Seraphine looked down at Olivia’s tear-stained face, watching the raw desperation twisting every feature. For one tiny moment, she almost wanted to believe the woman was genuinely sorry.
Then all the memories came flooding back in a rush, the cruel words, the vicious insults, the constant humiliation.
Olivia had called her tainted. A whore. A complete disgrace. She had judged her without ever trying to understand a single thing about her life. She had mocked her past, ripped apart her worth, and even tried to destroy her marriage to Voren. The more Seraphine remembered, the colder her expression grew.
She wasn’t angry anymore. She was just done being fooled.
Olivia wasn’t the type of woman who apologized without wanting something in return. There was always a hidden motive behind everything she did.
Seraphine looked her straight in the eyes. "You’re only asking me to forgive you because you want me to talk to Voren and Vladimir for you." Her voice stayed calm, but every single word hit like a hammer. "You think if I forgive you, they’ll go easier on you. That’s not going to happen."
Olivia’s face lost the last fragile spark of hope.
Kylie smiled proudly from where she stood, her eyes shining with pure admiration. "That’s exactly what I love about you, Sera. You don’t let people fool you anymore."
Seraphine returned a small, faint smile. She wasn’t trying to prove anything to anyone. She just wanted the whole truth out in the open.
Looking back at Olivia, she continued in a steady voice. "In case you still don’t get it... the judgment you received today has nothing to do with me." She pointed toward Vladimir before turning back to Olivia.
"It’s because of what you did to the late Luna’s remains. That’s the real crime you’re being punished for. You can apologize to me a thousand times, but it won’t change what happened to her."
A heavy silence settled over the deck.
For the first time since the truth had exploded, Madison slowly nodded. A gentle warmth spread through her heart. She had carried so much pain, regret, and loneliness inside her for years.
Watching Seraphine acting so strong and clear-headed made something deep inside her finally start to heal.
For the first time in forever, she truly felt like she belonged here with these people. Not because anyone had said the words, but because Seraphine had quietly made the entire family stronger without even trying.
Nearby, Vladimir couldn’t tear his eyes away from Seraphine. Regret washed over him in waves. She could have made this whole moment about herself. She could have demanded a personal apology.
She could have thrown every cruel thing Olivia had done to her back in everyone’s face, and no one would have blamed her. Instead, she focused only on what truly mattered, justice for Oriana.
Vladimir lowered his eyes for a moment. He regretted not seeing Seraphine through Voren’s eyes sooner. Now he finally understood. She was incredibly strong and wise beyond her years. Yet despite all the power she carried, she still had the heart of a good, ordinary woman.

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