CHAPTER 50: ANOTHER ACCUSATION ON THE WAY

Seraphina’s POV

I had just made up my mind to leave the room when my eyes caught the mirror by the bedside.

I just took a glance at my reflection, and I froze.

My hair was messy, pale skin, dry lips, cheeks so deep crimson they looked like bruises... I looked like a ghost who had crawled out of some cursed alleyway.

No... Fuck that.

Anyone would’ve mistaken me for a beggar. Maybe I could earn a few coins if I sat at the corner of the road and stretched out my hand.

"Damn..." I muttered under my breath, dragging my fingers through my hair with a sigh.

This wasn’t me. No matter how unsightly I was... I couldn’t be this ugly.

Even though I had wanted to storm out and leave this house like I was never here but my body refused to move.

It felt too tired and sore...

Like I had run a thousand times a hundred-meter marathon.

And then... my eyes landed on the side table.

There were three plates, neatly stacked, still covered with metal lids. My stomach growled at the sight, and it almost embarrassed me.

I moved closer and noticed a small piece of paper placed on top.

I picked it up with hesitation, half-expecting it to be something ridiculous. But instead, I read:

"Dear Sera, please eat your fill and come down. Your Brother Asher will wait for you and... don’t forget to get changed."

My fingers trembled slightly as I reread the note.

I reread it until those words become one with me.

The writing really belonged to Brother Asher; it meant... I might be out of trouble with him.

I looked down at the bed again. At the edge of it, fresh clothes were folded as if he had prepared them just for me.

I looked again, and picked up the clothes, they looked just like my taste and size.

What the actual hell is going on?

Was I dreaming again?

Did I die and get reborn into some strange reality where Asher suddenly gave a damn about me?

This didn’t feel real.

I mean... Asher? Leaving a note for me?

Preparing food and clothes for me? It didn’t make sense. It couldn’t make sense.

My chest felt heavy again. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But somewhere deep in my heart... A little warmth began to spread, making me feel a little healed.

I didn’t know what that feeling was, but it was there. And it made my chest tighten, in a way that wasn’t painful this time.

Without thinking twice, I picked up one of the plates and uncovered it.

The food was still warm.

The smell hit me, and before I could stop myself, I started eating like I hadn’t eaten in days.

Tears started rolling down my cheeks as I chewed the first bite.

I didn’t know why I was crying. It wasn’t sadness exactly, and it wasn’t joy either.

But something inside me... felt like it was being stitched together slowly and messily but it was happening.

The pain that I didn’t know where it was... was softening. It didn’t burn as much anymore.

"Call Sera!"

A cold voice echoed from downstairs.

I froze, spoon mid-air.

That was Asher’s voice. It was cold and commanding like always.

My eyes widened as I jolted up and placed the plate aside. Without wasting another second, I rushed to the washroom attached to the room.

My hands were shaky as I reached for the clothes he’d left. I changed quickly, my fingers fumbling at every step.

I looked at my reflection again. I looked still messy but a bit more human now.

I splashed water on my face and patted it dry, trying to calm my racing heart.

Brushed through my hair with my fingers, just enough to look a little presentable.

"Just breathe..." I whispered to myself. But my heart wasn’t listening. Because I didn’t know what he was calling me for.

Was Melissa also downstairs? Was this another trap? Was I going to be blamed again for things I didn’t even do?

Had she already twisted everything and pointed fingers like she always did?

My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach at the thought.

My fingers clenched, and my throat burned.

"Fuck that," I hissed under my breath, my voice low but sharp.

If I was going to be humiliated again, then that was it. I wasn’t staying.

I wasn’t the same girl who begged for love and stayed quiet after getting slapped with lies.

If they wanted to corner me again, they better be ready—because I wouldn’t let them do that.

"If something happens," I muttered to myself, voice firm, "I’ll just pack my stuff and go straight to the dorms."

I was still in my thoughts when the door creaked open and a maid barged in rudely without knocking.

"Hey, if you’re done enjoying the princess treatment, let’s go out already!" she snapped, her voice filled with mockery, as if I were some freeloader.

There it was.

I knew it.

I was being blamed again.

Whatever it was, they had already decided I was guilty.

I clenched my jaw, biting back the urge to scream in frustration, but I had no time and strength for that.

"Fine," I whispered to myself, my voice calm but bitter. "Let’s go see what crimes I’ve committed this time."

I took a deep breath, swallowed the lump in my throat, and walked out with my head held high, even if my heart was breaking all over again.

Asher’s POV

I walked down, ready to act on everything I had planned through the sleepless night. My steps were steady, but my mind wasn’t. I was burning to get things done as soon as possible.

But as I reached the descent of the staircase, voices echoed from the hall below. It was loud and familiar. I stopped mid-step, my brows furrowed.

What the hell was happening down there?

With a heavy sigh, I walked closer, only to find Melissa in the house, surrounded by a few maids like she was the queen of the world.

What was she doing here?

Wasn’t she supposed to be at her dorm and preparing for exams? What? Not avoiding drama anymore?

Then why... Why now?

My chest tightened, and a thought hit me, which I didn’t like a one bit.

Could it be... was she really what Sera said she was?

No.

No, I didn’t want to believe that.

We had raised her with our own hands. She was the precious child of the Lancaster family.

She had always been sweet, obedient, and cheerful, Little Melissa... how could she ever be so vile?

But now... I couldn’t ignore the things that she had been doing anymore.

I had seen her look down on Sera sometimes.

Well... It was the same for me. I had done the same, so I couldn’t entirely blame her.

She had always made it clear in front of us that Sera was our sister and should be treated as one.

But all this time, she had always been good to her as long as I could remember.

I didn’t want to doubt her.

But Sera’s trembling voice and those broken eyes from last night... they haunted me.

So let’s see what story Melissa spins this time.

Would she play the victim again?

Or would she surprise me... faking care for Sera?

Either way... I was ready for whatever was coming.

"Brother!"

Melissa came running the moment she saw me.

Without warning, she threw herself into my arms, hugging me like the sweet little sister she always pretended to be.

But I didn’t feel the same warmth anymore.

I pulled her off me gently but firmly, placing my hands on her shoulders as I stared straight into her eyes.

"Why are you here this early in the morning?" I asked in a flat tone.

I wasn’t ready to hold anyone close as a sister anymore, after what Sera had told me... and what she had been through because of the people in this house.

Melissa’s smile faded a little as her eyes flickered toward the maids nearby.

"Brother... they’re making trouble," she said in a soft, pitiful voice.

Trouble?

I raised a brow and walked over to the couch. I sat down slowly, leaned back, and spread my arms across the backrest like I had all the time in the world to listen to her lies.

"What kind of trouble are they making for you?" I asked, a bitter edge lacing my tone.

My eyes didn’t leave her face as I continued, "Who would dare defy you in this house? Or even in this world?"

My voice dripped with sarcasm, but like always, Melissa didn’t catch it. Or maybe she just pretended not to.

Because pretending had always been her favorite game.

I had slowly started to understand what kind of person she was in reality.

"My things were stolen from my room and... and they said that..."