Reborn: The wife they buried

Chapter 2 — The Truth Beneath the Vows The ballroom was still glowing and joyful. Music are still played. People still laughed. No one noticed that Seraphina Ashford’s world had just ended. Her fingers tightened around Ethan’s phone. The silence between the three of them stretched. Ethan looked at her. Vivian looked at her. Neither denied it. That hurt more than anything. Seraphina stared at Ethan. Ten years. Ten years together. Ten years of memories. She searched his face for something—panic, guilt, regret. Just Anything. But all she saw was calculation. His expression softened. Too quickly. “Not here.” Her eyes lifted. Not here? Not I’m sorry. Not you misunderstood. Not it isn’t what you think. Just— Not here. A cold feeling settled inside her chest. Vivian stepped forward. “Sera… let’s talk somewhere privately.” Sera. The nickname suddenly sound disgusting. Seraphina looked at her. This woman had held her hand when she cried and feel lost. Helped pick her wedding dress. Stayed over after arguments with Ethan. Listened to her talk about wanting children. All while sleeping with her husband. She laughed. The sound surprised even herself. Vivian froze. “Sera?” Seraphina looked at her and asked softly— “Do you remember my wedding day?” Vivian blinked. “What?” “My wedding day.” Her voice stayed calm. “You stood beside me and said I looked beautiful.” She smiled faintly. “You cried.” Vivian’s face changed slightly. Seraphina nodded. “I thought it was because you were happy for me.” Silence. Then she turned to Ethan. “And you.” “ You?” Her eyes held his. “You promised me forever.” Ethan exhaled. People nearby had started noticing. His voice lowered. “Seraphina.” She hated the way he said her name. Like she was being emotional. Like she was causing inconvenience. “Let’s go upstairs.” She looked at him. “Why?” His jaw tightened. “This isn’t the the right place.” She stared. Then finally asked— “How long?” This time— he answered. “…Eight years.” The room disappeared. Not because she didn’t expect it. But because hearing it made it real. Eight years. Her marriage had ended before she even realized it existed. She nodded slowly. “Eight years.” Vivian swallowed. “Sera—” Seraphina looked at her. “You knew every time I cried.” Vivian looked away. “You comforted me.” No answer. “You told me to be patient.” Still no answer. Her smile disappeared. “And then you went back to my husband.” Vivian finally looked up. Something hardened in her eyes. She crossed her arms. “It wasn’t like that.” Seraphina laughed once. Vivian continued quietly— “You had everything.” The words hung in the air. Seraphina frowned. “What?” Vivian looked directly at her. “You always had everything.” The softness vanished. Her voice became sharp. “The perfect family.” Another step. “The money.” Another. “The opportunities.” Her eyes turned cold. “And Ethan.” Seraphina stared. Vivian laughed quietly. “You think I enjoyed watching everyone compare me to you?” The words kept coming, sharp. “You walked into rooms and people noticed.” She smiled bitterly. “You never even had to try.” Seraphina felt something twist. Not sadness. Not anger. Disbelief. Vivian continued— “You never understood how easy your life was.” “How comfortable it was.” Seraphina looked at her. Easy? Her father dying. Years of pressure. Giving up on her dreams. Building Ethan’s company. Easy? She turned slowly toward Ethan. “And you?” Ethan stayed silent for a moment. Then— “I didn’t plan for things to happen this way.” Her stomach turned. Not love. Not a slit of regret. Business language. She stared. “What did you plan?” His eyes held hers. “At first?” He hesitated. Then— “The marriage helped.” Her heartbeat slowed. Helped. She whispered— “You married me for my family?” His silence answered. Her chest hurt and tightened. Not because she loved him. But because suddenly— she realized she never knew him. Ethan sighed. “It became complicated.” Seraphina smiled. Complicated. Ten years. Reduced to one single word. She nodded slowly. Then looked at both of them. “Do people know?” Ethan answered immediately. “No.” Vivian looked surprised. Seraphina noticed. Interesting. She looked around. Guests still smiling. People congratulating them. She looked back. “So everyone still thinks I’m your wife.” Ethan didn’t answer. She gave a small nod. Then— she handed him the phone. Ethan frowned. She stepped back. Vivian looked confused. “Sera?” Seraphina looked at them. Suddenly calm. Too calm. Her voice became soft. “Congratulations.” Both stared. She smiled. “You won.” She turned. Ethan called— “Seraphina.” She stopped. He walked closer. Lowered his voice. “We’ll discuss things tomorrow.” She looked at him. Tomorrow. Like she was in another meeting. She nodded. “Sure.” Then she left. She walked through the ballroom. People smiled. Congratulated her. Praised her marriage. She smiled back. Thanked them. Walked out. Step by step. Until she reached outside. Rain poured heavily. Cold. She stood there. Still. Then finally— she broke. Not dramatic. No screaming. No collapse. Just tears mixing with rain. Ten years. Gone. A black car slowly stopped nearby. The window lowered. A deep voice spoke— “Mrs. Sinclair.” Seraphina turned. A man sat inside. Dark suit. Sharp features. Unreadable eyes. Damien Blackwood. He looked at her quietly. Then said— “You don’t look like someone celebrating.” Seraphina stared at him. Neither of them knew— this moment would change both of their lives. And somewhere above the city— fate had already begun moving.