Chapter 188

"Mom! Didn't I just tell you? I knew those two were up to something! Seraphina is trying to ruin everything between me and him!"

When Glynnis saw Alexander dressing Seraphina in that stunning crimson evening gown, jealousy clawed at her chest. Seraphina's face was fresh and radiant, needing no makeup to look breathtakingly beautiful.

What made it worse? They were both wearing the same deep wine-red shade, looking like some damn power couple.

Under the dazzling lights, standing side by side, they stole every ounce of attention in the room.

Glynnis suddenly hated her own lavender dress—it felt like a slap in the face.

Red and purple? A disastrous clash.

"Seraphina is my daughter. I know exactly what kind of person she is!"

Unlike Glynnis, Elspeth saw the bigger picture. "Even though Seraphina is twenty-two, she acts like a child. She’s not mature enough for romance, let alone scheming to steal your man. Do you really think she has the cunning for that?"

Glynnis simmered down slightly, but frustration still burned inside her.

"I think it’s more complicated than you realize. Alexander was already cold toward you before. After Hamilton’s birthday party, he probably figured out your intentions and started avoiding you. He knows Seraphina is your sister—he’s getting close to her just to spite you."

"What?" Glynnis felt dizzy. "What do I do, Mom? Is there no hope for me to marry Mr. Alexander?"

"Now, more than ever, you need patience. Not only do you have to work with Edith to get closer to Alexander, but you also need to change your attitude. Keep your cool. If he’s nice to Seraphina, you be nice to her too. Show him your sweet, kind side. Understand?" Elspeth’s tone was firm.

"I get it," Glynnis muttered reluctantly.

Meanwhile, not far away—

Seraphina was scanning the crowd for Ada, her eyes bright with excitement.

But when she spotted Edith playing the piano on stage, her expression froze. Her face paled, and the light in her eyes dimmed like a flower wilting in an instant.

Beneath the red dress, her body trembled.

Memories of humiliation and ridicule from her childhood flooded back, drowning her in despair.

"Who would be friends with an idiot like you? What are you even thinking?"

"Throw her in the trash! That’s where she belongs!"

"Cut off her hair! I hate any girl with prettier hair than mine!"

"Even Mr. Frederic and Elspeth don’t love you. Your sister despises you. Do you think you deserve to be called an Abernathy? You’re a disgrace!"

A disgrace. That’s what she was.

On stage, Edith played the piano with full concentration, completely unaware of the venomous glare directed at her from the crowd.

Seraphina’s eyes turned bloodshot as she clutched her teddy bear and began backing away, cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

Suddenly, Alexander grabbed her arm.

"Seraphina, what’s wrong? Are you nervous? Didn’t you say you wanted Ada’s autograph? Come on, I’ll take you to her."

But Seraphina violently yanked her arm free and bolted for the exit without looking back.

"Seraphina! Where are you going?"

Alexander was stunned. Worried she might run into danger, he chased after her.

Glynnis seethed with rage.

Even though Elspeth had told her to stay calm, seeing Alexander care so much for that idiot made her grind her teeth. It was unbearable.

Terror consumed Seraphina as she fled the hotel. She sprinted blindly toward the road, tears streaming down her face.

She had wanted so badly to meet Ada. She’d spent countless lonely nights watching her movies, living vicariously through the fearless heroines who always triumphed.

But seeing Edith in person made her want to disappear.

She was nothing but a burden. A fragile, worthless thing.

The taunts and cruelty chased her like demons from the past.

HONK! HONK! HONK!

A deafening car horn shattered the night.

Blinding headlights bore down on her.

She turned, her face ghostly pale under the glare—

But she froze, unable to move.

The speeding truck couldn’t stop in time. Seraphina hugged her teddy bear tightly, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Seraphina! Watch out!"

At the last second, Alexander lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her fragile body.

Just as she protected her teddy bear, he shielded her with everything he had.

Then, he twisted, taking the brunt of the impact as they crashed onto the pavement.

His shoulder slammed into a jagged rock by the roadside. A muffled groan escaped him as pain radiated through his body, his suit drenched in sweat.

The truck swerved, crashing into a flowerbed. Thankfully, the driver was unharmed.

Alexander was in agony. He released Seraphina—

But to his shock, the ungrateful girl scrambled out of his arms and vanished into the night without a backward glance.

"Hey! Seraphina, come back! At least help me up!"

He was in too much pain to stand, fury boiling inside him.

The hype for tonight’s event had been massive, but the night ended in disaster.

Alexander’s secretary kept the accident under wraps to avoid alarming his family. So instead of leaving immediately, Edith stayed behind with Glynnis at the Abernathy Hotel’s bar.

"Damn it! Thaddeus is obsessed with Evadne!" Edith slammed her glass down, eyes blazing. "If he’s so into her, why did he divorce her?"

"Edith, you’re not the only one confused. I don’t get it either." Glynnis propped her chin on her hand, frowning. "Before the divorce, Evadne was basically a servant in our house—cooking, cleaning, following Thaddeus around like a lost puppy. Three years of that! I can’t even stand cooking for one day. But Thaddeus never cared. He only had eyes for Acacia. Now? Suddenly, he’s chasing after the woman he tossed aside. I used to think he was right, but now? He’s blind."

Edith’s expression darkened further. She scoffed, "Glynnis, are you defending Evadne? Regretting she’s not your sister-in-law anymore?"

"No, no! Edith, you misunderstood." Glynnis quickly backtracked. "I was just trying to help you figure it out. Why was he indifferent before but suddenly interested now? Is it love blooming late? Or is it just that he wants what he can’t have?"

Edith took a furious gulp of her drink, determination burning in her eyes. "I refuse to believe Thaddeus has feelings for Evadne! If he did, why divorce her after three years? He’s just jealous because his ex-wife is thriving now. The more jealous he gets, the more he wants to control her!"

She tossed her hair arrogantly. "Thaddeus and I have a connection. Evadne can’t compete with me. He likes me—he’s just temporarily blinded by her!"

Glynnis rolled her eyes internally but stayed silent.

She always thought Edith was delusional, but she couldn’t afford to offend her. Not when she needed Edith’s help to marry into the Fairhaven family.

"Glynnis, we need to get Ada on board to help Thaddeus secure this project. I’ll back you up."

Edith’s mind flashed to Evadne’s smug face when she flaunted Twilight. Hatred burned in her chest.

"A brooch? Please. Alea has designed plenty. If Evadne can pull it off, so can I!"