Chapter 8
“Which asshole? Who did this! Are you really that eager for love?” Eldric closed in, step by step.
There’s only one response from me: “If you don’t believe me, fine.”
If Kaelan wouldn’t acknowledge it, there was nothing I could do.
Eldric grew increasingly furious, berating me endlessly. His words were nothing but humiliation.
He still hated me, just like he did ten years ago. But I was no longer the naive eighteen–year–old Seraphina I once was.
I walked past Eldric and knocked on the door next door.
“Olivia, control your boyfriend.”
Back in bed, I received a call from Kaelan.
“Something you need?”
His voice carried an undercurrent of amusement, like winter frost that sent a chill through me.
“Come downstairs,” he said.
I hurried to the balcony to see a blue Rolls–Royce parked below. Kaelan stood leaning against it in a gray
coat, smoking.
He was too far away to make out his expression clearly, but I could see the swirling smoke.
Sensing my gaze, Kaelan looked up and waved.
Through the phone, he repeated. “Come down, Seraphina.”
“I miss you. Let me see you.”
I felt cold all over. “When did you get here?”
“Around the time you were arguing with Eldric… The city isn’t that big, and the Winters estate isn’t far
from the Harrison house.”
I bit my lower lip. “Imprisonment is illegal. I’m not going back.”
Marri
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Chapter 8
“Then I’ll wait right here until you come down.”
“Suit yourself.”
“What’s so good about being home? Seraphina, don’t you understand yet? I’m the one who loves you most.” Carrot and stick–Kaelan’s typical method for managing me.
Denying our relationship in front of Eldric was punishment for my escape.
Guessing I’d been upset at home, he drove over in the middle of the night, then approach to gradually dissolve my thoughts of divorce.
I closed the curtains and returned to my room.
My sleep was restless.
I dreamed of the first time I accompanied Kaelan to a party, where he asked me to drink on his behalf, offering double pay.
I got completely drunk. The next morning, I woke up with my body aching as if I’d been run over.
Kaelan lay beside me with his chest bare, casually twirling a strand of my hair between his fingers.
“Eldric wasn’t wrong. It didn’t take much effort to get you into bed.”
“But your waist… mmm… truly is soft.”
With trembling hands, I tried to slap him, but he caught my wrist.
“I’m going to call the police,” I said, fighting back tears.
Kaelan kissed the back of my hand, laughing at my naivety.
“Adults, intoxicated, things got out of hand–no police officer would take the case.”
“But I have one quality that makes me better than Eldric–I take responsibility for my actions.”
“Be my girlfriend, and I’ll take care of you.”
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
