71 Chapter 71 What Roxanne Possessed
I swallowed hard, fighting to reclaim some dignity. “Because,” I replied, offering the weakest of explanations, “I’ve never encountered someone quite so lovely. The beauty just overwhelms me.” I prayed my words, along with the unspoken truth beneath them, would suffice. 1
“Who might this be,” I forced myself to ask, my voice hoarse as I desperately tried to redirect attention from my emotional collapse, “this beautiful little one?” Children, however, possess an uncanny ability to see through any facade.
The charade became unbearable. “I’m finished,” I announced, pushing away my barely touched plate. The time had come to abandon this excruciating performance, to flee from the harsh reality of everything I had forfeited and everything Roxanne now possessed.
“Niece?” the child echoed, her expression filling with amazement.
Following our brief, tension-filled introduction, little Elena became insistent. With her grandparents already present, she begged her father to include me in their dinner plans. I offered multiple excuses, but her determination proved unstoppable. Eventually, I surrendered.
“Exactly,” Julian confirmed. “Meet your Aunt Seraphina. Your mother’s sister.” His declaration confused me entirely. I knew with absolute certainty that Roxanne would despise any connection between us. But this innocent child radiated nothing but delight.
I attempted to craft a genuine smile, to mirror her pure happiness, but the expression felt paper-thin. It lasted mere seconds before crumbling completely. Against my will, tears began streaming down my cheeks, distorting my vision.
“What’s wrong,” Julian questioned, worry threading through his voice. His concern typically unsettled me because his emotions shifted like weather, warm one moment and frigid the next. But this time, his reaction made perfect sense. I had always been unbreakable, impenetrable. Showing weakness was foreign territory for me, especially around him. Yet here I stood, completely exposed.
“She’s emotional because she’s finally meeting her niece,” Julian stepped in smoothly, his words creating a protective barrier around my inability to form coherent thoughts. I remained too shaken to construct anything meaningful.
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71 Chapter 71 What Roxanne Possessed
“But pretty things shouldn’t make people sad,” she declared with the devastating logic only children possess. Meanwhile, my inner wolf thrashed in absolute torment. I concentrated on her presence, on maintaining my composure for both our sakes.
Nothing mattered anymore because tomorrow I would finally leave this place behind.
“Everyone should focus on their meal,” Julian declared firmly, slicing through the mounting hostility.
“I never knew I had an aunt,” she burst out, her entire face illuminating.
The most troubling aspect was that despite blocking our mental connection, I sensed something significant weighing on him, though I couldn’t identify what exactly.
When he scooped her into his embrace, her bright, innocent eyes discovered mine. She studied me with an openness I couldn’t possibly match or return.
The human heart has limits, doesn’t it? There must be a breaking point where it simply surrenders. Standing there in that moment, I desperately wanted mine to reach that threshold.
From the moment we crossed the threshold, my parents’ hostile stares felt like physical blows. Their disappointment saturated the atmosphere. They clearly resented my presence. To maximize my discomfort, Roxanne spoke loud enough for everyone to absorb her words: “Where exactly have you been hiding for six years?”
I attempted to dismiss these concerns and concentrate on eating. But I couldn’t ignore the image they presented together, both so devoted to their daughter throughout the meal. They embodied domestic perfection, an ideal family portrait. The sight made my stomach revolt with jealousy. I felt like an unwelcome visitor from another planet.
Seraphina’s POV
I convinced myself it was impossible, yet I consistently underestimate my capacity for self-inflicted emotional damage. I walked through those familiar doors and settled at that table, deliberately avoiding any meaningful glances around the room, hoping to outrun the flood of memories.
How could I possibly enter that house where I’d invested three years believing I’d found my permanent home, knowing another woman had claimed that space as hers? Learning about his child had been a distant wound. Glimpsing them from afar had created a hollow throb in my chest. But this, watching their bond unfold directly in
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21 Chapter 21 What Roxanne Possesseri
front of me, delivered a crushing blow that left me gasping for breath.
“Why are tears coming from your eyes?” she asked directly, her voice crystal clear and completely guileless, before Julian could respond.
His behavior mystified me completely. I had anticipated finally having that crucial conversation, but Elena’s interruption had derailed everything, and now he seemed determined to pretend I didn’t exist.
In that instant, I grasped why his gaze held such reverence when it landed on her. She appeared so delicate and treasured, and I understood completely why he would sacrifice everything to protect her. They claim fathers become your first love, your initial champion. Observing him with her, that truth blazed with painful clarity.
The question suspended itself in the air like an indictment. I had planned to speak with Julian privately, to offer explanations on my terms, not perform for this hostile audience. I couldn’t fabricate stories, not when he could detect my thundering pulse, the tremor in my soul. But I wasn’t prepared for complete honesty either. “New York,” I answered simply, the words feeling inadequate as they escaped.
I struggled to reconstruct that fragile smile, brushing away the burning tears with trembling fingers. My attention drifted to the small girl. She was a perfect reflection, a breathtaking echo of Roxanne. Something about this realization brought unexpected peace. She didn’t need to resemble her father. She possessed something far deeper, something that captured his very essence, his core.
Roxanne pressed harder. “Doing what exactly? Have you found someone special?” Her inquiry struck like a blade, and every eye turned toward Julian when he released a threatening growl.
“I couldn’t maintain contact with your mother due to the distance,” I explained, injecting artificial warmth into my tone. “But I’ve returned now. What an honor to meet you, sweet girl.” The lie felt heavy on my tongue.
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