Chapter 34
Brielle whipped around, and the second her eyes landed on me, she looked like she had seen a ghost. Her throat worked as she swallowed hard.
"Seraphine, what—what were you doing here?"
I crossed my arms, my tone flat. "Did I need to clear my schedule with you then?"
Brielle forced a smile, glancing between me and Mitchell with obvious discomfort. "No, that wasn't what I meant. I just didn't expect you would still be here that late."
"If Mitchell's parents hadn't called me, I wouldn't have been here either. But you—"
I stepped closer, my gaze drilling into her. "Were you and Mitchell still keeping that old flame alive?"
"What were you even talking about? There was no flame between us." Brielle's face darkened, her eagerness to distance herself almost comical.
Mitchell jumped in to help. "Seraphine, don't get the wrong idea. My parents were probably freaking out about me getting hurt and told everyone they could. Brielle must have heard and come to check on me."
I couldn't be bothered with their little performance anymore.
I had gotten my show. My petty satisfaction was complete. No reason to stick around.
"Whatever. I wasn't interested in whatever was going on between you two." I locked eyes with Mitchell. "But listen carefully—you and I were never getting back together. Got it? So quit wasting your energy."
I tilted my chin up, my smile cold. "I didn't care if you grovelled on your knees or dropped a million-dollar necklace at my feet. None of it mattered. So save your cheap tricks—they made me sick."
"A million-dollar necklace?"
Brielle spun around, the fragile expression on her face instantly replaced by shock.
She stared at Mitchell, disbelief written all over her features. "You bought her that Black Rose Pink limited edition, didn't you?"
My mind sharpened.
Brielle didn't know?
From her reaction, she wasn't faking it.
So Mitchell had dropped serious cash on a gift for me—and deliberately kept it from Brielle.
How interesting.
In my past life, his every move had been orchestrated by her.
Mitchell's eyes darted away, his words stumbling. "No, I—I just—"
"Enough."
I had zero interest in their drama. "Mitchell, remember what I said. Stay out of my sight. Otherwise, if the Stafford family lost its footing in Skyview City, don't blame me for being ruthless."
I turned and pulled open the hospital room door—and nearly collided with two people standing right outside.
Mr. and Mrs. Stafford stood there, their faces drawn tight with displeasure. Clearly, they had heard every word I had just said.
I froze for a second.
That threat had been meant purely for Mitchell—I hadn't intended for his parents to overhear.
In my past life, the Staffords had been decent enough to me. They had been clueless about Mitchell and Brielle's schemes.
But they had heard what they had heard. No point explaining now.
I held my ground, my expression icy. "I knew you both had a good relationship with the Whitaker family. I didn't want to see you disappear from Skyview City's scene. So please—keep Mitchell in check. Tell him to stop harassing me. Otherwise, a beating would be the least of his problems."
I stepped aside and brushed past them without a backward glance.
Brielle's POV
Mr. and Mrs. Stafford sighed, said nothing, and left the room.
The second they were gone, I couldn't hold back anymore. I whirled on Mitchell. "What the hell was going on with you? Why would you buy her such an expensive necklace? Were you trying to win her back because she had a better reputation now? Now that my name had been dragged through the mud, you wanted to chase after her again?"
My voice cracked as emotion flooded through me. I pounded my fist against his chest. "Did you even have a heart? I was the one whose reputation got destroyed because of you!"
Mitchell looked guilty but doubled down defensively. "Don't be ridiculous. I was just trying to keep her on the hook. How was I supposed to know she'd turn into such an ice queen?"
"Keeping her on the hook required a million-dollar necklace? Do you think I'm stupid?"
I stared him down, and in his averted gaze, I caught something that made my blood run cold—a flicker of lingering feelings for that bitch.
He used to only see Seraphine as a tool. But now that she had stopped giving him attention and started cozying up to Octavius, Mitchell was suddenly feeling possessive. Unwilling to let go?
A strange panic coiled in my chest.
No. Absolutely not.
Mitchell was mine.
He wasn't just my most important pawn—he was also the easiest man to control. The one I could marry and completely dominate.
I forced my anger down, took a deep breath, and softened my tone. "Okay, Mitchell. I got it—you were frustrated. But you were being way too hasty. Hadn't you noticed that Seraphine was a completely different person now?"
Mitchell clenched his jaw, irritation flickering across his face. "I knew. She got colder every single day. She used to be so easy to win over."
I helped him settle back onto the hospital bed. "Your old tactics—the whole desperate, clingy routine—wouldn't work anymore. You were just pushing her further away. And you would piss off Octavius completely."
Mitchell frowned, finally listening. "So what did you suggest?"
"Stop chasing her. Give her the cold shoulder for a while."
My mind was already working through the next steps. "The priority right now was getting her kicked out of the company. Once she was gone and I was in—once I had secured my shares—we could merge our families' businesses. Combined, we would have serious competitive power. We wouldn't have to be so scared of Octavius. And then?" I smiled. "You could have Seraphine eating out of your hand again."
Mitchell's face lit up with a smug grin, like he had found his anchor again. "Good plan. I would do what you say."
I didn't press further. I told him to rest and headed home.
When I got back, Amara was in the living room.
I threw myself into her arms. "Mom, Mitchell bought Seraphine a million-dollar necklace to try and win her back—and he hid it from me! It was even the one I wanted. Do you think he actually had feelings for her?"
Amara stroked my back soothingly. "Sweetheart, men were all the same. He just didn't like that Seraphine had stopped orbiting around him. Don't worry. Once Seraphine had nothing left, he would figure out who was really right for him."
I exhaled in relief, though I still pouted.
Amara paused, then let out a cold laugh. "Right now, the most important thing is getting Seraphine out of that company as fast as possible. I had already set everything up. The medical project would be your connection—partner with the Staffords, make it a sure win. Once you were in the company's inner circle, what right did Seraphine have to compete with you?"
I lifted my head, wiping my tears. "But what about Octavius? He was working with the company now. What if he backed Seraphine and tried to give her more power?"
Amara's smile turned sly. "Then we would make sure he—and the Capulet family—were completely disgusted with Seraphine. Make them never want to help her again."
My eyes lit up. "How? I knew Octavius's grandfather already couldn't stand her. I heard she even gave him a heart attack last time!"
Amara leaned in close and whispered her plan into my ear.
When she finished, I couldn't help but laugh.
Seraphine, let's see how you recovered from this one.
The Capulet family would never be your safety net again.