Chapter 5 – Game On
1115 Words
Morning sunlight filtered through the bedroom curtains, casting a warm glow across the room.
Seraphine stood quietly beside the ironing board, carefully pressing one of Cassian's work shirts.
As she turned the collar over, her hands froze.
A faint red lipstick stain was still there.
She stared at it in silence, her chest tightening.
The words she had heard outside the hotel echoed in her mind.
"She's just a maid."
A bitter smile touched her lips.
"So... that's who I am to you."
She walked over to her dresser and picked up a small pair of scissors.
With careful hands, she cut a tiny piece from the stained part of the collar, making sure the missing fabric wouldn't be noticeable.
Then she opened her wardrobe and reached for a small wooden box hidden beneath a stack of folded blankets.
Inside were the diamond ring receipt...
The printed photographs from the hotel...
A flash drive containing the voice recording...
She gently placed the piece of fabric inside before looking at everything for a long moment.
"Every lie leaves a mark," she whispered.
Closing the box, she locked it and carefully hid it beneath a pile of old clothes.
After Cassian left for work, the house became unusually quiet.
The children were at school.
For the first time in days, Seraphine found herself alone.
She sat on the couch with a cup of tea, absentmindedly scrolling through social media.
Then...
A familiar face appeared on her screen.
Vesper.
She had uploaded a new post.
Seraphine tapped on it.
It was a close-up picture of Vesper's hand resting on a coffee cup.
The diamond ring sparkled brightly beneath the morning sun.
The caption read:
Feeling spoiled.
Seraphine stared at the picture.
"So you're showing it off already..."
Without hesitation, she took a screenshot.
She created a new folder on her phone.
Truth.
One by one...
Every lie would find its place inside that folder.
The screenshot became the newest piece of evidence.
She locked her phone and quietly set it aside.
That evening, Cassian returned home looking unusually cheerful.
"Welcome back," Seraphine said warmly as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
"Thanks."
Just then, his phone buzzed on the table.
The screen lit up.
Vesper: Last night was absolutely perfect.
Before Seraphine could read anything else, Cassian quickly picked up the phone.
"It's just another work message," he said with an awkward smile.
"So early?" Seraphine asked calmly.
"My boss likes sending messages at strange hours."
She nodded as though she believed him.
"Don't work too hard."
"I'll try to be home early."
"I'll be waiting."
Later that night...
The children were fast asleep.
Seraphine quietly walked into the spare room.
She closed the curtains and switched off the main light, leaving only a small lamp glowing in the corner.
She changed into a simple black dress.
Then she tied a black mask over her face.
She placed her phone on a stack of books and adjusted the camera.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed Record.
For a few seconds, she simply looked into the camera.
Then she smiled.
"Hi...
"My name is Seraphine."
She paused before continuing.
"This video is for every woman who has forgotten who she is while trying to be everything for everyone else."
"For every wife..."
"For every mother..."
"For every woman who has spent so much time taking care of others that she forgot she deserves love too."
"If you're watching this..."
"I want you to remember something."
"You matter."
"You deserve happiness."
"And it's never too late to find yourself again."
She smiled softly.
"So...
Let's dance."
The music began to play.
At first, she missed a few steps.
She laughed quietly at herself.
Then she relaxed.
She stopped thinking.
Stopped hurting.
Stopped pretending.
She simply danced.
Not for Cassian.
Not for anyone else.
Just...
For herself.
When the music ended, she looked at the screen.
Her finger hovered over the Post button.
She hesitated.
"What if nobody understands?"
A moment later, she smiled.
"No more hiding."
She pressed Post.
She placed her phone on the table and walked toward the window.
The cool night breeze brushed against her face.
For the first time in weeks...
She felt free.
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated.
She ignored it.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
The notifications kept coming.
Curious, she picked up the phone.
Her eyes widened.
Likes.
Comments.
Shares.
New followers.
The numbers climbed higher every second.
She opened the comments.
"I really needed this today."
"Thank you for reminding me that I matter too."
"I've forgotten what happiness feels like."
"This made me cry."
"Please don't stop dancing."
"I thought I was alone."
Tears filled Seraphine's eyes.
She had only wanted to remind herself that she still existed.
She never imagined her healing would become someone else's hope.
A gentle smile spread across her face.
"Maybe..."
"...we're all trying to find ourselves again."
Upstairs...
Cassian slowly opened his eyes.
Soft music echoed through the hallway.
He reached across the bed.
It was empty.
"Seraphine?"
No answer.
He frowned.
The music was coming from the spare room.
Curious, he walked toward it.
His hand rested on the doorknob.
"What could she possibly be doing in there?"
Slowly...
He began turning the handle.
"Daddy!"
Eliana called from upstairs.
Cassian sighed.
"I'm coming!"
He looked at the door one last time before hurrying upstairs.
A few minutes later, he returned.
He slowly opened the spare room door.
It was empty.
The music had stopped.
Only the curtain swayed gently in the night breeze.
He looked around in confusion.
Cassian frowned.
He slowly scanned the room.
Everything looked exactly as it should.
The phone was gone.
The music had stopped.
There was no sign that anyone had been there.
Only the curtains swayed gently in the cool night breeze.
He stood there for a long moment, his eyes moving from one corner of the room to the other.
Something didn't feel right.
It was the same room.
The same house.
Yet somehow...
Seraphine no longer felt predictable.
His jaw tightened.
"What are you hiding?" he murmured.
Upstairs, Seraphine stood quietly behind the half-open bedroom door.
She had heard every word.
She slowly covered her mouth, holding her breath until she heard his footsteps fade away.
Only then did she allow herself to exhale.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"You almost caught me..." she thought.
"But almost isn't enough."
She quietly closed the bedroom door and looked out the window.
Far below, the
city lights shimmered against the dark sky.
For the first time...
She wasn't running anymore.
She was planning.
And this time...
She intended to stay one step ahead.
Game on.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD