Chapter 2

"Seraphina just smoothed things over with Declan and threw a party to celebrate. We sent Julian an invite, but why'd he delete us?"

"Julian, if you're fighting with Seraphina, don't drag us into it!"

"Oh, come on, Julian, you were just being stubborn! See, you still came! Get in here! We're just waiting for you!"

I slapped away their outstretched hands.

"I'm sorry, but the breakup is real."

The elevator doors opened. As I stepped in, a hand suddenly slammed against the door frame.

"Julian, Declan's waiting inside. Don't play these games too much—"

"Snap!"

A sharp slap landed on his face.

"He's waiting for me, so I have to go? What do you think you are?!"

"You!"

"All of you, get lost!"

I cut him off.

"Don't make this uglier than it has to be."

"Why so much anger?"

A familiar voice drifted over.

I turned to see Seraphina, smiling, walking hand-in-hand with Declan.

Declan was dressed in a custom-tailored suit, adorned with tiny scattered diamonds.

If you looked closely, you could see carved sapphire embellishments on it.

"I'm not angry anymore, Julian. Why are you still being so unreasonable? Come on, I'll personally take you inside!"

Declan grabbed my hand, squeezing hard.

The treated diamond from his ring dug sharply into my palm. I hissed in pain and violently yanked my hand away.

"Don't touch me!"

My sudden movement stunned everyone.

Seraphina's expression shifted, then she stepped forward with a smile, reaching for me again.

"Darling, don't be mad. Wifey will personally take you in. Declan's in a good mood today, give him some respect, okay? Be a good boy."

"Get lost!"

I pushed her back with such force that she stumbled two steps.

"I said we're really broken up! Are you deaf?!

"If you really don't get it, fine. Today, in front of everyone, I'll say it again: We are over!"

Seraphina's smile froze.

Someone snickered.

"What do you guys bet? Is he serious or not?"

"Fake! Fifty bucks says it's fake!"

"A hundred!"

"Ten grand!"

"Wait, guys?"

"What, you actually think he's serious?"

"Tch! Good point. Alright, then just a small bet, a hundred grand!"

"No, is no one betting on him being serious? Then what are we even betting on, hahaha!"

Declan raised his hand.

"A million bucks. I bet he's serious!"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Sharp glances and mocking laughter enveloped me.

I clenched my fists.

The elevator doors opened again, and I turned to leave.

"Hey! Julian, don't go!"

Declan lunged forward, grabbing me just as the elevator doors were closing.

His movement was so forceful that half my body was violently caught by the elevator door, and the elevator shuddered, dropping a few feet with a sickening lurch.

I stumbled a few steps, falling to the floor.

Looking at the elevator stuck midway, I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I'd been a split second slower.

"Bang!"

I seized Declan's arm, and with a swift motion, landed a punch squarely on his face.

"Do you know what you're doing?!"

"Declan!"

Seraphina's panic was instantly undisguised. She rushed forward and hugged him.

"Declan…"

Her voice trembling, she gently traced the side of Declan's bruised face, then looked up at me.

Her gaze was unfamiliar, cold, filled with suppressed hatred.

It was a Seraphina I'd never seen before.

Was Declan's position in her heartthat* important?

Even after everything he'd done, he couldn't suffer even a single slap?

"Julian…"

Seraphina's voice was chilling.

Our mutual friends immediately understood, circling around me.

I scanned the group.

Most of them were men, some twice my shoulder width.

I raised my chin, looking at Seraphina.

"What do you want?"

She flinched.

I took a step forward.

"Are you going to kill me here?"

The veins on Seraphina's hand instantly bulged.

I met her gaze, refusing to back down an inch.

"Go back inside."

Seraphina grit her teeth, helping Declan to his feet.

Declan looked confused.

"Seraphina? He hit me!"

"Go back inside!"

Seraphina repeated.

"Seraphina!"

Declan's teeth were practically grinding. "Since when did you side with him?!"

But this time, Seraphina didn't humor him. She just shot me a glare, then pulled his hand and left.

I closed my eyes, calming my turbulent emotions.

I picked up my towel and swim trunks, then took the stairs to the first floor.