The Heiress's Revenge - A Bloody Affair - Chapter 108

Chapter 108: [108 – The Calm before the Storm]
While Gina prepared for the little announcement party and the celebrations that would begin after, Seraphina and Elijah remained inside her cabin, talking about the changes that they would be making in their lives and their daily routine now that they are married.

Chloe, who had went out with her fellow interns on a little field trip to visit a client with a designer, had no idea what the hushed whispers were about. She had no idea that her brother actually got married to Seraphina.

When she heard Elijah and Seraphina’s name being called together, she only wondered that they must have made their relationship public but not more than that. So she was quite surprised when Gina told them all to gather in the main hall.

Standing along the other employees, Chloe spotted Seraphina standing beside Elijah, her hand casually resting on his arm. The two of them looked as if they had eloped and gotten married. the thought made Chloe chuckle, unaware that in the next few minutes she would be realizing how right she was.

Meanwhile, on the stage, Elijah leaned closer to Seraphina and whispered in her ear, “Are you ready?” his voice a soft rumble that only she could hear.

Seraphina nodded, her eyes scanning the room as Gina, her loyal secretary and friend, gathered the employees in the main hall. Seraphina stood before the crowd along with her husband, her presence commanding as she prepared to make the announcement.

“Thank you all for gathering on such short notice.” Seraphina began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “We,” she looked up at Elijah and smiled, “We have some exciting news to share. As of today, I, and Mr. Elijah Grayson are officially married.” she kept the announcement short and simple.

All these people were not just her employees, they were like her extended family. So she believed that she should tell them first before the news of her marriage with Elijah goes public.

A wave of gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd, followed by a round of enthusiastic applause. Seraphina’s smile widened, though the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. Elijah squeezed her hand gently, and she glanced up at him, maintaining her composed and happy façade.

Among the crowd, Chloe, Elijah’s younger sister and the one who had long guessed about Elijah’s interest in Seraphina, stood with a look of utter shock on her face. Her wide eyes darted from Elijah to Seraphina and back again. As the applause died down, she made her way through the crowd, her expression a mix of confusion and hurt.

“Elijah!” Chloe exclaimed as she reached them, “You got married? And you didn’t tell me? Does anyone in the family knows? Does Mom know?” she asked putting emphasis on ‘Mom’ knowing that in matters like these, it was their mother who was more scary.

“Also, did the two of you just elope?” questioned Chloe, her eyes wide.

Elijah turned to his sister, a look of guilt crossing his face, “Chloe, I’m sorry. The decision was quite sudden and impulsive but we really wanted to get married.. Also, only our parents know about this. I told them before I got married, of course I would tell them.” he said as a matter of fact, “SAs for Seraphina’s side, her secretary Gina, and the COO Jaxon knew about it. Four of them were the witnesses at our court marriage. I did not mean to keep it from you.”

Chloe’s eyes flickered with hurt, but she nodded slowly, happy for her brother. Seraphina was the perfect partner of him, rich, beautiful, and famous, “I understand. It’s just that I am your sister. I thought I would be there for something like this.”

Before Elijah could respond, Jaxon stepped forward, a sheepish smile on his face. “Chloe, I am sorry too. I should have told you. I should have taken you with me. It was wrong of me to keep it from you.”

Chloe’s expression softened slightly, and she turned to Jaxon. “It’s okay, Jaxon. I do not blame you.” she grabbed Jaxon’s arm while glaring at Elijah, “When my brother did not tell me, what can I expect from anybody else.” she spoke dramatically but as Elijah rolled his eyes, she chuckled and added, “I was busy anyway and would not have been able to leave that demanding and hard to satisfy client. So it is okay, I forgive you all.”

Elijah’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the interaction between Chloe and Jaxon. There was a warmth in Chloe’s eyes when she looked at Jaxon, a softness he hadn’t seen before. “Chloe, how do you know Jaxon?” he asked, curiosity lacing his tone. Though he knew that they were co workers but this was not how co worked acted around each other.

Chloe blushed, a light pink tingeing her cheeks, “Oh, Jaxon and I are just friends. We have known each other since university but we simply lost contact when he moved away because of his job”

She turned to Jaxon, introducing him to Elijah as if Elijah didn’t already know him. But Elijah’s keen eyes caught the smile on Chloe’s lips, the glow on her face as she spoke about Jaxon. Something more was there, something he hadn’t noticed before.

As the small celebration continued, Seraphina and Elijah exchanged pleasantries with the employees, accepting their congratulations. But Seraphina’s mind was elsewhere. She watched the interplay between Chloe and Jaxon with an almost clinical detachment, analyzing every glance, every smile.

Eventually, the office began to empty as employees returned to their desks or left for the evening. Seraphina and Elijah retreated to Seraphina’s office, the door clicking shut behind them. Elijah turned to her, his expression thoughtful.

“We should go,” he said. “Back to your place.”

Seraphina nodded, but as they walked out, she said, “We’ll stay at my place for a while, Elijah. But I’ve been thinking, I’d love to stay at your home with your family.”

Elijah looked at her, surprised. “Really? You would want that?”

Seraphina nodded again, this time more earnestly. “I’ve lost my family, Elijah. Being with yours, it would be like having a family again. I want that chance.”

Elijah smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes as he pulled her into a gentle hug. “I’m glad to hear that, Seraphina.”

But as he held her, Seraphina’s thoughts were a storm of conflicting emotions. She apologized to him silently and in her mind, knowing her intentions were far from pure. She wasn’t going to the Grayson mansion to start a family or find happiness. She was going there to dismantle everything he held dear. To make him as broken as she was.

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Back at Seraphina’s mansion, Elijah ordered dinner for them and as they sat across from each other, Elijah broke the silence asking the question that he had been meaning to ask, “What do you think of Jaxon?”

Seraphina looked up, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Why do you ask?”

Elijah chuckled softly. “Did you really not notice? The way Chloe looks at Jaxon? She looks at him like I look at you. She’s in love with him.”

Seraphina’s lips curled into a smile, but there was no humor in it. “Jaxon is a good man,” while thinking, “But Chloe, I’m not sure she can truly love anyone the way you do, Elijah.”

Elijah’s brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean? ” he wanted more than that.

Seraphina shrugged, taking a sip of her wine. “Jaxon is a really good man, dear husband. I am sure that he will take good care of Chloe, if they were ever to date.”

She watched Elijah’s expression shift to one of contemplation, her mind racing with her own dark thoughts. Soon, Chloe’s true face would be revealed to everyone. And she couldn’t help but wonder how Elijah would react when the sister he adored showed her true colors.

For now, she’d keep her secrets close, her true intentions hidden beneath a veil of smiles and soft words. But soon, soon the real expose game would begin.

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The next morning dawned bright and clear, sunlight streaming through the tall windows of Seraphina’s room. The light danced across the polished marble floors, casting intricate patterns that shifted and changed with the passing clouds. Seraphina stood by the window, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze distant.

Elijah emerged from the washroom, his hair still damp from his shower. He looked at her, taking in the tension in her posture. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Seraphina turned, her expression softening as she saw him. “Just thinking,” she replied with a slight smile. “About everything.”

He walked over to her, his hands finding her shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze. “You don’t have to worry, you know. My family already loves you so much.”

Her smile didn’t falter, but a shadow crossed her eyes. “I know.”

She hugged him and placed a kiss on his chest feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her lips. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax in his embrace, drawing strength from his warmth and presence. But the weight of her thoughts pressed against her, refusing to be ignored.

“Elijah,” she began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He pulled back slightly, searching her face with a concerned expression. “What is it?”

She smiled widely, her eyes gleaming with a glint of mischief as she said, “I love you.”