Chapter5

Seraphina’s POV 

“What do you want?”

My throat tightened.

Calliope stepped forward. Her eyes shone with a malicious glint.

“You claimed that three years ago,” she began, voice syrupy-smooth, “circumstances forced you to marry Dante and take my place as the Laurent family’s daughter-in-law, right?  

“Then you should know—” she smiled, razor-edged “—that title was never meant to be yours.”

Her words sliced through the air, clean and cruel.

I stood still, caught somewhere between frustration and dread.

Calliope—the girl I’d shared a womb with, the one I once protected like my own shadow—felt like a stranger now.

We were born into chaos.

Robin Town didn’t have proper medical care back then, and our mother had nearly died giving birth to us.

Calliope arrived hours after me, smaller, weaker—a consequence of that turmoil. Maybe that was why, even though we are twins, it led us to totally different personalities.

I was the strong one, the dependable one. She became the adored one. Delicate. Indulged. The jewel of our parents’ eyes.

But affection turned to entitlement. She grew vain, hungry for attention, reckless. Scandals trailed behind her like perfume.

Our parents, late to realize the storm they’d nurtured, tried to rein her in—but it was too late.

She rebelled, wild and furious.

Her gaze bore into mine, searching for fear, maybe guilt.

I had always hoped that perhaps as she matured, she’d naturally fall in love, marry someone and that that marriage would be her saving Calliope.

Looking at her now, I realized that the decision to take Calliope’s place in this marriage perhaps had been wrong from the very beginning.

“Calliope, I’ve already filed for divorce from Dante,” I said quietly.

Her composure cracked. Her smile faltered. “What?” she hissed, eyes narrowing. “Are you insane?”

I shook my head. “Calliope, Dante isn’t someone to entrust your future to. You—”

“You don’t get to decide that!” she snapped, cutting me off. “You and Dante were always fighting because he never loved you. You were a placeholder, Seraphina. A stand-in. From the beginning, the one he truly loved… is me.”

Her words struck like a slap. My breath caught in my throat.

And suddenly, it dawned on me—she was the one who sent me that unsettling text message.

Calliope’s smile returned, wider this time, wickedly triumphant.

“Oh, Seraphina. Did you just figure it out?”

The lights in the room were dazzling, and as I looked at my sister—who felt more like a stranger with each passing moment—I was completely speechless.

How long had she been back?

Has she been watching us? For How long?

Every move I made—was it all under her gaze?

What had she been through these past few years? Why couldn’t I see in her even a trace of the sister I knew?

She stepped closer, her tone sweet.

“Seems like I came back at just the right time. You moving out makes everything easier. Don’t worry, I’ll have Dante welcoming me with open arms soon enough. As for you…” Her eyes landed on Everett, who stood besides me silent but alert. Her smirk deepened. “Take your man  and disappear. Don’t ever show your face in front of Dante again.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Everett, he—”

Before I could finish, Everett stepped forward, his arm brushing mine as he shielded me. I could sense the tension in his jaw, the storm behind his eyes.

“You will have what you want,” Everett said, his voice cold and even. “If it weren’t for your disappearance back then, Seraphina wouldn’t have married Dante, nor would she have suffered so many years for you in vain. Now it’s only fair for things to return to how they were meant to be. You can have your place in the Laurent family. I’ll take Seraphina away. We won’t appear in your lives again.”

I turned to him, stunned. “Everett, you—”

He didn’t look at me. His focus stayed locked on Calliope. 

“But you need to swear this is your choice. No regrets. No second thoughts. And you’ll keep the truth buried—that Seraphina took your place. If you break your promise, you’ll shoulder the consequences alone.” 

Calliope scoffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder.

“Regret? Why would I regret it? We’re talking about the Laurent family. Women all over the world would kill for a chance to marry into that kind of wealth and power.”

I stepped forward, heart pounding like a war drum.

“Calliope. Are you sure about this?”

She waved her hand, dismissive, arrogant. “I’ve never been more sure. Now it’s time for you and your man to make your retreat.”

Silence descended the room.

“You really believe love is the magic ingredient here?” I asked softly, my voice laced with sorrow. “Dante doesn’t love you. He never did. You’re chasing a fantasy, Calliope. One that will destroy you.”

Her eyes blazed. “Save your speech, Seraphina. I’m not the one running away like an abandoned dog.” 

I stared at her—at this woman who had once been my sister, now driven by greed and vanity.

I saw no affection in her eyes. No warmth.

Only hunger.

Slowly, I nodded. “If this is what you’ve chosen for yourself,” I said, my voice steady, “I won’t say anything more. From now on, when you return to Dante's side, I will also return to my own life, and I will not come back.So please…” 

My voice paused for a moment, and then I removed the wedding ring I had been wearing for three years and handed it to Calliope.

“Play your role well, Mrs. Laurent.”