The Line She Crossed

Seeing Alaric like that, Seraphina immediately flew into rage again.

“This isn’t over, Cassian!

“You enjoy ruining people, don’t you?” she asked before turning to the other bodyguards.

“Scratch his face to pieces for me!”

My parents rushed forward to intervene, their voices filled with terror.

“We’ll apologize to him! Please, can you let Cassian go?”

Seraphina remained unmoved.

My eyes started to water at the sight of my pleading parents.

Ever since I got engaged to Seraphina, I had lost count of how many times she had humiliated me for Alaric’s sake.

Now, she was humiliating my parents, too.

She hadn’t even considered becoming one family with me, had she?

Alaric suddenly whined in distress.

“Were the toad eggs really that awful?”

Seraphina narrowed her eyes and addressed my parents.

“I can let Cassian go, but you have to finish the rest of the toad eggs.”

A bodyguard clamped my neck and pressed a knife close to my face.

My parents hurriedly lifted their glasses.

“No! We’ll drink it!”

I struggled violently, trying to stop them, but the bodyguard kept me pinned.

I could only watch as my parents downed every last disgusting egg.

They even endured the nausea, afraid Seraphina might change her mind.

Seraphina sneered coldly.

“Now… That wasn’t so bad, was it? So why all the fuss?”

“Remember to give Alaric the patents your parents hold as compensation, or I won’t be at the wedding!”

Then she made to leave with Alaric for the hospital.

“We’re not getting married!” I rasped, my voice hoarse.

…

Alaric stubbornly pushed Seraphina aside, wearing the mask of restrained grievance.

“I’m okay now, Miss Vale. You should comfort Mr. Blackwood.

“No matter what, I can’t be the obstacle to your happy marriage.”

Anyone with eyes could see that Alaric was pretending.

But Seraphina didn’t notice at all and was deeply moved by his words.

“Alaric, why do you always put me first?”

She looked at my parents, tears welling in her eyes.

“Did you see that? Alaric is the one who truly loves me!

“But Cassian keeps trying to bully him.

“This wedding…He’s the one refusing it, so why should I be rushing toward it?”

Then she left, taking Alaric and the bodyguards with her.

Only then did Harold and Margaret speak.

“That was all said in anger, Cassian. We will…”

My parents helped me to my feet, their faces stern as they interrupted them.

“We’re done with you and your family!”

After arriving at the hospital, my parents underwent gastric lavage.

I, however, needed surgery due to the severity of my fractures.

My parents had returned early, happily putting aside work to attend my wedding.

I never expected them to endure such humiliation.

Any remaining feelings I had for Seraphina vanished completely.

When Seraphina arrived at the hospital, her neck and chest were streaked with vivid red marks.

She didn’t bother hiding them.

“I’m not a doctor. I really don’t understand why my parents insisted I come.

“Alaric was feeling guilty and wanted to quit because of you.

“I’ve been busy comforting him, so I don’t have time to waste on you.

“You know what? I’m leaving.”

And she did.

I felt a sudden clarity.

Back when I first noticed her favoritism toward Alaric, she would soothe me, saying that Alaric had saved her countless times and suffered many injuries in the process.

Her kindness toward him had been a form of repayment.

Over time, however, her attention shifted from simple favoritism to letting Alaric trample over me.

In public, she shared intimate moments with Alaric, leaving my dignity in the dust.