Chapter 5
1128 Words
“You’re such an insolent child, Sera! You’re making a completely unreasonable choice!” snapped Margareth.
“Sera, are you insane? How could you decide to cut ties with Mother?!” Olivia shouted, unable to believe that Seraphine could make such a decision.
Olivia was, of course, worried about the future. If Sera truly severed ties with Margareth, they would have to find a way to make money, because all this time they had depended entirely on Sera.
“You’re getting married?” Olivia guessed, glancing at Ethan.
She knew that Sera had never been close to any man before, but now Sera had someone who supported her.
“Is this man rich? If he is, then Sera shouldn’t cut ties with Mother,” Olivia whispered to herself, realizing this was a golden opportunity for her and Margareth to continue using Sera to fund their lives.
“Your guess is right, but what you’re thinking will never happen. That’s why I want to cut ties with you!” hissed Sera, fully aware of Olivia’s cunning. “Mother, your time is running out.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Sera! You’ll never be able to put me in prison!” Margareth hissed back.
“Why not? You know I was hospitalized for a week. My medical records are enough evidence of what you’ve done. You’ve abused your own child!”
Margareth clenched her teeth. Fear flickered in her eyes, especially when she remembered Arthur holding the belt he used to whip Sera. There would surely be fingerprints or Sera’s DNA on it.
“Mother, don’t you dare cut ties with Sera!” Olivia pleaded, afraid her mother would make the wrong choice. Margareth clicked her tongue in frustration; she understood what Olivia meant, but she also didn’t want to go to prison.
Sera smirked. Margareth was faced with a difficult choice, but for Sera, either option worked in her favor. Even though Olivia — her parasitic younger sister — remained, Sera didn’t care. Olivia could still be handled.
Margareth, however, was a different story. Despite everything, she was still Sera’s biological mother. Sera didn’t want to fight or be cruel to her, which was why cutting ties felt like the least painful option. She only hoped her mother would eventually realize and repent for everything she had done to her own child.
“Fine, we’ll cut ties!” Margareth said at last, making Sera smile — and Ethan too.
“No, Mother!” Olivia protested, horrified that her mother had agreed.
“Silence, Oliv! Would you rather see me in prison?!” Margareth snapped.
“Arthur, prepare the documents!” Ethan ordered. Arthur nodded and quickly arranged the necessary paperwork.
Sera gave a faint smile. It hurt, but it was the right decision. She could only hope it wasn’t a mistake — she just wanted her mother to stop interfering in her life.
As Arthur prepared the documents, Sera spoke privately with Ethan. Her face was filled with sorrow until Ethan pulled her into his arms.
“Did I do the wrong thing?” Sera asked softly.
“No, you made the right choice. You deserve happiness, Sera — to be free from a mother who only ever used you, who never cared for you, let alone loved you,” Ethan said gently, comforting her.
He knew how deeply it hurt Sera — how she had longed for her mother’s love but never received it.
“I once wondered if I was even her real daughter because the way she treated me and Olivia was so completely different,” Sera sobbed.
She never imagined Margareth would so easily choose to sever ties with her, as if Sera meant absolutely nothing.
Arthur approached them with the prepared document — a formal statement declaring that Sera and Margareth were no longer related and that Sera would no longer bear the Christy family name.
Margareth and Olivia sat at a wooden table with a round top. Without hesitation or a single question, Margareth signed the document.
“I’ll handle the rest. You don’t need to trouble yourself with anything. You may leave now,” Arthur said calmly.
“She’s not giving me any money?” Margareth grumbled.
Arthur handed her a brown envelope filled with cash — enough to make both Margareth and Olivia beam with delight. Watching from afar, Sera and Ethan exchanged bitter smiles.
Though Sera had planned not to see her mother again, she decided to speak to her one last time.
“Mother… This is the last time I’ll ever call you that. We part ways here. I hope you never bother me again. Learn to earn your own money — or you’ll starve. Goodbye, Mrs. Margareth and Miss Olivia,” Sera said, then turned away with Ethan.
“Damn that Sera! She gets a man like that and now she’s arrogant!” Margareth fumed.
“But he’s handsome, Mother. Why did Sera get someone like him? And why did you agree to her terms? Now we can’t take advantage of her!” Olivia complained.
Margareth smirked, a cruel grin spreading across her face. “Are you stupid? The bond between a mother and daughter can’t be severed. That document, those signatures — all nonsense! We’ll get far more than this.”
Olivia’s eyes sparkled with greedy excitement. “If I can, I’ll take that handsome man for myself.”
“Good idea,” Margareth said, and the two of them laughed gleefully — convinced they could still get what they wanted.
But they didn’t realize there was a clause in that contract they hadn’t read — one that would destroy them completely if they ever broke it or continued to interfere with Seraphine’s life.
Meanwhile, Sera and Ethan entered a church, deciding to get married quietly, without any guests or celebration.
Even though it was a sudden decision, Ethan had already prepared a wedding gown for Sera.
With steady steps, Sera walked toward Ethan, who stood waiting for her at the altar.
Once, she had walked through life carrying deep wounds — but today, she walked toward a future filled with promise and protection.
Every step was defiance. Every breath was proof that her past pain no longer chained her.
And there, Ethan waited for her, his gaze silently promising: “This time, you won’t be alone again.”
In the middle of the ceremony, someone approached Arthur, who was witnessing their vows.
“Mr. Arthur, Mr. Ethan’s identity has been leaked to the media. Everyone now knows who the CEO of Adamson really is.”
Arthur froze, and in the distance, Ethan’s sharp gaze met that of a stranger.
Sera didn’t yet know — her marriage might be the beginning of a storm that could shatter everything.
- Writer
