Clara stood in the garden, the phantom sting of the slap still vibrating in her palm. Her mind was a whirlwind.
Why did he do it? The Julian she knew from the pages was an unshakeable fortress of indifference toward Seraphina.
This raw, jagged obsession wasn't just a deviation; it was a rewrite.
"Seraphina," Arthur's voice broke through the silence, cautious and heavy with concern. "Let me drive you home. You're shaking."
Before Clara could even open her mouth, Daisy let out a soft, sharp gasp, clutching her chest as if the oxygen had suddenly turned to lead.
"Arthur... my head... the world is spinning. I think the shock... I think my heart..." She swayed, her eyes fluttering with practiced, "Over-the-Top" fragility.
Clara felt a vein throb in her temple. The "White Lotus" was blooming right on cue.
"Arthur, take her home," Clara said, her voice like flint. "She looks like she's about to evaporate if she isn't tucked into a silk bed within ten minutes. I'll take a cab."
"But—"
"Go, Arthur. Before she faints into the roses and ruins your suit."
Without waiting for an answer, Clara turned on her heel and marched toward the street.
Back in the cold luxury of her mansion, Clara threw her heels across the room. She paced the marble floor, her teeth bared in a silent snarl.
Think, Clara. Think.
In the original novel, this was the night of the "Bistro Humiliation." Arthur and Daisy were supposed to have their first public date.
Seraphina, desperate and pathetic, followed Julian. He was supposed to insult her in front of the entire restaurant, calling her a "disgusting shadow," until she ran out into the rain, sobbing.
"But tonight, I slapped him," she muttered, staring at her reflection. "I bit him. And instead of insulting me, he... he looked at me like I was his entire world."
She grabbed her tablet, scrolling through her mental notes. Tomorrow was the "Lake Park" scene.
In the original, Arthur takes Daisy for a romantic stroll by the water. Seraphina tries to push Daisy into the lake, only for Julian to catch Daisy and humiliate Seraphina again.
"If the script is fighting back," Clara whispered, "I have to fight harder. I'll help Julian get his 'Lotus' if it keeps him away from me."
The next morning, the park was a vibrant explosion of color. The sun was bright, the music from the nearby carousel was cheerful, and the crowds were everywhere.
Arthur was walking by the lake, looking like a romantic advertisement in a linen shirt, holding a giant, fluffy pink teddy bear for Daisy.
"Daisy," Arthur said, his voice warm. "I won it for you at the ring toss."
Daisy clutched the bear, her eyes wide. "Arthur... you're always so thoughtful. It's almost too heavy for me to carry, but I'll treasure it forever."
Clara watched from behind a topiary, ready to move in and "guide" the scene. But as she stepped out, a hand clamped onto her shoulder and yanked her back into the shade of a large oak tree.
Julian.
He looked exhausted, his lower lip still slightly swollen, but his eyes were sharp. He didn't pin her this time, but his presence was a heavy pressure.
"Don't," Julian rasped. "Whatever you're planning for them. Stop."
Clara shoved his hand off. "Listen to me, you brooding disaster. Stick to your role. I'm not here to hurt her; I'm here to help you. I will literally hand-deliver Daisy to you on a silver platter if it means you stop bothering me and Arthur. Now, stay here and watch how a professional handles a double date."
Clara marched toward the couple, her bright yellow sundress catching the light. Behind her, she dragged a very uncomfortable-looking Julian into the light.
"Arthur! Daisy!" Clara chirped, waving four tickets in the air. "Perfect timing!"
Arthur blinked, his "Golden Boy" smile faltering. "Seraphina? And... Julian? Since when do you two... hang out?"
Julian stepped forward, his shoulders stiff, looking deeply out of place in the casual park setting.
"We have... shared interests," he said, his voice sounding like he was reciting a death warrant.
"Corporate suffering!" Clara whispered loudly, then beamed. "We thought we'd make this a double date! The more the merrier!"
Daisy immediately clung to Arthur's arm, pulling the pink bear between her and Clara like a shield.
"I'm scared of the Ferris wheel, Arthur... the heights... the movement..."
Clara gasped dramatically. "Perfect! Julian can stay down here and hold your hand. Arthur is great at heights. He loves the view from the top, don't you, Puppy?"
She grabbed Arthur's arm, feeling the muscle tension spike.
"Actually," Arthur muttered, his face turning a shade of pale that matched the clouds. "I get motion sickness on those—"
"Great!" Clara laughed, dragging him toward the boarding line. "Exposure therapy! It's character building, Arthur. Let's go!"
As Clara hauled the "Golden Boy" toward the spinning wheel of doom, she looked back and winked at Julian.
Julian just stood there, holding a pink teddy bear and a trembling Daisy, looking like he had no idea which story he was in anymore.