SERAPHINA
The final bell had barely rung when I spotted Roman leaning against the stone pillar near the main entrance, arms crossed, that familiar possessive smirk already in place.
Perfect timing.
I didn't bother waiting for Noah. Instead, I walked straight toward Roman, letting my hips sway just enough to keep his eyes locked on me. He straightened the moment he saw me, pulling me in for a deep kiss right there in front of the scattering students. His hands settled low on my waist, gripping hard enough to remind me who he thought he owned.
When we broke apart, I glanced back over my shoulder. Noah was standing a few feet away near the steps, bag slung over his shoulder, watching the scene with that tight, stormy expression I'd come to enjoy.
I pulled away from Roman just enough to speak, voice carrying clearly. "Noah."
He stepped closer, jaw clenched.
"Change of plans," I said, tone light but laced with mockery. "Roman and I have a date tonight. I'm leaving with him. You'll go back to the estate with Thomas." I gestured toward the waiting black Mercedes where our usual driver stood beside the open rear door. "Don't wait up. And don't get any ideas about insisting I come straight home. I do what I want, when I want. Understood?"
Noah's eyes darkened. For a second he looked like he might argue — his mouth opened, shoulders squaring as if he were about to push back. "Seraphina, you should—"
I cut him off with a sharp laugh, stepping closer so only he could hear the next words. "Should what? Come home like a good little girl because my father's charity project wants me to? How adorable." My voice dropped, cold and venomous. "You don't get to tell me what to do. Ever. You're lucky I'm even letting you ride in my car at all. Now get in with Thomas and go back to the house like the obedient pet you are. If you make a scene or try to insist again, I'll make sure Roman records something far more interesting than last time."
His fists clenched at his sides, but he swallowed whatever else he wanted to say. The conflict in his eyes — anger, shame, that helpless frustration — sent a delicious spark through me.
Roman chuckled behind me, loud enough for Noah to hear. "Yeah, run along, scholarship boy. We have a date."
I turned back to Roman with a sweet smile, sliding my arm through his. "Let's go."
We walked toward his black Range Rover without another glance at Noah. As Roman opened the door for me, I caught one last glimpse of Noah standing frozen on the steps, watching us drive away. Thomas would take him back to the estate alone.
The Rover pulled smoothly out of the academy grounds, Roman's hand already sliding onto my thigh.
"God, I hate that guy," Roman muttered. "What the hell is your father thinking, moving him into your house?"
I leaned back against the seat, letting my fingers trace patterns on Roman's arm. "Father sees potential. Or at least entertainment value. Don't worry about Noah. He's harmless… for now."
Roman snorted. "Harmless? He looks at you like he wants to either kill you or have you."
I laughed softly. "Maybe both. But he knows his place. Mostly."
Inside, the thrill of leaving Noah behind — forcing him to ride home alone while I disappeared with Roman — felt better than it should have. He'd spend the entire ride stewing, wondering what we were doing on our date, imagining all the ways I was using him as nothing more than a convenient toy.
Exactly how I liked it.
NOAH
The Mercedes felt too big and too empty without her.
Thomas drove in silence, the engine purring smoothly as we left Westfield behind. I sat in the back seat, staring out the window, fists still clenched from the scene at the front steps.
I'd almost insisted. The words had been right there — You should come back home. Your father expects…— but she'd cut me off with that cruel laugh and the threat wrapped in silk. One more word and Roman would have pulled out his phone again. One more word and everything could unravel.
So I'd shut my mouth and watched her walk away with him, her laughter floating back as they climbed into Roman's Range Rover.
Now the estate loomed ahead, grand and cold. Thomas pulled into the circular drive and opened the door for me without a word.
I stepped out, bag heavy on my shoulder, and headed inside alone.
Mrs. Dawn met me in the foyer, her expression politely neutral. "Mr. Callaghan. Mr. Voss is also away on business. Shall I have something sent to your room?"
I nodded, throat tight. "Yeah. Thanks."
Up in the east wing suite, I dropped my bag and collapsed onto the edge of the massive bed. The silence pressed in from all sides. No Seraphina barking orders. No cold smiles or mocking questions about my mother. Just… emptiness.
And yet it felt worse.
Because I knew she was out there with Roman on their date, probably laughing about how easily she could dismiss me, how quickly I'd backed down when she told me to "go back home with Thomas." She'd enjoyed it. I could see it in her eyes — the way she fed off my helplessness, the way she loved reminding me I had no real power here.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number, but I knew exactly who it was.
Unknown: Don't wait up, scholarship boy. Roman and I might be very late on our date. Try not to miss me too much while you're alone in that big empty house.
I deleted the message, but the words stayed burned behind my eyes.
She wasn't coming back anytime soon.
And when she did, she'd probably find a new way to twist the knife — all while pretending it was just another casual game.
I lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, the weight of the Voss estate crushing down on me.
Surviving her was becoming harder every single day.
And the worst part was knowing she loved every second of it.