Seraphina curled up on the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, her heart pounding like a drumbeat. The silence in the room was thick, broken only by the haunting echo of her breath. Her eyes stayed glued to the door... like she’d been doing for hours, wishing, praying.Then the door burst open.Her breath caught. “Jarvis,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a flood of emotions: shock, fear, relief, happiness... and confusion.He stepped in slowly, wearing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “How are you, baby?” he asked softly.She didn’t hesitate. She flew into his arms, sobbing into his chest. “Jarvis... I love you,” she choked out. “I missed your hugs... your whispers... your voice. I thought I’d never see you again. I couldn’t call, Jarvis… I…I was so scared…”He held her close, his arms were firm but stiff. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen….but then she pulled back abruptly, panic flooding her face. “You shouldn’t be here,” she gasped. “He’ll kill you,
She had fallen unconscious.“Seraphina?!”He drops to his knees beside her, grabbing her face.“Look at me…look at me! "Stay with me!” Her eyes are half open, glazed.He lifts her, cradling her like she’s made of glass. He yelled “SERAPHINA! WAKE UP!” Strings of tears dropped from his eyes as he stared at her limp body.“No. No, no, no. Not like this. Please, God… Please…don’t take her from me.He starts pacing in circles, and then stops himself... he kneels beside her again.He fumbles for his phone, his hands shaking, almost dropping it…. His hands shook as he dialed. He desperately whispered.“You’re not leaving me. Do you hear me? You promised me forever.” His voice cracks. “Remember you’re my wife, baby, please open your eyes." You’ve not even seen our wedding picture. You look like a queen.” Within minutes, his personal doctor came rushing in with his medical equipment and assistant.“What happened, sir?” the doctor asked urgently as he approached Seraphina’s motionless body
She got up, still tilting her head to the side.“Come here,” he said in a calm tone.She took baby steps towards him with fear. She was scared of him totally. He took her on his lap. She struggled uncomfortably while crying more.“Why are you crying now? Did I touch you?”She nodded “no.”She was wearing a plain red dress with a matching blouse tied with a tiny knot and two hoops on the bottom of the blouse to hold it. With one hand, he pulled her knot, exposing her back. She jolted away to hide her back, but his grip was tight. He kissed her bare back. She felt so humiliated that he was doing everything in front of other men. She felt disgusted and said, “Please, I want to go to my room..... "Please," she pleaded in tears.“Why room? "Will you let me have sex with you there?” He chuckled with an evil smile.She nodded with disgust. He felt a little bad seeing her tears. It gave him unknown pain.“Everyone, get the fuck out!” he roared.All of them left without a word.He pulled her ti
The Morning AfterThe next morning, Vincenzo woke up with a pounding headache. He found himself lying on the cold balcony floor. He blinked against the sunlight, sat up slowly, and rubbed his temples. For a second, he didn’t understand how he got there.Then it all came rushing back; the touching, the drinking, the way she looked at him last night without fear. Seraphina had gotten under his skin.“Damn you, Seraphina,” he muttered under his breath.He pulled himself to his feet and staggered inside, reaching for the cabinet where he kept hangover pills. He freshened up quickly and walked back into his bedroom.And there she was. Lying on the bed peacefully as if nothing in the world could disturb her. Her cheek pressed gently into the pillow, her hair messy but soft, her lips slightly parted like a baby in a cradle.Vincenzo paused in the doorway. She looked like she belonged there, in his bed.He approached slowly, each step filled with confusion he didn’t want to admit. He sat at t
"I want to gift you something to have you; I don’t like taking for free," Vincenzo said with a slow, wicked smile as he stepped closer, a drink in hand. "So ask for something. Anything. A room full of gold? Millions of dollars? The most expensive car or a mansion by the sea? Just name it, and it’s yours."“I don’t want anything. Just leave me in peace," Seraphina mumbled, pulling her knees to her chest."Peace?" he chuckled, his voice like dark silk. "You married the devil, sweetheart. There's no peace now. Only fire."Vincenzo moved toward the mini-bar with a cold smirk and poured himself another drink. The sound of the liquid hitting the glass echoed ominously. He took a slow sip, and then turned toward her, his gaze like a storm.He stalked back to her, towering. "I will take what I want… and I’ll gift you what you never dared to desire," he whispered against her lips before pressing a kiss there, slow and dominating.She turned her face, trembling. But his mouth moved down her nec
"Get that Liam here," Vincenzo ordered coldly.His guards responded instantly. Within a minute, Liam was dragged in by force, struggling, confused, until he saw her.Seraphina stood in the center of the grand hall, draped in her wedding dress, her face void of life, her eyes swollen from hours of crying. Liam’s heart shattered.Vincenzo stepped forward, the sharp click of his shoes echoing on the marble floor. He gave a small, crooked smile, his dark eyes filled with amusement and cruelty. "Liam, look at me. Look closely. I married your sister. She’s mine now. Ha! Ha!! My wife."He tilted his head mockingly, his gaze sweeping over Seraphina. "Yes… such a good wife, isn’t she?"Liam froze. His throat tightened. Then, he collapsed to his knees, chest heaving, tears spilling. He clenched his fists. "I’m sorry, Seraphina. I’m… I’m so sorry. I failed you. I’m the bad brother. I ruined your life. I couldn’t protect you from him. I couldn’t stop this."Seraphina didn’t respond. She only lowe