Lucien’s POV
I missed Sera but sensed Ralph, who looked tense, and his voice was shaky. I could even feel that he was trying to say sothing, but was hesitant.
I looked at him, slow and cold, the air around shifting with my gaze. "What happened?"
Ralph swallowed but didn’t answer.
"I asked you a question," I demanded again, pressing onto him. "Is she alright?"
His head dipped lower, as if he were trying to hide from my gaze and not face properly.
Sothing must have happened. Sothing bad enough to make him hesitate to tell that he was this afraid!
I stood up slowly and steadily. My voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. "You better start talking," I said, stepping around the table. "Because if anything has happened to her..."
I didn’t bother finishing the threat. He knew exactly what I was capable of.
And none of them would be able to stop if I decided to burn the whole city down just to bring her back to .
"She’s safe... for now," Ralph finally said in a low voice, like he was scared even to speak, and I didn’t like that.
If sothing had happened, then he must inform ! What did he an by not giving clarity on Sera’s situation?
No one in this world was more important to than Sera!
"What do you an by that?" I asked, staring him down. "What the hell happened?"
"There was a fight," he finally opened his mouth. "At her family’s place... She... She was injured while she ran away from ho and vanished... However, Lancaster brothers found her location already, and she is supposed to be safe for now!"
I closed my eyes and took a breath. But it didn’t help.
I couldn’t help but regret not taking Sera away from the Lancaster mansion! Although I had threatened them that if sothing happened I’d take Sera away, but in the end, she still suffered.
"What happened further?" I questioned, trying to keep myself composed. "If she is fine? And where is she residing? Don’t tell she is at her dorms or still confined in that ho?"
I asked several questions in a row. I was so worried that I ignored the fact that Ralph had already told Sera vanished and was found later.
"Actually, I... after hearing the news, I contacted Lia and got so news related to the incident and... It is said that Mrs. Lancaster aka Stephenie planned everything, sent her sons to et Mr. Adrian but soon they realized and rushed back... They particularly dragged Sera into their plan!"
"They dragged her into it?" My voice ca out quieter this ti, but colder. "What else happened ?"
He nodded as he continued. "Even after she left... lissa continued with her act but it falter when Asher punished her by taking away her properties and even sold it all!
She started yelling about a house Asher sold. Then she brought Seraphina into it—blad her like always. Even Mrs. Lancaster said so nasty things about her. Called her low-level and worthless."
That was it.
That was the last straw.
How could a mother be so cruel?
I thought my family was curel enough, until Sera arrived in my life!
And just why the hell did I not know about her before? Or did I?
I stood still for a few seconds thinking as my body was tense, my hands curling into fists without even noticing.
"They keep blaming her..." I muttered, more to myself than to him. "They keep dragging her na through the dirt... even when she’s not around to defend herself."
"She didn’t even show up to the fight," Ralph added quickly. "She had no part in it. Asher and Alistair were the ones who defended her. But still... it got ugly."
"I don’t care who defended her," I said sharply, turning toward the window. The sky outside looked calm that it felt wrong to !. "She shouldn’t have needed anyone to step in. If she was there... In good condition, no one would have dare to open their mouth.
He didn’t speak and it was a smart choice from his side!
I walked across the room, grabbed my coat, and slid it on without breaking eye contact.
"Get the plane ready. I’m leaving tonight."
"But the eting—" he started.
"Cancel it. Or let them run it without . I don’t give a damn."
He hesitated, then nodded.
"And I want soone watching her, but from a distance. I want eyes on her all the ti. Don’t make any mistakes. And if soone even thinks of hurting her again—"
I paused, letting the silence say the rest.
He lowered his head. "Understood." I didn’t say another word. Just walked out of the room.
I didn’t care how big the empire was. I didn’t care about titles, etings, or bloodlines. I only cared about her.
And the next ti soone tried to hurt her— They’d answer to , personally.
As I walked out of the room, I had a feeling Ralph still wanted to say sothing. But he didn’t say anything probably because of the way I acted or I didn’t give him the chance.
For a second, I thought about turning back and asking him, but there was no ti for that now.
Right now, I just wanted to reach Seraphina. I needed to see her, hold her close, and tell her she’s not alone and there was soone who still cares about her.
That I’m still there for her.
*****
After six long hours in the air, I was finally back in the capital. My mind was wholly occupied by Seraphina. I was longing for her, Just see her face, hear her voice... make sure she was okay. I was in a hurry to leave but...
But just as I had exited the airport and was ready to jump in the car that was already waiting for , soone grabbed from behind... hugged so tightly I nearly stumbled forward.
What the hell—
I gritted my teeth and turned around fast, ready to shove them off.
But the mont I saw the face, I froze.
Evelyn Bells. My runaway ex!
The woman who ran away like a coward.
What the actual hell was she doing here... now of all tis?
"Lucien!" she opened her mouth, her voice sugary and soft just like I rembered, it always like this when she wanted sothing from . Her arms wrapped around from the front now, clinging as if the past hadn’t happened and we were still in a happy relationship.
My hands stayed in the air, stiff, unwilling to touch her. I was even scared to touch her accidentally. She was the filthiest person I had ever seen!
I turned my head sharply toward Ralph, giving him a look. He hesitated for a second until my glare dropped cold enough to kill him.
He got the ssage and understood what he should do!
Without a word, Ralph stepped in. Her peeled her off my body with ease, and handed a fresh handkerchief like he knew what I needed before I asked. Then he pulled out a clean blazer from the car.
I shrugged off the blazer she had touched, dropped it straight into the trash nearby, and wiped my hands like I was scrubbing off filth. I didn’t even blink and kept doing what was necessary.
"Get a different cologne," I muttered as I put on the new blazer. "I don’t want to sll like her."
"Lucien..."
Her voice cracked behind . I turned just enough to see her face. Tears had started to gather in her eyes, making her look like the most miserable person in this world.
I was in a ss after seeing her out of the blue. It was getting hard for my mind to process her sudden appearance
But I’d seen her act before. And I didn’t care about that anymore.
I adjusted my cuffs and gave Ralph a nod to walk ahead. I didn’t say a word to Evelyn.
Because I had better things to do and soone else needed .
And because I wasn’t the sa fool she once left behind.
I stepped into the car with jaw clenched, barely holding back the irritation bubbling inside . Ralph slid into the front passenger seat, quietly instructing the driver to get going.
"Why didn’t you tell ?" I asked sharply, snatching the perfu from his hand. "You could’ve warned ."
"..."
There was a silence as Ralph didn’t respond right away.
I caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror... His mouth opened, then closed again as if he was looking for the right words.
"What is it?" I demanded in a heavy tone as my eyes turned frosty.
"It’s not that I ant to hide anything..." Ralph finally said, eyes fixed ahead. "But I thought the matter regarding Young Miss Seraphina was more urgent than dealing with her."
I didn’t reply imdiately. I leaned back into the seat, letting the silence settle.
For a second, I felt a trace of satisfaction in my chest.
After all... Evelyn was not an important factor in my life as she used to be!
"So," I said at last with a faint smirk tugging at my lips, "you do know when to act and when to shut up." I further added. "It’s good to know that you’ve set your priorities at the right place!"
Ralph didn’t say anything and just nodded politely!
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