Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 108
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[An Island]
A crescent of powdered white sand wrapped around turquoise water, while rows of imported royal palms swayed beneath the evening breeze.
A glass mansion sat proudly at the island’s center, it’s walls reflecting the dying sunset.
Marble pathways wound through manicured gardens where rare orchids, black roses, and lavender fields bloomed side by side.
A yacht harbor glittered with vessels worth fortunes, and a helipad overlooked the ocean.
A yacht eased into the private dock, and a line of suited staff who have been waiting for the arrival bowed.
Tobias stepped onto the wooden pier first, looking devastatingly composed in an ash-gray tailored suit that hugged his broad shoulders.
Beside him walked Seraphina, her flowing lavender dress dancing around her legs as she strode fast,not wanting to walk beside him.
She barely spared the island a glance despite the luxury, forcing Tobias to trail beside her instead of leading.
The mansion’s exterior towered behind stone fountains and towering glass doors.
Golden lights spilled from windows, making the estate glow against the darkening sky.
Inside, an impossibly long dining table stretched across the grand hall.
Delicacies decorated the table like edible art….butter-poached lobster, saffron risotto, truffle-infused pasta, wagyu steaks, roasted duck glazed with honey, and fruit pastries.
Everything was perfectly set as if for an intentional purpose.
Rising proudly from the center was a towering five-tier lavender-and-white cake, trimmed with gold leaf and sugar butterflies that looked almost alive.
“You haven’t said a word since we left New York,” Tobias murmured as he pulled out a chair for Seraphina.
“Do I require your permission to stay silent too?” She voiced.
His jaw flexed, but he sat across her on the full table, expecting her to dig in and eat some.
“I don’t have an appetite.” She muttered.
“I planned this for you.” His calmness still stayed erect around each word.
“I don’t have an appetite.” She repeated with the same uninterested tone as she tried to not make any contact with the table.
Each answer landed sharper than the last, cutting through the room until even the servants quietly disappeared.
Tobias stared at her for several seconds before reaching into the inner pocket of his suit.
A velvet box appeared first. Then, from behind one of the chairs, he lifted a garment bag and unzipped it.
Layers of breathtaking white lace spilled into view. A wedding dress!
Seraphina’s expressionless eyes widened when she saw the two unexpected combination.
She looked at him.
“Marry me,” he landed the blow.
The words echoed through the enormous dining hall.
Seraphina’s eyes dropped to the diamond ring before lifting to the wedding dress.
For a heartbeat, she said nothing. She just stared at the wedding dress like it’s the most disgusting thing existing in the world right now.
Then, something inside her snapped. A hollow, tired, disappointed laugh escaped her lips.
“You’ve actually lost your fucking mind, Tobias.”
She shoved the chair back so violently it crashed onto the floor before she stood to him.
She pointed accusingly at the ring. “This is another one of your ugly schemes! I knew you were up to something the moment you began acting sweet in the morning!”
Tobias remained silent.
She laughed again, this time with something grimier than sadness.
“You want to parade me around as your wife because you know Vince will come after me.” Her breathing grew uneven. “You don’t want a marriage, Tobias. You want bait. You want to use me as bait!”
The truth settled between them as the words rushed out of her.
“Yeah, he used me cos my sister ordered him, but even if I want to get back at him, getting married to a man who doesn’t love me is not it. Why the fûck does everyone think I’m hungry for marriage? Why the fûck does everyone keep playing games of fakery with me!” She slammed the table, letting it all out.
“You think I’ll wear your ring..your name..your fucking wedding dress…..” She grabbed the garment bag and hurled it across the room.
The white fabric burst free as it crashed into the banquet table, knocking crystal glasses away w.
“I would rather drown in the ocean surrounding this island than become another plaything for another man!”
She lifted the cake and threw it at the floor next. She drove both hands into it, sending frosting, sponge, and gold leaf splattering before kicking the ruined masterpiece over completely.
The diamond ring remained untouched in Tobias’s hand.
He’s not even looking up as Seraphina did the ruins.
He remained seated, like someone told him that the silence ritual must continue no matter what.
He kept staring at the ring, but he heard Seraphina’s ragged breathings when she finished scattering.
“You came to me, on the alter, this same time, two and a half months ago, demanding protection, and we stuck a deal.” He sounded demonic.
He stood after those words, his hand itching to grab her neck, but he grabbed the table edge instead.
His restraints and self-control worked hand-in-hand.
He still didn’t look at her. He settled his razing gaze on the table, and he suddenly picked an empty plate.
Thinking he was going to throw it at her, Seraphina quickly drew her gun, aiming at him ferociously.
Tobias threw the plate on the glittering floor, then another plate, then another plate, shattering them all and still not looking up even once.
Like not looking up is his own way of restraining his demons.
Like he would shatter her to pieces like the plates if he looked up.
“Let’s stop it, now…” She muttered lowly from the other side.
And he finally looked up, eyes red, ears red—his signature of madness.
He pushed the table away with his knees, landing down the remaining plates before dashing across.
“You do not get, to call the shots, Seraphina! You do not…get to push the stop button!” He spat.
“Black Rose.” She whispered.
And that was enough to make his shoes stop before he could take the next step. He stopped immediately.
“You said anytime I wanted you to stop, I could use it. I want to stop this…this deal, this whole thing…I feel like my mental health is deteriorating, fast.”
Tobias stayed where he stayed, looking up slowly to meet her large eyes and the way she was still pointing the gun at him.
“Black….” She whispered. “Rose.”
TBC.
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