9 Chapter 9 Safe Harbor Found
“You’re divorced, Sybil. This is my home. You chose to leave. Now get out and stay out.”
“Seraphina, my dear girl, what’s going on? Why are you here? Today was supposed to be your succession ceremony.”
“Daddy,” I sobbed, clinging to him like the frightened child I had once been.
Standing before this woman who had destroyed my childhood, I felt the familiar wave of conflicting emotions. She was the reason I had grown up without knowing my real parents, the reason I had never felt like I belonged anywhere.
For several minutes, I couldn’t stop crying. All the pain, fear, and exhaustion I had been carrying poured out of me while he held me securely.
“What I’m curious about is whether your mate and your birth parents know you’re hiding here,” she said with that same triumphant expression. “Because the last time I spoke with your parents, they made it very clear that I should stay away from you. But here you are, coming to me willingly. I’m sure they’d be very interested to know where their precious daughter has run off to.”
This was definitely not what I had expected. This was the last thing I needed right now.
He pointed firmly toward the door, his protective instincts fully engaged.
“I was right, wasn’t I?” Her voice was filled with triumphant venom. “You ran away from your own wedding ceremony. Though I can’t say I’m surprised. You were always weak, always worthless. Just like when you were a pathetic little girl.”
My heart leaped with relief. It was Arthur, my adoptive father. He stood protectively behind me, his usually gentle eyes blazing with fury as he
confronted his ex-wife.
12:05
1/6
9 Chapter 9 Safe Harbor Found
“Get moving, Seraphina. At least you were always good at cleaning up
messes.”
Sybil’s face contorted with rage, but she could see that Arthur wasn’t backing
down this time.
With one final hateful glare at both of us, she spun around and stormed out, slamming the front door so hard the windows rattled.
But I wasn’t the same terrified child she used to torment. The scars she had left on my soul would probably remain forever, but I refused to let her control me again.
“You’ll always be safe here, Seraphina. Always.”
“Seraphina, sweetheart, are you okay?” His voice immediately softened as he turned his attention to me, the anger replaced by genuine concern. He gently pulled me behind him, creating a barrier between Sybil and me.
All the emotions I had been suppressing suddenly overwhelmed me. I threw my arms around him, finally allowing myself to feel safe enough to break down completely.
“Well, well, well. Look what crawled back,” she said, each word dripping with malice. She stepped aside with exaggerated politeness, gesturing for me to enter. “Or should I say, look what finally decided to run away from responsibility.”
The voice that answered the door made my blood turn to ice. It was a voice that had tormented me through countless sleepless nights, a voice that belonged to the woman who had stolen me from my birth parents and made my childhood a living nightmare.
I couldn’t bear the thought of destroying his faith in people by telling him the whole terrible truth.
“Well, since you’re here and clearly not planning to go back,” Sybil said, her voice taking on that familiar commanding tone, “you might as well earn your keep. This house is filthy. The floors haven’t been mopped in days, and those
12:05
2/6
How y
Fly &
y much the phone th
NO TAVAN VIA EMAIL, 44, 44 yayılı de lavade
ANAMA, 444 way #G
4 yeni yyyy, wyw
*****d you mangan, Rippe, ”
CH
**Wh pw by repand de
SUCH MXR 10
Words are 41 y mumkin. Cving my worde Chewy, jone way he gai ***ARY WAY
SAYA om al ofer
pied me wa wad of ingat made me feel
yafiain yw y a
“Keep you washer,
He studied my face
ere them doway sodded. The worry didive yes, but I could we hum making the decision
forced the words out, determined not to let her see texting me. I needed awwers, not auther round of her
a warfare.
9 Chapter 9 Safe Harbor Found
He was the one person in this world who had always been completely on my side, who had always encouraged me to pursue happiness. But he was also someone who saw the best in everyone, who believed in second chances and forgiveness.
I stood there frozen, unable to find my voice. The safe haven I had imagined this place to be was crumbling before my eyes.
Arthur let out a long sigh, running his fingers through his graying hair. When he turned to face me, his expression was filled with worry and confusion.
I recognized that tone immediately. It wasn’t a casual observation but a direct threat. She was already planning how to use my presence here against
“You’ll regret defending her, Arthur,” she spat venomously. “Especially for someone as worthless as this girl.”
The familiar sting of her words hit me like physical blows. Years of therapy couldn’t completely erase the damage she had inflicted on my self-esteem.
The truth was, my escape served her purposes perfectly. If Roxanne became Luna to Julian, Sybil would gain power and influence through her daughter. She wouldn’t risk that by revealing my location.
Her harsh laugh echoed through the hallway, a sound that instantly transported me back to my darkest memories.
For the first time since leaving my wedding, I felt genuinely safe. Genuinely
free.
“Useful work?” My adoptive father’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “You have absolutely no right to give her orders. You have no right to even be on this property.”
But my father stood his ground, completely unmoved by her threats. This was a side of him I had never seen when I was growing up here, when Sybil’s presence had intimidated everyone in the household.
12:05
4/6
9 Chapter 9 Safe Harbor Found
Sybil stood in the doorway like a spider in her web, her lips curled into that familiar cruel smile. Her cold eyes swept over my wrinkled clothes and exhausted face with obvious satisfaction.
Of course she knew everything I should have realized that Roxanne would keep her informed about every detail of my life. After all, Sybil had orchestrated this entire situation to benefit her precious daughter.
She paused, and I could practically see the wheels turning in her devious mind. A calculating gleam entered her eyes. “This is actually perfect. If you’re gone, there’s no Luna ceremony. And if there’s no Luna ceremony, then Roxanne can step into her rightful place.”
Sybil’s smile widened as she watched my composure crack. She began circling me like a predator, examining every inch of my disheveled appearance.
Seraphina’s POV
“Go ahead and tell them,” I said, meeting her gaze steadily. “I’m not going to beg you not to.”
Comment 0
12:05
Leave the first comment for this chapter
图
Send Gift
56
