CHAPTER 115: FORGIVE ME...

Seraphina’s POV

I woke up in Alistair’s room. I wasn’t really planning to... It’s just that I didn’t want to deal with Asher after last night. I wasn’t scared... it was more like secondhand embarrassment from whatever Lucien blurted out.

Alistair, of course, acted as if nothing had happened. We had planned to work on some physics problems, and he still helped me, just as he always does, even after all that drama.

And because I had fallen asleep in Lucien’s car messed up my sleep, I tossed and turned all night.

So yeah, I ended up waking late. It wasn’t a big deal, of course, but... when I looked at the time, it was almost noon.

"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath, tossing the blanket off and jumping out of bed in a hurry. I rushed out of Alistair’s room and ran straight to the kitchen.

Thank god it was Saturday. If it were a regular day, I’d have not only missed class but also embarrassed myself walking in this late, and reaching the class at this time.

I hurried down the stairs in my pajamas, half-asleep, as my throat was sore and scratchy. I didn’t know what was going on, but it hurt like hell, and all I wanted was some hot water.

"You’ve finally woken up?" A sharp voice snapped me out of my half-asleep state, dragging me back to reality. "Do you really think you’re some princess from a royal family that people should wait around for you?"

Mrs. Lancaster’s voice hit my ears like a slap. My feet froze in place.

"Mom!" Melissa quickly stepped in, with that super-sweet smile of hers. "She must’ve been studying hard. Brother Alistair said she was with him, remember?"

I could see through that fake little smile, barely hiding the smugness underneath. She wasn’t trying to calm her mother down, but she was fueling her anger with her words.

"Yeah, she was with Alistair..." Mrs. Lancaster hissed, jaw clenched as her eyes bore into me with disgust. "The whole night."

What the hell? I blinked, frowning as my heart skipped a beat.

’What was that supposed to mean?’ I couldn’t figure out what exactly she was implying... But whatever it was, it didn’t feel right.

"Forgive me," I said quietly, ignoring and not looking at either of them. I wasn’t in the mood for their bullshit right after waking up. My head was still foggy, my throat still raw. I just wanted something to soothe myself.

I stepped ahead, trying to ignore the tension in the room, when a maid came up with a tray in her hands.

"Miss, Second Young Master ordered us to prepare a hot meal and warm water for you the moment you woke up," she said softly with a small and respectful smile. "Please have some water while your food is being prepared, and—"

She didn’t even finish when...

The tray flew out of her hands with such force that the water splashed straight onto me. I was so shocked that I couldn’t move in time.

The water soaked through my sleeves... It was scorching hot. It burned as it slid down my skin, which made my muscles twitch. I clenched my teeth to stop a hiss from escaping.

The tray hit the floor with a loud crash. Glass scattered across the tiles, some of it biting into my feet, my hands, and my cheek. I didn’t even flinch.

The maid stood frozen, trembling, eyes wide with shock. She didn’t even dare to touch me.

"Madame!" she gasped in horror. "You... she is hurt!"

Mrs. Lancaster didn’t say a word to her.

Her eyes were locked on me. Her gaze was still cold and full of disgust. As if I were an insect that didn’t fit in her beautiful house.

"Look at you..." She gritted her teeth as her voice was full of hate. "Using your brothers to stand against me now, huh?"

She didn’t even try to hide the hatred anymore, as if I weren’t the daughter she had birthed but an enemy who had taken over her position.

If this were new, maybe I would’ve been shocked. But I had been through this a lot... to even feel anything now.

I was numb to everything that she’d do to me.

Still, I guess it had been too long, facing her like this that I couldn’t even move on time.

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t want to talk to her or even want to be there.

I just turned away to leave, but pain shot up through my leg the moment I stepped forward.

I looked down.

A piece of glass was stuck in my foot.

Damn it... I wasn’t wearing slippers. I’d rushed out like an idiot without thinking.

Hot water still clung to my skin, burning me. My pajamas were soaked. My hands stung from the cuts. But I stayed quiet.

Blood started to pool near my toes as I stepped again.

Still, I kept walking. I didn’t cry or say anything.

I just wanted to get away. But the maid kept stopping me. She held my arm gently, whispering that I shouldn’t move, as there was too much glass on the floor, and my feet were already bleeding.

And the problem was... the floor tiles were just as white as the shattered glass. So, I couldn’t even tell what I was stepping on.

But I didn’t care.

Because if I stayed... I might lose my sanity. And I was too damn tired for that.

"Stop!"

Mrs. Lancaster’s voice rang behind me. It was sharp and cold.

Of course. She wasn’t going to let me go that easily.

"Madame, Young Miss is bleeding, please let her go..." the maid pleaded in a trembling tone.

But instead of a reply, a sharp slap landed on her face.

"Get away!" Mrs. Lancaster shot back at her, shoving her so hard she almost slipped on the broken glass.

I caught her in time, held her arm, and helped her stand. She looked shaken and scared.