Unloved Unwanted Unstoppable (Seraphina and Dominic) novel Chapter 67

Seraphina froze in place, feeling as though someone had punched her in the chest.

It hurt.

She thought she was already used to it.

Her daughter had pushed her away time and time again, choosing others over her time and time again. She genuinely believed she had grown completely numb to it.

But in that exact moment, she realized it still hurt.

She took a deep breath, forcefully swallowing down the metallic taste of blood rising in her throat, and tore her gaze away.

Then, she picked up her teacup and drank, sip by sip.

The tea had gone cold.

It tasted bitter, without a single hint of sweetness left.

Dominic spotted her too.

His footsteps faltered. His gaze landed on her, and his brow furrowed slightly.

The woman was wearing a smoke-gray blazer, her hair tied back in a low ponytail, sitting by the window in a booth. In front of her sat a teapot and a tablet.

She looked different from before.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what had changed, but she was definitely different.

Dominic's eyes lingered on her for two extra seconds before he retracted his gaze. He didn't look at her again, tightening his grip on his daughter's hand and walking straight past Seraphina's booth with Cynthia.

As Cynthia walked past Seraphina, she turned her head and threw her a glance, the corners of her lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk.

It was the smile of a victor.

Seraphina didn't look up, her eyes glued firmly to her teacup.

The sound of their footsteps faded away.

The three of them settled into a booth further inside. A waiter approached them immediately, respectfully handing over a menu.

Lily sat in her chair, pouting heavily.

She was still furious.

Her mother hadn't even called her name.

In the past, whenever her mother saw her, she would smile, call out "Lily," squat down to hug her, and ask if she was hungry or what she wanted to eat.

The kitten went flying, crashing hard against the bookshelf and letting out a shrill, agonizing yowl.

Guests at several nearby tables immediately turned their heads in shock.

Seraphina's pupils contracted violently.

Was this the daughter she had raised?

She had spent five years teaching her to treat every small, defenseless creature with kindness.

Yet she had just watched her daughter kick a cat with her own two eyes.

Seraphina slammed her teacup down, shot up from her seat, and strode quickly toward the corner.

After kicking the cat, Lily still didn't seem satisfied. She raised her foot again, preparing for a second strike.

"Lily Lockwood!"

Seraphina grabbed her daughter's wrist, yanking her back as she dropped to a crouch, forcing the girl to look her in the eye.

"What are you doing?" Seraphina's voice shook. "Why did you kick it?"

Lily was startled by her expression, but then her lip trembled, and her eyes welled up with tears.