4
After taking Mark to an urgent care clinic, I went home. To my surprise, Damian was sitting on the sofa, waiting for me. He was
holding a wedding dress:
When he saw me, the hard lines of his face softened. He stood and held the dress out to me. ““I was out of line today,” he said, his
Voice gentle. ““I’m sorry. I picked this out for you. We can take a family portrait with Bruno. We’ll hang it right there.“”
He pointed to the main wall in the living room, a grand gesture, as if he truly saw me as the future lady of this house.
But I recognized the dress instantly. It was the one Seraphina had been wearing earlier.
The one she’d rejected.
He was giving me her cast–offs. In his mind, that’s all I was worth. A small–town girl who could be placated with secondhand goods.
I didn’t call him out. “When?“” I asked, feigning interest as I ran my fingers over the lace.
He thought I was pleased. “Tomorrow.“””
The day before my flight..
I smiled faintly and nodded. A final memory with the two people I was about to excise from my life forever. After this, we would be
strangers.
5
The photo shoot was a rare moment of peace.
Even Bruno, who usually looked at me with open contempt, seemed different. As I emerged from makeup, he grunted, “You don’t
look as pretty as a princess like Seraphina, but… you look okay, I guess.“”
Damian nudged him gently and pulled him into his arms for a photo with me.
In my last life, a crumb of affection like that would have made me giddy for days. Now, I felt nothing. A complete, placid emptiness. Once I’d made the decision to cut them out of my heart, they lost the power to affect me.
The photographer positioned us, his finger hovering over the shutter button.
Suddenly, Damian’s phone shrieked. It was the special ringtone he’d set for Seraphina.
“Stop!” he barked at the photographer, snatching the phone up.
A frantic, female voice burst from the speaker, ““Damian, help me! There are these guys… they’re harassing me! There are three of
them, I’m so scared… please, you have to come!“”
The color drained from Damian’s face. “Seraphina, don’t be afraid! I’m on my way!“”
Without a word of explanation to me, he bolted from the studio.
16.48
16:48.0
Chapter 1
Bruno, recognizing her voice, started yelling, “”I have to go protect my new mommy!“”
And just like that, father and son were gone.
The photographer looked at me, his expression a mixture of pity and embarrassment. ““Miss… Reed? Should we… wait for them to
come back?“”
The fragile bubble of happiness from moments before burst, leaving only the bitter taste of ashes in my mouth. I let out a dry, hu-
morless laugh. I returned the secondhand wedding dress. It wasn’t my style anyway.
The supporting characters had left the stage. It was time for the star to have her moment.
I chose a sleek, powerful pantsuit, the kind a CEO might wear, and asked the photographer for a set of professional headshots. A
new portrait for a new life.
Later that evening, my phone buzzed. It was a social media notification. Seraphina had posted a picture.
There was Bruno, curled up in her arms, looking up at her and saying ““Mommy,“” his face alight with adoration. And there, standing
beside them, his arm protectively around her, was Damian.
The ““harassment at the bar“” had been a game of Truth or Dare. Seraphina had drawn a dare: call the most important person on
your contact list and have them “rescue“” you.
And Damian had dropped everything and run to her side.
It was fitting. It was the last day I would ever be a part of his world.
