Chapter 33
Seraphine's POV
The car was dead silent.
Octavius stared at me without blinking.
I knew my vague explanation about the medicine didn't hold water at all.
"I'm not hiding any secrets from you. This really is just a prescription I asked someone to find for treating heart disease."
I steeled myself, forcing my expression into something more sincere, dragging Heath in as my shield. "If you don't believe me, you can ask my dad next time. He knows I've been asking around about health remedies lately."
Even I felt guilty saying that.
Like Heath would know these kinds of details.
Octavius said nothing, his gaze only darkening further. Clearly, he wasn't buying it.
But he didn't press about the medicine's source. "Why did you go deliver it?"
This question I'd prepared for—and my answer was genuine.
I lifted my head to meet Octavius's eyes, my tone carrying sincere remorse. "Because I heard that Mr. Nolan Capulet collapsed and was hospitalized because of those awful things I said before."
"Octavius, I'm sorry. I know an apology is nothing, but I truly regret it. I feel terrible about it."
"I wanted to do something, anything—even just a little—that might help your grandfather's health."
I gathered my courage to finish, watching Octavius's tightly pressed lips. "I'm not asking you to forgive my past stupidity. I just want to make what amends I can."
Octavius watched me in silence, his eyes unreadable.
Several seconds passed before he finally spoke. "What about me? You only thought about whether Grandpa was upset? Why didn't you ask about me?"
He paused, his gaze cutting into me like a blade. "Why didn't you ask if I was upset? If I were hurt?"
My heart lurched. I threw the question back at him. "People only get hurt when they care. Mr. Capulet, are you still upset with me? Still hurting?"
The boldness of my words startled even me.
I must be losing my mind.
Silence filled the car again.
After two seconds, Octavius suddenly reached out, his fingertips hooking under my chin, forcing me to tilt my head higher.
A smile played at the corner of his lips, devastatingly handsome. "Seraphine, don't try to fish for answers from me."
My heartbeat skipped. I quickly lowered my eyes, not daring to meet his gaze, my cheeks heating up.
Octavius's mood had clearly improved. His cool fingertips brushed against my chin once more before withdrawing.
"Alright, I'll take you home."
I didn't respond, my brow furrowing involuntarily.
Mitchell and his crew were relentless. They wouldn't give up after one failure.
Especially Brielle.
She wanted to steal everything I had in the Whitaker family, wanted to destroy my reputation in high society.
She couldn't do it alone—she'd definitely keep using Mitchell, that idiot, to harass me.
"What are you thinking about?"
Octavius interrupted my thoughts.
"Nothing," I shook my head vaguely, not wanting to burden him with this filth. "I'm just a little shaken. What happened in the elevator today... it freaked me out."
The moment I finished speaking, a warm hand settled on top of my head.
Octavius's movement was slightly clumsy but incredibly gentle as he ruffled my hair.
"I've got you."
I stared up at him in a daze.
Octavius quickly withdrew his hand, as if that brief moment of comfort had been my imagination.
In that instant, I clearly felt a flutter of warmth in my chest, spreading rapidly from my heart through my entire body.
I had real feelings for him now.
Not out of guilt or a need to make amends—I was genuinely falling for him.
Later, Octavius drove me back to the Whitaker Mansion.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out, then leaned down to tap on the window, wanting to thank him for everything tonight.
Octavius sensed my intention and cut me off before I could speak.
"Don't forget—you're mine."
His tone was firm. "That's always going to be true. My people are my responsibility."
With that, Octavius didn't give me time to react. He hit the gas.
The Rolls-Royce vanished down the road.
I stood there, my heartbeat refusing to settle.
Just then, my phone buzzed in my bag—terrible timing.
Unknown number.
I answered with a frown.
A tearful voice came through immediately.
"Is this Seraphine? I'm Mitchell's mother. Please, please come see Mitchell at the hospital! Someone beat him up badly... he keeps saying your name..."
Xanthe.
I put it together instantly.
Mitchell definitely wouldn't dare say he'd been beaten by Octavius's people. He could only swallow this bitter pill.
Thinking of his bruised and swollen face filled me with satisfaction.
Went see his sorry state?
Absolutely. I'd love to witness this train wreck.
"Don't worry, which hospital? I'll come right away."
After getting the address, I headed straight to the VIP ward.
Both of Mitchell's parents were there, eyes red and swollen. When they saw me, they immediately stood to greet me.
"Seraphine, thank goodness you're here! Go see Mitchell quickly—you're the only one he wants to see."
Xanthe grabbed my hand, practically pushing me into the room, then thoughtfully closed the door behind me.
Inside, Mitchell lay in the hospital bed, his lip split, one eye swollen to a slit, his arm wrapped in bandages.
He did look pathetic.
When he saw me, he struggled to sit up.
"Seraphine, you came! I knew you would!"
I stood coldly by the bed, saying nothing.
The next second, ignoring his injuries, he suddenly rolled off the bed and dropped to his knees in front of me, grabbing at my clothes.
"Seraphine, I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! I'm a bastard. Forgive me this once—let's start over, okay?"
I felt nothing but disgust.
To help Brielle destroy me, Mitchell had really thrown away every shred of dignity.
I genuinely wondered what kind of spell Brielle had cast on Mitchell to make him so obedient—willing to kneel, to send gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Remembering their vile faces from my past life, I yanked my clothes from his grip.
I stepped back. "Mitchell, you've got it wrong. I didn't come because I care about you. I came to see with my own eyes what happens to people who mess with me."
Mitchell froze, staring at me in disbelief.
A cold smile curved my lips. "This was just a warning. Touch me again, and I'll have Octavius make the Stafford family disappear from Skyview City entirely. Don't push me."
Mitchell's face went deathly pale.
Just then, the door burst open.
A figure rushed in frantically, voice choked with tears.
"Mitchell! Mitchell, are you okay? I heard from Mrs. Stafford that someone beat you up! Who did this?"
Brielle.
She hadn't noticed me standing by the door. She threw herself toward the bed, reaching out to take Mitchell's hand with exaggerated concern.
Watching this performance, I found it utterly ridiculous. My voice drifted out lazily.
"Well, if it isn't Brielle. Yesterday you were half-dead in a hospital bed, and today you're up and running around caring about men?"
Brielle's body went rigid, her outstretched hand frozen in midair.