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    AUTHOR’S POV.

    “You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Mrs. Alina ckwood. You have the right to remain silent, because anything you say will be used against you in a court ofw.”

    “WHAT?!” She screamed, her voice echoing through the room as Elena gasped and Ss froze in ce, for oncepletely caught off guard.

    The officers made a move to cuff her, but Seraphina resisted.

    “Daddy!” She cried, rushing toward her father’s side in desperation.

    Ss had no idea what the policemen were talking about, but Seraphina knew exactly what this was about.

    She had intentionally stabbed Alina in the back of her neck with the sole purpose of causing a fatal injury.

    “Officers, can you please calm down and exin what is happening?” Ss tried to reason with them, confusion tightening

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    his brows.

    “Four days ago, your daughter attempted to publicly murder Mrs. ckwood, and now the victim is pressing charges.” One of the officers exined as calmly as he could.

    “What?! That bitch!” Seraphina had the audacity to yell in anger. “She’s alive, isn’t she? Why am I getting arrested then?!”

    Reality mmed into her when the cold metal cuff snapped around her wrist.

    “Best to cooperate with us, or you’ll be charged with resisting arrest.” One of the officers warned her in a calm but firm tone.

    “Mommy, do something!” Seraphina cried, her voice cracking as she turned to her mother.

    Elena stood frozen in shock, her mouth parted slightly.

    “What are the officers talking about, sweetheart?” She asked her daughter in a shaky voice after managing to snap back to reality.

    Seraphina had intentionally omitted that part of the story when she recounted the events of that night. She thought that, since there was no video evidence, she could get away with it.

    “Mommy, it wasn’t intentional! Please, don’t let them take me!” She pleaded, struggling against the officers, her eyes wide with panic. “Daddy!” She turned to Ss, her expression filled with desperation.

    “Just go with them, babygirl. We’ll be right behind you.” Her father said, already rushing to get his car keys.

    Their business wasn’t doing well. They had let go of some workers, including their driver, so he was going to drive himself.

    “Officers, is the cuff really necessary?” Elena asked, following the officers as they led a screaming Seraphina to their car.

    Seraphina was taken to the police station and detained. No matter how many strings her parents tried to pull, they couldn’t get her out, not even for the night.

    They had no other choice but to go see Alina, but they’d have to wait until morning.

    The next morning, Ss and Elena were already waiting outside the huge gate of the ckwood estate. They weren’t granted entrance because none of the guards had been pre informed of their arrival.

    It was still quite early, and Alina was asleep. No guard would dare wake her, not even for her parents.

    “Do you have any idea who we are?” Ss red at one of the guards when he refused them passage again, his voice sharp with authority.

    Ss thrived on respect and power, so being denied entrance into the premises felt like a personal insult.

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    “It doesn’t matter who you are, sir. You have to have an appointment or get permission from the master or mistress of the house before you can enter.” One of the guards told him firmly, unwavering.

    “But we’re her parents.” Elena said, appalled that they couldn’t just walk in.

    She had assumed that being Alina’s parents would automatically grant them the right of passage, but she had been wrong.

    “Then I’m sure you have her number. Call her.” A meaner-looking guard told her, already tired of their early morning theatrics.

    Elena pulled out her phone in annoyance and began dialing Alina’s number, but it kept going unanswered.

    “Stupid girl isn’t taking her calls.” She mumbled to her husband. “Why isn’t she taking her damn calls?”

    “Well, maybe because normal people are still sleeping at this time. One of the guards muttered under his breath, causing a few others to snicker.

    He was definitely the jokester amongst them.

    Elena nced around, confused by their amusement, but when she didn’t get the joke, she turned back to her husband.

    “Keep trying the number.” Ss told her with a clenched jaw.

    And she did, over and over, though there was still no response.

    About an hourter, the huge gate of the mansion opened, and Ace drove out with Lucian in the back seat.

    Ss and Elena rushed to the car, trying to get his attention. Lucian, although clearly noticing them, didn’t spare them a nce.

    “Mr. ckwood! Mr. ckwood!” Elena called out, rushing toward the car, her voice growing in desperation.

    Ace slowed the car slightly and nced at his boss through the rearview mirror. Lucian gave him a cold re in return, and that was all the signal Ace needed to drive off.

    Lucian had an important meeting that day and had left early, before Alina woke up. But not before turning off her phone and cing it where she’d have to search to find it.

    He didn’t want her to meet with her parents.

    The first call from Elena had woken him up, and he had quickly silenced the phone before powering it off, thankful that Alina was a deep sleeper and hadn’t stirred from the ringing.

    Ss and Elena watched in stunned silence as Lucian’s car disappeared into the distance.

    They knew Lucian could be cold-blooded, but he had always shown them courtesy for Alina’s sake. Now, he had driven past them like they didn’t exist.

    They had no choice but to wait. They couldn’t go back,not until they got Alina to withdraw the charges.

    Meanwhile, inside the ckwood mansion, Alina had finished preparing for the day and was currently having breakfast when Mia approached her.

    “Found it yet?” Alina asked, referring to her phone.

    “Yes, ma’am. It was behind the bedside table.” Mia replied, handing her the device.

    “Strange. How did it get there?” Alina wondered aloud, frowning slightly.

    She considered that there is a possibility she might have knocked it off in her sleep, but that didn’t exin why it was turned

    off.

    “Sit down and have breakfast, Mia.” Alina said, eyes fixed on the phone screen as she waited for it to power on.

    Mia sat down beside her, cing her gadgets to the side and beginning to eat quietly.

    “What the hell?” Alina muttered, her eyes widening as the screen lit up. ·

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