Chapter 2 - Betrayal
1447 Words
Seraphina held Damien’s icy gaze without lowering her head.
“I’m not s*lling myself,” she said firmly.
“Really? Then what brings you here?”
“I accepted your father’s offer to marry you. In exchange, he agreed to pay for my daughter’s medical treatment.”
Damien let out a mocking laugh.
“So, you do need money after all.”
“Yes. I need money to save my daughter’s life.” Seraphina met his gaze without flinching. “And I’m not ashamed to admit it. At least I’m not pretending to be a good person while allowing a baby to die.”
Damien’s smirk vanished. His gaze hardened, but Seraphina refused to back down.
“I never wanted a wife,” he said coldly. “Don’t expect me to love you. Stay out of my affairs, and never try to claim any rights as my wife.”
“I don’t need your love, Mr. Romano. I only expect this agreement to be honored. I’ll take care of your children as long as your father keeps his promise to save my daughter.”
“Enough!” Victor interrupted. “Sign the marriage papers, Damien.”
Damien glanced at his father, his jaw tightening.
“You’re always saying I’m incapable of taking care of my own children. What more do you expect me to give them? I’ve provided everything they could possibly need.”
“Money and luxury can never replace a father’s presence!” Victor shot back. “You barely have time for Leon and Lily. I won’t let them grow up without a mother’s love, only to become as cold and hardhearted as you.”
Damien clenched his fists. Anger burned in his eyes, but he made no further argument.
He grabbed the pen and signed the document with a sharp, impatient stroke.
Before leaving, he turned to his father.
“I hope you’re satisfied with your decision.”
“I just don’t want you to repeat my mistakes, Damien.”
Damien offered no response. He walked out without sparing Seraphina another glance.
She could sense the tension between father and son, but she had no time to uncover its cause. There was only one thing occupying her thoughts.
Aurora.
“Now it’s your turn, Seraphina,” Victor said.
With trembling fingers, Seraphina picked up the pen. She closed her eyes for a moment before signing her name.
One signature.
One marriage that had nothing to do with love.
But if it could save her daughter, she was willing to take the risk.
“Your daughter’s surgery will be performed as soon as possible,” Victor said.
Seraphina immediately rose to her feet. Tears welled in her eyes as she bowed deeply before him.
“Thank you, Mr. Victor. I will never forget your kindness. Please allow me to stay with my daughter. I promise I’ll fulfill my obligations under our agreement.”
“Go ahead.”
Seraphina bowed once more before hurrying out of the Romano estate.
***
At the hospital, Seraphina stood outside the operating room, her hands clasped tightly together.
Aurora wasn’t even three days old, yet her tiny body was already facing major heart surgery.
“Please hold on, sweetheart,” she whispered. “Mommy still wants to watch you grow up.”
Six hours passed like an eternity.
The moment the operating room doors finally opened, Seraphina rushed toward the doctor.
“Doctor, how is my daughter?”
“The surgery went well.” The doctor removed his mask. “However, her condition remains fragile. The first forty-eight hours in the PICU will be critical. We need to monitor how her body responds and make sure no complications develop.”
Seraphina’s knees nearly gave way.
“So... she still has a chance of surviving, Doctor?”
“We’ll do everything we can. For now, we need to give her time to recover.”
Seraphina nodded repeatedly. At least her daughter had made it through the first hurdle.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
As soon as he left, she covered her face with her hands. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
“You’ve fought so hard, sweetheart. Now let Mommy fight for you.”
“She’ll have a chance to live.”
Seraphina immediately turned around.
Victor stood a few steps away.
“Mr. Victor? What are you doing here?”
“I’ve contacted the best medical team to take care of her.”
Gratitude tightened Seraphina’s chest until it was almost painful.
“Thank you. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.”
“You don’t need to repay me with words. Just honor our agreement and treat Leon and Lily well.”
“I promise.”
Victor left her with a glimmer of hope she had nearly lost. For the first time, Seraphina dared to believe that Aurora might truly have a chance at life.
But that fragile peace shattered when a painfully familiar voice sounded behind her.
“So, this is what you’ve been doing, Seraphina?”
Her body stiffened.
Nathan stood in the hospital corridor, his face twisted with anger. Vivienne was beside him, holding his arm as though they were a couple who had come together to judge her.
Nathan strode toward her.
“To save that child, you’re even willing to sell yourself to an older man? Since when did you become so cheap?”
Seraphina stared at him impassively.
“I don’t have time for this, Nathan.”
She turned to leave, but Nathan grabbed her wrist.
“You’re still my wife! Come home with me.”
Seraphina looked down at his hand before lifting her gaze to his face.
“Your wife?”
A short, humorless laugh escaped her lips.
“Since when have I been your wife?”
Nathan frowned. “What are you talking about? We’ve been married for two years!”
“Really? With that fake marriage certificate?”
Nathan’s face instantly turned pale.
“Seraphina, listen to me. You’ve got it all wrong. I can explain everything.”
“Explain what?” Seraphina tried to pull her hand free, but Nathan refused to let go. “I’ve heard more than enough lies from you, Nathan. I don’t need another explanation. If you could pretend to be my husband for two whole years, I have no reason to believe a single word you say now.”
“That’s not what happened!”
“Then what did happen?” Her gaze sharpened. “You never even gave me the chance to be your real wife.”
Nathan fell silent.
Seraphina let out a short breath and gave him a bitter smile.
“Thank goodness Vivienne told me the truth. Now I don’t have to waste my time waiting for a divorce from a man who never married me in the first place.”
Nathan whipped his head toward Vivienne.
She immediately lowered her gaze, putting on an expression of regret.
“I’m sorry, Nathan. I didn’t mean to let it slip.”
“Enough,” Seraphina cut in.
She wrenched her wrist free.
“Take care of your woman. Just stay away from me and my daughter.”
“Seraphina, wait! I made mistakes, but I never meant to hurt you!”
Nathan tried to follow her.
But Vivienne quickly wrapped her arms around his.
“Nathan, I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have revealed that secret.”
Nathan looked at her in irritation. “Vivienne, you—”
“I was just afraid of losing you.”
Vivienne pressed her face against his chest, and Nathan finally fell silent.
Seraphina watched them from a distance.
Even now, after his lies had been exposed and their sham marriage could no longer be maintained, Nathan still allowed Vivienne to remain in his arms.
Seraphina turned and headed toward the PICU. Her expression softened the moment she saw Aurora lying among the medical equipment.
“You’re so brave, sweetheart.”
She gently held her daughter’s tiny hand, fighting the urge to pull her into a tight embrace. For now, all she could do was pray that Aurora would recover soon.
Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the silence.
Seraphina took it out and opened the message. Two photographs of young children appeared on the screen.
The little boy looked remarkably like Damien, especially his cold, piercing gaze. In the other photograph, a little girl clutched a doll to her chest, her face solemn and devoid of a smile.
Leon and Lily.
The twins who would soon be under her care.
A message from Victor appeared beneath the photographs.
Don’t take too long, Seraphina. They’re waiting for their new mother.
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