The Rival CEO's Obsession

The restaurant glowed like a dream. Golden candlelight shimmered against the polished glass, soft music played in the background, and chilled champagne rested in a silver bucket at the center of the table. It was perfect—at least, it should have been. Seraphina Cavalli sat alone in her glittering silver gown, her manicured fingers smoothing the hem of her dress that clung to her thighs as though the fabric itself could give her courage. Her eyes flicked to her phone for the fifth time that night, lashes heavy with mascara that was still perfectly in place. Still nothing. No message from him. The phone buzzed suddenly, and her heart leapt. Ding! “Happy Birthday, Queen Seraphina! We love you!!” Her lips curved faintly before falling just as quickly. It was just another fan edit, another sweet message from the people who adored her. She loved them for it, but tonight it wasn’t enough. None of it mattered if the one man she wanted wasn’t there. She lifted the champagne glass, watching the bubbles rise and burst against the rim. The waiter appeared, a polite smile plastered on his face. “Would you like me to serve the main course, Miss Cavalli?” Seraphina’s throat tightened, but she forced her brightest smile. “Not yet. He’ll be here soon.” Her voice sounded confident, but her chest burned. One glass became two. Two turned into three. With each sip, the silence of the empty seat across from her grew heavier, pressing against her ribs until she could hardly breathe. Finally, she gave in. She pressed his number, holding her breath as it rang. “Seraphina” His deep voice slid through the speaker, but it was distracted, as if she had interrupted something more important. Her heart still fluttered. “Zane… where are you? You promised you’d be here. I thought we were celebrating tonight.” He paused. Then a sigh that sliced into her chest. “Work’s insane, babe. I can’t get away.” Her lips parted, her eyes stinging. “But it’s my birthday.” Her voice choked. “I’ll make it up to you. Don’t pout.” His voice carried no warmth, only impatience. Before she could say another word, the line went dead. Seraphina’s hand trembled around the phone. The candles flickered like they were mocking her. She swallowed the lump in her throat, telling herself not to cry. She was Seraphina Cavalli—the face of Starlight Entertainment, adored by millions, envied by her peers. She didn’t cry over a missed dinner. Except she did. When she finally left the restaurant, her heels striking sharply against the marble, her vision blurred with unshed tears. The driver opened the car door, but she barely noticed, her eyes locked on the glow of her phone as it lit up with notifications. Her chest caved the moment she saw the images flooding on Egram. Zane Carrington. Her boyfriend. The heir of Starlight Entertainment. Champagne in hand, his tie loose, his lips curved into a smile she hadn’t seen in weeks. And pressed against his side, laughing at him with wide, adoring eyes—her junior colleague. “No…” The word tore from her lips as her stomach dropped. The caption beneath the video cuts like a knife: Carrington heir celebrates with rising star beauty. Her nails dug into her palm. Heat rose to her cheeks, half from anger, half from disbelief. “Take me there,” she said hoarsely. The driver hesitated. “Miss Cavalli,” “Take me there!” Her voice cracked, her composure shattering. The car pulled into the glittering tower where the party raged on. Paparazzi swarmed the entrance, cameras flashing like lightning the second she stepped out. “Seraphina, where’s Zane tonight?” “Smile, Queen Seraphina!” She ignored them all, even though her chest ached as she pushed her way inside. The music thundered, the room was dazzling and overwhelming. She recognized some people from Starlight Entertainment. And then she saw him. Zane Carrington stood tall in the center of it all, devastatingly handsome as always, his arm wrapped carelessly around the waist of the very girl Seraphina had once taken under her wing. Her lips parted, her breath catching. “Zane.” His head turned. For a brief moment, his eyes widened. “Sera?” The party hushed and conversations stilled, every gaze in the room slid towards them. Seraphina’s heels clicked across the polished floor, each step fueled by trembling fury. She stopped before him, her eyes glistening, but her chin tilted in defiance. “You told me you were working.” Zane’s lips curled, tipsy amusement dancing in his icy blue eyes. “I am working. Networking.” Her voice cracked. “With her? On my birthday?” The girl flushed, trying to step back, but Zane’s arm only tightened around her waist. “Don’t make a scene,” he said with a low laugh that twisted her insides. “We both know this was never about love.” Her lashes fluttered, disbelief flashing in her eyes. “What are you talking about?” He leaned in, his words sharp and cruel, his smirk widening as if he enjoyed every second. “You were perfect for the image, Sera. Pretty, popular, clean reputation. My parents liked you. The media adored you. But me?” He raised his glass, his voice cutting through the silence. “You’re boring. I’m done pretending.” The crowd's gasps echoed around them. Someone even laughed. Seraphina’s blood went cold. Her lips trembled, her vision swimming, but she still whispered, “You don’t mean that.” “Oh, I do,” his eyes darkened, lips curling cruelly. “We’re over, Seraphina. I don’t want you anymore.” The words crashed over her like waves, knocking the air from her lungs. The cameras flashed wildly, capturing her humiliation from every angle—her glittering dress, her pale face, her broken expression. Her pride was the only thing keeping her upright. With a final, trembling breath, she turned, her heels unsteady but her head held high as she pushed through the crowd. The night air outside hit her like ice. Paparazzi shouted, flashes exploded, but she didn’t stop. She kept walking, her heart splintering with every step, until the city lights blurred with her tears and she disappeared into the shadows of the night.