Chapter 6 The Price of Loyalty
632 Words
Seraphina felt as though her heart had been sliced open, blood spilling silently inside her chest. She struggled twice to free her wrist, but when she failed, she gave up.
She lifted her head and looked at Julian. Her eyes were like still, lifeless water. "Julian," she said quietly, "what do you want me to say?"
"An apology? Fine. I apologize. I'm sorry to Elara. Or do you want my blessing? That's fine too. I, Seraphina, wish Julian and Elara a lifetime together," she added.
"Or do you need to slap me again to feel satisfied? That works as well. If you want to hit me, do it quickly. Don't delay my leaving." She tilted her chin up and closed her eyes, as if truly waiting for the slap.
Julian froze. For a long moment, he did not move.
The entire venue fell silent. Suddenly, a woman rushed out from the crowd and pulled Seraphina behind her.
She pointed straight at Julian and shouted, "Julian, are you even a man? You hit a woman?"
"Have you forgotten what you were like when you had nothing? Sera chose you back then. She had plenty of rich, handsome men chasing her!" she continued.
"Having an affair is bad enough, but you parade your mistress around and bully your own wife? You've disgraced every man alive!" the woman added.
Seraphina opened her eyes in shock. The woman standing in front of her was Jessica Hart, her closest college roommate, fiercely loyal and impulsive.
Seraphina immediately felt dread sink in. Julian's face darkened like a brewing storm. In all their years together, she had never seen him look so terrifying.
Before he could speak, Elara began crying. "Who are you calling a mistress?"
"I'm talking about you, Elara!" Jessica snapped. "When your sister got her scholarship, she didn't even spend it on herself. She paid your tuition. Without her, you wouldn't even have made it through college. And this is how you repay her? By seducing her husband, your own brother-in-law?"
"Shut your mouth!" Elara shrieked. "Say one more lie and I'll make sure you regret it!"
Jessica was about to continue, but Seraphina grabbed her arm and pulled her behind her. "Stop, Jessica…"
She had seen Julian personally send his business rival to prison. She knew how ruthless he could be. If he wanted to, he truly could make Jessica regret it.
"Julian, look at them!" Elara sobbed. "They're bullying me. You have to stand up for me."
Seraphina stepped forward on her own. "Elara, I apologize on Jessica's behalf," she said calmly. "You can punish me however you want, but this is between the three of us. Don't involve someone who has nothing to do with it."
"Sera!" Jessica stamped her foot angrily. "Can you have some dignity? If you keep clinging to this scumbag, he'll destroy you sooner or later!"
"Jessica, please… stop," Seraphina pleaded softly. She did not care what punishment awaited her. She was already dying.
What frightened her was dragging someone still alive down with her.
"Forget it! I'm done with all of you!" Jessica shouted before storming away.
Seraphina watched her disappear into the crowd. Only then did the tension in her chest ease slightly.
Elara was still not satisfied. "Julian, have someone stop that crazy woman. How can you just let her leave? She insulted me, and I haven't settled the score!"
Julian's eyes never left Seraphina. She always treated strangers better than she treated him.
His expression grew colder. "Seraphina," he said slowly, "Elara is right. If that crazy woman is gone, who should we settle this score with?"
"Me," Seraphina answered. Her eyes were red as she looked at him. She had known he would not let it go. He would always stand up for Elara.
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