Chapter Eleven
950 Words
The wedding ceremony is over, and Adeline requests Seraphina to escort her to her marital home.
Just as the couples are about to get into the car, Haynes calls out to someone.
“Dylan, my guy.”
Haynes hurries toward the man who is also approaching him, while Seraphina instantly recognizes him as the man she met at the hospital.
This guy? What is he doing here? she asks herself in bewilderment.
“You are late. As usual, of course,” Haynes says, patting Dylan on the back.
“And you aren't angry about that, as always,” Dylan replies sarcastically.
Dylan turns to Seraphina, who is staring at him intensely.
“Miss Anderson?” he asks her.
She simply nods.
He stretches out his right hand. “Dylan.”
She accepts the handshake. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Dylan.”
“Oh, the bride,” Dylan exclaims upon spotting Adeline standing behind them, visibly uneasy after the ceremony. “You are welcome to the family, Mrs. Van Doren.”
He means it as a joke, but Adeline doesn’t find it funny.
“Thank you,” she responds coldly.
“I am Dylan. Haynes’s cousin.”
“We should leave now,” Haynes interrupts.
They all get into their respective cars and head toward the Van Doren mansion.
*****
“Don’t bother getting too comfortable here,” Haynes says to Adeline inside the bedroom. “We are leaving here tomorrow. We will be staying alone from then henceforth,” he continues, not even letting her respond before he storms out.
“How rude!” Adeline hisses. “He keeps talking to me as if I am some kind of animal.”
As Haynes descends the stairs, he crosses paths with Seraphina, who is ascending alongside one of the maids. He walks past her, but Phina can’t help the odd feeling that settles in her chest.
His glances.
His expressions.
Everything about him feels… off.
The maid directs Seraphina to Adeline’s bedroom. After knocking and receiving a response from inside, she walks into the room.
“Phina! I was already missing you so badly,” Adeline cheers the moment she sees her, moving forward eagerly.
“The latest bride,” Seraphina laughs, and Adeline joins in.
“By the way, Phina,” Adeline adds. “The hospital called. They said some anonymous person paid for your treatment, so the deposit we made was returned.”
“Anonymous person?” Seraphina frowns. “Why? And what for?”
“I don’t know. Could be your secret crush,” Adeline teases before flopping onto the bed.
*****
A few minutes later, as they’re still spending time together, Seraphina’s phone rings.
It’s Ivy.
“Ivy, are you back home?” Seraphina asks immediately after accepting the call.
“Yes, Phina,” Ivy sobs on the other end. “I just got home and found out Mum collapsed again,” she cries out, her voice shaking.
Collapsed.
The word hits Seraphina hard and rings in her skull.
“What? Did you—” Her words fail her. The sudden news has messed with her brain completely.
“I’m coming,” Seraphina manages. “Try to take her to the hospital. I’ll meet you there.”
She ends the call.
“What happened?” Adeline asks.
“My aunt… she collapsed,” Seraphina replies shakily as she rushes to grab her handbag, barely slipping on her shoes.
She races downstairs and meets Haynes and Dylan, with Adeline following closely behind her.
“Why the panic?” Dylan asks.
Seraphina is unable to respond as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Her aunt collapsed,” Adeline responds, holding Seraphina tight, trying to help her regain her balance.
Haynes rushes forward and grabs Seraphina from Adeline’s grip.
“Breathe and stay calm,” he says firmly. “I will take you there right now.”
He lifts her effortlessly into his arms.
Adeline stares, stunned. This act surprises her, as she never imagined Haynes had this side of him.
Just as Haynes walks toward the door, Altagracia walks in with her personal assistant.
“Who do we have here?” Altagracia asks, eyeing Seraphina, who is still in Haynes’s arms.
“She is my—” Adeline, moving alongside Haynes, begins to respond but is cut short by him.
“Don’t bother about her,” Haynes says coldly to his mother. “Dylan will take her home now,” he continues, as if not wanting her to know anything about the woman in his arms.
He beckons for Dylan to come outside with him. The four of them—Dylan, Adeline, Haynes, and Seraphina still in his arms—head out together.
When they get to Dylan’s car, Haynes gently settles Seraphina into it.
“Please drive her home safely,” Haynes says to Dylan.
“No,” Adeline interjects. “I heard her tell her sister to go to the hospital and that she would meet her there. It’s Sterling Medical Center.”
“Okay, we will go there instead,” Dylan responds.
Adeline tries to also get into the car, but Haynes stops her.
“You should remain here because we don't want to create unnecessary attention. Dylan will be with her.”
Haynes turns toward Dylan.
“Take proper care of her and keep me informed all through,” Haynes instructs.
As the car pulls away, Adeline watches, unsettled. Haynes’s behaviour feels odd.
Since when did Haynes care about anyone’s safety?
Especially Seraphina’s?
Because he never seemed like the type to care or be bothered about another.
She brushes off the thought, convincing herself she just doesn’t know her husband well enough yet.
- Writer
