The casino my husband and I ran was about to go through a chaotic police raid. Anyone who got caught would likely end up arrested. We had the time to leave. But we couldn’t all leave. One of us had to stay behind, or the cops would keep chasing us. Elias, my charming husband, didn’t even hesitate. He grabbed Mireille and left me to handle the cops, tossing over his shoulder, “I’ll send a lawyer to you.” Lucky for me, I managed to walk away without any consequences. And then, I saw, Elias, the man who was supposed to have my back, not only did escape without me, he also whisked Mireille away to some fancy resort, like they were on vacation. He looked so carefree, so unbothered. Not a hint of concern for the wife he’d just abandoned. “Think Seraphina’s gonna be mad that we left without her?” Mireille asked, all innocence. Elias laughed, that cold, detached laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. “Please. As if she’d ever get mad at me. She can handle herself.” He didn’t care. But you know what? Neither do I. Not anymore.
View MoreSeraphina’s POVI wasted no time, hailing a cab and heading straight for the big house.As I stepped inside, it hit me right away—something was off.“Hello? Is anyone home?” I called out, my voice breaking the silence.Mother almost rushed out of the living room, but stopped short, a meter away from me. Her words came out sharper than usual. “I thought you were never coming home again.”Her tone was harsh, but her eyes told a different story. I could see the tears that had been threatening to spill.“How could I stay away when you’re still here, Mom?” I replied, my voice softening.And then, she broke. Her tears spilled over as she cried out, “I’m sorry… I’ve misjudged you all these years…”It turned out that Mother had discovered the full extent of Mireille’s and Michael’s betrayals. She had filed for divorce immediately and tried to reclaim what she had given them—everything they’d taken.But Mireille and Michael had acted faster, fleeing the country overnight and taking many of the
Seraphina’s POVThings were going smoothly at Eric’s casino. He’d made it clear to everyone that I was the one in charge, and the staff, even some of the regular clients, treated me like the true boss.I’d even brought some of my old clients here. Word spread that I had changed casinos, and they all followed me without hesitation.Life here was peaceful, though still full of surprises.Eric, it turned out, was a gentleman—something I hadn’t expected. But after what had happened with Elias, I kept my distance at first. Time, though, proved him to be everything he appeared to be. He was the true gentleman I needed.Before long, we were together, and life couldn’t have been better.Eric took me to meet his parents. Compared to the usual mafia family dynamic I was used to, his family felt almost… normal. His mother was warm and welcoming, and his father was surprisingly funny.I liked their vibe. It felt like home in a way I hadn’t expected.…A year later, we got engaged. His parents coul
Elias’s POVThe next second, Mireille’s expression shifted. She acted as if she might cry. “No, you don’t,” she whispered, her eyes wide with false innocence. “You love me. Why else would you take me the other day and leave Sera behind? Why would you buy me a ring?”I couldn’t believe that my simple decision had caused Mireille to fantasize about me loving her. My throat tightened as I cleared it, speaking calmly but firmly, “I don’t love you. I never did. The other day, I took you, instead of Sera, because I trusted her with the casino business. She can handle it better than anyone. If you stayed, you would’ve caused nothing but trouble. And that ring? Mireille, did I actually buy it for you, or did you pick it out yourself and I just paid for it?”I let the words hang in the air, watching her face drain of color.“No, that’s not it,” she stammered, but I didn’t let her off the hook.“That’s fucking it!” I shouted, the tension finally breaking. “Now, before I call Evelyn, you’d better
Elias’s POVSeraphina was the kind of woman every man dreams of marrying—mature, educated, smart, and beautiful. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do, nothing she wouldn’t do for you.The moment I laid eyes on her, I fell in love. She was everything I wanted, everything I never knew I needed. So pure, especially for our circles. Always speaking softly, always smiling softly.Her family was complicated. Her mother remarried, and for a time, I worried about how her step-sister might treat her. But to my surprise, Mireille was just as sweet and caring as Seraphina.I breathed a sigh of relief.But recently, I made a mistake. The second I heard the cops were coming to the casino, I ran. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about her—because I did, deeply. But I had a record with the police. I couldn’t risk it. If I went down, she would be right there with me, caught in the mess. So I told her it would be better if she stayed behind. Mireille was there, after all. I figured I could take her
Seraphina’s POVI forced myself to swallow the urge to tell Mireille to shut her fake mouth.Then quickly she flashed a ring on her finger—a three-carat, flawless piece. “Elias bought me this to make up for what happened at the casino. Honestly, Sera, it freaked me out. Who knew you were dealing with so much danger all the time?”I looked at her, feeling the rising heat in my chest.“I’m not here for a chat, Mireille. I still have a steak to cook and a cake to frost. So if you’ve got nothing else to do, please get out of my kitchen.”My words didn’t seem to faze her. Of course not—her purpose here was already fulfilled. She didn’t come to help. She came to flaunt her gifts, her presence, and remind me that, whether it was my mother or my husband, they both chose her over me.At some point, I stopped caring. Especially after I accepted that job offer.…Mother and Michael arrived half an hour later. To my surprise, she had invited Elias as well. It seemed clear—she still wanted me back
Seraphina’s POVJust when I thought I had made my stance clear that day at the hotel, my mother called a few days later, once again reminding me of the "importance" of my marriage to Elias.The strategic alliance. The best partner I could find. Blah, blah, blah.What she didn’t mention was that Elias had left me to face the cops alone. Is that really what she considers the best partner? Someone who runs at the first sign of trouble, throwing you into the fire without a second thought?“You need to grow up. Be mature.” My mother's voice came through the phone, sharp and insistent. “Come home for dinner next Sunday. Let’s talk then.”It was as polite as my mother could ever be. But I knew better than to think a dinner would change my mind. After some hesitation, I decided to go home.…The moment I stepped through the front door, I knew something was off. The usual stillness had been replaced by a flurry of activity. Maids scurried about, carrying dishes and glasses of champagne, while g
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