Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The Christmas dinner was in full swing when my stepbrother brought his gorgeous girlfriend home.
My parents seized the opportunity to pressure me about my love life, while his soon–to–be fiancée placed a greasy slice of prime rib on my plate.
“I heard… Seraphina still has a first love she can’t forget?” she pried.
I kept my head down, focusing on my food, unsure how to tell her the truth.
My first love was her boyfriend.
When I was eighteen, my stepbrother Eldric had convinced me to have sex with him behind our parents‘ backs.
Even now, under the table, his leg was brushing suggestively against my ankle.
Yet above the table, his fingers were tightly intertwined with his girlfriend’s as he teased me with a smile.
“You’ll be twenty–eight. You’re not as pretty as your future sister–in–law, and you’ll have even fewer boyfriends to be chosen when you’re older.”
I stood up abruptly.
Looking down at him, my voice eerily calm.
“Actually, I’m already married, my sweet brother.”
I hadn’t planned on coming home for Christmas this year.
But my mother lied about having coronary artery disease, effectively tricking me back.
Eating dinner, she complained about my absence.
“You always use work as an excuse. Three years without visiting–you probably don’t even remember our appearances!”
My stepbrother Eldric lifted his eyelids to regard me coldly, snorting with obvious implications.
“She doesn’t come home because there’s someone here she doesn’t want to see.”
13:00
Chapter 1
The poor relationship between Eldric and me was common knowledge.
At my mother’s wedding to his father, we were both ring bearers.
During our entrance, he deliberately stepped on my dress, causing me to fall flat on my face in front of everyone–a humiliating spectacle.
Eldric was thoroughly scolded by his father afterward.
Instead of improving, his behavior only worsened. Whenever adults weren’t present, he’d torment me
endlessly.
Being naturally timid and aware that my mother had married into a better situation, I never fought back, simply allowing him to vent his frustrations on me.
For quite some time, I walked on eggshells in my new home.
Until that incident–after which I suffered a severe emotional blow but could be more brave to stand up
to Eldric.
“If you know the truth, keep it to yourself. Why bring it up and make everyone uncomfortable?” I didn’t spare Eldric’s pride.
“Exactly,” his father glared at him. “If you can’t say something helpful, stay quiet.”
To be fair, while my mother might be unreliable, terrible with money, and frustratingly naive, she was beautiful enough and had excellent taste in men.
Both my deceased biological father and my stepfather were loving, family–oriented men.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Eldric’s girlfriend Olivia smoothly defused the situation.
“Eldric just cares about his sister! Once when he fell asleep drunk, he was even mumbling Seraphina’s
name.”
“Look at these siblings bickering! They’ve been like this for years.”
My mother took Olivia’s hand, her eyes full of approval.
“With you by Fidric’s side, we can rest easy. We were planing, after Christmas, we could visit your
parents.”
“We’ll have an engagement party first, then start planning the wedding property.”
Olivia lowered her head shyly. “Whatever you and Uncle plan is best.”
Chapter 1
Eldric frowned. “There’s no rush. I’m flying to America for a project after the holidays. We can discuss engagement plans later.”
Since he wasn’t her biological son, my mother didn’t dare comment too much on his decisions.
Instead, she redirected the conversation to me.
“As for you, Seraphina, You’re not getting any younger! Forget marriage–you haven’t even had a dating!”
Olivia lowered her gaze, briefly concealing a flash of coldness in her eyes.
She placed a slice of prime rib on my plate and asked with a bright smile:
“Really? Seraphina and I went to the same university. I thought I heard she had a first love she can’t forget?”
My mother was shocked. “Seraphina Season! When did you date someone behind my back? Tell me everything right now!”
Olivia sat beside me, leaning in with intimate familiarity, shaking my arm with gossipy enthusiasm.
“Come on, Seraphina, don’t be shy! It’s all in the past anyway. Tell us about it!”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I mumbled, keeping my head down as I took a couple bites of coffee.
How could I possibly tell her?
My first love was the very man she was so eager to marry.
Chapter 2
