Chapter 2

Seraphina's POV

After I left the ballroom, a torrential downpour swallowed New York.

My car broke down on the Brooklyn Bridge. The windshield wipers thrashed violently, completely failing to clear the sheer sheets of water cascading across the glass. The car's heater had died. Wearing nothing but a thin evening gown, I was shivering uncontrollably.

A sudden, sharp cramp twisted in my stomach. Acute gastritis.

In the past, if I had even slightly winced in pain, Casper would have immediately summoned his private doctor. Julian would have stayed awake all night rubbing my stomach. Rowan would have canceled every board meeting just to cook me a bowl of hot porridge.

With trembling hands, I dialed Casper's number.

Ring... Ring...

"Hello." The line connected, the background buzzing with upbeat music and the clinking of glasses.

"Casper..." I gasped through the sharp pain. "My car broke down on the bridge, and my stomach hurts so badly. Can you come pick me up?"

"Seraphina, how long are you going to keep playing these games?" Casper's voice was as cold as ice. "Faking an illness just to pull us away from Elara's party? You really lower yourselves to these kinds of excuses? I am incredibly disappointed in you."

"I'm not faking, I really—"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

He hung up on me.

I slumped forward against the steering wheel, cold sweat soaking through the back of my dress. Clenching my teeth, I dialed Julian's number.

Elara answered.

"Miss Seraphina? Julian is helping me cut the cake right now. It's thundering outside, and I was so scared, so Julian promised he'd stay by my side all night. Did you need something?"

I squeezed my eyes shut. The twisting agony in my stomach made it nearly impossible to breathe. "Put him on the phone."

"Sorry, he won't let me give the phone to you." Elara's voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible hint of smugness. "He says you need time to cool off and learn how to grow up."

I hung up immediately.

Finally, I stared at Rowan's name in my contacts. After hesitating for a long time, I pressed call.

"Speak," Rowan answered, his voice dripping with heavy impatience.

"Rowan, please help me... I'm trapped on the Brooklyn Bridge, it hurts so much..."

"Seraphina," he addressed me coldly by my full name. "You are an adult. If your car breaks down, call a tow truck. If you are sick, call an ambulance. I am not your babysitter. If you lack even the most basic ability to survive independently, then you don't deserve to stay at the company."

The line went dead once again.

At that exact moment, a crack of thunder roared outside the windows, but to me, the entire world had fallen deathly silent.

I couldn't believe I used to think of these three men as my entire world. I thought they were my safe harbor, only to suddenly realize they were the ones bringing the storm.

I didn't call anyone else.

Mustering the last ounce of my strength, I dialed 911.

Lying in the sterile, freezing bed of the emergency room, I watched the IV fluid drip slowly into my veins.

My phone screen lit up. It was a photo Julian had just posted.

In the picture, Elara was wearing a birthday tiara, her hands clasped together as she made a wish. Casper, Julian, and Rowan stood closely around her, their eyes so tender they practically melted.

The caption read: [May our little princess always smile.]

I stared at the picture. I didn't shed a single tear.

In that moment, all the piercing pain, all the grievances, and all the desperate yearning felt as though it had been completely vacuumed out of my body.

Nothing was missing, yet it felt like absolutely everything was gone.

I calmly closed the app and made a call to the patriarch of my family.

"Grandpa." My voice was hoarse, but unusually steady. "The arranged marriage with the Valerio family in Italy... I accept."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a relieved sigh. "Seraphina, you've finally come to your senses. Dante Valerio may be a ruthless man, but he gave his word. As long as you marry him, he will give you absolute devotion and protection."

"I know." I looked out the window at the fading rain. "When can I leave?"

"Tomorrow. Dante's private jet will be waiting for you at JFK."

"Okay."

Hanging up the phone, I went into my contacts and blocked Casper, Julian, and Rowan entirely.

It was time for this ridiculous, toxic chapter of my life to turn to ash.