WHEN THE SNAKES STRIKE BACK
955 Words
The silence didn’t last long.
It never did.
War had consequences.
And Seraphina knew—
The moment she humiliated Adrian publicly…
He wouldn’t sit still.
He would strike back.
The question wasn’t if.
It was how.
The Vale mansion felt colder that night.
Seraphina walked through the hallway slowly, her heels echoing softly against the marble floors. The house that once felt like a home now felt like a stage.
A place full of lies.
She stepped into the living room—
And stopped.
Adrian was there.
Sitting.
Waiting.
His posture relaxed.
But his eyes?
Dark.
“You embarrassed me,” he said calmly.
Seraphina didn’t react.
“You embarrassed yourself,” she replied.
That made his lips twitch slightly.
Dangerous.
“You think this is a game?” he asked.
“No,” she said.
“I think this is justice.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then—
Adrian stood.
Slowly.
“You’ve gone too far,” he said.
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
“Have I?”
He stepped closer.
“You’re forgetting something,” he said quietly.
Her gaze didn’t waver.
“And what’s that?”
His voice dropped.
“You’re still my wife.”
That made her smile.
Cold.
Sharp.
“Not for long.”
Something in his expression snapped.
“You don’t get to walk away from me,” he muttered.
Seraphina’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Watch me.”
He grabbed her arm.
Hard.
Too hard.
For a split second—
Everything froze.
Then—
Seraphina looked down at his hand.
Slowly.
Then back at him.
Her voice dropped.
“Let go.”
Adrian tightened his grip instead.
“Or what?” he challenged.
Wrong move.
Very wrong move.
Before he could react—
Seraphina’s free hand came up—
And slapped him.
Hard.
The sound echoed through the room.
Sharp.
Final.
Adrian froze.
Shock flashing across his face.
He hadn’t expected that.
Not from her.
Never from her.
Seraphina stepped back.
Her expression calm.
Untouched.
“Don’t ever touch me again,” she said quietly.
Something dangerous flickered in Adrian’s eyes.
“You’ll regret that,” he said.
Seraphina smiled slightly.
“I already regret marrying you.”
And with that—
She turned and walked away.
Leaving him standing there—
Burning.
Upstairs—
Seraphina closed the door behind her and exhaled slowly.
Her heart was steady.
Not racing.
Not shaking.
Control.
Always control.
But something told her—
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Her phone buzzed.
Dante.
You’re not safe there.
Her fingers paused over the screen.
Then she typed:
I can handle myself.
The reply came quickly.
This isn’t about handling.
This is about survival.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
What do you know?
A pause.
Then—
He’s planning something.
Seraphina’s grip tightened slightly.
She had expected that.
But hearing it confirmed?
Different.
Dangerous.
Let him try, she replied.
This time—
Dante didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
Don’t underestimate desperate people.
Meanwhile—
Downstairs—
Adrian poured himself a drink.
His hands weren’t shaking.
But his mind?
Racing.
“She slapped you?”
Lila’s voice cut through the silence.
She stood at the doorway.
Watching him.
Adrian didn’t respond immediately.
Then—
“She’s lost her mind,” he muttered.
Lila stepped inside slowly.
“No,” she said quietly.
“She is becoming very dangerous.”
Adrian let out a dark chuckle.
“She thinks she can ruin me.”
Lila’s eyes flickered.
“She has already started.”
That hit.
Hard.
Adrian’s expression darkened.
“Then we stop her,” he said.
Lila hesitated.
Then stepped closer.
“There’s only one way,” she whispered.
Adrian looked at her.
And this time—
He didn’t question it.
Later that night—
Seraphina couldn’t sleep.
Not because she was afraid.
But because she could feel it.
Something was coming.
The air felt wrong.
Heavy.
She sat up in bed slowly.
Listening.
Nothing.
Just silence.
But her instincts?
Screaming.
A faint sound.
Downstairs.
Seraphina froze.
Her heart slowed.
Not panic.
Focus.
She got out of bed quietly.
Barefoot.
Silent.
And moved toward the door.
Another sound.
Closer this time.
Her hand reached for the handle—
And paused.
Something was not right.
Too quiet.
Too controlled.
Then—
A creak.
Right outside.
Seraphina stepped back instantly.
Just as the door handle moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Someone was trying to get in.
Her breath slowed.
Her mind sharpened.
Not panic.
Survival.
The door opened slightly—
A shadow slipping through.
Seraphina didn’t wait.
She grabbed the nearest object—
A heavy lamp—
And swung.
The figure stumbled back with a curse.
“s**t—!”
Not Adrian.
Not Lila.
Someone else.
Seraphina ran.
Straight past him—
Out the door—
Down the hallway—
“Stop her!” a voice hissed behind her.
Her blood ran cold.
There was more than one.
She did not look back.
Didn’t slow down.
Just as she reached the stairs—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Before she could react—
The man was thrown back violently.
Slamming into the wall.
Seraphina froze.
Her breath catching.
And then—
She saw him.
Dante.
Standing there.
His expression dark.
Dangerous.
Deadly.
“Move,” he said sharply.
She didn’t hesitate.
Behind them—
More footsteps.
More chaos.
Dante stepped forward—
Blocking them.
“Touch her again,” he said coldly—
“And you die.”
The room went still.
Because everyone there knew—
He meant it.
Seraphina stood behind him—
Her heart finally racing now.
Not from fear.
But from realization.
This was no longer a game.
This was war.
And they had just crossed a line—
They could never come back from.
- Writer
