Seraphina’s POV
Several questions ran through my head, one after another, but there wasn’t a single clear answer. Every thought felt like it hit a dead end. I didn’t even know where I’d start looking for one.
"Don’t think too much," Emma said softly, patting my shoulder when she noticed how tense I was. Her touch was light, but it made realize just how stiff I’d been sitting. "Do you want to co back with you to your so-called ho?" She tilted her chin toward Asher, who was walking alone toward the car.
I followed her gaze. Asher didn’t look happy. He just walked forward with a grumpy look on his face.
"Would you like to?" I asked quietly, as I wasn’t sure myself if it was right to take her with to that place!
She raised a brow, like she was saying that there was no need to ask her anything. She was ready to do anything!
I had agreed to go back to the Lancaster Mansion with my brothers, but agreeing didn’t an I was fine with it. My chest felt tight just thinking about walking through those gates again. Deep down, I was still covered in scars, whether old or new... They had never healed.
The thought of stepping into that house again made my skin prickle.
Old mories would always find you, even though you had buried them sowhere deeper.
"What are you two whispering about?" my brother asked as he ca up to the car, his voice carrying that edge he always had when he wasn’t in the mood. "Forget about Alistair... that bastard."
I blinked at him. "What happened?" I asked, leaning a little toward him, while Emma crossed her arms beside . We both waited for him to answer with curious eyes.
"He..." Asher stopped mid-sentence, his jaw tightening. He looked like he wanted to curse at Brother Alistair, but forced himself to stop. "That so-called big brother you love so much has chosen his best friend because... because you have , and he doesn’t have anyone."
I frowned. "What?"
Emma’s head snapped toward , then back at Asher, her eyes wide. "Wait... what does that even an?"
Asher didn’t answer right away. He just rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth.
I leaned back, staring at nothing for a mont. Of all the things I expected to hear, this wasn’t it. And yet... part of wasn’t even angry.
Even I was... impressed.
Brother Alistair had always acted like he hated Lucien and always made it clear in so way that he didn’t want him anywhere near . But if what Asher said was true, then under all that dislike, he must have cared for Lucien more than he ever showed on the surface.
I guess he cared about Lucien more than anyone else in the world.
I was relieved that at least soone was willing to stand by him and was ready to leave everything behind just to look after him.
For so reason, that thought made happy. I always knew Brother Alistair was kind!
"Hey!" Asher’s voice echoed in my ears, making blink. He snapped his fingers in front of my face, pulling back from whatever I was thinking about. "We’re leaving, right away!"
I let out a slow breath and turned toward Emma, motioning for her to get into the car. She glanced at and smiled, taking a step toward the other side of the car.
"What?" Asher asked, his gaze flicking to her. "You’re coming with us too?" His brows pulled together, but his voice didn’t carry the sa angst it usually did. It had softened a little, but only I noticed that.
It was strange hearing him like that. He wasn’t barking orders or throwing sharp words. He was acting normal.
And as much as I didn’t want to admit it but I liked it better this way. He wasn’t as cold as before. I wished for him to stay like this... and be happy in this lifeti.
Emma didn’t answer him, just slid into the car without a word. A second later, the engine roared to life, and we were on the road.
The ride started quietly. I leaned my head against the window, watching the blur of the city slip by while my thoughts wandered to places I didn’t want them to. Emma was next to , tapping at her phone or fidgeting with sothing in her bag, to which I didn’t pay much attention to at first.
Then... sothing felt off.
I sat up straighter, my eyes scanning the street outside.
"Brother!" I called, my voice sharper than I ant. "This is not the way to the Lancaster Mansion!"
My frown deepened as confusion was laced all over my face.
"Who said we’re going there?" Asher glanced back at , a small smile tugging at his lips.
"What?" I stared at him, not sure how to react. My mind jumped to so stupid thought. Don’t tell you’re kidnapping just because I defied you. I rolled my eyes at the thought but kept my mouth shut. It was not the ti to joke around.
Still, Asher’s eyes flicked to mine in the rearview mirror, like he could read clearly. "Don’t worry," he said, that smile still lingering. "I’m not kidnapping you. I’m just taking you ho, like I promised earlier."
I leaned back against the seat, but my fingers were already curling in my lap. Ho. The word didn’t an the sa thing to as it did to him.
But... wherever my brothers were, that was my ho.
I almost asked about the new route we were taking, but stopped myself. Before I could think more, Emma’s voice broke the silence.
"Isn’t this the way to my ho?" she said, her tone full of excitent. "Are we going to my ho today?"
"You live here?" Asher’s brows pulled together as he glanced at her. "I didn’t know that," he replied way too casually.
I kept quiet, but my eyes stayed on him. He didn’t look nervous. Didn’t even blink. But I knew that look...
Emma didn’t notice, still looking out the window with a small smile.
I leaned back, pretending to relax, but my fingers tapped against my knee.
I could tell that Asher was lying, but I waited to see what he was planning to do.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a huge villa. It looked even grander than the Lancaster Mansion.
"Where is this?" Emma’s jaw almost dropped at the scene in front of her eyes.
"This is our new ho, Sera!" Lucien said as he stepped out of the car and opened the door for . "Let’s go! You will have your ho from now on!"
I didn’t move. For a mont, I just sat there, staring at him, then at the villa, then back at him again... like my brain couldn’t process what was happening to .
My body froze, my fingers tightening around the edge of my dress.
Was he serious? My own ho?
Really?
The word stayed in my head like it didn’t belong to . I had lived in big houses and small ones, but never in a place that felt like ho.
Emma nudged my arm. "Sera, did you hear him? He’s saying this place is yours!" Her voice was full of excitent.
"How co... I didn’t even know about this?" I finally asked, my voice quiet, almost afraid of the answer.
Lucien’s eyes softened, but his expression was as stern as always. "Because you didn’t need to know until now. This was my and Alis’s surprise but... He didn’t co here!"
The way he said it so calmly and casually as if it was nothing big, but to ... Having a ho of my own was like a dream co true!
The edge of my eyes turned red and wet.
Emma was already halfway out of the car, gawking at the garden. "This place is insane... look at those fountains! Sera, hurry!"
But I stayed still a second longer, my eyes fixed on the heavy front doors of the villa.
I didn’t know if I was about to step into sothing good... or would it beco the sa hell as Lancaster’s mansion.
Lucien’s hand appeared in front of , patiently but expectantly.
I stepped out, my shoes clicking on the marble path. The villa looked bigger with every step, its white walls were bright in the evening sun, and the tall windows were shining, with the air mixed with wood polish and jasmine’s scent.
As we entered the villa, the floor was dark, shiny marble, and the ceiling was very high. A big staircase curved up, looking pretty but a little scary. Gold-frad paintings were covering the wall, but there were still places that needed to be filled.
Emma looked around, amazed. "This is... wow."
I said nothing, walking slowly through the house with my hand still in Asher’s.
"Do you like it here?" Asher asked softly, glancing at .
I hesitated, my eyes tracing the curve of the grand staircase.
"Are... are you sure this big, palace-like place is my ho? Where no one can bla ... or hurt ?"
His grip on my hand tightened a little, like a silent promise. The house felt too perfect, too quiet, but was this really my ho?
"Of course!" Asher declared firmly. "This is your house, and you have every right to even kick out of here!"
His words made laugh as I wiped the corner of my eyes.
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