Chapter 50 Surprise
Seraphina stared at the woman standing in the doorway, certain for a moment that her mind had fractured under the weight of stress.
“…Sheila?”
Her voice came out small. Disbelieving.
Sheila stood frozen too, her eyes widening before lighting up with excitement.
“Sera.”
The nickname broke whatever stunned paralysis held them both in place.
Seraphina sprang off the bed.
Her bare feet hit the floor as she rushed toward her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, and the moment she reached her, she threw her arms around her best friend.
Sheila laughed softly as she hugged her back just as tightly.
“Oh my God,” Sheila breathed into her hair. “Look at you.”
Seraphina clung to her, savoring the familiar and safe bond between them.
For the first time in days, something inside her loosened.
She pulled back, her hands still gripping Sheila’s arms as she looked at her properly, scanning her face as if making sure she wasn’t an illusion, even though it’d only been a couple of weeks since they last saw one another.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, still breathless. “You were in Seattle.”
Sheila grinned.
“Well, your fiancé called me.”
Seraphina froze, taking a moment to digest her words.
Her smile remained on her lips, but inside, something twisted at the thought of Julian calling Sheila.
“My fiancé?” she repeated carefully.
Sheila nodded casually. “Yes. Julian. I know you would be utterly shocked. We actually bonded over the phone and he said he wanted to surprise you with me.”
Seraphina forced herself not to react.
She let out a small laugh instead, one that sounded almost convincing.
“That man,” she said softly. “He is surely full of surprises.”
And that part wasn’t a lie.
Sheila’s smile softened, then her expression shifted as she readied to accuse her best friend.
“But sincerely, Sera? I’m disappointed in you.”
Seraphina blinked, knowing that Sheila had all the rights in the world to say so. She said nothing, only waited for her to say more.
Sheila folded her arms.
“You’re getting married, Seraphina. Married. That’s not something small.”
Her voice wasn’t angry. Just hurt.
“And you weren’t going to tell me?”
Seraphina swallowed.
She hadn’t even been allowed to tell herself.
Sheila continued, her brows knitting together.
“One minute you were with Damien. The next minute you disappear, and now I find out you’re marrying someone else barely weeks after breaking up with him. I mean, you just lost…”
Her gaze sharpened slightly, but she swallowed that part, realizing it would be insensitive to mention the pregnancy she lost for Damien just like that.
“That’s not like you.” Sheila added instead.
Seraphina looked away briefly, wishing she could share all that was going on in her life but knew she couldn’t bring herself to.
“Listen,” Seraphina said quietly.
Sheila waited, while Sera hesitated.
Then she said it.
“Julian… is the same man. I mean, the one I… had a one night stand with when I was drunk five years ago.”
Sheila frowned. “Same man?”
Seraphina met her eyes.
“Yes.”
Understanding hit Sheila instantly.
Her mouth parted.
Her hands flew to her lips.
“You don’t mean—”
Seraphina nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Silence fell between them.
Sheila stared at her like she was seeing her for the first time.
“You mean,” she whispered, lowering her voice instinctively, “he’s Phoenix’s father?”
Seraphina nodded again.
Sheila exhaled sharply.
“Oh my God.”
She stood and turned slightly, pacing once like she needed movement to process it.
“No wonder,” she murmured. “No wonder you ran here without explaining anything.”
Seraphina stayed quiet.
Sheila turned back to her, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“All this time…”
She shook her head slowly.
“I thought that man was just some stranger who vanished.” Sheila said.
Seraphina forced herself to remain calm.
“We found each other again last year,” she lied carefully, because there was no way she would even tell Sheila about the journal. Yet.. “We just… kept it private.”
Sheila’s brows rose.
“Private?”
Seraphina nodded.
“I found out he was Damien’s twin.”
Sheila gasped.
Her hand flew back to her mouth.
“You’re lying.”
Seraphina gave a faint, tired smile.
“I wish I was.”
Sheila stared at her for several seconds, then dropped onto the edge of the bed like her legs could no longer hold her.
“That’s insane,” she whispered.
Her gaze lifted again.
“Damien’s twin brother.”
Seraphina didn’t respond.
Because saying it out loud still felt unreal.
Sheila studied her face closely.
Then her expression shifted. “Sera… are you sure you’ve thought about it very well? I mean, yes, he’s the father of your child but you just broke up with his twin. It’s risky. And don’t get me wrong, I’m only concerned because I want the best for you.”
Seraphina sighed. If only Sheila knew that she had signed a contract for a fake marriage to get back her father’s journal.
“Julian is the best man I have ever come across in my life.”
“Well, you said that about Damien in Seattle too.” Sheila shot.
Seraphina sighed. “Will you just trust my decision, Shei? I want the best for myself as well.”
Sheila sat back on the bed and touched her face. “Okay, I will.”
“Sure?”
“Sure. Come on, my best friend is getting married.” She pulled Seraphina into a comforting hug.
When they pulled away, Sheila shrieked, “But damnnn, your fiance is so fuckin…sorry, I should lower my voice. That dude is freaking hottt!” Sheila exclaimed, fanning herself.
Seraphina blinked. “I know right.”
Sheila laughed softly, shaking her head.
“No seriously. When I saw him downstairs, I nearly forgot why I was here. I mean Damien might be cute and all that, but he is no match, bro.”
Seraphina didn’t know how to respond to that.
Sheila leaned back on her palms.
“If I were you,” she said bluntly, “I would ditch Damien’s cheating ass too for someone that looks like that.”
Seraphina stiffened slightly.
Sheila continued, completely unaware of the truth.
“That man looks like sin and control had a child. Now, I am no longer surprised why Phoenix is such a cute kid.”
Seraphina almost laughed at the accuracy of that description, but then frowned playfully. “You mean Phoenix didn’t get his good looks from me? Say that again.”
Sheila laughed. “Maybe a little.” She said a joking sound that made Sera laugh out loud genuinely.
Sheila looked at her again, her expression softening.
“As long as you’re safe, Sera… that’s all I care about.”
The words struck deeper than Sheila realized.
Safe.
Seraphina forced a small nod.
Sheila smiled warmly.
“I’ve got you now and always.”
“I know you do, bestie. So…where are your bags? Knowing you, I know you would have shopped a lot for my own wedding.”
Sheila’s upper lip rose sassily. “You have no idea.” She winked. “Julian had someone move them to one of the rooms I’d be staying in. So where’s Phoenix? Does Maris also know you’re getting married?
Seraphina’s chest tightened.