Chapter 4: Zane Will Be Mine.
950 Words
Seraphina’s heels clicked against the wooden floors of the hallway of her parent’s house. Every step closer to the familiar living room made her stomach twist tighter.
Her phone had barely finished charging at the hotel when it lit up.
Her father’s name flashed across the screen.
The first words out of his mouth had been cold and sharp.
“Come home this moment.”
She knew that tone.
It wasn’t the voice of a worried father.
It was the voice of a man calling her back to be used. To clean up whatever mess the family thought she had made.
Her hand trembled as she pushed open the door to the living room.
They were all waiting.
Her father sat stiffly in his favorite armchair, still in one of the many expensive suits Zane had gifted him last year for his birthday.
Her mother was on the couch, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. The moment her gaze lifted and landed on Seraphina, she lunged.
The slap cracked across Seraphina’s cheek before she had time to breathe.
Her head snapped to the side, her skin stinging hot.
“You shameless girl!” her mother shrieked, her voice breaking. “You’ve ruined us! Do you have any idea what people are saying about this family? About me?”
“Mother-”
“You’ve embarrassed us in front of everyone!” she cried, her hands trembling as she pointed at her daughter. “Your face is in every paper, every headline, every filthy gossip account!”
“Mom, stop.”
Isabella’s soft, soothing voice cut in. She slipped between them, catching their mother by the arms. “Please, sit down. You’ll make yourself sick.”
She helped her mother back to the couch, pressing a glass of water into her hand. “Here, drink this. Everything will be fine.”
Seraphina’s cheek throbbed. She raised a hand to it, the sting almost as sharp as the humiliation burning in her chest.
Then came the slam.
Her father dropped a newspaper on the coffee table with a loud smack.
The bold letters screamed up at her.
SUPERMODEL SERAPHINA CAVALLI STOOD UP BY ZANE CARRINGTON: HUMILIATED ON HER OWN BIRTHDAY.
Her eyes burned.
Below the headline were the pictures.
Her sitting alone at the restaurant table.
Her staring at her phone, waiting.
Her lifting a glass of champagne, eyes red, makeup smudged.
She forced herself to look away, only to catch the print of Egram comments sprawled beneath the photos.
Hours ago, the same account had been flooded with Happy Birthday, Queen! And We love you, Sera!
Now the comments had turned into knives laced with venom.
“Pathetic. I actually felt second-hand embarrassment”.
“Imagine being dumped like that on your birthday. Couldn’t be me."
“Serves her right. He was way out of her league anyway.”
“Guess being pretty doesn’t keep a man.”
Her stomach sank lower with every word and her father’s gaze on her didn’t make her feel any better.
“You see?” Her father’s voice shook with rage. His hands gripped the arms of the chair, so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Do you see what you’ve done?”
Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.
“You’ve humiliated this family,” he spat bitterly. “I gave you everything, Seraphina. But you’ve always been reckless. Always selfish. Now you’ve dragged us all down with you.”
“That’s not fair’’ Ethan’s voice cut in, sharp.
“Dad, stop.”
Her younger brother was half-standing from his seat, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes were blazing with the same fire Seraphina felt in her chest.
“She didn’t do anything wrong. Zane’s the one who humiliated her, not the other way around. Why are you blaming her for what he did?”
“Sit down!” their father roared, slamming his palm against the arm of the chair. “Don’t you dare speak to me like that.”
Ethan’s jaw locked, but he dropped back onto the couch. His chest rose and fell angrily.
Their mother sniffled, glaring at Seraphina.“Do you have any idea how people are looking at us now? We can’t show our faces at the charity gala. Not after that.”
“I-” Seraphina’s lips trembled. She forced the words out. “Zane cheated on me. I saw it with my own eyes. He’s the one who betrayed me,” she explained, even though she knew there was no point.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Your marriage to the Carrington’s was our future and you ruined it”
Her throat closed.
Her father leaned forward, his voice sharp as a blade. “Do you even realize what you’ve done to the Cavalli name? The Carringtons have been our biggest partner for years. Do you think they’ll still want anything to do with us after this? Do you think the Carringtons will still trust us?”
Her mother reached up and gently stroked Isabella’s hair. “Why can’t you be more like your sister? Even though she’s not as popular, she’s still a good daughter. She respects this family. She doesn’t embarrass us.”
For a split second, Isabella’s eyes darkened. But the sweet smile stayed fixed on her face.
“Mom,” she said softly, almost angelic. “Please. Sera’s probably tired. She’s been through a lot. Let’s not be too harsh.”
Her mother gave a shaky sigh and patted Isabella’s hand affectionately. “You’re such a kind Isa, always thinking of others.”
Seraphina’s chest tightened so badly it started to hurt.
- Writer
