Unloved Unwanted Unstoppable (Seraphina and Dominic) novel Chapter 31

Seraphina's heart felt as though it were caught in a brutal vice.

She looked at her daughter, her voice tight. "Lily, did you see me poison anyone with your own eyes? Are you just parroting their insults?"

Lily froze for a second and bit her lip, but quickly shouted back, "Grandma Winifred said so! She said you're a bad person, so you must be a bad person!"

A suffocating weight crashed onto Seraphina's chest, leaving her struggling for air.

She closed her eyes deeply, fighting to steady her breathing.

When she opened them again, her gaze had turned ice-cold.

She let out a soft, mocking laugh at Lily before turning to face the room.

"Pull the security footage."

Winifred faltered before scoffing. "What footage? Isn't the evidence of your poisoning clear enough?"

"Since you're all so certain I did it," Seraphina enunciated every word carefully, "then pull the footage. Let's see exactly who is responsible."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. When he spoke, his voice was entirely devoid of warmth.

"The cameras are broken."

Broken?

Seraphina stared into his eyes, searching for the truth.

There was no emotion to be found in his predatory gaze.

Seraphina let out a humorless laugh.

"Then call the cops."

Winifred's face drained of color. "Are you out of your mind?"

Yvette chimed in, shrieking. "The cops? Haven't you dragged the Lockwood family's name through the mud enough?"

Dominic's frown deepened. "Seraphina, keep this private. We don't air our dirty laundry."

Seraphina looked at him, a sudden smirk playing on her lips.

"Dirty laundry? You all accused me of attempted murder, and now you're worried about a scandal?"

"I told you, I didn't do it. Since none of you believe me, let the police investigate. Whoever actually planted the poison will face the consequences."

She pulled out her phone, her thumb hovering over the dial pad.

"Don't you dare!" Winifred hissed, her face livid. "If you call the cops, I'll make sure Dominic leaves you with absolutely nothing!"

Seraphina met Winifred's furious glare.

"I don't care."

Oleander poisoning perfectly matched the symptoms the older woman was exhibiting.

But Lana's eyes gave her away.

As she spoke, her gaze kept darting toward Winifred. Beneath the fear, there was a silent, desperate plea for help.

Seraphina's thumb hovered over the screen once more.

"Enough."

A frail, gravelly voice echoed from the bed.

The elderly matriarch had opened her eyes.

A collective sigh of relief washed over the room.

"Grandma, you're awake," Dominic said, stepping forward.

The matriarch ignored him. She struggled to push herself up, and Seraphina immediately rushed over to help her.

Leaning heavily against Seraphina's shoulder, the older woman swept her sharp gaze across every person in the room.

Finally, her eyes locked onto Winifred. Winifred flinched visibly and dropped her head, entirely unable to hold the matriarch's gaze.

"About the police," the older woman rasped, turning to Seraphina. "Hold off on that for now, Seraphina."