Morning didn't feel like morning.
The light came in the same way.
The silence was still controlled.
The mansion… unchanged.
But something was different.
Seraphina felt it before she even opened her eyes.
The absence.
Not physical.
Not visible.
But there.
Heavy.
She sat up slowly, her fingers brushing her lips without thinking.
And then the memory hit sharp, unexpected, real.
The kiss.
Her breath caught for a moment.
Then she stood.
He avoided her.
Not in an obvious way.
Not in a way anyone else would notice.
But she did.
Of course she did.
When she entered a room he left.
When she walked down the hall he turned away.
When she looked at him he didn't meet her gaze.
And that… unsettled her more than anything so far.
This wasn't control.
This was distance.
Deliberate.
Intentional.
And it didn't make sense.
"You look different."
The voice came from behind her.
Seraphina didn't turn immediately. She already knew who it was.
Valentina stepped beside her, eyes sharp and observant.
"You're quieter," she added.
A pause.
Then her eyes narrowed.
"Or maybe just distracted."
Seraphina met her gaze.
"Is there a reason you're here?"
Valentina smiled.
"Oh, there's always a reason."
She stepped closer. Too close.
"And I think I just figured it out."
Silence.
Seraphina didn't respond.
But something in her expression small, subtle gave it away.
Valentina saw it instantly. Of course she did.
Her smile shifted.
Slower.
Sharper.
"He kissed you."
The words landed softly. But they hit hard.
Seraphina's breath caught, just slightly. That was enough.
Valentina let out a quiet laugh.
"I knew it."
Her gaze darkened.
"And now he's pulling away."
Another pause.
Her voice dropped.
"Because he realized what it means."
Seraphina frowned slightly.
"What does it mean?"
Valentina tilted her head.
"You really don't understand him, do you?"
Silence.
Then
"He doesn't do attachment," she said.
"He doesn't keep things that make him… weak."
The word hung in the air. Weak.
Seraphina's fingers curled slightly.
"So what happens now?" she asked quietly.
Valentina's smile returned.
"This is the part where he tries to convince himself it didn't matter."
A pause.
"And this is the part where you decide if it did."
That night, Seraphina didn't stay in her room.
Not because she was told not to.
But because she needed something.
Air.
Answers.
Anything.
The hallway was quiet. Too quiet.
She walked slowly. Carefully.
But something felt off. Wrong.
A sound. Soft. Behind her.
She turned too late.
A hand grabbed her, rough, pulling her back hard.
A cloth pressed against her mouth sharp, chemical.
Her body reacted instinctively, struggling.
But her strength wasn't enough.
Her vision blurred. Her breath faltered.
Darkness closed in.
And the last thing she heard:
"Don't damage
By the time Dante found out it was too late.
"She's gone."
The words didn't register at first.
Then they did.
Everything stopped.
"What?"
The room went silent.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Because they all felt it.
The shift.
The break.
"Say that again."
His voice low, dangerous.
"She's not in her room," the guard said carefully.
"And the cameras…"
"Who touched them?"
No answer. That was answer enough.
Dante turned slowly. His expression cold. Empty. Deadly.
"Lock the house down."
Immediate movement. Chaos. Orders flying.
But Dante didn't move. Not at first.
Something inside him, something he had been holding back snapped. Completely.
"She's not just a distraction anymore."
Valentina's voice behind him. Calm. Too calm.
Dante didn't turn.
"You already knew that," she continued.
Silence.
Then he spoke. Low. Controlled. Shaking beneath it.
"If this is you…"
"It's not."
A pause. Then "For once."
That made him turn. Fast. Eyes locked on hers.
Searching. Dangerous.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Valentina held his gaze.
"You don't have to. But if it was me… you'd already know."
Silence. That felt true.
Dante's jaw tightened.
Because this this was different.
This wasn't her style.
This was something else. Something worse.
Dante turned away again, mind already moving, calculating.
But beneath that something louder.
Something he couldn't ignore anymore.
"She matters."
The words came from Valentina. Soft, but cutting.
Dante didn't respond. Because if he did it would make it real.
But silence didn't deny it. It confirmed it.
Somewhere dark. Cold.
Seraphina stirred. Slowly. Head heavy, body weak.
Her eyes opened to unfamiliar walls, shadows, danger.
And this time Dante wasn't there.