AUTHOR’S POV.

    Meanwhile, back at the Dawn’s mansion, Seraphina was losing her mind.

    “Ahhhhh!” She screamed, throwing her phone against the wall as she read the hatefulments flooding in after what happened.

    Her parents rushed into her room.

    “Are you okay, sweetheart?” Elena asked, rushing to her daughter’s side on the bed.

    “No!” she yelled. “How can I be? Alina has ruined my life!”

    “You need to calm down, sweetheart.” Her mother cooed, running a soothing hand up and down her daughter’s back infort. !--

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    But the gesture did nothing to soothe the hysterical woman.

    “How can I, Mom?” She snapped, turning to her mother, mascara running down her cheeks and giving her a crazed, tormented look. “The video of me has been trending on the inte for four days straight now! Thements are horrible. I can’t show my face anywhere, and nobody wants to work with me anymore!”

    “You have to calm down, babygirl.” Ss spoke for the first time, his tone low.

    His face didn’t reflect the concern on Elena’s, but inside, he was fuming.

    He couldn’t believe Alina had the guts to pull such a stunt.

    “You have to do something, Daddy. You have to give me justice.” She pleaded, well, more like demanded, her desperate eyes locking onto his.

    “Yes, darling, you have to do something about this. Summon her here and make her apologize on her knees, or even make her publicly refute her statement.” Elena concurred in a sharp voice filled with rage.

    “Yes, Daddy, organize a press conference and make her exin to the whole world that I’m only a victim!” Seraphina cried, her voice breaking.

    “I can’t do that,” Ss said coldly. “At least, not right now.”

    “What?!” Seraphina’s voice trembled with disbelief. “Why, Daddy?” She looked at him, eyes wide with hurt. “You don’t love

    me.”

    “Of course I do.” Ss sounded offended at the usation.

    “No, you don’t! Because if you did, you wouldn’t be protecting her!” She screamed as her chest heaved with emotion.

    “What is going on, darling?” Elena asked, turning to her husband in confusion.

    “I’m not protecting her. I’m only looking at the bigger picture.” He replied calmly.

    “What bigger picture?” Elena demanded, with a sharp and using re.

    She hated that their daughter was hurting while her husband remained soposed, almost nonchnt about it.

    “We can’t afford to offend her right now-”

    “Why the hell not?!” Seraphina snapped, cutting him off.

    He red at her but said nothing. He knew she was hurting, so he let her disrespect slide, just this once.

    “We still need her to get ckwood to pump money into thepany. Until then, we have to y nice.” He said firmly, though his gaze begged his wife’s understanding.

    And she did understand. Their business was struggling currently, and the little projects Lucian passed on to them were all that kept it afloat. They couldn’t risk losing that lifeline or else their business will go under.

    “Your father is right, sweetheart.” Elena said softly, trying to help her daughter see reason.

    “What? What about me?” Seraphina cried, unwilling to ept whatever bigger picture her parents were painting.

    “The rumors will be reced by something new in a few more days, tops, a couple of weeks, and you’ll be fine.” Ss said in a calm, casual tone.

    “But Dadd-”

    Whatever she was about to say was cut short when their housekeeper walked into the room, face pale.

    “Get out!” Seraphina screamed, hurling a pillow at her.

    “I’m sorry, Miss Dawn, but it’s urgent.” The housekeeper said, standing her ground.

    “What’s going on, Maria?” Elena asked with a tired sigh, clearly worried.

    Maria looked shaken, but not from her young mistress’s outburst.

    “There are some policemen outside asking to see Miss Dawn.” She informed them.

    “What? Why?” Seraphina looked utterly confused.

    She hadn’t done anything wrong, at least not that she was aware of, so why would the police be looking for her?

    “Clean yourself up ande downstairs in five minutes.” Ss ordered before walking away, Maria leading the way.

    Five minutester, Seraphina and her mother walked into the living room to find three police officers standing stiffly as Ss red at them.

    She was now looking refreshed with no smeared mascara in sight.

    The officers refused to state their purpose until Seraphina arrived.

    “Can I help you?” She asked in a sharp and annoyed voice, drawing their attention to her.

    “Seraphina Dawn?” One of the policemen asked.

    “Yes,” she said curtly. “What do you want?” She snapped.

    “You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Mrs. Alina ckwood. You have the right to remain silent, because anything you say will be used against you in a court ofw.”

    “WHAT?!” She screamed, her voice echoing through the room as Elena gasped and Ss froze in ce, for oncepletely

    caught off guard.