Seraphina’s POV
Adrian’s words hung in the air like poison.
My lungs stopped working. The oxygen was gone. Everything was gone except those words echoing in my skull.
"Adrian—" I tried to step toward him. My legs wouldn’t move. "Baby, I—"
"Don’t!" He jerked back. His face twisted with pain so raw it physically hurt to look at. "Don’t call that! You don’t get to call that anymore!"
Behind Damien, Lily started crying harder. Small, broken sobs that made my chest cave in.
"Adrian." Damien’s voice cut through. Firm. Controlled. "That’s enough."
"No!" Adrian’s hands clenched into fists. "She left us! She didn’t want us! Why is she even here?"
"Because she’s your mother—"
"She’s not my mother!" The words exploded out of him. Louder. More violent.
Oh God.
I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. The room was spinning. Tilting. Everything blurring at the edges.
"Adrian, stop it right now." Damien’s voice got harder. That Alpha tone that made people listen. "You will not speak to her like that. Do you understand ?"
Adrian’s mouth opened. Closed. His eyes filled with fresh tears.
"I said enough." Damien looked down at Lily, who was still clinging to his leg. "Both of you. Upstairs. Now."
"But Daddy—" Lily’s voice was small. Scared.
"Now, Lily."
Sothing in his tone made them both move. Adrian grabbed his backpack with shaking hands. Lily let go of Damien’s leg slowly. Reluctantly.
They walked past . Adrian wouldn’t look at . Lily peeked over her shoulder once. Her face streaked with tears.
Then they were gone. Footsteps on the stairs. A door closing sowhere above us.
Silence crashed down.
I stood there. Frozen. My hands shaking. My vision swimming.
This was wrong. All of this was so wrong.
I shouldn’t be here. Shouldn’t have co. Shouldn’t have—
"Sera." Damien’s voice was careful. Gentle. "Breathe."
I tried. I couldn’t. My chest was too tight. Like soone had wrapped steel bands around my ribs and kept tightening. Tightening. Tightening.
"I can’t—" The words ca out strangled. "I can’t breathe. I can’t—"
Black spots danced across my vision. The floor tilted dangerously.
Damien was there. His hands on my shoulders. Steadying .
My chest got tighter. My vision darker.
"I need to leave." The words tumbled out. "I need to go. Right now. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have co. I should—"
"Sera—"
"No!" I pushed past him. Toward the door. Toward escape. "Let go. Please just let go!"
My hand hit the doorknob. Cold tal. Solid. Real.
"Sera, wait—"
I yanked the door open.
And stopped dead.
Emma stood on the front steps. Her hand raised like she’d been about to knock. A Tupperware container in her other hand.
We stared at each other.
She was perfect. Hair styled. Makeup flawless. Smiling that warm, genuine smile.
The woman I’d seen with Damien at that restaurant.
The woman who’d sat next to him. Touched his arm. Looked at my children like they were hers.
"Oh!" Emma’s smile widened. "I’m sorry, is Damien ho?"
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move.
"Emma Auntie!" Lily’s voice suddenly rang out from upstairs. "Emma Auntie is here!"
Small feet thundering down the stairs. Lily appeared beside , her face lighting up. Tears forgotten.
"Hi sweetheart!" Emma crouched down as Lily barreled into her arms. "I brought your favorite! Chocolate chip cookies!"
"Really?" Lily’s whole face glowed. "Can I have one now? Please please please?"
Emma who called upstairs, "Adrian, honey! I brought cookies!"
And Adrian actually responded. Actually ca to the top of the stairs.
"Thanks, Emma." His voice was still rough from crying. But warr. Genuine. "Can I have two?"
"Only if you promise to eat dinner first!"
He smiled. Small. But real.
He smiled at her.
"Sera?" Damien’s hand touched my shoulder. "Maybe we should—"
I shoved him off. Hard.
"I need to leave." My voice ca out flat. Dead. "I need to leave right now."
I couldn’t do this. Couldn’t stand here while she played mother to my children. While she smiled and brought cookies and made them happy.
While I made them cry.
I pushed past Damien. Toward the door. Toward air. Toward anywhere but here.
"Sera!" He grabbed my arm. "Wait—"
"Let go!" I yanked free. "Just let —"
Rain hit the second I crossed the threshold.
Cold. Hard. Pouring down in sheets.
When had it started raining?
I didn’t care. I ran anyway.
Down the front steps. Across the perfect lawn. Into the street.
The rain soaked through my dress in seconds. My hair plastered to my skull. Water streaming down my face mixing with tears I didn’t rember starting.
I just ran.
Away from that house. Away from my children’s faces. Away from Emma and her perfect smile and her chocolate chip cookies.
Away from everything.
"SERA!"
Damien’s voice behind . Getting closer.
I ran faster. My bare feet slapping against wet pavent. My lungs burning. My vision blurred by rain and tears and three years of pain finally breaking free.
But he was faster. Stronger.
His hand caught my arm. Spun around.
"Let go!" I tried to pull away. "Let —"
He yanked against his chest. Both arms wrapping around . Holding tight even as I fought. Even as I scread.
"I’m not letting you go!"
"You have to!" The words tore out of . Raw. Broken. "You have Emma! You have your perfect life! You don’t need anymore!"
"What?" His grip loosened slightly. "What are you talking about?"
My voice broke completely.
"You already have a new love!" The words ca out as a wail. "SO WHY WOULD YOU STILL CO LOOKING FOR ?"
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