All Chapters of The Heart That Wouldn’t Surrender : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Seraphina’s POVI was seventeen when I trusted a doctor.Eighteen when I learned that trust could erase a future. Some betrayals do not leave bruises. They leave silence where dreams used to live.I adjust the ivory silk draping for the third time, my practiced eye catching the slightest imperfection in what everyone else would call flawless. Today’s venue is a sprawling garden estate overlooking the Hudson River. The interior design shimmers under the soft golden lighting I spent two days perfecting. Every detail whispers romance: the cascading white orchids, the crystal chandeliers suspended from century-old trees, the pathway of rose petals leading to an altar that looks like something from a fairy tale.Too bad I stopped believing in fairy tales years ago.“Seraphina, this is absolutely magical!” gushes Mrs. Victoria Reynolds, the mother of today’s bride. Her diamond earrings catch the light as she gestures wildly at the transformation of her family’s estate. “My daughter will cry

Seraphina’s POVThe elevator to Aurelius Kingsley’s penthouse is the kind of luxury that makes you question everything you thought you knew about wealth. Italian marble floors, crystal fixtures, and a control panel that requires a special key card just to access the top three floors. As the numbers climb—45, 46, 47—my phone rings incessantly with notifications I’m trying to ignore.Zara: Girl, the blogs are going CRAZY. “Mystery Woman Spotted Entering Kingsley Tower.” You better call me after this meeting!Emma (my assistant): Three new clients called after seeing the photos. The Henderson anniversary party wants to triple their budget. Your phone hasn’t stopped ringing.Unknown number: Is it true you’re dating Aurelius Kingsley? I’ll pay $10k for an exclusive interview.I silence my phone and catch my reflection in the mirrored elevator walls. Professional but not trying too hard—black wrap dress, modest neckline, hair in a sleek low bun. The same armour I’ve perfected over three ye

Seraphina’s POVTwo days later, I’m sitting in Aurelius Kingsley’s office. The scent of coffee fills the air, creating an atmosphere that’s quite intimate. I fidget with my leather portfolio, the buttery texture grounding me as I try to ignore how my stomach drops every time he looks at me.“Thank you for coming in so early,” he says, pouring me coffee. “I know 7 a.m. isn’t exactly conventional.”“Nothing about you is conventional.” The warmth seeps through the delicate china, providing a small comfort for my nerves. “I’m usually up early anyway.”The truth is, I’ve been awake since 4 a.m., cycling through outfits and rehearsing professional small talk while trying to silence the voice in my head that keeps whispering danger, danger, danger every time I think about working closely with this man.“Liar.” His smile is gentle, teasing, completely without judgment. “You have that slightly frantic look of someone who’s had too much caffeine and not enough sleep.”He sees too much. Just lik