Chapter 12 The Devil’s Fiancée
Seraphina took another bite of the Salmon meal in her front. She was half way done when she quitted eating. She needed it for strength, or she would have collapsed thirty minutes ago after all that happened with Julian. She had even watched two of Julian’s men pack the deceased body away.
She gulped down the glass water in one go.
Julian was seated opposite her, sipping from the dark alcoholic wine in his hand. He had changed his bloody white shirt into a dark shirt that he rolled over their sleeves. His eyes didn’t leave Seraphina as she ate till she stopped.
She sighed heavily, taking courage to look up at him. “I can’t believe you are controlling me.”
Julian remained composed. “You are mine now. Everything you do will be according to my terms.”
Seraphina almost scoffed. “Fine. Can I have my father’s journal now?”
His eyes pinned hers. “You will have it after our wedding.”
She frowned, “There will be a wedding?” He nodded.
“You said I will receive it after I sign the contract!” She was almost screaming out of frustration now.
“Relax, Fiancée. The contract term stated that you will do things on my condition after signing. I can change my mind anytime. All you have to do is to be obedient.”
Her eyes narrowed at him like she hated his guts. “What’s your end goal exactly?”
A small smile appeared on his face. Seraphina couldn’t help but have a mind shift in that moment; Why did he have to be so good-looking but commit sins only devils do? She was conflicted. Totally conflicted.
When she noticed he was taking time to respond to her, she spoke again. “I just asked a ques…”
“Revenge.” He interrupted her.
Her expression contorted to that of confusion. “Revenge? For what?”
Julian didn’t respond immediately, but eventually, he did. “You are a Moreau. That’s a powerful name in the country. When a Thorne weds a Moreau, people will bow.”
Seraphina scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. She knew there was more. There had to be.
“That doesn’t make any sense, Julian. You were engaged to Talia, and she’s a Moreau too.”
His jaw flexed, a ghostly smile touching his lips.
“Julian sounds good on your lips, Phine, but I love it more when you call me Zeus.”
Seraphina’s lips fell apart, words failing her. How was he able to derive humor from such serious talk as the one they were having?
Before she could even make any comment, he spoke again.
“Talia is a Moreau I despise. You, on the other hand…” His eyes trailed her face, sharp as glass. “You’re a Moreau I don’t hate.”
She huffed, disbelief flashing across her face. “You need to tell me what’s really going on. Don’t hide behind this ‘Moreau alliance’ thing.”
His body stiffened for a split second; his jaw moving. Then his voice dropped an octave, low and bitter. “My father exiled me five years ago. For a crime I didn’t commit.” His eyes darted elsewhere, narrowing into emptiness as if looking into the past. “My own twin brother framed me up.”
Her attention was fully piqued. “Framed you up for what?”
He swirled the wine in his glass before setting it down. “He told my father I killed someone.”
Seraphina’s brow creased. She was still struggling with the reality of Damien betraying her, and now this. “But you did kill people. I just…just witnessed you kill one.”
Julian leaned back slowly, his tone unapologetic as he corrected, “Bad people.”
Her breath stuttered. There was no remorse in his voice- only conviction.
He pushed his chair back and rose, every movement he made intimidating. He still seemed unreal to her. Like all these were a dream she would soon wake up from. “I’m back to take what’s mine. To avenge the years I lost. And maybe…” His eyes raked over her in that unreadable, possessive way. “Maybe it’ll be satisfying to be with you while I crush Damien beneath my heel. He would claw out his own mind.”
Seraphina’s lips curled into a dry laugh. “You’re delusional. Damien wouldn’t even care. He never truly liked me.”
Julian’s brows lifted slightly, almost amused. “You think so?” He tilted his head. “Because he called you last night. Didn’t sound like a man who didn’t care.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he said smoothly, “your phone rang while you were asleep. I answered it.”
Color drained from her face. “You what?” She asked, voice trembling with fury and disbelief.
He took a slow sip of his wine, appearing unbothered. “I spoke with him.”
Seraphina shot up from the bed she was seated on, feeling a slight sting at the lower part of her belly but she didn’t care at the moment.
“You’re sick. You’re absolutely sick!” She snatched her phone from the table.
Julian didn’t move at first, but his gaze followed her like a predator watching prey. “Where are you going?”
“I’m leaving.”
She was halfway to the door when his hand shot out, catching her wrist and pulling her back. In one swift motion, her back hit the wall, and he crowded her.
“Leave me alone! You psychopath,” She struggled under his hold but her efforts were futile.
His voice dropped to a chilling murmur against her ear. “I hate disobedience.”
Seraphina’s heart hammered painfully. Fear and rage warred in her eyes. “Maybe your father exiled you for the right reason,” she spat. “Because you’re a psychopath- a bloody killer.”
His grip tightened just enough to make her gasp. “I told you, I only kill bad people,” His cold voice made her flinch. “And I don’t owe you any explanations, Phine. I don’t explain myself.” He added.
She glared at him, her breath shaking. “It doesn’t change what you are.”
Julian’s eyes darkened. Then suddenly, he turned her sharply to face him. Their gazes locked.
Seraphina swallowed, her throat moving as an effect of fear. She could feel the tension in his body—the restrained violence, the dangerous pull of something she couldn’t name.
“You’re stubborn,” he said after a moment, voice huskier than normal, almost sounding like an admiration. “I like that.”
Her jaw clenched, hating his composure. “Oh but I’m sorry, Julian. It's not the same case with me,” she said through her teeth, then her voice fell into a chilling tone, “Because I hate you.”
Silence stretched between them after she said that. Julian’s lips curved slightly, though his eyes remained hollow. “Do you want to know what the man I killed did?”
Seraphina felt a tug in her chest. Her voice was small when it came. “What… did he do?”
Julian’s fingers started to trail lightly along her naked arm. And surprisingly for her , her skin tingled under his touch. His hand moved to her waist, then stopped, his gaze dipping briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.
She shivered, despising herself for it. And for one terrifying moment, she noticed something—his eyes, as striking and beautiful as they were like her son’s, looked painfully empty.
“Your eyes… they’re empty.” She whispered between them.
Julian’s eyes turned colder. “That’s because my heart is empty too.”
Her breath hitched.
Then, in that same haunting calm, he added, “The man trafficked children. When they didn’t obey… he killed them.”
Seraphina froze, her entire body going cold.