Chapter 14%
y son–my flesh and blood–ran straight
My entire world cracked. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I just stood there, Watching as my into Lily’s arms. Lily smirked. She fucking smirked. And it killed me.
But then–Noah looked up. His innocent little face scrunched in confusion as he saw me. His eyes widened.
“M–mommy? Is that you?”
My heart stopped. I opened my mouth. No words came out!!
Noah took a hesitant step toward me.
“Mommy…?”
Panic. I felt it rise, suffocating me. I forced myself to smile. To lie
“N–no, sweetheart.” I said softly, my voice steady even though my world was shattering. “You must be mistaken.
Noah blinked. “But… you look like-
“I’m not your mommy, darling.” I took a step back. Then another. “I’m just a quest
Noah frowned. “Oh… okay. His little voice broke me.”
I turned on my heel and walked away. No one stopped me.
I made it to the restroom before my body finally collapsed. I clutched the sink, gasping for breath.
Noah, My son. He forgot me. And I had to pretend he was right. A sob crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it down. I stared at my reflection, My chest ached. My hands trembled.
But my eyes?!
My eyes burned with fury. This isn’t over. Lily stole my husband.
She stole my family. She stole my son. And I’m going to make her pay…
I left the party without looking back.
The moment I stepped out of that suffocating house filled with people who didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as me, I dialed his number.
It didn’t even ring twice before Ethan picked up
“Where are you?” His voice was steady, but i could hear the sharp edge underneath.
“Coming home.” I murmured, my throat tight.}
I be there. “1.
He didn’t ask why. He didn’t need to.R
By the time I arrived at Ethan’s penthouse, the place he let me stay, the place that had become my sanctuary–he was already there, standing by the floor–to–ceiling windows, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The city lights cast long shadows over his face, but his dark eyes softened the moment he saw me.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
The second I stepped inside, I broke down.
I barely made it to him before the first sob ripped out of my chest. Ethan caught me immediately, his strong arms wrapping around me as
I buried my face in his shoulder. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t ask. He just let me fall apart.8
“Noah called me Mommy,” I whispered, my voice cracking.
Ethan stiffened slightly, but his grip on me remained firm, grounding.
I sucked in a shaky breath. “He looked at me with those big, innocent eyes, and for a second, it was like-” My fingers curled into Ethan’s shirt.“–like he remembered me. Like he knew me. And I had to lie to him. I had to tell him I wasn’t his mother.”
The pain choked me. I squeezed my eyes shut, the image of Noah’s confused, heartbroken face burning behind my lids.
“I could see it, Ethan,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “I could see how much he missed me. How much he needed me. 1- My breath hitched. “I had to pretend I was a stranger. I had to walk away!!!
Ethan didn’t speak. He just held me closer, his hand smoothing down my back in slow, steady strokes.
“You don’t have to do this alone, Seraphina,” he murmured after a long silence !
I knew what he meant
And
I pulled back slightly, looking up at him. His dark gaze was unreadable, but I knew Ethan well enough to recognize the lethal promise in his eyes.!!
“Do you still want to do this yourself,” he asked quietly, “or do you want me to handle it?”
There was no need for elaboration. I knew exactly what he was offering.X
With one snap of his fingers, Ethan could burn everything to the ground. He could crush Jason, Lily, my parents–all of them–without me lifting a single finger
But..
Linhaled slowly, then exhaled. “No,” I said firmly. “I want to do it.“N
12:36 PM d
Something flickered in Ethan’s gaze. Something unreadable. Then he gave a slow nod. “Ainight.”
He didn’t argue. He didn’t try to convince me otherwise. He just trusted me.
Later that night, Ethan and I sat on the balcony, whiskey glasses in hand, watching the city stretch out comfortable.
But then->
“Do you still love him?” Ethan asked suddenly.
I turned my head slightly, meeting his gaze.
Jason.
Jason Romano.
The man I once gave everything to. The man who had shattered me beyond repair
I looked down at my whiskey, letting the question settle in the air. Then I answered.
- us. The silence was
y last piece of love I had for him. Ethan didn’t react right away. But when he finally spoke, his
The moment he betrayed me, he k voice was softer.
killed every
“Good.””
1 glanced at him. “Why?%
Ethan swirled the whiskey in his glass, eyes distant.!!
“Because he never deserved you,” he murmured. “And he never will.”
I stared at him. And for just a second,bjust a fleeting, stolen moment–something achingly raw passed through his gaze.”
But then it was gone. And so was any chance of asking what it meant.
For the next week, I disappeared. I ignored Jason’s calls. I ignored his messages. And while I lay low, Lily started falling apart. I knew it was happening even before I got the confirmation. The whispers had already started.
“Lily Romano has been acting strange lately.”
“She’s paranoid. Snapping at people for no reason:
“She thinks someone is out to get her.“}
Good.
Let her rot in her own fear
And then, I sent the package. It was simple. A small box. Wrapped neatly. Delivered straight to Jason’s office. Inside? |
Old photos.!
Of im and Emma.
Smiling. Holding hands. Kissing.}
Happier times.!!
Lily saw them before Jason did. And she lost it.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE” she screamed, shoving the pictures at Jason’s chest!
12.36 PM
Jason barely lifted his head
“They’re pictures,” he said, voice bored.”
