Chapter 0058 –
Seraphina’s POV
Even through the phone, Asher’s voice sent shivers down my spine. His icy tone wrapped around me, making the distance between us feel irrelevant.
“Answer me,” he commanded, his words sharp and unrelenting.
My breath caught, and I tried to steady myself. “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad… I didn’t mean to betray you…”
He laughed, but there was no humor in it. “That won’t work, Seraphina. Apologies and begging don’t get you anywhere with me.”
Shame filled me.
Why did I think I was special to him? Maybe it was how he acted around me—the way he’d look at me, the moments he’d protect me. Somewhere along the line, I’d convinced myself that I mattered.
But I was wrong.
To him, I was just another person who’d crossed him, and now I’d face the consequences.
“I just thought… maybe marriage isn’t the smartest move for us, even if it’s just a fake one,” I explained weakly. “Even without the contract, I’ll give my all to the Carnival project. You’ll get your profits. And it’s not like you don’t have other choices for Luna. You don’t need me.”
There was silence for a beat before his voice came through, low and dangerous. “The contract marriage was part of the deal. I made that clear from the start.”
He was right.
From the moment we met, he’d been upfront with his expectations. He’d given me a choice. If I’d said no back then, he wouldn’t have lifted a finger to help me. I would’ve still been stuck in Blazewood Pack, trapped in Damon and Althea’s shadow.
This was my fault.
Because somewhere along the way, I’d grown feelings for him.
The idea of a fake marriage hurt. Seeing him close with other women hurt more. And the thought of losing myself to him completely terrified me.
“Seraphina, don’t make me ask again. What’s the real reason you left?”
His growl sent a fresh wave of panic through me.
I couldn’t tell him the truth. That I was falling for him and it scared me.
But I had to say something.
“I… I’m in love with someone else,” I blurted out.
The second the words left my mouth, I knew I’d made a terrible mistake.
There was a loud crash on the other end of the line, like he’d thrown something.
“Who?” His voice was tight, cold, and dangerous.
“Asher…”
“Was it before or after you left Damon?”
I couldn’t answer. The lie was falling apart, and I had no way to fix it.
From his perspective, I’d used him. Pretended I’d sign the contract, let him help me, and then ran off. It looked terrible.
“I-I’ll pay you back for everything,” I stammered desperately. “I won’t let your help go to waste.”
“With what, exactly?” His mocking tone was like a dagger to my chest.
He wasn’t wrong. I had nothing to offer him—no money, no power, nothing.
“When the Carnival project makes a profit, I’ll give you 10% of my shares as compensation. So please—”
He cut me off, his voice dripping with disdain. “You only own 30% to begin with. Even if you gave me all of it, it’s nothing to me.”
Tears burned in my eyes. My pride had never been so crushed.
I’d offered him everything I had, and it still wasn’t enough.
“And who told you the Carnival project is still on?” he scoffed.
My heart sank.
“What… what do you mean?” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He chuckled darkly, and it chilled me to the core.
“You think I’d let you betray me and walk away unscathed? The board review is next week, Seraphina. And I’m very interested to see if your little project survives without me.”
His words hit like a slap.
If Cadenwithdrew his support, Carnival City would collapse. The board would never approve it without his influence.
“You wouldn’t…” I whispered, barely able to breathe.
“Watch me.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone in my hand, my chest heaving as panic overtook me.
I’d lost everything. My project, my pride, and possibly the only man who’d ever made me feel alive since Damon.
But one thing was certain: I wasn’t going down without a fight.
