When His First Love Returned, I Left

For ten years, I loved Silas Wolfe with everything I had. I followed him from the moment he rescued me from an orphanage at seventeen. I became his secretary, his confidante, his secret lover, and eventually, his hidden wife. Even when the Wolfe family mocked me for being a poor orphan unworthy of him, I endured it all because Silas always promised me the same thing. “Once Grandpa accepts you, I’ll make our marriage public.” I believed him until his first love returned. That was when I realized the horrifying truth. I was never the woman Silas loved. I was only a replacement for the woman who broke his heart. The night Silas forced me to abort our baby, he promised that afterward he would finally announce me as his wife. Less than twenty-four hours later, I woke up in the hospital and saw him publicly announcing his engagement to Evelyn instead. And while reporters mocked me as a pathetic woman clinging desperately to the Wolfe family, my own husband smiled coldly and said: “She misunderstood our relationship and became emotionally dependent.” But what Silas Wolfe doesn’t know is this: Two weeks ago, I discovered I was never an orphan. And in three days, my real family is coming to take me home. Chapter 1 Seraphina’s POV After bleeding for six hours in the emergency room because of the abortion my husband forced me to have, the first thing I saw when I woke up was his engagement announcement. The woman in Silas Wolfe’s arms was Evelyn Hart, his first love. The woman who abandoned him ten years ago and suddenly returned six months ago. My fingers tightened around the thin hospital blanket instantly as another sharp pain spread through my lower abdomen. On the television hanging across the hospital room, reporters surrounded Silas and Evelyn excitedly while cameras flashed endlessly around them. “Mr. Wolfe! Are the pregnancy rumors true?” Evelyn lowered her head shyly and touched her stomach. Silas immediately wrapped an arm around her waist protectively. That tiny movement pierced through my chest harder than the abortion pain. The baby I had just killed for Silas suddenly felt like the cruelest joke in the world. Because just yesterday, Silas sat beside my hospital bed holding my face gently while promising me. “Be good, Seraphina. Once the abortion is done, I’ll speak to Grandpa personally so we won’t need to hide our marriage anymore.” Back then, I believed him like an idiot. I still remembered how badly my hands shook while signing the abortion consent papers. Silas sat beside me the entire time handling business documents calmly while I silently cried. Whenever I hesitated, he would pull me into his arms and kiss my forehead softly. “Don’t overthink things. This is only temporary. I’m doing this for our future.” Our future? Meanwhile, less than twenty-four hours later, he was publicly announcing another woman as his fiancée. A reporter suddenly laughed awkwardly. “Mr. Wolfe, there were rumors for years that Miss Seraphina was your girlfriend. Does Miss Hart mind?” The banquet hall instantly fell silent. Everyone in Northbridge knew I had followed Silas for ten years like a dog hopelessly in love with its owner. No one knew that six years ago, Silas had secretly married me. No wedding, no rings, no blessings. Just signatures in the courtroom and a marriage certificate hidden from the entire world. Because Silas said his grandfather would never accept an orphan as the future Mrs. Wolfe. At that time, I told myself love was enough. I waited for him to publicly acknowledge me year after year like an idiot. I waited so long that eventually I even forgot I was legally his wife. I stared at the television quietly and waited for Silas to deny the rumors carefully and instead announce me as his wife. Instead, he chuckled lightly. “Seraphina?” His tone sounded amused. “She was only a secretary who stayed beside me longer than others.” “She misunderstood our relationship and became emotionally dependent.” My blood turned ice cold. Secretary. Emotionally dependent. Ten years together, six years of marriage, reduced to two humiliating sentences. Beside him, Evelyn smiled softly. “Silas has always been too kind. Some women misunderstand kindness as love very easily.” “Seraphina is just a poor orphan my family took pity on,” Silas added casually. “Without the Wolfe family, she probably wouldn’t survive outside.” The crowd burst into laughter instantly. The hospital door suddenly opened and Silas walked in still wearing the black suit from the engagement banquet. The scent of Evelyn’s perfume still lingered on him. My stomach twisted instantly. His eyes landed on the dark television screen before moving toward me lazily. “You’re awake,” he said. I stared at him quietly and said nothing. Silas loosened his tie impatiently. “You embarrassed Evelyn tonight,” he said coldly. “The reporters frightened her with those questions about you.” My chest tightened as I almost laughed from disbelief. I had just aborted his child yet the woman he was worried about was Evelyn. Silas walked closer and placed a velvet box on the bedside table. Inside sat a diamond necklace. Probably another piece of jewelry thrown at me to stop me from causing trouble. His usual method whenever he wanted something from me. “Take a break for the next few days,” he said casually. “Don’t appear publicly for now.” I finally spoke for the first time. “So everyone can focus on your engagement?” Silas frowned slightly like he disliked my tone. “It’s temporary. Evelyn’s aunt is dying. Her last wish is to see Evelyn married before she passes.” He sounded almost irritated that I wasn’t understanding enough. “You know I can’t refuse her.” Three years ago, when the only woman who took care of me and acted like my mother in the orphanage was dying from liver cancer, she held my hand weakly inside the hospital room and smiled painfully. “I want to see your husband once before I die. You love him so much… how can I leave without blessing your marriage first?” So I called Silas again and again. I begged him, cried, and pleaded with him to come even for ten minutes. But every single time, he rejected me coldly. “I’m busy.” “There’s a board meeting.” “I’m overseas.” “If I don’t work, how can I afford to take care of you?” “Stop being childish.” In the end, she died while holding my hand without Silas fulfilling her last wish. Even during her funeral, Silas only sent flowers through his assistant. Yet now for Evelyn’s aunt’s dying wish, he was willing to publicly announce an engagement. Then he sighed and sat beside my bed before reaching for my hand gently. “Seraphina,” he said patiently, “you know you’re different from everyone else. The person I trust most is still you.” “I only agreed to this engagement because Grandpa’s been pressuring me for years. Once things settle down, I’ll publicly announce you as my wife.” I stared at him silently. This man really thought I was stupid enough to believe that. Maybe I was for ten whole years but not anymore because two weeks ago, I found out I was never an orphan. I was the missing daughter of the Vale family, the richest family in Northbridge. And in three days my real family was coming to take me home. Chapter 2 Seraphina’s POV I met Silas Wolfe when I was seventeen. Back then, I was still living in Saint Mary’s orphanage. It was raining heavily that night and the orphanage director locked me outside as punishment for fighting older boys who stole food from a little girl. I sat trembling near the gates soaked from head to toe wishing I could turn eighteen quickly and leave that hell forever when a black luxury car suddenly stopped in front of me. The rear window slowly rolled down and for the first time, I saw Silas Wolfe. He was twenty-one then. I still remembered thinking he was the most handsome man I had ever seen. He stared at me silently for a very long time before suddenly opening the car door himself. Back then, his eyes were warm and gentle, almost heartbreaking. “What’s your name?” he asked quietly. “Seraphina.” He looked at me strangely after hearing my answer. Then he removed his expensive coat and wrapped it around my freezing body carefully. “Come with me.” That single sentence changed my entire life. Silas rescued me from the orphanage, paid for my education, protected me, and stayed beside me. At eighteen, when boys from another school confessed love to me publicly, Silas drove across the city in the middle of an important meeting just to drag me into his car angrily. Back then, I laughed while teasing him. “Why are you so angry?” Silas stared at me coldly for a few seconds before suddenly pulling me onto his lap. “Because you’re mine.” My heart almost stopped that night. At twenty-one, when business rivals attacked him inside a nightclub, I was the one who took a bottle to the head protecting him. I still remembered waking up inside the hospital and seeing Silas sitting beside my bed with bloodshot eyes. The moment I woke up, he hugged me so tightly it hurt. “Are you insane?” his voice shook violently. “Why would you block it for me?” When I joked weakly that I didn’t want him dying before marrying me someday, Silas suddenly lowered his head and kissed me. “If you want it that badly,” he whispered against my lips, “then marry me.” Three months later, we secretly registered our marriage. Back then, I truly thought I was the happiest woman alive. At twenty-three, I collapsed from a high fever after working thirty-six hours straight helping Silas stabilize Wolfe Group during a financial crisis. When I woke up, I found him sitting beside my bed. The great Silas Wolfe had stayed beside me the entire night personally changing my cold towels and feeding me medicine. Back then, his exhausted eyes stared at me quietly while he brushed my hair away from my face. “You scared me,” his voice was low. “Don’t leave me alone, Seraphina.” At twenty-four, I once asked him quietly while lying against his chest, “What if you fall in love with someone else someday?” Silas didn’t even look up from his documents. “Impossible.” Then he pulled me closer lazily and kissed the top of my head. “I’ve already spoiled myself too much with you. No other woman could tolerate me this way.” At twenty-five, I donated blood until I fainted after his car accident. When Silas woke up, he held me and cried while kissing me feverishly in the hospital room. I had joked and said his grandfather would see us. “I don’t care,” Silas had said. “No one understands me like you. I was so scared something had happened to you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” As an orphan abandoned since childhood and desperate for love, Silas’s behavior made me think he was in love with me. It wasn’t until Evelyn returned six months ago that I realized I had mistaken dependence for love. Silas stopped coming home most nights. The cold act he showed me publicly, which he always claimed was because of his grandfather, started following me into our home when it was just the two of us alone. Then one night during a charity banquet — the same banquet I attended with Silas every year — he suddenly told me to stay home. I arrived anyway, eager to surprise him. Instead, I saw Evelyn walking past me wearing a white dress while holding Silas’s arm. Silas barely acknowledged me. He only texted me: Go home. You’re embarrassing yourself. For the first time, I realized something horrifying. Evelyn looked exactly like me. Or maybe… I looked exactly like her. We had the same long black hair, the same blue eyes, the same smile, and even our voices sounded similar. That night, I secretly searched through old online articles about Evelyn Hart and every picture felt like someone was slowly stabbing a knife through my chest. Every single thing I thought Silas loved about me was written inside those old articles about Evelyn Hart. Her favorite perfume brand was the same one Silas bought for me every birthday. The piano songs he personally taught me to play were songs Evelyn used to perform publicly years ago. The long black hair he always insisted I keep tied up in a ponytail, the soft white dresses he always gifted me because he said he loved seeing me in white, even the way he patiently corrected my posture and smile before banquets… All of it was Evelyn’s style. Back then, I thought Silas was polishing me into a woman worthy of standing beside him. Now I finally understood the truth. He was never shaping me into his wife. He was reshaping me into the woman who broke his heart. And suddenly, I understood why Silas Wolfe rescued me from that orphanage ten years ago. I was nothing more than a substitute. A stand-in he accidentally grew attached to while waiting for Evelyn Hart to return. That night, after the abortion was completed, I contacted a divorce lawyer for the first time. Because this time, I was finally tired of loving Silas Wolfe. Chapter 3 Seraphina’s POV The following day I was discharged from the hospital, but Silas didn’t come to pick me up. His assistant did. I wasn’t surprised. Six months ago, I would have sat in the hospital room staring at my phone waiting for his message. Now I simply climbed into the car and looked out the window. The city moved past in a blur. For the first time in ten years, I felt strangely calm. Maybe because there was nothing left to lose. Or maybe because I finally understood the truth. Silas had never loved me. The black gates of the Wolfe mansion slowly opened. The moment I stepped out of the car, laughter drifted from inside the house. Male voices, Silas’s friends. I immediately recognized them. Over the years, I cooked for them, prepared gifts for their birthdays, and stayed up late helping Silas entertain them whenever they visited. Not one of them ever respected me. “…Seriously, Silas, how much longer are you going to keep Seraphina around?” one of them was asking inside. Laughter followed. I froze beside the doorway as another voice spoke. “Now that Evelyn is back, there isn’t really any reason for her anymore.” “Exactly and Evelyn is pregnant for you.” Someone snorted. “You’ve been dragging this orphan around for ten years.” “I almost feel sorry for her.” More laughter erupted before a familiar voice finally answered. It was Silas, my husband. “Seraphina will understand, she always does,” he said. My heart twisted painfully as one of the men laughed. “Understand what? That you’ve been waiting for Evelyn this entire time?” Another burst out laughing. “Come on. Everybody knows Evelyn is the one you’ve always wanted.” “Poor Seraphina.” “She’s so in love with you she can’t even see what’s right in front of her.” A third man spoke. “Actually, I almost admire her.” “Ten years. Most women would’ve left by now.” “Not Seraphina. She’d probably stay even if you married Evelyn tomorrow.” The room exploded with laughter as my fingers slowly tightened around my handbag. I heard Silas laugh too. He didn't deny their words or even attempt to defend me. He just joined them to laugh and mock me. Something inside my chest went completely numb. One of his friends lowered his voice. “So when are you finally getting rid of her?” Silas replied casually. “We’ll see. She’s useful.” The laughter grew louder. Useful? Ten years of being together. I was his wife and that was all he had to say about me. I stood there for a long moment then I pushed the door open and walked inside. The laughter disappeared instantly as every head turned toward me. For one brief second, panic flashed across several faces then everyone quickly recovered. Silas immediately stood. “Seraphina.” His voice softened. If I didn't know better, I would have sworn this man cared about me. He walked over and took the bag from my hand. “When did you get home?” As if he hadn’t been discussing my future like I was a piece of furniture. I smiled faintly. “Just now.” Silas studied my face. Probably trying to determine whether I had heard anything. I lowered my gaze, pretending to be naive and innocent. Just like I had done for years. The tension in the room slowly disappeared. One of the men even laughed awkwardly. “Good to see you’re feeling better.” I nodded politely. Silas wrapped an arm around my shoulders. The familiar gesture almost made me sick. “Why didn’t you call me when you left the hospital?” he asked. I shrugged, “I didn't want to bother you.” I quietly pulled a folder from my handbag. “These are some documents from the hospital.” Silas barely glanced at them. “What documents?” “The doctor asked for signatures.” He frowned slightly. “More paperwork?” I nodded. Silas sighed impatiently. Without reading a single page, he grabbed a pen from the table and then signed his name. The entire process took less than thirty seconds. Not one question, not one glance, and not one attempt to verify what he was signing because after ten years, Silas trusted me completely. Or perhaps… He simply never thought I could betray him. He handed the folder back. “There.” I accepted it quietly. “Thank you.” Silas sat back down before suddenly remembering something. “Oh.” He reached beside the sofa and handed me a luxury shopping bag. “I bought you something.” I looked down to see a designer logo staring back at me. “There’s a party tonight.” His tone became gentle again, “Wear it.” One of his friends smirked and I pretended not to notice. “Okay.” Silas seemed satisfied with my obedience. Just like always because in his eyes, I was still the same Seraphina. The woman who would forgive anything, the woman who would stay forever, the woman who was too dependent to leave. I excused myself and walked upstairs. The moment the bedroom door closed behind me, the smile disappeared from my face. I sat down slowly on the edge of the bed then opened the folder. My eyes landed on the final page. Silas Wolfe. His signature stretched neatly across the divorce papers. For a long moment, I simply stared. Six years ago, I had dreamed about seeing his signature beside mine on a public marriage announcement. Now it sat on our divorce papers instead. I picked up my phone. My fingers hovered above the screen briefly before typing a message. ‘Dad, it’s done. Come get me.’ The reply arrived almost immediately. ‘Alright, Princess.’ My eyes slowly drifted toward the divorce papers again. For the first time in ten years, I was finally letting Silas Wolfe go and instead of heartbreak, all I felt was relief. Chapter 4 Seraphina’s POV I almost didn’t go to the party. The moment I opened the shopping bag and saw the expensive designer dress inside, I wanted to throw it away. But in the end, I wore it. After all, I only had two days left before leaving. There was no point creating unnecessary trouble now. The black dress fit perfectly. Silas always knew my measurements. That thought made me laugh bitterly. For ten years, I mistook familiarity for love. Now I know better. An hour later, Silas and I arrived at the party. The moment we entered the luxurious villa, countless eyes landed on us. Or more specifically, me. The woman everyone knew Silas was preparing to abandon. I ignored the stares and followed him inside. His friends were already gathered around a table near the swimming pool. Laughter filled the air. Expensive liquor bottles covered every surface and seated at the center of it all was Evelyn Hart. She looked beautiful. The moment she saw us, her face lit up. “Seraphina!” She immediately stood and walked toward me. Before I could react, she grabbed my hand affectionately. “I love your dress.” Her eyes swept over my body then her smile widened. “It looks much better on you than it did on me.” I froze. Around us, several people exchanged amused looks. Evelyn continued innocently. “Silas bought it for me last week.” She laughed softly. “I didn’t really like the color, so I never wore it.” Her gaze slowly traveled over my dress again. “But it suits you perfectly.” The meaning behind her words couldn’t have been more obvious. The dress wasn’t originally mine. Just like everything else. Just like my marriage. Just like my life. Everything had belonged to Evelyn first. For a brief moment, I saw Silas’s expression stiffen. Then he smiled awkwardly. “Enough.” He wrapped an arm around Evelyn’s shoulder. “Let’s just enjoy the party.” Evelyn giggled. “Okay.” The group soon returned to drinking and chatting. I sat quietly in my seat as usual. An hour later, one of Silas’s friends suddenly stood. “This is boring.” He picked up an empty bottle, “Let’s play something.” Immediately everyone cheered. “What game?” “Spin the bottle!” The bottle was placed on the table. Laughter erupted and soon the game began. The bottle spun twice. Several rounds passed quickly. Then suddenly the bottle stopped pointing directly at Silas. The group exploded. “OHHHH!” Silas rolled his eyes. “What now?” The friend who spun the bottle grinned mischievously. “The dare is simple.” He pointed toward the crowd. “Kiss the woman you love.” The entire table immediately fell silent. Then everyone started laughing because everyone already knew the answer. My fingers tightened around my glass. Across from me, Evelyn lowered her gaze shyly. Silas didn’t even hesitate. Not for a second. Not for a heartbeat. He stood up, walked straight toward Evelyn and kissed her. The crowd erupted with cheers, whistles, and applause. I stared quietly at the scene. Six years of marriage. Ten years of devotion. And somehow that single kiss hurt less than I expected. Maybe because my heart had already broken yesterday. Or maybe because I finally stopped expecting anything from him. When they finally pulled apart, everyone was still laughing. I quietly stood. “Excuse me.” Nobody tried to stop me. I walked away from the party and headed toward the swimming pool. The night air felt cool against my skin. For several minutes, I simply stood there staring at the water. Then footsteps sounded behind me. I didn’t need to turn around. I already knew who it was. Silas. He stopped beside me. Neither of us spoke immediately. Finally he sighed. “You’re not angry, are you?” I looked at him. He actually seemed concerned. The sight almost made me laugh. Concerned now? After publicly kissing another woman? “It was only a game.” His voice softened, “You know how those idiots are.” I remained silent. Silas frowned slightly. “Seraphina. It’s just fun. You shouldn’t pay attention to things like that.” In the past, I would’ve cried, or argued, or begged him to explain. Tonight I simply nodded. “Okay.” Silas blinked. Probably surprised by how easily I accepted it. “You’re not upset?” “No.” For some reason, my answer seemed to relax him. A smile appeared on his face. The familiar smile he always wore whenever I chose obedience over conflict. “Good.” He reached out and squeezed my shoulder, “I knew you’d understand.” Of course. Seraphina always understands. The thought almost made me laugh. A few moments later, Silas’s phone rang. Evelyn’s name flashed across the screen. His entire expression softened immediately. “I’ll be right back.” Then he left without another glance. I stared at his retreating back and felt absolutely nothing. A few minutes later, another pair of footsteps approached. This time, I did turn around. Evelyn stood there smiling. The moment we were alone, the sweetness disappeared from her face. “What do you want?” I asked calmly. Evelyn laughed. “I came to congratulate you.” I raised an eyebrow. “Congratulations?” “Yes.” She stepped closer, “Your time is finally over. You’ve been a good placeholder all these years.” The words didn’t hurt anymore. Evelyn tilted her head. “You can leave now. Silas doesn’t need you anymore.” I looked at her quietly then shrugged. “If that’s what you want.” Her smile faltered. I continued, “I don’t care anymore. You can have him.” For the first time, genuine surprise flashed across her face. “What?” “You heard me.” I looked toward the party, “He’s all yours.” Something dark flashed through her eyes. For a few seconds, neither of us spoke, then Evelyn suddenly laughed. “You know…” She stepped closer, “I’ve always wondered something. If both of us were in danger, who do you think Silas would save?” Before I could answer she grabbed my wrist. My eyes widened. “Evelyn—” The next second, she pulled me forward and threw herself into the pool with me. Cold water exploded around us. A loud splash echoed through the night then Evelyn’s terrified scream pierced the air. “Silas, help me!” Chapter 5 Seraphina’s POV “Silas, help me!” Evelyn’s terrified scream echoed through the night. Cold water filled my mouth instantly as I struggled beneath the surface. The moment I resurfaced, coughing violently, I saw dozens of people rushing toward the pool. Their shocked faces blurred before my eyes. Then I saw Silas. He had reached the edge of the pool. For one brief second, our eyes met. Relief flooded through me. Silas was here. Everything would be fine. Then Evelyn screamed again. “Silas!” Tears streamed down her face as she desperately splashed around in the water. “Our baby! Please save our baby!” The relief inside me vanished instantly. I watched Silas’s expression change. Without hesitation, he jumped into the pool. Not toward me but toward Evelyn. My heart stopped as the water swallowed me again. When I surfaced, I forced myself to speak. “Silas…” My voice came out weak. “I can’t swim…” It was true. I never learned. Years ago, Silas promised he would teach me. Just another promise he never kept. For a brief second, his eyes flickered toward me. Then they returned to Evelyn. “Don’t move!” he shouted at her, “I’m coming!” Something inside me shattered. The next few moments felt strangely slow. I watched Silas pull Evelyn into his arms. I watched him carry her toward the edge of the pool. I watched everyone rush forward to help them. Nobody looked at me. Nobody remembered I was still in the water, still drowning, still struggling. My body felt heavier with every second as the cold seeped into my bones. The sounds around me became distant and blurred as I thought about the past ten years. About the girl sitting outside an orphanage in the rain. About the man who opened a car door and told her to come with him. About all the years I spent loving him. Waiting for him. Believing in him and in the end when both Evelyn and I needed saving Silas chose her. Just like he always would. The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was Silas wrapping Evelyn in his suit jacket. Then everything went black. — The first thing I heard when I woke up was voices. My body felt heavy. Every muscle ached and even breathing hurt. Slowly, I opened my eyes to white ceilings and white walls. I was in the hospital again. I stared blankly ahead for several seconds before memories returned. The pool, Evelyn, Silas. The pain in my chest returned immediately. Outside the room, voices continued arguing. One of them sounded familiar. It was Chairman Wolfe, Silas’s grandfather. “The patient still hasn’t fully recovered,” a doctor was saying carefully, “Chairman Wolfe, I strongly advise against disturbing her right now.” “She remained unconscious for two days. Her body temperature dropped dangerously low after prolonged exposure to cold water. She needs rest.” The old man scoffed. “Nonsense.” Before the doctor could stop him, the door suddenly opened. Chairman Wolfe, Silas, and Evelyn entered with the doctor. Evelyn looked pale and fragile as she leaned against Silas’s chest. The moment Chairman Wolfe saw me awake, his face darkened. “Good.” His voice was cold, “Since you’re awake, explain yourself.” I frowned weakly. “What?” The old man slammed his cane against the floor. “How dare you push Evelyn into the pool?” I stared at him. For a moment, I wondered if I had heard wrong. “I pushed her?” Chairman Wolfe’s expression grew uglier. “Are you denying it?” Before I could answer, Evelyn spoke softly. “Grandpa…” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t be angry. I’m sure Seraphina didn’t mean it. I know she was upset after seeing Silas kiss me but I don’t blame her.” I almost applauded. What a wonderful performance. One sentence and suddenly I became the jealous girl who tried to murder a pregnant woman. Chairman Wolfe’s face softened immediately. “You’re too kind.” Then he turned back to me, “Apologize.” I stared at him and Silas. Silas never said a word. My chest felt strangely empty. “I won’t apologize,” I stated. The old man’s face darkened. “What did you say?” I slowly sat up despite the pain. “I said I won’t apologize. Evelyn pushed me. I didn’t push her. She dragged me into the pool.” “Enough!” Silas snapped, “Seraphina, you need to stop.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Stop what?” “This jealousy.” My fingers tightened around the hospital blanket. “You left me to drown.” The words slipped out before I could stop them. For a second, something flickered across his face. Then Evelyn tightened her grip on his arm and it disappeared completely. “Evelyn is pregnant.” His answer was immediate. As though that explained everything. As though my life mattered less. My heart finally died completely. Chairman Wolfe struck the floor with his cane again. “Enough of this nonsense.” His eyes narrowed, “Apologize to Evelyn.” “I'm not apologizing to someone who tried to kill me.” Chairman Wolfe looked stunned. Perhaps because I had never disobeyed him before. Not once in ten years. “Ridiculous! How dare you! Ungrateful girl!” The old man’s face turned red with fury. Then he pointed toward the door. “Take her outside.” The guards immediately stepped forward. The doctor looked horrified. “Chairman Wolfe! Her condition is unstable. She can’t—” “I said take her outside.” The old man’s voice thundered through the room. The guards grabbed my arms and I closed my eyes. I was so tired and cold. The doctor continued protesting desperately but nobody listened. As the guards dragged me toward the door, I looked back one final time. Silas stood beside Evelyn protectively. His arm around her shoulders. His attention was entirely focused on her. The guards pulled me into the hallway. The hospital doors opened as cold air rushed toward me instantly. Then Chairman Wolfe’s voice echoed behind us. “Take her outside and make her kneel.” Chapter 6 Seraphina’s POV The cold hit me the moment the guards dragged me outside. My thin hospital gown offered almost no protection against the freezing wind as snow continued falling from the dark sky. Within seconds, icy flakes settled into my hair and on my shoulders while the frozen ground bit painfully into my knees. I was still weak from nearly drowning. My body had barely recovered from the abortion and I had only regained consciousness a few hours ago after spending two days unconscious. Yet none of that seemed to matter. “Chairman Wolfe, this is dangerous!” The doctor rushed outside after us, his face filled with panic as he watched the guards force me onto my knees. “Her body temperature is already unstable. If this continues, she could go into shock.” Chairman Wolfe struck his cane heavily against the ground. “Then perhaps she should have thought about that before trying to harm Evelyn.” The doctor looked horrified. “But she just woke up. She needs treatment.” “I don’t care.” The old man’s voice was cold and merciless, “She will remain here until she apologizes.” Snow continued falling around us while the doctor turned desperately toward Silas. “Mr. Wolfe, please say something.” For one brief second, hope stirred inside my chest. Then Silas spoke. “She’s not going to die. As long as she apologizes, this ends.” A bitter smile almost escaped my lips. Even now, after everything that had happened, he still believed Evelyn without question. Or maybe the truth was even worse. Maybe he simply didn’t care enough to hear my side. Beside him, Evelyn bit her lip and tugged gently on his sleeve. “Silas…” she said softly. “Maybe we should just forget it. I don’t want Seraphina suffering because of me.” The performance was flawless. Her eyes were red. Her voice trembled. Every expression was carefully measured. The perfect victim. The perfect innocent woman. Chairman Wolfe’s expression softened immediately. “Look at her.” He pointed proudly toward Evelyn, “Even after nearly losing her child, she’s still worried about the person who hurt her.” Then his gaze shifted toward me and all the warmth vanished from his face. “And yet you still refuse to apologize.” A weak laugh escaped my lips. The sound surprised everyone, including me. Chairman Wolfe’s expression darkened instantly. “What are you laughing at?” I slowly lifted my head and met his gaze. “I’m laughing because nobody bothered asking what actually happened.” For the first time, I noticed Evelyn’s fingers tighten around Silas’s arm. She was afraid of the truth. But it didn’t matter because nobody standing here cared about the truth. They had already decided I was guilty. Chairman Wolfe snorted coldly. “Count.” One of the guards immediately stepped forward. “One.” The freezing wind sliced through my body. “Two.” My hands began trembling uncontrollably. “Three.” My vision blurred for a second. The doctor looked increasingly uneasy. “Chairman Wolfe, please…” Nobody listened. The counting continued. “Ten.” “Eleven.” “Twelve.” Time passed slowly. Every breath burned inside my lungs while every gust of wind felt like a knife cutting through my skin. At some point, I stopped listening to the numbers altogether. The guard’s voice continued somewhere in the distance. “Thirty-eight.” “Thirty-nine.” “Forty.” My body shook violently. The doctor stepped forward again. “This has gone far enough. She needs treatment.” Chairman Wolfe didn’t even spare him a glance. “Continue.” The counting resumed. I closed my eyes. “Sixty.” “Sixty-one.” “Sixty-two.” The cold was becoming unbearable. I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore. Or my feet, or even my face. Everything hurts. Yet strangely enough, my heart didn’t. Because it had already died the moment Silas chose Evelyn. The moment he watched me drown. The moment he looked me in the eyes and said Evelyn was pregnant as though that alone justified abandoning me. “Seventy-eight.” “Seventy-nine.” “Eighty.” The doctor swore under his breath. “She’s collapsing.” Nobody moved, not even Silas. I slowly lifted my head and looked toward him through my blurred vision. He was still standing beside Evelyn. A wave of exhaustion suddenly crashed over me. The world tilted then my body gave out completely. I collapsed forward into the snow. The doctor immediately rushed toward me. “Help her!” His voice echoed through the night. A familiar pair of expensive shoes stopped directly in front of me. It was Silas. “Get up, Seraphina,” he said coldly, “Stop pretending. Enough already. Let’s go home.” Home? The word almost made me laugh. What home? The mansion where I wasn’t wanted? The marriage that never existed? The husband who abandoned me? I stared at him quietly before lowering my gaze again. For the first time in ten years, I had absolutely nothing left to say to Silas Wolfe. His patience finally snapped. “Fine.” He turned away, “Stay there if you want.” Then he left with Evelyn and Chairman Wolfe followed with his guards. Soon I was alone. Snow continued falling around me while my body slowly grew numb. My vision darkened and my eyelids became heavier with every passing second. With trembling fingers, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. The screen was so blurry that it took three attempts before I finally managed to dial the number. The call connected immediately. “Princess?” The familiar voice nearly broke me. For a moment, I couldn’t speak, then tears finally slipped down my cheeks. “Dad…” My voice shook violently, “I’m cold.” The call ended. I didn’t know how much time passed afterward. Then suddenly bright headlights cut through the snow-covered darkness. One car stopped as a long convoy of luxury vehicles pulled up outside the hospital. Doors flew open instantly and dozens of bodyguards rushed out. Then a middle-aged man stepped out of the first car. The moment he saw me lying in the snow, all the color drained from his face. “Dad…” I whispered weakly. The man ran toward me. Snow covered his expensive suit and his polished shoes sank into the ice, but he didn’t slow down even once. He dropped to his knees beside me and pulled me into his arms with trembling hands. “Princess.” His voice broke. Tears filled his eyes as he held me tightly against his chest. “Dad is here.”