CHAPTER 143: I HADN’T DOTED ON YOU ENOUGH!

Author’s POV

Lucien’s car stopped in front of the huge villa where Sera had just gone in with her brother and Emma. She was still lost in the beauty of it all, already picturing how she’d decorate it in her own style, which she had never had the chance to do in her past life.

Back then, even if she wanted to change something, she had no right to do that! After all, she never had a home.

Or if she had... she couldn’t remember it. She couldn’t tell anymore.

Sera was still exploring the house with Emma, her bare feet brushing against the cool floor, when she wandered onto the balcony. The view below was quiet until a car rolled to a stop at the porch.

"Looks like your brother hitched a ride here," Asher’s voice came from behind, casual but sharp as always.

"Brother," Sera said softly, turning to look at him. "Please... don’t be angry at Brother Alistair." She already recognized the car and knew exactly who had brought him here.

"Why would I be angry with him..." Asher began, but the rest of his words faded the moment his gaze shifted toward the porch. The door of the car opened, and Lucien stepped out.

Seraphina’s POV

"What the hell is he doing here!" Asher’s voice echoed with full of fury, but he stopped himself abruptly when his eyes met mine. His jaw tightened, the muscle in it twitching. He inhaled through his nose, slowly, then stepped in front of me, closing the space until I could feel the heat radiating off him. His hand held mine so softly but possessively.

"Sera," he murmured. His voice was so slow that it made my skin crawl. "I’ve barely come back to my senses and got you back in my life... I haven’t even begun to dote on you the way I should’ve. And now..." His eyes dragged past me toward the figure by the car, before cutting back, sharply and coldly.

"Seeing you lean toward that man... looking at him like that... It—it twists something ugly in me. It makes my hands itch. Makes me want to smash his face in until he forgets his own name... until his existence is no longer present in this world.

His thumb brushed over my knuckles tenderly. But his words were full of warning. "You’ve no idea how easy it would be for me to make him disappear, Sera. No one would even think to look for him."

The air between us felt heavy, pressing against my ribs. I wanted to pull my hand back, but a part of me who was scared of this side of Asher stayed still in its place.

No one knew Asher better than I did. He had always been ruthless when it came to me. He was so merciless in a way that made even my enemies flinch.

Even when we were broke, he never let a single insult touch me. If he found out I’d been bullied, he’d come for them in silence and unrelentingly, and wouldn’t stop until they wished they’d never crossed me, and killing people was not that hard for him.

I knew that was who he was... and yet, a part of me had always wished he would change, that he’d soften a little. Find a wife and build a life that didn’t reek of blood and threats.

But right now... with that shadow in his eyes and the dangerous air around him... I was still afraid of this side of Asher.

I was still thinking what to say and how to soothe his burning emotions when a voice cut through the tension, only to build more!

"I’d like to see you try."

Lucien.

He stood at the edge of the balcony’s entrance with Alistair. He looked too calm in a way that made my skin prickle. His eyes were locked on Asher, unreadably, but there was the faintest curve to his lips as if he didn’t care about his threats at all.

Asher didn’t move at first. His grip on my hand tightened, just enough for Lucien to notice. Then he turned.

"You think I’m bluffing?"

Lucien’s smirk grew bigger, but his gaze stayed cold. "No. I think you’re desperate."

The word sliced through the air, and for a moment, it felt like they were brewing a huge storm, and I was trapped in it.

"What the hell!" The words burst out of me, but before I could do anything, Emma shoved herself between us.

"What’s wrong with you all?" she snapped, looking from one man to the other. "This is supposed to be Sera’s time to breathe... to be free from those toxic people... and here you are bringing your own toxicity into this house."

"I—" Asher’s voice faltered. His eyes flicked to me, then down to where his hand still held mine. He let go, slowly and reluctantly. "I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to—" He glanced at Lucien but stopped himself from saying anything.

"Chill, guys!" Alistair chimed in, helping to lighten the atmosphere. "Let’s just enjoy ourselves for now. Later..." His smirk twisted. "We’ll see who’s going to kill whom."

"No one!" My voice came out sharply and loudly. "No one’s going to do something like that." I looked at each of them firmly. "Everyone here... you’re all precious to me. I’d never want anything like that to happen." My voice cracked on the last word, but I didn’t care. "Please... just don’t."

"Hey!" Emma patted my back. "No one’s doing anything, okay?" She took my hand and pulled me away from the trio.

"Why did you drag me out here? What if they actually fought?" I asked, glancing back over my shoulder. The tension in my chest hadn’t eased; I could still feel it clinging to me.

"They’re not that stupid," she said, giving my back another pat. "So stop overthinking." Her tone was light, but I caught the way her eyes flicked toward them, like she wasn’t entirely sure either.

We walked a few steps in silence. Then Emma stopped, turning to face me with a sudden smile. "Either way... let’s just enjoy for now."

****

Days went by, and we all enjoyed our time at my new home.

Emma was practically a permanent resident, spending her days sprawled on my couch, raiding my kitchen, and sometimes even staying the night. Her own house was only a few steps away, but she liked mine better... and I too liked her being around me.

Lucien would swing by every now and then, too, though Asher’s mood always soured the moment he showed up. The air between those two was still tense as always, but Lucien never seemed to care. He came when he wanted, left when he wanted, and always with that calm, unreadable expression.

I was happy, but life didn’t stop there... As our midterm exams were approaching.

Emma and I stayed up late studying, with books all around us and snack wrappers on the floor. The exams were tough, but we got through them, and for once, I wasn’t scared about the results.

In my past life, I hadn’t even made it this far. I’d never taken these exams, never sat in this classroom, never felt this strange sense of belonging. Back then, my days were spent surviving in the hell where I was trapped.

Now... things were different.

Emma was here.

Brother Asher was living with me, his quiet presence felt grounding and protective.

Brother Alistair was buried in his projects, finally chasing his own life instead of putting my life above everything else.

However, we three siblings, along with Emma, would always meet at dinner and breakfast, if nothing serious came their way.

We would always enjoy our time celebrating each other’s success.

Later, when the exams were over, we celebrated with ice cream at the corner shop, laughing over nothing. For the first time in a long time, I let myself believe that maybe this peace could last.

However, I was wrong.

The long-awaited birthday of Grandma was finally around the corner, and as the Young Miss of the Lancaster family, it was a must for me to attend even if I didn’t want to.

Because, honestly, it hadn’t been a good experience for me in the past.

I was dragged out of the mental hospital and taken to the party like some kind of fool.

My heart was pounding, fear clinging to me like a second skin. I kept making mistakes, stumbling over my own words, embarrassing myself in front of everyone.

After all, what would you expect from someone who had spent days locked away in a dark, wet room, completely alone, tortured so much that I couldn’t tell if I was alive or dead?

That was really a bad experience for me.

That had been a really bad experience for me.

"Sera!"

I was lost in my thoughts when Emma flicked her fingers in front of my face, pulling me back to reality.

"Aren’t you excited? You’re going to see your grandmother! She was such a kind lady, at least from what I remember!" Emma’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but I stayed quiet.

I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling.

"I... I don’t want to go," I muttered, but it was enough for Emma to hear.

"But why?" Her face twisted in shock, like she couldn’t believe I’d say that.

"I..." I opened my mouth but shut it instantly, before taking in a deep breath.

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Hello, guys! Sorry for the delay in the Chapters! Please have patience! I hope you guys will help me with this!