Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were burning intensely as she looked at Christian.

Seraphina’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she gradually recognized who she was.

Natalia used to work at the Vanderbilt firm as Christian’s secretary.

She had fallen in love with Christian at first sight and had blatantly declared war on her, the rightful wife.

But back then, Christian had clearly lost his temper and fired her.

Seraphina had never imagined that the secretary Christian was willing to swap identities with Caspian to pursue would turn out to be Natalia.

She could no longer suppress the emotions raging in her chest, asking instead of answering, "It really is a surprise. I remember you pursued Christian quite aggressively back then, Miss Natalia. I didn't expect you to fall for Cas instead."

"Sera, don't talk nonsense."

But the moment she spoke, the usually gentle Christian cut her off with a flash of anger.

Seraphina’s heart seized, and she quietly stared at him.

At this very moment, she received yet another confirmation of just how much weight Natalia held in Christian’s heart.

Being stared at by her, Christian realized his tone had been too harsh, so he softened it slightly.

"Sera, I wasn't snapping at you..."

Before he could finish, the lights in the living room suddenly went out.

Someone nearby remarked, "The dance is starting, everyone grab your partners."

Seraphina had absolutely no desire to dance, and without telling Christian, she used the darkness to slip away.

Yet, just as she turned around, she was caught by a pair of burning, large hands.

A familiar scent of mint perfume instantly enveloped her.

In the next second, a voice thick with dark desire whispered directly against her ear.

"Sera, we haven't tried doing it in the dark yet~"

Chapter 3

With that, the man forcefully gripped her wrist, spun her around, and slid into the center of the dance floor.

This familiar, obsessive behavior could only belong to Caspian.

Seraphina stiffened all over, furrowing her brows in discomfort. "Let me go!"

She struggled with all her might, but as the ball music began to play, the hand around her waist tightened further, nearly crushing her into his embrace.

In a fit of anger, Seraphina could no longer contain herself and blurted out, "Caspian, let go!"

With a sharp click, the lights snapped back on.

Seraphina blinked uncomfortably, only to see Christian standing right beside her.

Across from them, Natalia was leaning against Caspian's arm, while he stared back at her with calm leisure.

"Sera, were you calling me just now? Thinking about me while dancing with my brother... I'm truly flattered."

Natalia, however, pouted with displeasure. "Miss Seraphina, I know you, Cas, and Christian grew up together as childhood sweethearts."

"But surely you shouldn't be so confused as to mistake your own husband for your brother-in-law?"

Faced with Natalia's provocation, Seraphina had no intention of enduring it and was about to retort.

But Christian spoke up first. "It's a misunderstanding. Cas just returned today, and Sera probably just failed to react in time."

As he spoke, he turned to her and said gently, "Are you tired? Let me take you back to your room."

Seraphina certainly didn't want to exchange fake pleasantries with them, but she also refused to be played for a fool any longer.

She looked at Christian and Caspian, a touch of self-mockery in her tone. "I really am on the verge of not being able to tell you two apart."

With that, she ignored their reactions, turned around, and walked upstairs.

Unexpectedly, Christian quickly caught up with her, explaining behind her as they walked.

"Sera, back on the dance floor, I was too anxious and missed your hand. It won't happen again."

Once they reached the bedroom, he even leaned down to help her take off her high heels, warmed some milk for her, and adjusted her pillow to her preferred height.

Watching his gentle and considerate actions, his past kindness toward her came rushing back to her mind.

When she was sick as a child, it was Christian who stayed by her bedside through the night.

Why would Christian, who had favored her since childhood like a loyal knight, deceive her?

Seraphina's chest felt tightly constricted, filled with a sour, aching pain.

She raised her eyes and couldn't help but demand, "Christian, why did you join hands with Caspian to lie to me?"

The moment the words left her lips, Christian's phone rang.

He cut the screen off very quickly.

Yet she still managed to catch the name displayed on the screen: Natalia.

Afterward, he said to her, "Sera, what did you just say? I'm sorry, I have an urgent matter to handle. Let's talk when I get back, alright?"

Seraphina gave no answer, her heart turning entirely cold.

She had nothing left to ask, and she no longer held any illusions about Christian.

As long as they were divorced, she would no longer be pricked by these hypocritical displays of tenderness.

Therefore, after Christian left, Seraphina went online to schedule an appointment to sign the divorce decree.

The next morning, just as dawn broke.

Seraphina placed the divorce agreement into a paper document envelope and went downstairs.

At the dining table, she saw Christian holding a spoon, gently blowing on a bowl of porridge for Natalia.

"Take another bite, be good."

That gentle, focused, and patient appearance made Seraphina vaguely recall the past.

Back when Caspian had locked her in a cold storage room as a prank, causing her to run a high fever and fall unconscious, it was also Christian who had coaxed her to drink her medicine, one spoonful at a time.

Past memories pricked her heart like needles. She averted her gaze and walked straight toward the exit.

Christian, however, suddenly called out to her.

"Caspian went on a sudden business trip last night. He didn't feel comfortable leaving you home alone, so he asked Natalia and me to stay here temporarily to keep you company."

"Sister-in-law, would you like to join us for breakfast?"

He called her "Sister-in-law" with absolute natural ease.

Seraphina turned back to look at Christian, finding it thoroughly absurd and laughable.

Before she could refuse, Natalia naturally took the document envelope from her hand, placed it on the table, and pulled her down into a seat.

"Sister-in-law, just have a little something with us. Don't go hungry."

With that, she reached out to ladle some porridge.

"No need."

Seraphina raised her hand to take it herself, but just as her fingers brushed the rim of the bowl, Natalia's hand tilted.

Scalding porridge splashed onto the back of Seraphina's hand. The searing pain erupted like wildfire, instantly turning the skin crimson.

"Natalia!"

Beside them, Christian immediately cradled Natalia's hand, checking for injuries.

His sharp eyes turned cold as ice as he glared at Seraphina.

"Sister-in-law, Natalia was kind enough to serve you porridge. Why did you purposely scald her!"

"No matter what misunderstandings you had about her in the past, she is my girlfriend now. I won't let anyone hurt her!"

His voice was commanding, carrying an absolute weight of authority.

Even though it was the back of her own hand that was burned, Seraphina felt the pain deep within her heart.

She choked back the tremor in her voice. "She didn't hold it steady herself. It has nothing to do with me..."

Before she could finish, she noticed that the document envelope on the table had also been soaked by the porridge.

Her face turned pale, and she reached out to grab it.

But Christian's long, slender hand was faster than hers. He picked up the envelope and tore it open with a swift motion!

Chapter 4

Just as Christian was about to pull the divorce decree out of the envelope, Natalia let out a sharp cry of pain.

"It hurts so much... Will my hand leave a scar?"

Christian's expression tightened instantly. He immediately dropped the documents, bent down to scoop Natalia up into his arms, and strode toward the door.

"Get the car ready. We're going to the hospital!"

Seraphina stared at the paper stamped with the words "Divorce Decree" lying on the floor, the corners of her lips curling into a faint, bitter smile.

It was just as well he didn't see it.

At least now she didn't have to face a terrible confrontation, sparing them an ugly scene.

She crouched down to pick it up, briefly tended to the burn on her hand, and called a cab to head to the family court.

Ten minutes later, she walked out of the family court hall.

As she stood by the roadside waiting for a ride, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

It was a call from the photography director of ELLE magazine. Seraphina answered.

"Seraphina, are you really going to give up the opportunity to study at Central Saint Martins in the UK?"

"The photographs you took for 'The Collective Sorrow of Elegance' won the highest international award. You truly have a gift for photography."