Chapter 16 Evening Ride

Chapter 16 Evening Ride
Damien’s POV

Seraphina looks unbelievably hot in the dress I got for her. It fits her perfectly… even more than I imagined.

I can’t stop staring.

She shifts uneasily, avoiding my eyes.

I smile and drop a pair of shoes I brought for her. “I managed to get these from a nearby store. Manage them for now. We will go shopping after visiting someone I used to know back in New York, a childhood friend.”

She turns toward me, glances at the shoes, and murmurs, “Thank you, sir.”

“You are welcome.” I leave the room, gently shutting the door behind me.

Leaning my back against it, I exhale deeply and close my eyes. Then I smile.

This feeling… it’s real. And the more I try to ignore it, the stronger it grows.

Seraphina is just a maid, and I can’t marry her. Not because she’s a maid, no. But because my parents already had an agreement with Victoria’s family. And I know Mom would never accept me ditching Victoria for her.

My heart aches as I realize that Seraphina might forever remain just that… a forbidden maid I can never truly have.

She finishes dressing and joins me in the sitting room. We head out together, stepping into the sleek Rolls-Royce waiting for us outside.

On our way to Steven’s house, Mom calls. I let it ring out. Then she calls again.

Seraphina glances at me, uneasy. I finally answer before it stops ringing.

I can hear Victoria’s voice yelling in the background. Mom’s tone is sharp when she says, “That’s enough, Victoria.” The noise fades.

“Damien,” Mom says, calmer now.

I swallow hard.

“I’m disappointed in you.”

I don’t reply. I don’t need to. I already know what this is about. Victoria must have told her everything.

“I know you can hear me, Damien,” she adds coldly.

I stay silent.

“You come back soon,” she says after a pause. “And I don’t ever want to see that maid in this house again.”

What?!

The word almost escapes my lips.

She hangs up.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, gripping my thigh. I try to compose myself, but Seraphina notices anyway. Her eyes search my face. I force a smile and tell the chauffeur to drive faster.

We arrive at Steven’s house. He’s excited to see us, though his expression changes slightly when he glances at Seraphina, he's obviously curious. He must have thought I was coming with Victoria.

I gently hold Seraphina’s hand. She glances up at me awkwardly. Steven smiles and ushers us in.

He serves pan con tomate… crispy bread rubbed with garlic and fresh tomato, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt.

“So,” he starts, “how’s Victoria and… Nicholas?”

“Fine,” I say after clearing my throat.

“And your mom? Uncle Dante?”

“They’re fine too.” I take a sip of wine. “Your parents, are you in contact with them now?”

I ask because I am curious. His parents disowned him years ago when they found out he was gay. It’s been over a decade.

He sighs. “Mom reaches out sometimes, but Dad? The Marine in him makes his heart as hard as stone.”

Before I can reply, a man walks in carrying grocery bags, singing Steven’s name in a teasing tone. But when he sees us, he stops and stares.

Steven stands immediately. “Michael!” he says warmly, walking over to help him with the groceries. “That’s Damien, from New York. And Seraphina, his…” He pauses, because the only thing I told him earlier was her name.

“Girlfriend,” I finish for him.

Steven grins.

Seraphina looks awkward again. Doesn’t she want to be my girlfriend?

“Damien, this is my boyfriend, Michael,” Steven says.

“Nice to meet you, man,” I shake his hand.

“Nice to meet you too,” he says, his gaze lingering on Seraphina like he’s trying to remember where he’s seen her before. “Seraphina, huh?”

“Yes,” she says softly, clearly tense.

After the introductions, Michael goes upstairs and doesn’t come down again until we are about to leave. Steven calls him, we say our goodbyes, and he disappears back upstairs.

Steven walks us out. “Don’t mind my boyfriend,” he says quickly. “He’s just tired… not in a good mood today.”

“It’s fine,” I smile. “No need to explain.”

He nods, then glances at Seraphina. “You know, I used to think you and Victoria were a perfect match,” he says teasingly. “But now that I’ve met Seraphina, I’m rethinking that.”

I raise a brow.

“Yeah,” he laughs, “you and Seraphina make a perfect match.”

Seraphina immediately hops into the car as the chauffeur opens the door. I can’t tell if she’s shy or just uncomfortable.

“We’ve got to go now, Steven,” I say, checking my wristwatch. “Maybe before we leave for New York, we’ll drop by again.”

“Alright, see you soon.”

“You too.”

We shake hands and I get into the car.

On our way to our next destination, I scroll through my phone and see several messages from Victoria. Her threats fill the screen, she’s promising to ruin Seraphina if I dare come back home with her.

I sigh and toss the phone aside.

The Rolls-Royce glides to a stop in front of Casa de Sol Boutique just as the streetlights flicker on. The store is quiet, the kind of quiet only money can buy.

Seraphina steps out first, clutching her small purse like a shield. The soft wind plays with her hair, she tries to tame it with trembling fingers. She has no idea how she looks… simple, fragile, breathtaking.

Inside, the scent of expensive perfume and faint violin music wraps around us. Two attendants appear instantly, dressed in sleek black uniforms, wearing that professional smile reserved for high-paying clients.

“Bienvenidos, Señor Harrington,” one of them says, recognizing me. “We’ve been expecting you.”

Of course they had. I called ahead.

I guide Seraphina inside. She catches her reflection in the mirrored walls and smiles shyly. Her gaze drifts toward a rack of modest dresses, the kind she’d wear back in Mexico.

I almost smile. Of course she’d choose those. But this isn’t Mexico. This is Spain.

“Not those ones, please,” I say gently. “Try the ones over there.” I nod toward the luxury section. “You will look… stunning.”

Her brows knit together. “But they are too…”

“Beautiful,” I cut in softly. “Exactly what you are.”

She blushes, looking away.

The attendants hurry off to prepare a fitting room.

I lean on the glass counter, watching her disappear behind the curtain.

When she steps out in a black dress, time stops.

The black dress hugs her body perfectly, as if it was made for her. She looks nervous, not because of the dress but because of me… and what this moment means.

“Wow,” I utter, stepping closer.

She timidly smiles, lowering her gaze.

After paying for everything, we head out outside with the boxes in hand.

She’s quiet, but I can see it in her eyes.

She’s happy. I am happy too, but for how long? Soon, we won't have any choice but to go our separate ways. And that will definitely hurt me.