The Heiress's Revenge - A Bloody Affair - Chapter 34

[34 – The Pretense of Sympathy – II]
While planning for her revenge mission, Seraphina had once come across an article about human psychology that piqued her interest. The article was written by a renowned psychologist and behavioral expert. In that article the author talked about human relationships and the level of comfort and dependency that two people can end up sharing.

The article said that when life becomes overwhelming, so much so that a person starts to feel suffocated by the weight of their problems, there’s often this one particular person they instinctively turn to.

This person is like a sanctuary to them, a safe heaven unlike anyone else. They seek this person out because deep down, they truth that particular person so much that their presence alone can offer the solace they seek.

While they might not have all the answers or solutions to one’s problems, but their support and belief can ignite the strength within. But often times such dependency can create a lot of troubles as well. There are people in this world who know how to manipulate such trust, such dependency and exploit the other person.

And Seraphina was one of those; the manipulator.

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Elijah remained seated inside his car for over half an hour. He spent that time trying to decide what should he do next. His brain told him to turn around and go back to his home and if not that, then go somewhere relaxing and calming like a beach.

But contradicting his brain was Elijah’s heart that was continuously telling him to stay where he was, encouraging him to step out of the car and go inside, hinting him that all he needed at that moment was Seraphina’s company, her presence by his side, and that, that would be more than enough for him to feel better.

That’s how Elijah spent more than half an hour inside his car, experiencing the battle of his brain and heart, waiting for either side to win so that he could make a decision.

In this end, his heart won.

Gathering all the courage, Elijah stepped out of his car and began walking towards Seraphina’s mansion taking slow steps. He came to stand at the same spot he had been standing that evening when he had come to pick up Seraphina for the gala night.

Mustering enough courage, Elijah rang the doorbell and waited for Seraphina to open the door. But when after few minutes, he got response, he rang the bell again. And then again. And then once again.

Elijah even knocked at the door but he still got no response so he decided to call Seraphina to ask where she was and if she was okay.

Before he could have second thoughts about it, Elijah selected her name from the contact list and pressed on the call button. Raising his cell phone against his ear, Elijah waited for Seraphina to answer the call.

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Meanwhile, Seraphina was at her home watching a movie while eating dinner. She was at the mansion where she lived, the mansion whose address she hadn’t shared with Elijah.

Seraphina was enjoying the movie when her cell phone buzzed with a specific ringtone that she had chosen for Elijah. She frowned wondering why he was calling her at this hour but nonetheless, she muted the television and answered the call.

“Hello?” Seraphina muttered as she answered the call.

She waited for a whole minute for Elijah to respond but he did not utter a single word, “Elijah? Are you okay?”

“Or did you call me by mistake? Is this a ‘my phone was in my pocket and I don’t know how it ended up calling you’ moment?” Seraphina blabbed randomly trying to elicit a response from Elijah.

And it worked.

She heard him chuckle before he asked, “Where are you? Are you not home yet?”

Seraphina’s frown deepened wondering why Elijah was asking her that. The possibility that he could be at her other mansion registered in her brain making her quickly cover up, “I am on my way back home from office. Why did you ask?”

“Oh!” Elijah paused for a few seconds before replying, “Actually -” he did not dare complete his sentence because he did not want Seraphina to be creeped out by his words and actions.

“Actually, what Elijah?” asked Seraphina, “Is everything alright? Are you alright?” she questioned, her voice laced with concern and anxiousness.

Elijah smiled sadly and kicked a tiny stone away with his foot, “I -” he hesitated for a moment before replying, “You know everything is not right.”

Seraphina knew that he was talking about the scandals involving Ethan and Caroline, “I know.”

“Actually, I was feeling suffocated back home, couldn’t breathe for it was becoming physically hurtful to do so. That’s why I stepped out for some fresh air and -” he paused and when he did not reply for over a minute, Seraphina urged him to continue, “And?”

“And I don’t know but I ended up right in front of your house.” the moment Elijah finished his sentence, Seraphina quickly got up and hastily ran to her bedroom.

She pulled out a random formal outfit from her walk-in closet and began dressing up while talking to Elijah on phone.

“I will reach there within half an hour, Elijah. Just wait for me, okay.” she said while zipping up the dress that she had chosen to wear.

“Okay.” Elijah agreed, “I will wait for you.”

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Elijah was seated in the front steps of her mansion when Seraphina arrived. His eyes were closed and he looked at peace as the cool night air ruffled his hair and soothed his nerves.

She stood there, a few feet of distance between them, as she continued to observe him. Seraphina could not help but wonder if this was how he charmed all those women whom he had exploited so far.

Seraphina believed that this was Elijah’s way of charming and slowly seducing the girl. Those women might have succumbed to his charm but she was not like those women. She was not going to fall this manipulative bastard ever.

In fact, she was going to use his game of seduction against him, “Elijah.” she said his name in such a sweet and soft voice that Elijah’s heart fluttered.

“What happened?” Seraphina asked, her face a mask of extreme concern and anxiety.

Elijah opened his eyes and saw Seraphina standing right in front of him. She was look stunning and exceptionally beautiful as ever. “Hi!” he waved his hand in greeting and stood up to greet her properly.

“I apologize for disturbing you but I -” Elijah tried to explain himself but Seraphina placed her finger on his lips gesturing him to keep quiet while she talked, “You don’t have to apologize, okay.” she said without removing her fingers from Elijah’s lips.

“We are friends, aren’t we? So you can come meet me anytime you want.” Seraphina grabbed his hands in hers and squeezed them lightly, “Come, let’s go inside.”

Without letting go off Elijah’s hand, Seraphina opened the door and led him inside the mansion. If it had been any other day, Elijah would have taken the time to appreciate the beautiful interior design of the mansion but today, right now, his eyes were trained on Seraphina, his gaze unwavering.

“So tell me, what happened?” she asked while making her sit on the dining table as she poured a glass of water for him.

Elijah took the glass from Seraphina and explained to her that he was hurt because of the latest sex scandals involving Ethan and Caroline. He deliberately omitted the parts about his father and uncle William planning to prove all the evidences fake and bribe the new channels through the other high profile men involved in the scandal along Caroline.

“I just couldn’t stay there anymore because I couldn’t stop thinking that how was it possible for Ethan and Caroline to be like this while there image in my mind was something else entirely.” informed Elijah.

“I couldn’t differentiate between the truth and lies, between illusions and reality.” Seraphina moved to stand near Elijah who was seated at the dining table, and placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly in a comforting manner.

“I understand, Elijah.” Seraphina mumbled softly, her hand moving from his shoulder to his cheek, “I cannot tell you what to do because I have never been stuck in a situation like this but I want to let you know that I am here.”

“I am here for you.” she caressed his cheek and added, “You know that right?”

Elijah nodded in positive, covering Seraphina’s hand with his own.

“Also, Elijah,” she said softly, “you can spend the night here if you need to. If your home feels too suffocating, you’re welcome to stay.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Elijah nodded, grateful for the offer. Seraphina showed him around the house and ordered dinner for both of them. They had their dinner while watching a comedy movie to change Elijah’s mood and make him feel better and at ease.

Later, Seraphina cleaned the dishes while Elijah helped her arrange them. He was extremely thankful to her for letting him stay and voiced it out, “Thank you,” he said, “you know, for letting me stay.” his voice was barely above a whisper.

Seraphina nodded, pretending to understand the weight of his gratitude, and smiled, “You are always welcome here, Elijah.”