υπαρισ 140
I played my role perfectly. Every touch. Every glance. Every soft–spoken word. Jason Romano didn’t even realize I was sinking my claws deeper into him every single day.”
It started with simple things. Passing comments. Innocent questions. A fleeting touch on his arm when we talked. A knowing smile when Lily snapped at me and Jason–for once in his life–didn’t immediately jump to her defense.}
I didn’t push. I didn’t rush. I let him come to me. And he did. Faster than I expected.}
At first, it was small–casual conversations, business meetings where he lingered just a little longer than necessary. Then it escalated. Late–night calls. Drinks after meetings. Jason Romano was falling into my trap, piece by piece. I could see it in his eyes–the hesitation, the growing doubts about Lily, the way he started to confide in me like I was someone he could trust.
Fool. He didn’t even realize I was leading him exactly where I wanted him to be.”
It started subtly. A carefully placed word here, a thoughtful silence there. I let him vent, let him talk about the things that bothered him- Lily’s sudden mood swings, the way she kept pressing him about me.”
“She’s been acting… paranoid lately,” Jason admitted one night over drinks, his fingers running over the rim of his glass. “Like she’s hiding something.”
I tilted my head, feigning curiosity. “Why would she?“}
Jason exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I don’t fucking know. But every time I mention you, she loses her shit.”
I hummed, swirling the wine in my glass. “Maybe she’s afraid of losing you.“}
Jason scoffed, but something flickered in his gaze. Doubt.
Good. I let the silence stretch, watching him struggle with his own thoughts.
“You remind me of someone,” he finally admitted.}
My lips curled slightly. “Oh?“}
His jaw tensed. “Emma.“}
I leaned back, my expression unreadable. “Your wife.“}
Jason nodded slowly, eyes dark. “You look like her.”
I smiled, soft and mysterious. “But I’m not her.“>
Jason’s gaze darkened. His fingers flexed, his breath uneven. He was sinking. And now? He was inviting me to his fucking birthday. The invitation came two days before his party. A black envelope. Elegant gold lettering. Jason Romano’s Private Birthday Celebration. The moment I saw it, my lips curled. Of course, he wanted me there. Of course. I let the invitation sit on my desk for hours, pretending I was debating whether to accept. But in reality?! had been waiting for this. I had already planned exactly what I was going to wear.
+++
The Romano estate was grand, elegant, and filled with people who didn’t give a damn about Jason but wanted to be seen at his event. I arrived late. On purpose.>
The moment I stepped inside, conversations slowed. Eyes turned. A hush fell over the crowd. Because I didn’t just dress for the occasion.
I dressed to haunt.
A black silk dress clung to my frame, the same shade Emma used to wear. My hair, styled in soft waves, cascaded down my back exactly like hers had years ago. Even my perfume–the one scent Jason always associated with Emma–wrapped around me like a ghostly whisper.”
Jason didn’t notice me at first. Not until the murmurs started. Not until people turned to stare. Not until someone gasped, whispering- “Emma?”
His head snapped up. And when his eyes landed on me–he fucking froze. The reaction was immediate. His drink halted midair. His jaw clenched so tight I thought it might shatter.}
But he wasn’t the only one.”
Across the room, they stood. Edward and Isabella Moretti. My parents.}
And their golden fucking child–Lily.
My breath hitched, but I forced my expression to remain cold. Indifferent. They were nothing to me now.
But that didn’t mean I didn’t remember. Didn’t ache. Didn’t burn.3
I saw the shock in my mother’s eyes, the way her fingers tightened around her champagne glass. My father’s expression remained unreadable, but there was tension in his stance.M
Lily, however… Her face twisted into something ugly. Like she’d seen a ghost. Pff.
Good.
I let my gaze sweep over them slowly, deliberately, before turning away, as if they were beneath my notice. I walked straight to Jason. He was still staring, still gripping his glass like he wanted to crush it.
‘Happy birthday, Mr. Romano,” I murmured, voice smooth as silk. Jason swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “Emma.
blinked. Then, slowly, my lips curled.
090
en my paze sweep over them slowly deliberately, before turning away, as if they were beneath my notice. I walked straight to Jason. He was still staring still groping his glass like he wanted to crush it.
Happy birthday. Mt. Romano,” I murmured, voice smooth as silk.
Jason swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “Emma…“I
bimked. Then, slowly, my lips curled.
Emma? let out a low, sultry laugh, stepping closer. “Oh, Mr. Romano… I’m Seraphina, silly.” I reached out, lightly tracing the rim of his glass with my fingertip. Tm hurt. You always forget my name.“T
His breath hatched.
“You called me that at the airport too,” I whispered, watching him carefully. “I’m a little hurt,” I tilted my head, voice teasing, but my eyes- of my eyes told another story.[
Jason’s grip tightened on his drink, his knuckles white. He was unraveling. Perfect. Let him drown in his own ghosts.
I sipped my wine, never breaking eye contact.
But even as I stood there, wrapped in my little game, the past clawed its way back.
I could still remember. Every fucking thing.
I stared at them, especially my parents but all I saw was my childhood. The countless times Lily took everything from me. Everything. 1 could still hear her voice. “I want it!” she would scream whenever I got something new. And just like that–it was hers. My toys? Gone. My dresses? Taken. Even my diaries. The words I wrote in secret, my private thoughts, were stolen and read aloud for everyone to laugh at. And when she got bored of them? She’d ruin them. Rip my dresses. Throw my books in the mud.§
And my parents? They let her. No. They encouraged it. “You’re the older sister,” my mother would say with a sigh. “You should give in to Lily. She’s younger. Don’t be so selfish, Emma.“E
Selfish? I was selfish for wanting something for myself? For wanting to be seen? For wanting to exist outside of Lily’s fucking shadow?” But the worst part? The absolute worst part? It wasn’t the stolen gifts. It wasn’t the dresses thrown in the trash. It was the way they made me feel like I was worth nothing.
