Chapter 80 A PRESENCE BOTH WANTED AND UNWANTED
Seraphina's POV
The way he slammed the door as he left only fueled my anger even more.
I ran a trembling hand through my hair as Kelvin’s threat echoed over and over again in my head.
This is all Jaxon’s fault.
Why do I have to try to get rid of that boy over and over again?
“Urrraaahhh!!!”
A furious scream tore from my throat as I hurled the glass in my hand across the room. It shattered loudly against the wall, the sound echoing through the suite.
This was supposed to be the happy ending.
It had to be.
Because if it wasn’t…
Anastasia would probably be laughing at me from her grave.
“Things can’t fall apart now,” I muttered to myself, pacing restlessly across the room. “I must get back everything she took from me.”
My breathing grew heavier.
“I’m almost there… Kelvin is just having a moment. He’ll come back. He always does.”
But suddenly, a sharp sting spread across my scalp.
It took me a second to realize what I had been doing.
My fingers were tangled tightly in my own hair, gripping so hard that strands had already come loose in my fist.
Slowly, my hands fell away.
A clump of my hair remained between my fingers.
Then the itching started.
It began at the back of my neck—an unbearable, crawling sensation beneath my skin.
I scratched it violently.
Again.
And again.
Until the burning sensation spread across my skin.
Breathing heavily, I rushed toward my room and tore open my luggage in desperation.
Clothes flew everywhere as I dug through the bag until my fingers finally found the small bottle of pills.
Without hesitation, I shook three into my palm and threw them into my mouth, swallowing them quickly.
My chest rose and fell rapidly as I leaned against the dresser, waiting for the trembling in my body to settle.
“I’ve come too far to waver now,” I whispered hoarsely.
My reflection stared back at me from the mirror—eyes wild, hair disheveled, desperation written across my face.
“I will get everything that belongs to me.”
My fingers tightened against the dresser.
“Everything she took from me…”
My voice dropped into a cold whisper.
“Everything I’ve ever dreamed of will be mine.”
Jaxon’s POV
I opened my eyes to a blinding light and immediately shut them again.
A dull pain throbbed inside my skull as I slowly pushed myself up into a sitting position, my head trembling from the effort.
For a moment, I just stayed there, breathing slowly.
Then I forced my eyes open again, allowing them to gradually adjust to the brightness around me as I looked around the room.
That was when the smell hit me.
Food.
The scent drifted through the air, warm and inviting, and my stomach immediately rumbled in response.
My gaze shifted toward the desk across the room.
There, sitting quietly, was a bowl of soup.
It didn’t take long for me to notice Troy’s presence as well. He was leaning against the door with his back pressed to it, his arms folded loosely while his face carried the same annoyed expression he always seemed to wear these days.
But the one face I actually wanted to see…
Wasn’t there.
Troy pushed himself away from the door and walked toward me before stopping right in front of me, his hands slipping into his pockets as he stared down at me.
“What time is it?” I asked.
Even to my own ears, my voice sounded weak and rough.
It surprised me.
I knew I had been pushing my body far past its limits these past few days, but every time I sat in front of food, I reminded myself of something.
I didn’t deserve to eat.
Not when Ravyn Vale is still out there.
“Does that even matter?” Troy snapped. “Dude, you’re pushing your body too hard, and it’s not good for you.”
His tone grew firmer.
“I’m not telling you the time, and I’m definitely not telling you how the preparations for the opening are going until you finish that bowl of rice porridge.”
He crossed his arms stubbornly.
“And don’t bother looking for your laptop or your phones either. I’m not giving them back to you.”
Troy had clearly started one of his usual rants.
But strangely enough…
I was actually hungry.
Slowly, I pushed myself off the bed and started walking toward the desk.
Behind me, Troy immediately assumed I was trying to leave.
“The doors are locked as well,” he added quickly.
Ignoring him completely, I pulled out the chair and sat down at the desk.
I lifted the spoon and took the first sip of the soup.
The moment the warm broth touched my tongue, the rich taste spread through my mouth, making my stomach tighten painfully as hunger surged through me.
My mouth watered instantly.
One sip turned into another.
Then another.
Within minutes, the bowl was completely empty.
Yet somehow…
I still didn’t feel satisfied.
Slowly, I lifted my head and finally met Troy’s gaze.
“Got any more?” I asked.
Troy’s eyes widened in pure shock.
He stared at me like I had just done something completely inhuman.
“Yeah…” he replied slowly, clearly stunned.
His eyes were still fixed on me as he turned and walked out of the room.
A moment later, he returned with a second bowl.
I finished the second bowl as well before drinking the glass of water sitting on the desk, finally feeling satisfied.
“Wow… did you just eat two bowls of soup?” Troy asked, his gaze still filled with shock and disbelief.
“Well, aren’t you happy?” I replied, wiping my mouth lightly. “Now can I have my gadgets?”
“Yeah, sure… I mean, why not?”
He immediately handed me my phone and laptop.
The first thing I did was check the time.
It was 4:35 p.m.
My brows furrowed slightly.
How long had I been out?
I lifted my gaze toward Troy, silently questioning him. He seemed to understand immediately.
“Relax,” he said quickly. “I worked with the team and supervised everything through the phone. I was only waiting for you to wake up so I could leave, but you kept waking up and drifting back to sleep.”
“Just get to the site already, would you?” I said calmly. “I’ll join you guys at six. I have somewhere I need to go.”
I didn’t give him time to ask questions before heading straight to the bathroom to freshen up.
By the time I came out, Troy was already gone.
So were the empty bowls.
On the bed lay a neatly folded suit that had clearly just been delivered. A short note was attached to it.
“Don’t be late.”
I glanced at the time again.
It was already past 5:00 p.m.
Quickly dressing up, I grabbed my things and headed out.
The drive was short.
In less than ten minutes, I arrived at Nancy’s house and stepped out of the car.
As I walked toward the entrance, I was met by an elderly woman whom I quickly recognized as Nancy’s mother.
There was a striking resemblance between them.
Especially with her second daughter.
Although Nancy clearly inherited her eyes.
She was dressed in an oversized tunic that spoke of long days of hard work, tucked carelessly into worn work trousers. Her heavy rubber boots were coated with a thin layer of dried mud, and the carton of eggs in her hands made it clear she had been working on the farm.
Her piercing green eyes rested on me—sharp, observant.
Under that gaze, I suddenly felt nervous, unsure of what to say or even how to act.
“I… I’m Mr. Lennox,” I blurted out awkwardly.
Her eyes remained fixed on me.
The way she continued looking at me—as if trying to figure something out—made me even more uneasy.
“Um… I’m sure the sheriff told you about me,” I added.
She nodded slowly, though her gaze never left my face.
“Yes… yes, he did,” she replied, a bright smile forming on her lips.
“You’re here to purchase the ranch.”
She adjusted the carton of eggs in her hands.
“I’ve heard so many good things about you from my second daughter… but my first daughter doesn’t seem to like you very much.”
She let out a soft giggle.
I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“I’m sorry if I caused any distress,” I said sincerely.
But she waved her hand dismissively, her smile growing even wider.
“Oh no, you didn’t,” she replied warmly. “I was just joking.”
Then she tilted her head slightly as she looked at me again.
“You know… I feel like I already know you, even though this is the first time we’re meeting.”
“My second daughter is a big fan of yours, and I must confess… I can see why now.”
Her eyes softened slightly as she continued studying my face.
“You have such beautiful eyes… just like someone I know.”
Her words left me momentarily confused.
Before I could respond, a voice suddenly spoke from behind me.