Chapter 4

Seraphina POV

I froze on the desk. It took a while for me to realize that I was safe.

I wiped away my tears and walked out, not even sparing him a glance.

As I reached the lobby on the first floor, I saw Karen.

She sneered, "Did you really think provoking Macro would end well? He'll only hate you more. And I'll make sure you're completely kicked out of the Grant family."

I shot her a glance from the corner of my eye.

"Only trash like you would think that pathetic dump is worth anything."

Karen's face twisted in rage. She grabbed my arm.

"Say that again!"

"I'll say it a million times. You're trash! Now let go!"

As we struggled, there was a loud crash from above.

A giant chandelier detached from the ceiling and came crashing down on us.

Karen's scream pierced my ears.

In that instant, Macro dashed under the falling light and yanked Karen into his arms.

I saw the pure panic and desperation in his eyes, right before a blinding pain consumed me.

The shattered chandelier rained down, its fragments mingling with my blood, staining the floor.

Every nerve in my body screamed in agony.

I lifted my head with the last of my strength.

Macro was bent over Karen, whispering to her.

She was crying, but when her eyes flicked to mine, the smug triumph in them cut deeper than any wound.

I let my head drop, a broken laugh slipping past my lips even as tears burned down my face, my throat choked with blood and bitterness, pain stealing every breath.

When I woke again, I was in a hospital bed.

The room was empty, my wounds burning painfully.

The door to the room across the corridor was ajar, and I could see my parents gathered around Karen's bed.

Macro was there, too, carefully adjusting her bed with meticulous care.

I watched them, tears blurring my vision.

I thought I had no tears left to cry, but my heart still ached, pierced by a thousand needles.

A notification popped up on my phone. Only five days until I could leave.

I clenched the phone, swallowing back my tears.

Later, Macro came into my room.

He stroked my hair and asked, "Does it hurt? You have so many cuts. You've always hated pain the most."

There was concern in his gaze, and even a hint of guilt.

If it had been before, I would have cried, demanded to know why he hadn't come to save me first.

But now, I just closed my eyes, not a word left to say.

Macro was silent for a moment. "It hurts too much, right? Don't say anything if you don't want to. I'll be here with you."

He really pushed aside all his work and staying by my side every day.

But I no longer filled the air with chatter. I ate in silence, slept in silence, and waited in silence for the day I'd finally leave.

Four days before leaving, I overheard Karen on the phone at the end of the hallway.

"Those two idiots love me so much, they'll never know the real Karen died a long time ago..."

I snapped. A horrifying thought seized me, and I rushed forward, grabbing her arm.

"You're not my sister! You're an impostor!"

She feigned a look of surprise and then smiled, screaming.

"Please, don't!" And she let herself fall down the stairs.

In that instant, Macro rushed forward, scooping her up. The way he looked at me sent a chill down my spine.

"How many times have I told you not to clash with Karen? You embarrassed her at your thesis defense, and now you attacked her again. You've gone too far!" His voice pressed down on me.

"She's a fake. She's not my sister!"

Macro's eyes were filled with a chilling indifference. He turned to his men.

"Lock her up for three days so she really thinks about what she's done."

Tears streamed down my face.

"I did nothing wrong, Macro. Don't lock me up."

He lifted my chin, and there was no pity in his eyes.

"Sera, you've disappointed me."

The next three days were the most agonizing of my life.

My father came to the basement where I was locked up and whipped me with no mercy, while Karen laughed, enjoying every moment.

"We gave you all our love, and this is how you treat your sister!"

"Thank God you gave up your engagement to Macro, so you don't have to embarrass our family anymore. I'll give you the money. Take it and get lost. You are no longer a Grant!"

When the whip broke and my father grew exhausted, I lay on the floor, I lay on the floor, bleeding and barely breathing.

Macro came to see me, but he only looked at me from afar.

"Three days here is just a small lesson. If you don't learn, there will be more serious consequences."

My skin was ripped open, and the pain stole my breath.

A small smile tugged at my lips, and my heart no longer ached.

Three days later, I was bathed and dressed, with all my wounds hidden, before Macro came to pick me up.

He probably thought I had just slept in the dark for three days.

But when he saw my face, he paused, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"Learned your lesson yet? Three days without food isn't too harsh."

I only nodded, silent, never looking at him again.

As soon as his men dropped me off at the hospital, I slipped out a side door and went straight to the airport.

After checking my bank account, I tossed my phone card into the trash can and boarded the plane without looking back.