SERAFINA
He shrugged once, moved past me, and opened the cabinet like we hadn’t just walked over a landmine. But something lingered, not between us — on him. He knew what he said. But more than that — he knew I wasn’t ready to touch it. I didn’t ask him again. I didn’t bring up the breath comment. Or the way his face cracked for half a second before he brushed it off. I didn’t accuse or pry. I didn’t even look at him too long. But I was watching. I watched how he moved through the apartment like he’d always belonged here. Watched how he opened drawers without hesitation. How he swapped my kettle for his own sleek one. How he never asked permission — because he never thought he needed to. I watched. And I waited. The next morning, there was an envelope on the counter. No name on the front. Just: “For us.” I opened it like it was going to explode. Inside: was a formal invitation. Gold foil, cursive lettering. The kind of card that came with assigned seating and judgmental wine lists. It was a political fundraiser. Private and exclusive. Hosted by someone I vaguely remembered from one of Richard’s campaign committees. Which meant one thing: My father would be there. I set the card down slowly then looked across the room. Dorian was reading. Of course he was. Always reading, like chaos, didn't deserve his full attention. “You’re not seriously thinking about going to this,” I said. He didn’t look up. “We were invited.” “Yeah, I saw it. I also saw the host list.” “Are you afraid of him?” “I’m not afraid of anyone.” “You sound like it.” “I sound like someone with common sense.” That got his attention. He folded the paper like it was a contract he already agreed to. Then: “If we’re really married, we show up.” “And if we’re really enemies, I throw a drink in your face.” “Pick a dress first.” *** Rhea called ten minutes later. “I don’t like it,” she said. No hello. “Join the club.” “This feels deliberate.” “Everything in this damn city is deliberate.” “Not like this,” she said. “Amia posted again.” “Oh God.” “It’s not even about the photo, it’s the caption.” I pulled my phone out and opened the app. There she was, my stepsister. Same perfect face and fake-happy glow. She was wearing a champagne silk dress, sitting on the edge of a yacht I didn’t quite recognize. Caption: “Full circle. Can’t wait for next week.” What the hell happens next week? And why was she smiling like she’d just won? I stared at it, then at the timestamp. Posted right after I got the invitation. I threw my phone onto the couch and went into the bathroom, because sometimes you need some walls around you before you crash out. I just stared at the mirror and said nothing, which was almost worse. Because the moment you say something out loud, it becomes real. And I wasn’t ready for real. When I came back out, Mr. Mysterious was standing by the window. Not reading or doing anything, Just looking out over the street like he was memorizing patterns. “You okay?” he asked without turning. “Peachy.” “So have you.” He turned slowly. “You don’t trust me.” “I didn’t realize trust was part of the deal.” “You’re right. It wasn’t.” “Then don’t ask for it.” We stood there, just facing each other, with no rules and too many unspoken terms between us. Finally, he said, “You talk like you want control. But you move like someone who gave it away a long time ago.” I blinked. “Excuse me?” “You let your father dictate your image. Let your ex dictate your plan and now, you’re letting fear dictate your silence.” I took a step forward. “You don’t know anything about me.” “I know everything about you.” That stopped me cold. My voice dropped. “Say that again.” His eyes didn’t move. “You heard me right, ‘wifey’.” My spine locked. “No. Say it again. Let’s see if it sounds less insane the second time.” There was silence. Then he spoke. “You break your knuckles when you’re overwhelmed. You eat apples with salt, but only when you’re sad. You avoid eye contact when you’re lying, but you hold it too long when you’re trying not to cry.” I said nothing. Because I—, I couldn’t. “And your mother’s perfume was jasmine and white pepper,” he finished, voice soft. “You hated when it faded. You’d sneak into her closet just to smell her dresses.” My stomach sank. That wasn’t on the internet or in some file. That wasn’t gossip or speculation either. That was real. That was mine. I took a step back, and my voice came out quieter than I meant it to. “How- how do you know that?” He didn’t answer. I left the room. Fast. I went to the bedroom, closed the door and locked it like that could keep out what was already sinking into my skin. My hands were shaking. And then — right as I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to remember how to breathe — my phone beeped. It was from an unknown number. Message: “You’re not the first Vale woman he’s tried to ruin.” I stared at the screen and read it again. And again. Until the words stopped looking like words and started feeling like something crawling up my spine. My mother’s name was Nadine Vale. And— She was dead.SERAFINA There was something different about the way Amia knocked. Like her knuckles didn’t actually want to make contact. Three soft taps — ‘Click. Click. Click.’ each one slower than the last, like she kept changing her mind between them. I opened the door anyway. And there she was. Hair tied a little too neatly. Not a single strand out of place. Even her baby hairs had been gelled down into submission, as if appearance could somehow compensate for betrayal. Her purse strap was clenched in both fists, tight enough to leave red marks on her fingers. Like she was holding on to the last thread of courage she had — or maybe trying to stop her hands from shaking. She didn’t smile. Which was- kinda funny, considering Amia always smiled. Even during arguments. Especially during lies. I didn’t move. I didn’t say a damn thing either. I just stepped aside, quietly. Not an invitation. Just an allowance. She walked in, careful and clipped, and stopped two steps past the door.
Serafina I stood still, like I wasn’t anxious about whatever was coming next. Then — he finally broke the ice. “You won’t win this by keeping your guard halfway up.” Because I wasn’t sure what I hated more — the way he always tried to twist the game back to me… or the fact that this time, he might’ve been right. I heard him before I saw him. His steps were steady, paced like he had nowhere urgent to be. But I knew better. Dorian never moved without purpose — and if he was walking toward me, it was because he wanted something. The problem was, I no longer believed it was something I could see. I didn’t turn from the sink. I just stood there, both hands pressed to the cold granite counter, staring down at the glass of water I hadn’t touched. I didn’t hear him stop behind me, but I felt him — the shift in air, the way my skin prickled, the tightening across the back of my neck. Then silence. That long kind. I should’ve moved. Should’ve said something. But I stayed still.
Serafina I woke up late. And not the good kind of late — not the warm, satisfied, peace-in-your-chest kind. No. I woke up with my mouth dry, and the shrinking realization that he possibly never left. I could feel him. Dorian Everhart — oh, my bad, my husband — was somewhere in this apartment. Breathing my air. Walking on my floor. And definitely moving like he owned every inch of it. And somehow, I still hadn’t figured out if he was the intruder in my life or if I’d let him in myself. I stepped out of my room barefoot, wearing one of his old button-downs that somehow ended up in my closet. I didn’t think about why I hadn’t thrown it out. The kitchen light was on, and so was the coffee machine. And there he was — leaning against the counter, sleeves rolled, mug in hand, like we hadn’t exchanged some awkward stares last night. “Morning, Mrs.,” he said. Like it was normal. Like he freaking belonged here. I didn’t answer. Just walked past him and grabbed a glass of water. Ig
Dorian “Serafina!” I turned. And there they were. Richard, accompanied by my Disney prince ex-fiancé. Leo. They were coming toward me like they rehearsed it — two versions of the same mistake, dressed in tailored suits and that smug confidence men wore when they thought you owed them something. My pulse didn’t spike. My hands didn’t shake. I just… locked it all down. Posture straight. Shoulders square. Chin lifted. Like I wasn’t two seconds away from blacking out. Richard reached me first. He didn’t hug or smile. He did what he always did — stepped too close and spoke like proximity was power. “You’ve made quite the splash,” he said. “Didn’t realize I needed permission to exist, Father.” “Not… permission,” he said smoothly. “But discretion. This family has standards.” I didn’t flinch. “You only call it a family when the cameras are on.” His smile didn’t move. “And you only show up when there’s a spotlight,” he said, eyes scanning the room — hoping
DORIAN She turned her head, slow. “Excuse me?” “Amia,” I said. “She wants to get a rise out of you. Try not to let her win.” I already knew it wouldn’t work. Serafina didn’t take well to advice — especially when it sounded like something I wasn’t supposed to know. “Why are you giving me advice,” she asked, “like you’re not the reason she’s even involved in my life?” Her voice tightened. So did her jaw. She didn’t even realize how easily she gave herself away. I looked at her. Not stiff, just directly. Because if I didn’t say this now, she’d crash in the wrong direction. “Because if you fall apart now,” I said, “you hand her the win. You make it easy.” She stared. I couldn’t tell what emotion finally stuck — anger, jealousy, or something quieter. Something closer to a break. She didn’t say a word. And then I did something I shouldn’t have. I let something slip. “You aren’t supposed to matter this much Sera.” She froze. I knew it the moment I said it.
DORIAN She saw the message.I knew it before I heard the door.The second her footsteps went quiet. The second the tension shifted. The second her silence started feeling….quite different.She didn’t confront me.Didn’t ask.Didn’t storm out or freeze like people usually do when the past shows up uninvited.She just disappeared behind the bedroom door.Didn’t scream or slam anything. Not that she needed to anyways.I didn’t follow.I gave her space — or at least, that’s how it looked.I knew what message she’d seen.And I knew what kind of spiral it would throw her into. Not because she told me.But- because I’ve seen it before.Same name.Same look in the eyes.Same reaction.Still—nothing prepares you for seeing it twice.I didn’t sit. Just stood by the counter, half-dressed, going over the same damn files I already knew by heart. Kept my eyes on the paper, but my mind?It was on the girl who just found out I might’ve known her mother. Maybe even more than just known.She came ou