Chapter 4

Julian had indeed spoiled me in the past; there was no denying that.

But I had never been unruly.

My family could no longer contend with his; why did he keep involving me?

If he'd found true love, why keep me around as an inconvenience?

As these thoughts surfaced, tears uncontrollably streamed down my face, tracing a path across my cheek to Julian's hand.

The man's body stiffened. He instinctively wiped away my tears.

His sudden tenderness made me sob uncontrollably.

"Please," I choked out through tears, "I'm begging you, just give me the key."

One day was such a short time.

My father was a man of his word, and I was terrified of losing him.

The tenderness in Julian's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by cold indifference.

At that moment, Lily sidled up, wiping the tears from Julian's hand, and glanced at me.

"Seraphina, Julian is so good to you. Why are you fighting with him? If you're not heartbroken, I am."

I pulled at the corners of my mouth, a bitter, humorless smile.

Lily and I were like a stark contrast right then; her gentle sweetness was the perfect way to win a man over.

When Julian looked at me again, he was back to his icy self.

"You're a buzzkill," he said, waving a dismissive hand. "Take her away and lock her up."

A murmur ran through the crowd.

They all believed that I, the woman Julian had once put on a pedestal, was about to fall from grace.

I thought so too.

I was locked in the cruise ship's storage room. It was spacious, but once the door closed, it plunged into complete darkness.

In that confined space, my claustrophobia flared.

I scrambled to the door, frantically pounding on it.

I wanted to call for help, but my breathing was too ragged for me to make a sound.

Outside, I heard the guards scoff, "Just a piece of trash, thinking she's still somebody important? She's making such a fuss."

They kicked the door a few times as a warning, annoyed by my noise.

I stopped pounding.

Not because I gave up, but because I had no strength left.

The snake bites on my hands hadn't been treated, and combined with my claustrophobia, I was incredibly weak.

I don't know how much time passed.

But when I woke again, the light filtering through the cracks was bright.

It was the next day.

I didn't have much time; I had to get the key before the cruise docked at noon.

I tried pounding on the door again.

This time, the door opened, and Julian walked in.

He narrowed his eyes, observing my disheveled state. He reached out, gently wiping the dust from my face, then personally treated the wounds on my arm.

For a moment, I almost saw the person who had once cherished me so carefully.

But the next second, his words dragged me back to the cruel reality.

"Silly Seraphina, your phone is monitored. I know your father sent you a message."

"But what can I do? I'd rather you cut ties with your father than leave me."

"For you, I'm willing to extend the cruise party. We'll only return tomorrow."

Julian's words stunned me.

He knew everything!

I spoke with difficulty, "Julian, does what you said a year ago still count?"

On my birthday a year ago, Julian had made me a promise.

He promised me a lifetime with just one person, only ever having eyes for each other. If he ever broke that promise, he'd give me his life.

Julian, instead of getting angry, smiled faintly.

He pulled out a knife he carried, placed it in my hand, and pointed to his chest.

"Seraphina, stab me right here. My life is yours."