CHAPTER 3

SERA

“I won't do it,” I whispered and my father looked at me for the first time since I walked into his office.

I hadn't slept ever since those words came out of Damian's lips last night. I had cried and thought all through the night and I had made up my mind, I wasn't going to marry that man. Never.

My father slowly got up from his seat, anger all over his face. He walked slowly towards me and I braced myself for his harsh words, but his palm flying across my face was what I didn't expect.

“You ungrateful piece of shit,” he said and dragged me closer, making me stagger. “You think you're worth getting married to Damian?”

I wiped the little cut on my lips and looked at him, my eyes already welling up. “Then let me not marry him,” I cried. “Isabella is worth it, convince him to–” my words were cut off with another hit.

“Don’t you ever mention my daughter's name, ever!” He barked and I nodded.

“I am your daughter too!” I cried. “When would you ever see that?” I asked in tears.

He looked at me for a few seconds like he was amused, then he slowly released me.

He slowly walked back to his seat and sat down, then he looked at me the way you look at something you have very little patience for.

"You have lived in this house for fifteen years," he said. "You have eaten at this table. Slept under this roof. Carried a name you did nothing to earn." He paused. "This family has asked nothing of you until now. Nothing." Another pause, quieter. "You will do this, Seraphina. Or you leave tomorrow morning with the clothes on your back."

I opened my mouth but he continued.

"And we both know," he said, "that you have nowhere to go.”

“So you're going to push me to a demon?” I asked and he shrugged.

“Family is about sacrifices. This is yours to do.”

The office went silent and I stood there and felt the last of something close inside me — some door I had been keeping open my entire life, some foolish insistence on believing there was more to him than this. It closed quietly. I turned to leave but his voice cut me off.

“The marriage signing is tomorrow, be more than ready,” he said and I walked off without a word.

I was almost at my room's door when Isabella blocked me. I sighed tiredly. I was already overstimulated and dealing with my stepsister felt like much work.

“What do you want?” I asked tiredly and she scoffed.

“You must be feeling like a diva now that he chose you right?” She asked and I raised my brows in confusion. Who would be happy if they are being thrown into the mouth of a lion? “ Men like Damian are never to be trusted. Men like him destroy everything they touch. And when he's done, don't expect us to pick up the pieces.”

She walked away before I could reply to her. I turned and looked at her retreating figure, she was right. Damian was going to destroy me if I married him, so I would make sure it never happens.

************************************************

My room buzzed with staff and designers. Apparently Damian had specifically ordered my father to make me look great for the marriage signing. The housekeeper had made sure he told me early this morning.

I shifted as the hairstylist worked her wonders on my hair and I sighed. My whole life, I had never had this much attention and just because I’m about to marry Damian, I get everything I had dreamt of? I sighed again and the hairstylist paused.

“Is it uncomfortable?” She asked.

“No, I'm good,” I said with a smile and she nodded and continued.

The door opened and my stepmother walked in, she paused when she saw me, a surprise on her face that was soon replaced with anger.

“This is what you've always wanted isn't it?” She asked harshly. “Everything that was my daughter's you've wanted.”

I shook my head slowly, she was wrong. At least about this one. “I don't want this,” I said and she scoffed.

“Oh please shut up.” She leaned closer and bent her head. “Damian just wants a weak fool he can control, guess who fits that description Seraphina?” She asked and I froze. She stood straight immediately with a smile, like her mission had been accomplished.

She looked at the designer. “You be fast, they will soon be here,” she said and walked out.

I thought about her words as the designer helped me into my dress, I thought about it when I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't recognise myself, I thought about it when the housekeeper knocked to tell us Damian and his men had arrived, and I was still thinking about it when the designer cleared his throat to get my attention.

“I’m done,” he said with a smile that I returned.

“Thank you,” I whispered and looked at myself again. I looked different, in a good way but somehow, I didn't feel good about it. It reminded me of what I was about to walk into. “Go on,” I suddenly said to the designer. “You don't have to wait for me, I’ll be out soon,” I said and he nodded before leaving the room, leaving just me.

I quickly bolted the door behind him and walked straight to the wardrobe. I was going to run away, I thought as I sorted out my clothes quickly. I paused suddenly and sighed, the clothes would slow me down, staff members could spot me if I carried them. I dropped the piece of clothing in my hand and walked towards my safe before slowly opening it. I looked at the money there and my mother's picture, the only picture of her that I had. I picked them up immediately and hid them in my dress, I was going to escape and it had to be now. I walked towards the door and slowly opened it, the passage was quiet. My family was in the reception room with that demon and the staff must be hovering around there so I was clear for a few seconds. If I can just get to the back fence through the back door, I thought and quickly walked towards the back staircase.

I walked down slowly and opened the back door, thankfully it wasn't locked. Maybe luck was finally on my side, I thought and ran towards the fence but then, I heard the voice. A thick voice that had registered in my mind since I heard it two nights ago.

"Where do you think you're going?” he asked and I froze.