The Queen's Gambit Of Ashes

~ SEREN ~

I pushed open the heavy doors of the Whitmore mansion with both hands, my arms filled with shopping bags and a grin that refused to leave my face. I had spent the entire afternoon shopping for things I probably didn't need, but it was my eighteenth birthday, and for once, I had decided to spoil myself without feeling guilty about it. Mom and Dad had wanted to throw a huge birthday party for me, inviting half of New York's elite families, but I had begged them not to. I had never liked being surrounded by too many people, and the thought of standing in the middle of a crowded ballroom while everyone watched me cut a giant cake was enough to make me want to hide in my bedroom for the entire day.

Besides, I didn't need a huge party to be happy.

I had my family, and I had Leander.

That was enough for me.

Leander Knox had been my best friend since we were children, the person who knew almost everything about me and the only person outside my family I trusted completely. Our families had grown close over the years, and when we were younger, our parents had even arranged for us to be engaged when we were old enough. At first, I had thought the idea was ridiculous, but somewhere along the way, Leander had become more than just the boy I grew up with. He had become the person I wanted beside me when I imagined my future.

I smiled to myself as I walked farther into the mansion, already thinking about seeing him later.

Maybe he had planned something for me.

Maybe he had bought me another ridiculous gift.

The thought made me laugh softly.

But the moment I stepped into the living room, my smile slowly faded.

Everyone was there.

Grandpa was sitting in his usual armchair, his hands resting on the top of his cane. Dad sat across from him, looking unusually stiff, while Mom was seated beside him with both hands tightly clasped together. Uncle Julius, Dad's younger brother, was there too, sitting silently on the other side of the room.

I stopped at the entrance.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

The room felt nothing like it usually did.

There was no laughter, no teasing, no one asking about my shopping trip. Even the television was turned off, leaving the room so quiet that I could hear the faint ticking of the grandfather clock near the staircase.

I looked from one face to another.

Then I forced a smile.

"What's going on?"

Nobody answered.

I walked toward them, placing the shopping bags on the floor before looking at Uncle Julius.

"Uncle Julius, it's been a while." I gave him a small smile. "You finally remembered you have a niece?"

He didn't smile back.

That was when the strange feeling in my stomach became stronger.

I turned toward Mom and sat beside her, leaning closer as I studied her face.

"What happened?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light. "You're all looking like someone died."

I laughed after saying it, hoping someone would laugh with me.

Nobody did.

My laughter slowly disappeared.

"Okay..." I whispered. "That's not funny anymore."

Mom looked at me, but she quickly lowered her eyes.

I frowned.

"Mom?"

She didn't answer.

I looked at Dad.

"Dad?"

His jaw tightened.

My heart began beating faster.

"What is happening?"

Grandpa finally lifted his eyes and looked directly at me.

The expression on his face made something inside me go cold.

He had always been a strict man, but he had never looked at me like that before.

Not once.

"Seren," he said quietly.

I swallowed.

"Yes, Grandpa?"

"There is something I need to tell you."

I smiled nervously.

"What?"

He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Mom suddenly spoke.

"You're not our biological child, Seren."

For a moment, I didn't understand what she had said.

I stared at her.

Then I laughed.

A small, confused laugh escaped my lips.

"What?"

Mom's eyes filled with tears.

I looked at Dad, expecting him to laugh and tell me this was some terrible birthday prank.

He didn't.

I looked at Uncle Julius.

Nothing.

Then I turned back to Grandpa.

His face remained completely serious.

I shook my head.

"No."

Mom reached for my hand, but I pulled it away.

"No, Mom."

"Seren..."

"You're joking."

My voice came out as a laugh again, but this time there was fear underneath it.

"Is this the birthday surprise?" I asked, looking around the room. "Because honestly, you got me. It's not funny, but you got me."

Nobody moved.

I pointed at Mom.

"Look at me."

She did.

I stared into her eyes.

"How can I not be your daughter?"

My voice cracked.

"I look like you."

I touched my face, almost desperately.

"Look at my eyes. Look at my face. Even my smile is like yours. People have told me that my whole life."

Mom's tears finally slipped down her cheeks.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"So stop."

She shook her head.

"We're serious."

I stood up so quickly that the room spun for a second.

"No."

"Seren, please—"

"No!"

My voice echoed through the living room.

I shook my head harder, refusing to listen.

"This is a prank. It has to be."

I looked at Dad.

"Tell her she's joking."

Dad remained silent.

"Dad!"

He finally looked at me, and the sadness in his eyes terrified me more than anything else.

"Seren..."

"No."

I stepped backward.

"Don't say my name like that."

My chest was beginning to hurt.

"I know all of you. I've known you my entire life. Mom raised me. Dad taught me how to ride a bicycle. Grandpa used to take me to his office when I was little. Uncle Julius used to sneak me sweets whenever Mom wasn't looking."

My voice trembled as memories rushed through my mind.

"I grew up here."

I pointed around the room.

"This is my home."

Nobody answered.

"So what are you saying?"

I looked at Mom again.

"That I'm not your daughter?"

She covered her mouth as she cried.

I felt something crack inside me.

"No."

I shook my head.

"Don't cry."

I walked toward her and grabbed her hands.

"Please don't cry, Mom. Just tell me this is a joke."

She squeezed my hands tightly.

"I wish it was."

Those words destroyed the last bit of hope I had.

I slowly let go of her.

"How?"

My voice was barely a whisper.

Grandpa looked away.

Dad rubbed his forehead.

Uncle Julius remained completely silent.

I looked between them.

"How can you suddenly decide I'm not your daughter?"

"It wasn't sudden," Grandpa said.

I froze.

"What?"

He sighed heavily.

"We recently received the results of a DNA test."

My heart stopped.

"A DNA test?"

Dad nodded.

I laughed again, but this time there was no humor in it.

"Okay. Then the test is wrong."

Grandpa's eyes hardened.

"It isn't."

"It is!"

I shouted.

"It has to be!"

I looked at Dad.

"You tested me?"

He didn't answer.

"How could you test me without telling me?"

"We needed to know the truth."

"The truth?"

I pressed a trembling hand against my chest.

"I am the truth!"

I could feel tears burning my eyes now.

"I am your daughter!"

Mom started crying harder.

I turned toward her.

"You can't do this to me."

She stood up and tried to hug me.

I stepped away.

"You held me when I was sick."

My voice shook.

"You stayed beside my bed when I had nightmares. You taught me how to dress myself. You were there when I had my first heartbreak. You kissed my forehead every night when I was little."

Tears finally escaped my eyes.

"How can you look at me now and tell me none of that means anything?"

Mom covered her face.

I looked at Dad.

"You carried me on your shoulders."

He looked down.

"You called me your little princess."

His eyes became red.

"You promised me that I would always be your daughter."

Dad's lips trembled.

"I meant it."

"Then why are you doing this?"

He didn't answer.

That silence hurt more than anything.

I looked toward Grandpa.

"Maybe the test is wrong."

"We verified it."

"Then verify it again!"

"We already did."

"Again!"

My voice broke.

"I don't care how many times you have to do it. Do it again. Do it ten times. A hundred times. Because I know who my mother is."

I pointed at Mom.

"Her."

Then I pointed at Dad.

"And him."

My breathing became uneven.

"I don't care what some piece of paper says."

Grandpa's expression remained cold.

"The results are conclusive."

I stared at him.

"No."

"Seren—"

"No!"

I backed away from all of them.

"This is my birthday."

Nobody spoke.

"I woke up this morning thinking about what dress I was going to wear tonight. I was thinking about Leander. I was thinking about the cake Mom promised me."

My lips trembled.

"And now you're sitting here telling me that I'm not your daughter?"

I wiped my tears angrily.

"You can't do that."

Grandpa slowly stood.

"Seren, you need to accept reality."

I stared at him.

"What reality?"

His next words would destroy the life I had known for eighteen years.

"You are not a Whitmore."

The room went completely silent.

I felt like the floor had disappeared beneath my feet.

I looked at Mom one last time.

She was crying.

Dad was staring at the floor.

Uncle Julius wouldn't even meet my eyes.

And Grandpa stood there as if he had just announced the death of a stranger.

I looked down at the shopping bags still sitting near my feet.

One of them contained a dress I had bought because I thought Leander would love it.

I had been so happy when I walked through those doors.

I had thought I was coming home.

But suddenly, for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure I still had one.

My phone vibrated inside my purse.

I pulled it out with shaking fingers.

A message from Leander appeared on the screen.

Leander: Happy birthday, Seren. I'll see you tonight.

I stared at the message through my tears.

Then I looked up at my family.

"Please," I whispered. "Tell me this is still a joke."

Nobody answered.