"Love Substitutes: The Twin Game" Chapter 4
Her gaze fell upon the tablet, where Caspian's logged-in social media page had not been closed.
His special notification was set to Natalia.
In Natalia's latest update, the real Christian was leaning down, using a cotton swab to gently treat her fingers, his expression filled with absolute tenderness.
The caption read: "It was just a minor burn, but a certain someone got so anxious that he specially flew me across several countries to find skin specialists. I really don't know what to do with him. I guess I'll never be able to leave him for the rest of my life~"
Thinking of the hurried departure of the man who had just left, Seraphina found it thoroughly ironic.
She didn't wait for Caspian's return and handled the discharge procedures by herself to leave the hospital.
Upon arriving home.
The first thing she did was pack up all of Caspian's belongings.
This house had been the bridal gift he gave when he married her.
And she wasn't so foolish as to demand nothing during a divorce.
So on the day of their separation, the only ones packing up and leaving would be these untrustworthy men.
Chapter 6
Just as she was nearly finished packing, a call came from the magazine office.
"Sera, before you go abroad, there is one last wedding photoshoot booking. The client insists on having you as their photographer, calling for you by name..."
"Send me the address."
After receiving the address, Seraphina grabbed her camera and walked out the door.
On an autumn day at Aspen Mountain, the pure white snow-capped peaks and the vibrant autumn colors blanketing the mountains reflected off one another beautifully.
Seraphina stared at the breathtaking scenery, losing herself in thought for a moment.
Back then, her wedding photos with Christian had also been shot here.
But she quickly suppressed the sudden bitterness rising in her chest, adjusting herself into work mode as she walked toward the shooting location.
"Miss Seraphina, what a coincidence. I didn't expect the photographer for our wedding photos to be you."
Seraphina looked over toward the voice and saw Natalia dressed in a pure white wedding gown, with Christian standing beside her in a black suit.
When Christian saw Seraphina, his deep, dark eyes froze slightly, but he quickly looked away.
Natalia handed over her phone with a bright smile.
"We took something similar at St. Moritz before. Please reference this style, Miss Seraphina, and capture a romantic atmosphere."
Seraphina looked at the phone screen.
In the photo, the snow-covered mountains reflected the light of the sky.
Snowflakes fell between the two of them, looking exactly like a quiet and gentle frame from a movie.
However, when she caught sight of the date displayed in the corner, Seraphina's breath suddenly caught.
September 25, 2023.
That was precisely the day she and Christian were supposed to be taking their wedding photos.
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Yet the real Christian had been keeping Natalia company, admiring the snow at St. Moritz.
A wave of bitterness rushed up from her throat, and Seraphina's eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Sister-in-law, let's begin," Christian suddenly spoke.
Seraphina looked at the man who was still deceiving her, offering a sarcastic smile. "Alright."
This marriage would end very soon. Whether the man taking wedding photos with Natalia right now was Caspian or Christian made no difference to her anymore.
The shoot concluded as twilight began to fall.
Christian went ahead to get the car.
Seraphina packed up her equipment and prepared to leave when Natalia suddenly walked up to her.
"Miss Seraphina, it must be painful, right? You've really worked hard."
Seraphina frowned. "What do you mean?"
Natalia smiled, then pulled a credit card out of her bag and handed it to her.
"Stop playing dumb. You figured out long ago that Christian swapped identities with Cas for my sake."
"Cas also wronged himself by acting as Christian to live with you as a married couple for three years, all for my happiness. Think of this money as your compensation fee for serving Cas all these years."
"Neither Christian nor Cas likes you. Clinging to the empty shell of Mrs. Vanderbilt makes you look no different from a stray dog."
"If you're smart, take the money and leave the Vanderbilt family as soon as possible."
As the harsh words rained down one after another, Seraphina clenched her hands, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
"Whether I leave the Vanderbilt family or not is my own choice."
"If you truly have the ability, then have Christian divorce me using his actual identity as the head of the Vanderbilt family!"
With that, she ignored Natalia's frozen expression, turned around, and walked away.
As she walked halfway down, the sky suddenly opened up with rain.
Protecting her camera, she sprinted all the way, her dress completely soaked by the time she reached the foot of the mountain.
The cold fabric clung to her skin, sending waves of chill through her.
Just as she was trapped in an awkward situation, a black sedan slowly came to a halt.
Following that, a young gentleman stepped out of the car, took off his coat, and offered it to her.
"Miss, the rain is too heavy. If you don't mind, you can take a ride in my car back to the city."
The man's gaze was open and honest, his demeanor proper and gentlemanly.
Seraphina was about to decline when her wrist was violently grabbed by a large hand.
Turning around, she collided directly with Christian's eyes, which were dangerously dark and menacing.
His voice was low and raspy, thick with suppressed fury. "Sera... Sister-in-law, are you intentionally soaking in the rain because you want to humiliate my brother?"
Seraphina was momentarily stunned, but she quickly understood the meaning behind his words.
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For Christian to be so infuriated meant he was worried she might step out on his brother, and he was jealous.
Seraphina wrenched her hand free from his grip, the corners of her lips curving into a cold sneer.
"Caspian, even if I am doing this intentionally, the one who should be jealous is your brother! It has absolutely nothing to do with you!"
Chapter 7
"What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? I—"
The words caught in Christian's throat, and he quickly changed his tune. "Since my brother isn't here, I can't just stand by and do nothing when I see this. Get in the car, I'll take you back."
Seraphina ignored him completely, turning around to slide straight into the passenger seat of the stranger's car.
An hour later.
Seraphina pushed open the villa door, finding Caspian home, which was a rare surprise.
Seeing her return, he immediately got up and rushed over, his face filled with anxious concern.
"Sera, where did you go? The hospital said you discharged yourself. I was worried to death when I didn't see you at home."
Christian and Caspian—one was an incredible actor, and the other was a master pretender.
Drenched from the rain and with a heavy, throbbing headache, Seraphina brushed him off casually. "I caught a bit of a chill, I want to take a bath first."
With that, she went upstairs.
Behind her, Caspian's puzzled voice drifted up.
"Sera, you packed away my clothes. Are you trying to buy me new season outfits? I don't want those stiff, formal ones, you know."
Seraphina paused in her tracks.
The one who preferred stiff, serious formal wear was Christian.
The corners of her lips twitched into a faint smile. "Don't worry, it won't happen again."
She then submerged herself in the hot water, letting it wash away the exhaustion that clung to her entire body.
Half an hour later, she stepped out of the bathroom.
Caspian was no longer in the room, but a glass of warm water and a sticky note had been left on the nightstand.
[Sera, an urgent matter came up at the company, I have to step out for a bit.]
Seraphina glanced at it and paid it no further attention.
She opened her laptop and emailed the photographs she had taken to her assistant.
The assistant replied almost instantly: [Sera, the director wants you to fly to the UK for your studies in three days. Can you manage the schedule on your end?]
Just as Seraphina was about to check the progress of the divorce proceedings, her phone vibrated.
[Ms. Shen, your divorce decree with Mr. Vanderbilt has been generated. It can be collected after 9:00 AM this coming Monday, in 3 days.]
Letting out a long breath, she typed a reply to her assistant: [No problem, I'll leave on time.]
Afterward, Seraphina took some fever medication and drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day.
When Seraphina came downstairs, she once again witnessed the scene of Christian and Caspian competing to feed Natalia at the dining table.
As she stepped down, Caspian immediately set aside what he was holding and quickly walked over to grasp her hand.
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