Chapter 4 Goodbye, Seattle

“I can’t give you a week's break, Miss Knox. It’s either a two day break or you resign.”

Seraphina swallowed. She had expected this. The moment she stood in front of her boss’s desk and made the request, she knew what her answer would be. But her mind was made up long before this conversation ever began.

“I’ll resign, then.”

Mrs. Jenkins looked up from the screen slowly, her brows knitting together with quiet disbelief. “You’re willing to give up a position that pays you twenty thousand dollars a month… over a week-long break?”

Seraphina said nothing.

The older woman blinked. “What could possibly be more important than your job?”

She couldn’t begin to explain. There was no way the woman would understand her. Not like she intended to share why she was leaving for the city where she had lost everything .

“It’s important.” That’s all she said before turning around, ready to leave.

Her heels were already clicking toward the door, when Mrs. Jenkins’s voice softened.

“Sera.”

She paused.

“I don’t think I’ve ever said it enough- but you’re the most exceptional employee I’ve ever had.” Jenkins stood slowly, resting both palms on her desk. “Your work ethic, your precision… the way you work endlessly even under pressure. That kind of talent doesn’t walk in here often.”

Seraphina’s throat tightened. She hadn’t expected kindness. That made it worse.

“I was planning to promote you by the end of the quarter,” her boss continued. “So I’m not letting you go. Not like this. Go. Take the week. You look… worn out. Whatever it is you’re going through, I hope it brings you clarity.”

Seraphina’s lips parted, guilt flaming in her chest. Mrs Jenkins hardly warmed up to anyone. She had even expected her to lash out when she asked for a week break.

“Mrs. Jenkins, you really don’t…”

“No,” the woman said, shaking her head. “I’ll see you when you return.”

If I return.

But she didn’t say it out loud.

Instead, she nodded faintly and walked out of the office, anxious of the unknown that awaited her.

Outside, Sheila was leaning against the car, her brows pulled together. As soon as she spotted Seraphina, she straightened.

“Well?” Sheila asked, brushing her long curls behind her ears.

“She gave me the break,” Seraphina muttered, sliding into the driver’s seat. Sheila hopped in beside her, eyes narrowed.

“That’s it? No back and forth?”

“She tried to talk me out of it. Then she gave in.”

“She should. You’ve practically carried that company on your back for four years.” Sheila paused. “So why do you look like you just buried someone?”

Seraphina didn’t answer.

“Shouldn’t you be a little happy?”

“I’m not going back.”

Sheila stared. “Wait… what?”

“I resigned first. She just didn’t accept it.”

“But you’re still leaving? Sera, that job…I mean, your life…it’s here. What are you going back to Vegas for?”

Silence.

A muscle ticked in Seraphina’s jaw. Her fingers gripped the wheel harder than necessary.

“Will you just talk about this sudden message you received yesterday?”

“No, Sheila. It won’t make sense to you.”

“Why don’t you try me?”

Instead of complying, she looked at her with heavy concern in her eyes and said, “Promise me that you will check on Phoenix while I’m away.”

Sheila’s lips parted, her voice wary as she said, “You make it sound like you don’t plan on coming back.”

Seraphina didn’t respond right away.

Because she didn’t know what awaited her in Vegas.

They didn’t say much on the ride back.

Seraphina sat stiffly behind the wheel, eyes fixed on the road but mind spinning in circles. She could feel Sheila watching her, waiting for more answers, but Seraphina didn’t offer any. Not yet. The most important asset her father had was going to be auctioned out by her stepmother- A journal. But it was no ordinary journal. A journal she had learnt people had killed to have. She wouldn’t let it be auctioned out. No matter what it took.

When they pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex, she sighed. She parked and turned off the engine.

Seraphina knew what awaited her in Vegas- having to face her father’s family that she had long released out of her life. But she had to. After that anonymous message she got, she had to travel. Her father’s most valuable asset, a journal she had learnt people had killed to have, the only version that existed in the whole world, was going to be auctioned out by Sheryl, her stepmother. She wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t.

Talia knew she was alive already. There was no point hiding again. Except for her son, she had nothing to lose. Damien was never real, so she had better return to reclaim her life. If Talia wanted the vault open, then it was only natural to think she and Sheryl might auction out most of her late father’s most valuable items.

“You just had a miscarriage yesterday, Sera. I’m not trying to remind you but you shou…”

“Rest? I get it. But that’s the last thing I need right now. I will be fine.”

She didn’t wait for Sheila to say more.

“I just need to pack,” Seraphina said without looking at her. “I’ll be quick.”

But the moment she stepped out of the car, she froze.

A familiar figure leaned against the metal railing beside the building entrance, arms folded, head tilted.

Damien.

Seraphina’s blood turned to ice.

He pushed off the rail when he saw her, walking slowly toward her like nothing had shattered between them. He looked like he hadn’t slept- shirt wrinkled, face paled, that same magnetic pull in his greenish orbs. The kind of pull that once made her fall.

Sheila stepped out behind her, confused. “Is that…?”

“Get back in the car,” Seraphina murmured quickly, her eyes never leaving Damien.

“Sera-”

“Please.”

Sheila hesitated, then nodded and returned to the passenger seat.

Now it was just them. Him and Her.

Damien slowed as he reached her. “You’ve been ignoring my calls.”

Seraphina folded her arms tightly, every inch of her burning. She hated that he had on the necklace she gifted him for his thirtieth birthday. “Why are you here?”

He exhaled slowly, eyes gleaming with guilt. “You left your purse at my place. That’s how I knew you were there.”

Seraphina nodded, trying her best to look indifferent. “Give me my purse back then.” She stretched her hand but he hesitated.

“I came because I need to explain. You weren’t supposed to see what you saw.” He blinked.

“And what exactly did I see, Damien? Remind me, because it’s a little blurry- the man I planned to marry, plotting with my stepsister to manipulate me for a vault I didn’t even remember?”

He flinched slightly, but recovered. “It wasn’t like that, trust me.”

“You both kissed,” Seraphina said coldly. “That looked pretty straightforward to me.”

Damien’s eyes flickered with something that looked like shame.

“Sera, just let me talk. Please. Talia…she’s not important to me. It’s all business with her. And me… I didn’t know who you were at first. You have to believe that.”

Seraphina blinked, stepping back. “You knew who I was. I thought…” she snorted. “…God I feel so stupid. I thought I was entrusting you with my past, but all those times…you knew me all along? You charmed your way into my life for your selfish reasons?”

“No. It was Talia’s idea. I swear I…I didn’t know who you were before she told me about you. I didn’t know she’d come to Seattle. I didn’t plan for that night.”

He swallowed visibly, then added, “And I didn’t plan on falling for you either.”

Seraphina scoffed, shaking her head. “You don’t get to say that.”

“I mean it, Sera,” he stepped closer. “I didn’t fake that part.”

For a second, her heart almost betrayed her. Almost. But then her eyes flashed, fury twisting inside her.

“You made me trust you. You met my son.”

Damien’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

“You told her I was easy to manipulate. You both said a lot of things, Damien. But you know what? You should just leave.”

“She’s blackmailing me, okay!? She has something against me and I have to pretend to be on her side. If you will just…just listen to me, maybe…”

“Never. I’m never listening to you. You…” Her voice broke, then dropped lower. “You have no idea what I had to deal with yesterday.”

“Seraphina…please, hear me out,”

“Just go! Leave! Go away!” She screamed. Damien realized it was better he left at that moment.

Inside the car, Sheila watched with wide eyes but said nothing. She could see Seraphina shaking as she opened the apartment door, her back stiff, her steps fast and unsteady.

Then her gaze shifted to Damien who was already zooming off the driveway.

She had heard everything.