Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother (Seraphina and Damien) novel Chapter 209

209 Chapter 209

Seraphina’s POV

The words hit me like a physical blow.

My brain stuttered. Stopped. Tried to restart.

Bakery. The bakery. That day. That little girl with mismatched shoes who’d run up to me and called me-

Oh God.

That was Lily.

That little girl who’d wrapped her arms around my legs. Who’d looked up at me with those impossible eyes and called me mama. Who’d

cried when I said I wasn’t her mother.

That was my daughter.

And I’d told her I wasn’t her mother.

The room tilted sideways. My knees went weak. I grabbed the back of the couch to keep from collapsing.

The memory crashed over me. Her small face looking up. Those words-*You have forest eyes. That’s what Daddy says.*

And I’d rejected her.

“Sera?” Damien’s voice cut through the roaring in my ears. “Are you—”

I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t do anything but stare at this little girl who was bouncing with excitement.

This little girl I’d pushed away on a street corner while she cried.

Lily was still talking. Her words coming fast. Excited. “I told you, Daddy! I told you it was really her! She has the black hair and the green eyes and everything!”

She spun back to me. Her whole face glowing.

And I wanted to die.

Wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

Because she was happy. So impossibly happy. Looking at me like I was everything she’d ever wanted.

And I’d made her cry. I’d told her to leave. I’d-

*Move. Do something. Say something.*

My body finally listened. I dropped to my knees. Right there on the living room floor.

The impact sent pain shooting through my legs. I barely felt it.

“Lily” Her name came out broken. Wet. “Baby, 1-

1 held out my arms. Shaking, Desperate.

“Yes.” The word cracked. “Yes, I’m your mama. I’m your mama and I” A sob caught in my throat. “Can I hug you? Please? Can I-”

Lily’s smile vanished.

Her whole body went rigid. Her eyes–those beautiful ocean eyes–went wide.

Then she moved.

Backward. Fast. Stumbling over her own feet.

Right into Damien’s legs.

She grabbed his jeans. Held on tight. Peeked out from behind him like he was a shield.

“You’re not my mama.” Her voice was small now. Uncertain. “You said you weren’t my mama.”

The words were a knife to the chest.

“No!” The word exploded out. “No, baby, no. You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re perfect. You’re-”

I knew those footsteps. Knew them in my bones even though they were heavier now. Older.

He appeared in the doorway.

Adrian.

So much taller than I remembered. His hair longer. His face losing that baby softness. Glasses perched on his nose that he definitely

hadn’t had three years ago.

His backpack hung from one shoulder. His school uniform slightly wrinkled. One shoelace untied.

He stopped when he saw me.

Just stopped. Frozen in the doorway.

Our eyes met.

And I saw it. Everything. All at once.

Recognition. Shock. Disbelief.

His face crumpled. His eyes filled with tears.

“Adrian.” His name broke coming out. “Baby, I—”

He dropped his backpack. It hit the floor with a thud.

I stood up. Too fast. The room spun. 1

He Just stood there. Crying. Looking at me with those devastated eyes.

Then he said the words that shattered what was left of my heart.

“Why did you leave?” His voice broke. “Why didn’t you want me anymore?”