Chapter 8
“Seraphine, please… don’t worry. Once I’m out, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life atoning-for you, and for the child.”
I said nothing. I simply placed the signed divorce agreement back in my bag, stood up, and walked out without looking back.
Outside the police station, I paused under the brilliant blue sky. Slowly, I pulled out the equity transfer agreement tucked between the divorce papers and handed it to the lawyer waiting by my side.
“Proceed with the divorce immediately,” I said calmly. “And liquidate all of Alaric’s assets under my control.”
With that, I turned and walked away without hesitation.
A month later, Alaric was finally released.
“Seraphine, I’m back,” he whispered to himself with a trace of hope as he hurried home. But when he pushed open the front door, he was met with a scene that stopped him cold. Strangers were inside, busy packing boxes and moving furniture.
“Who the hell are you? Why are you in my house?” Alaric barked, his face darkening. “Who gave you permission to come in?!”
The man nearest to him sneered. “Who are you? You look like a homeless man.” “This is my home!” Alaric shouted. “This is my villa-I bought it myself!”
The middle-aged man scoffed, looking him up and down with disgust. “You? The owner? No way. I bought this villa a week ago. From a woman named Seraphine. You know, the one from that viral video-eight months pregnant and abandoned.”
He waved a feather duster at him threateningly. “Get out! Don’t you know who she is? You’re nothing but trash, showing up here like this. Don’t dirty my floors!”
Alaric stood frozen. His lips trembled, and he felt all the strength drain from his limbs. He let the man shove him out and collapsed onto the ground outside.
After a while, he picked himself up, trembling, and fumbled with his phone.
He dialed my number, over and over. But the automated message was clear:
“The number you dialed is no longer in service.”
Panicking, he opened WhatsApp and quickly sent a voice message.
“Seraphine, is this a joke? Please come home. I’m waiting for you… I’m still here.”
He watched as the voice message was delivered-only to be met with a glaring red exclamation mark.
He’d been blocked. Long ago.
Alaric stood there in stunned silence. Then, desperate, he dialed his assistant.
The line connected, and Alaric instantly exploded.
“How did you not know my villa was sold? What the hell are you being paid for?! Are you completely useless?!”
The voice on the other end was calm-cold, even. “Alaric, maybe you’ve misunderstood
something.”
For the first time, there was no trace of respect in his assistant’s tone.
“You’re not my boss anymore.”
Alaric blinked. “What? You resigned? Without informing me?”
The assistant laughed-a bitter, mocking sound.
“Do you still think you’re the mighty President of Vane Enterprises? You’re not. Not anymore. There’s nothing left to report to you.”
Alaric’s heart seized with panic. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Vane Enterprises is gone. Dissolved. Bankrupt. You lost everything.”
“You’re lying.” Alaric’s voice shook. “I was only detained for a month. That’s impossible!”
“You think so?” the assistant replied flatly. “Go to the company and see for yourself. Cassian owns it now. And Seraphine-your ex-wife-sold it off for a fraction of its worth. Using your signed equity transfer agreement.”
