefully neutral.Seraphina looked up at him. He was standing a few feet away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw tight. He was trying to look calm, still trying to look like the name didn't matter after seeing her reaction.It clearly mattered."I don't know," she said honestly. "He's been coming to my office and waiting for me. My assistant said he's been there every day."Adrian's expression flickered, something dark passed through his eyes before he masked it."You've been off work for weeks," he said. "Why would someone keep coming back?""I don't know." She stood up slowly, brushing the dust off her clothes. "But I need to find out.""You're not going to work.""E
They rushed out of the apartment, down the stairs, through the lobby but the smell hung to them desperately. The car was still there, of course and the street still stood empty…everything looked normal but nothing felt normal anymore.Adrian practically shoved Seraphina into the passenger seat as he got behind the wheel this time, his hands steady but his heart pounding unlike Seraphina who was heavily disoriented.He was about to pull away when her phone buzzed. Seraphina looked down at it and her face went white.“What the fuck.”"What?" Adrian demanded. "What is it?"She didn't answer…she couldn't. She just stared at the screen, her hands trembling."Sera." She turned the phone toward him and showed him one text. That was all…just one text."One down." And Adrian's blood ran cold."Who sent that?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.Seraphina shook her head. "Unknown number…the same one as before." He grabbed the phone from her hands, scrolling through the message. No location,
The car hummed beneath them as Seraphina drove through the empty city streets after getting Marcus address. The silence between them was thick, heavy with everything unsaid. Adrian sat in the passenger seat, his hands resting on his thighs, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.He'd never been the passenger before…not with her, not ever. He was always the one driving, the one in control, the one who knew exactly where they were going and how to get there.But tonight? Tonight he was just... following."Sera—""Don't." He closed his mouth.She gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white. The streetlights flashed across her face in intervals, illuminating the tension in her jaw, the fire in her eyes."I'm not doing this right now," she said, her voice sharp. "I'm not having a conversation about feelings or apologies or any of that bullshit. Not tonight."Adrian nodded slowly. “Okay.""Okay?" She sounded surprised, still not looking away from the road."Okay. Whatever you need."
Vanessa didn't respond to Adrian in the car and silence grew between them and she noticed the difference immediately because Adrian was no longer listening to her. He acted like it but wasn't. The next morning, sunlight spilled in the house as it bounced against the marble floors and glass walls. I
Seraphina got home but could barely slept that night because every single sound inside the house made her scared. From the faint rustling of curtains from the air conditioner, to even the ticking clock mounted on the wall suddenly sounded too loud. The massive white house she had fallen in love wit
“C’mon, dearie...Touch me again,” Seraphina whispered as she stood, her voice low and steady, as her gaze locked on Vanessa’s. “Make hurting you easy for me, Vanessa… I beg of you.” The air grew tense, with anticipation, almost like the entire room was holding it's breath waiting for something to b
On the other hand, Seraphina was going through hell with her unknown stalker. Calls and texts rushed in more than ever. She'd answer, scream at them, they'll stay silent until she hangs up. At some point, she turned off her phone. She walked around her new house and checked it out. It was beautiful







