Tempted By The Dark Mafia Heir

Chapter Eight

Altagracia’s lips curve into a cold smile. “Evelyn has always been a distraction. She can not interfere now. We’ve planned for this.”

“She won’t be happy about this,” Haynes mutters, though it’s clear he has already resigned himself to the inevitable.

“Do you think I care about her happiness?” Altagracia snaps. “This is about power, Haynes. We do what we must to secure it. You’ve let your emotions cloud your judgment for long enough.”

For a long moment, Haynes stares at his mother, the weight of her words sinking in. He knows she’s right, and yet a part of him hesitates.

“Then you’d better move quickly. We can’t afford any more delays.”

He stands up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Fine. I’ll handle it,” he replies, his voice flat and distant.

He knows what must be done, but the thought of deceiving Evelyn gnaws at him. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Altagracia watches him, her gaze unyielding. “Good. Don’t disappoint me, Haynes. We’ve come too far for anything less.”

*****

Seraphina pushes open the hospital door, squinting slightly as the bright sunlight hits her face. She takes a deep breath, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion wash over her. The sterile smell of the hospital is replaced by the sweet scent of blooming flowers, igniting a tiny spark of hope within her. She has just been discharged, and Adeline is busy completing paperwork.

As she walks into the corridor, she unknowingly stumbles into a man. She hadn’t noticed him approaching, and they collides, his papers and belongings scattering everywhere.

The situation feels both soft and unexpected as Seraphina's eyes fly open. She feels strong arms wrap around her, steadying her from falling to the ground.

Looking up, her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she meets the piercing gaze of a stunningly handsome man. His wavy hair, a deep, rich brown, curls slightly at the nape of his neck, giving him a rakish, charming air. His deep brown eyes seem to glow with amusement as he looks down at her, his lips quirking up into a hint of a smile.

Seraphina feels a jolt of surprise, and her heart skips a beat as she takes in the chiseled planes of his face, the sharp jawline, and the sculpted lips. A flutter in her chest makes the world around them melt away, leaving only the two of them locked in a moment of awkward, breathless connection.

“Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” he says, his voice low and smooth as he helps her stand straight.

Seraphina's voice catches in her throat as she struggles to respond, her words tumbling out in a breathless rush. “I-I was just... I’m fine, thank you.”

She knows she was actually the one at fault, yet here he is, apologizing instead of accusing her.

He bends down to pick up the scattered papers, and she joins him, retrieving every single sheet. While helping, her attention is drawn to one of the papers that has the name “Seraphina” printed on it. Just as she is about to look at it more closely, she hears someone call out to her.

“Phina!”