Chapter 2

SERAPHINA'S POV

The downpour kept intensifying. Standing there, everything suddenly struck me as absurd.

For years I'd followed her every instruction, trying to be the perfect, obedient wife. But why on earth should I be kneeling now?

I forced myself off the ground. Sharp pain shot through my knees and my legs wobbled beneath me, but I got to my feet.

Without looking back, I headed for the car in the courtyard. Minutes later I was driving away from the estate, going directly to the apartment I'd kept from before the marriage.

I hadn't visited in ages, though I'd maintained it all along. After marrying into the Thornley Pack, this place became my occasional refuge when I needed solitude.

The moment I got inside, I went straight for the shower. Hot water cascaded over me, yet cold tremors ran through my entire body.

Afterwards I collapsed onto the bed in my bathrobe, feeling progressively worse as shivers overtook me.

Probably running a fever, but I couldn't bring myself to move. All I wanted was to lie there and think about nothing.

Someone rang the doorbell.

Dragging myself up, I peered through the peephole. Angela stood outside in casual clothes, clutching a folder.

"Jesus, what happened to you?" She burst out the second she walked in. "Your face is burning red. Are you running a fever?"

"Probably." My voice came out scratchy. "You brought the papers?"

"Yeah, I've got them." She guided me to the sofa and pressed her palm against my forehead. "You're burning up. Let me get you something for this first."

After digging through my medicine cabinet, she emerged with fever medication and a thermometer. The reading showed 39.2 degrees Celsius.

"Were you out in that rain?" Angela handed me pills and water.

"Yeah. Spent some time kneeling in it." I swallowed the medicine, my tone flat, as though discussing a stranger's experience.

"Wait, kneeling?" Angela's voice jumped an octave. "Did those Thornley pack people do this to you?"

A coughing fit hit me before I gave her the condensed version of everything. As I described Caspian carrying Rose inside, him walking right past me without a single glance, and me kneeling alone while rain poured down, Angela's expression darkened progressively.

"That absolute bastard!" She slammed her palm on the coffee table. "I knew Caspian Thornley was garbage!"

"You know, I used to think pretty highly of myself." A bitter laugh escaped me. "Convinced myself Caspian just had a low sex drive and that I was fine with platonic love. Five whole years... I really kept telling myself that."

"And then?" Angela prompted.

"Turns out he's been sleeping around this whole time." My voice went cold. "Under Rose's black funeral dress, she had on red lingerie. They were in the study together. He was on his knees in front of her..."

I couldn't continue. That image made me physically sick every time it surfaced.

"God, that's disgusting!" Angela swore openly. "They were screwing around during his brother's funeral? Are they even human?"

She paced the living room, seething. Watching Angela's face flush red and the veins bulge in her neck, I found myself growing calmer instead.

"That's exactly why I need this divorce," I said.

She stopped pacing and dropped down in front of me, grabbing my hand. "Absolutely, you're divorcing him! That piece of shit doesn't deserve you. You know what? Once you're free, I'm introducing you to incredible men. Alphas even, if those are who you want. Your pick! I promise every single one will be a hundred times better than Caspian Thornley!"

Her excitement built as she talked. She slapped her thigh. "Since that cheating bastard already crossed the line, why wait? Let's do this now! I'll set up some dates immediately so Caspian Thornley sees he's not the only one who can play games!"

She reached for her phone.

"Hold on." I caught her hand. "Angela, I need to be completely done with this rotten marriage before starting anything new."

Something like sympathy flickered in her eyes. "Even now you're still following the rules."

"It's not about rules," I said, shaking my head. "I just don't want any more entanglement. I want out cleanly, without giving him ammunition or excuses."

She considered this, then nodded. "You're right. We'll divorce legally so he can't say a damn word."

She passed me the folder. "Look through this and tell me if anything needs adjusting."

I scanned through, finding nothing out of place. "I think I'm good," I said, handing back the file to her.

She took the file, but worry lined her forehead, cresting the lines deeper.

"What?" I asked weakly.

"You know, you can get him to sign the divorce paper. But will he agree to sever the mating bond that binds you to him?" She asked.

I thought for a second. "He will have no choice," I said with determination. "He will want to be with Rose."

We talked a while longer, but seeing how terrible I looked, Angela decided to leave.

"Rest up and call me if you need anything." At the door she turned back. "And remember, the second you're single again, tell me. I'll have dates lined up immediately!"

"Alright, alright, I hear you." Smiling, I ushered her out.

As I saw Angela into the elevator and turned to close my door, the second elevator suddenly opened.

I froze.

Caspian, Rose, and William stood together inside, looking exactly like a family returning from an outing. William was even holding both Caspian's and Rose's hands, grinning innocently.

I stood there in my doorway, unsure what expression to wear.

"Seraphina," Caspian spoke first, his tone carrying automatic authority, "Perfect timing that you're here."

I said nothing. Just stared at them.

Caspian stepped out, Rose and William following. Rose had changed into a flowing white dress with her hair down, looking delicate and vulnerable.

"Mom's been quite upset lately and doesn't want Rose around," Caspian said casually, like this was perfectly reasonable. "So I'd like to have Rose and William stay here temporarily."

Looking at him, I felt like I was seeing a complete stranger. This man used to be my husband. I thought I'd known him, but clearly I never had.

"Any objections?" Caspian asked, though his tone suggested there was no real choice.

"I..."

"Plus you can practice interacting with children," Caspian continued, even producing a smile. "Preparation for when we have our own."

A cold laugh was all I could manage.

Before, he wouldn't touch me so I couldn't get pregnant. Now I wanted divorce and he'd never have children from me anyway.

Besides, asking me to watch the kid was probably just cover for his affair with Rose. Living under one roof made everything convenient—seeing each other, doing whatever they wanted.

But if he wanted her that much, why wouldn't he just reject me and choose her as his mate instead?

I opened my mouth to refuse, to argue. Then suddenly I understood.

Caspian Thornley needed a wife, which was why he didn't outrightly reject me and even went through the trouble of keeping his extra marital affairs a secret.

First, for business appearances—how could the Thornley Pack's alpha not have a respectable Luna? Second, facing public scrutiny, he couldn't marry Rose, but he could secretly be with her using this façade.

And I made the perfect cover.

If I fought or made scenes now, what would they say? That I had no proof, that I was paranoid, that I couldn't tolerate Rose and her child.

I drew a deep breath and pushed down my rage.

"Fine," I said, my voice surprisingly steady even to my own ears. "They can stay."

Caspian clearly hadn't expected such easy agreement. He paused, then smiled with satisfaction. "I knew you'd be reasonable."

Rose spoke up, her voice soft and fragile. "Thank you, Seraphina. I know this is an imposition, but I truly have nowhere else...

"It's fine," I cut her off. "We're all family."

William clutched Rose's hand while curiously surveying my apartment. The child was adorable, but looking at him now only irritated me.

"William, say hello to Auntie," Rose prompted gently.

"Hello, Auntie," William said in his small voice.

I forced something resembling a smile but didn't respond.

Over the following days I avoided them as much as possible. My fever broke but I remained weak, spending most hours in my room.

The housekeeper Caspian arranged handled Rose and William's daily needs. I felt like an intruder in this space while Rose behaved like the actual mistress, directing the housekeeper constantly.

On the third afternoon, the housekeeper knocked urgently on my door.

"Ma'am, there's been an incident." Her voice carried clear anxiety.

I opened up. "What happened?"

"The young master—I mean, William—he was playing in your room and accidentally broke the photo frame on your desk."

My heart lurched. That frame held the only family photo of me with my parents, taken together before they died.

I rushed to my room. Opening the door, I saw shattered glass and torn photograph pieces scattered across the floor.

The photo had been ripped into several fragments. My father's face, my mother's smile, my childhood self—all torn apart.

My hands shook as fury surged through me.

Just then Rose emerged from another door in my room, William in tow. Seeing me, the child showed no fear. Instead he tilted his face up and announced, "Uncle said he'll take care of me and Mom just like Dad would!"

I stared at him, catching the brief flash of triumph on Rose's face.

This was a provocation.

An absolutely blatant provocation.