جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Seraphina’s POVAs Alfred and I stepped into the banquet hall, I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on me. Whispers and murmurs floated through the room, but I kept my head high. Alfred’s reassuring grip on my hand gave me the courage I needed to face the sea of curious faces.Garfield, seated in his wheelchair near the center of the room, beamed with excitement. His eyes sparkled as he made the announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am thrilled to introduce my long-lost niece, Seraphina. She has finally returned to us.” He reached out, taking my hand and leading me to stand beside him. His gesture made it clear to everyone that I held a special place in his heart.From my new vantage point, I scanned the room. My gaze landed on Eric, standing with his fiancée. The shock and disbelief on his face made a slight, victorious smile tug at my lips. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.The music started, and Alfred guided me to the dance floor. The room transformed as the

Seraphina’s POVAfter that day, Eric kept inviting me out. Sometimes, he would take me to a newly opened restaurant to try new dishes. Other times, he would drag me to listen to opera, which I found painfully boring. The grandiose hall, with its velvet seats and crystal chandeliers, seemed to mock my disinterest while Eric sat beside me, completely enthralled by the performance.I knew what he was after. He wanted to get back together with me because, as the niece of the former Alpha King, I had access to wealth and power far beyond what his fiancée could offer. I couldn’t believe I had ever been attracted to someone as shallow and manipulative as Eric. But I played along. I just needed him to slip up once. Then, I'd have the evidence I needed.One night, Eric took me to a high-end restaurant known for its exquisite whiskey collection. The place was called "La Lumière Noire," and it was the epitome of luxury and exclusivity. From the moment we arrived, I was struck by the opul

Seraphina’s POVI never imagined a single photograph could cause such a whirlwind of chaos. The image of Eric pinning me against the wall, taken in that moment of clumsiness and unintended intimacy, was now plastered across every media outlet. The headline read: "New 'Miss Vanderwood' Secret Boyfriend Scandal: Fiance of Alpha Austin's Daughter Involved."As I scrolled through the articles on my phone, my heart sank further with each word. Alfred had tried to suppress the news, but it was too late. The story had spread like wildfire, and there was no stopping it.That morning, sitting at the breakfast table, the air was thick with tension. I could barely touch my food, my stomach churning with guilt. Alfred was silent, his jaw clenched as he read the news. Garfield, however, seemed unperturbed, sipping his coffee and glancing at the headlines with mild interest as he hummed a delightful tune.Breakfast at the Vanderwood mansion was a lavish affair. The long oak table was l

Seraphina’s POVAs I began to wake up, I first noticed the biting cold of the air around me. The dampness seeped into my skin, making me shiver. My head throbbed painfully, and I blinked against the dim, flickering light that barely illuminated the basement. Shadows danced eerily on the rough stone walls, creating an unsettling atmosphere.The room smelled musty, like mold and decay, with a faint metallic tang that made my stomach churn. The floor beneath my feet was cold and hard, and I could hear the distant, slow drip of water echoing somewhere in the darkness. The air was thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.I could make out the outline of old, rusted pipes running along the ceiling and a few broken, discarded furniture scattered around the room. The only window was small and high up, covered with grime and barely letting in any light from the outside. It felt like a forgotten place, abandoned and neglected, with an almost palpable sense of despair clinging t

Seraphina’s POVI never thought it would end up like this. Sitting here in yet another janky basement, I felt as if my chest was being slowly compressed, making it hard to breathe. The air was thick with tension, and all eyes were on me, or rather, on Eric, who was about to spill the secrets I'd been desperately hiding.Eric's smug face made my skin crawl. His voice dripped with malice as he recounted my past, each word a knife slicing through the fragile fabric of my newfound life."Mr. Garfield," he began, his tone sickeningly sweet, "do you know where your beloved niece has been all these years? I'll tell you where she was. She spent the last three years in prison." Once full of warmth and kindness, Garfield's face twisted in shock and disbelief. He looked at me, his eyes wide with horror."That's enough," Alfred growled, his hand tightening around mine. His presence was a lifeline, grounding me in the storm.Garfield's voice trembled as he spoke. "You're despe