The Heiress's Revenge - A Bloody Affair - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: [63 – A Planned Reunion]
While Seraphina was away, Elijah decided to join his family and friends at the center table that was reserved only for the Grayson, Sullivan, and Thompson family. William and Daniel were not only Marcus’s business partners but his old friends as well who to them were just like their family.

The three families were really close and with Ethan and Caroline’s upcoming wedding, their friendship was actually going to become a familial relationship in terms of law. They all were like a big, happy family and Elijah loved it this way.

He stepped forward and towards the biggest and centermost table in the ballroom to join his family. They were all quite lively today, filled with laughter and animated conversations which was quite a relief after the recent unfortunate events in their lives.

Smiling, he waved to everyone is greeting and asked, “Hey guys! So, how is everyone doing tonight?”

Everybody responded to his greeting except for Chloe who came rushing towards him and asked, “Where is your girlfriend, Elijah?” she teased, her voice and eyes full of mischief that did not go unnoticed by Elijah.

Chloe poked him in the bicep and repeated the question and this time everybody turned to look at him, anticipating his response.

Marcus wrapped his arm around his son’s shoulder and chimed in, “Yeah, son. We all want to meet her. Did you not bring her along?”

Elijah chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, “She’s, uh um, she needed to use the washroom. She will be back soon.” he replied.

“By the way Dad,” Chloe smirked and crossed her arms in front of her chest, “you know, I noticed it on Day 1, itself that how smitten our Elijah was with Seraphina. I even told him so but he claimed that he was only curious about her because he believed that he had seen her somewhere before. Now, look at him.” she pointed at Elijah who was feeling shy because of being teased.

Everybody except for Daniel and Mia laughed making the tips of Elijah’s ears to turn as red as his cheeks, “Just curious, huh?” Chloe lightly elbowed him in the ribs, “Did you finally found out where you had seen her?”

“And don’t say that you saw her in your dreams! That’s just cheesy in a very bad way.” commented Ethan from where he was seated next to Caroline.

Elijah rolled his eyes and responded, “Actually, I was right. We did meet before, four years ago to be precise.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the revelation, “Oh, really? How did that happen?” he asked.

Elijah explained how he met Seraphina in that art gallery four years ago during her first exhibition, “You remember the painting in your study, Dad? The one called The Crimson Vow – Retribution of the Fallen Throne?”

“Yeah.” responded Marcus taking a sip of his alcoholic beverage.

“That’s hers.” Elijah smirked seeing the expression of surprise on his father’s face, “Seraphina painted that, it’s the first painting I purchased from her collection. And then over the span of 4 years I ended up purchasing all the paintings from her collection unknowingly.”

The air thickened with surprise as Marcus’s eyes widened, “Now way!” he exclaimed, “She is the artist behind The Crimson Vow? I have always loved that piece.”

Elijah nodded, feeling proud. His lips were stretched in a wide grin that pricked at the heart of Mia who had never seen Elijah smile like that.

“You said that you purchased all of the paintings in her collection? Now, how did that happen?” questioned Katherine while Chloe and Ethan teased him, “What’s the mystery, bro?” they asked in unison and in a sing song voice.

The others laughed while Elijah turned as red as a ripe tomato. He rubbed his neck sheepishly unable to keep off the happy grin that stretched across his face. This was the first time that everybody saw Elijah so happy, so shy, and just so much in love.

All of them were chatting happily, enjoying teasing Elijah when someone walked up to their table and greeted them, “Hello!”

They all turned to look up at the newcomer and were surprised to see a stunning woman standing in front of them looking slightly nervous while standing there, “Seraphina!” exclaimed Chloe and walked up to her and pulled her in a hug, “You are looking beautiful!” she praised making Seraphina smile.

“Thank you.” she responded while Chloe broke the hug and tried to introduce Seraphina to everybody, “Everyone, this is -” but Elijah interrupted her mid way by lightly smacking her on the arm and pulling her away from Seraphina.

“This is not your job.” he chided her before stepping next to Seraphina and wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, “Dad, Mom, everybody, this is Seraphina Vale. My girlfriend.”

After a chorus of “oh’s and ah’s”, Marcus stepped forward to greet Seraphina. He offered her his hand for a handshake, “Hello, Seraphina. I am Marcus, your boyfriend’s father.”

Seraphina looked at Marcus’s hand stretched out in front of her. Her smile remained intact but in that time that she took to grab his hand in a handshake, in those few seconds, every memory that she had of Marcus flashed behind her eyes.

He looked exactly the same as he had all those years ago except his hair were now more gray than they used to. But he still had those dark eyes that were like pools of eternal abyss ready to drown you to your death.

He was the devil who destroyed not only hers but lives of many others. His unwavering gaze, and the evil that he hid behind his smile made her skin crawl. But she was not going to back out of this. She had to keep the promise that she made to her family, to every others person who had been a victim of the atrocities that these three men and their family members committed.

Staring back at Marcus with a steady stare, Seraphina continued to smile as she shook his hand, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grayson. Elijah has told me a lot about you.”

“Oh?” Marcus laughed leaving Seraphina’s hand to clap his son’s shoulder, blissfully unaware that he just shook hands with his death.

The thought made Seraphina chuckle out loud.