Seraphina Vale stared out of her dorm window, the soft hum of the city below a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside her chest. The past few weeks with Thaddeus Crowe had been relentless. Arguments that began over trivial misunderstandings spiraled into nights of cold silence. Every word he uttered seemed calculated to wound, every glance a challenge she wasn't sure she wanted to meet anymore.
She traced the rim of her coffee mug, lost in thought. Maybe this is it. Maybe I've lost him. And yet, deep within, a stubborn ember refused to die. She cared too much—maybe foolishly so—to walk away without one last effort. One final attempt to mend the fragile thread of their relationship.
An idea had begun to crystallize in her mind, reckless but tempting. Thaddeus was organizing a party tomorrow—his biggest one yet. Attendance mattered to him, to his image, and perhaps, just perhaps, showing up could bridge the growing chasm between them.
Her first instinct had been hesitation. She was brilliant, disciplined, and never allowed her personal life to interfere with her studies. Skipping classes was inconceivable. And yet, she weighed the stakes: if attending this party could rekindle what they once had, maybe it was worth bending her own rules just this once.
Elowen Sage, her closest friend since childhood, had always been the voice of reason—and the one who could always cut through Seraphina's stubbornness. She had texted her hours ago: "Are you really doing this?" The message had lingered in her mind ever since.
Now, walking alongside Elowen through the campus, Seraphina spoke the decision aloud, as if saying it could make it real. "I'm going to skip my classes tomorrow," she confessed. "Just for one day. I'll submit my assignment early, and then…we'll go to his place to help with the arrangements."
Elowen's expression darkened, worry etched across her features. "Seraphina…are you sure this is worth it? You know how he's been—always picking fights over nothing, testing your patience. And for what? A party?"
Seraphina's lips pressed together. "I know the risks. But I can't stop caring—not yet. If there's any chance of fixing us, I have to try."
The decision made, a strange mix of determination and dread settled over her. She had always been careful, calculated, measured in every step. But love had a way of pulling her into reckless, uncharted territory.
After submitting her assignment at the department, she and Elowen stopped for teas and pastries—a brief attempt at calm before diving into the chaos that awaited. Seraphina's mind raced with scenarios, each more torturous than the last: what if Thaddeus ignored her?
She didn't have to wait long to find out.
As they approached Thaddeus' residence, the sight that met her eyes made her blood run cold. There he was—Thaddeus Crowe—laughing with Liora Wynn, the brazen fresher,in broad daylight, their gestures intimate, their laughter ringing like a cruel bell in the courtyard.
Seraphina's chest tightened, betrayal and fury warring for dominance. "Elowen…" she whispered, voice trembling. But the whisper became a roar before she could stop it.
"Thaddeus!" she shouted, striding forward with a force born of hurt and indignation. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Liora smirked, her voice a dagger wrapped in silk. "Just having fun, sweetheart. Didn't expect the illustrious Seraphina Vale to show up."
The fight ignited in a flurry of flailing limbs and shouted insults. Elowen grabbed Seraphina, trying to restrain her, while Thaddeus hesitated, torn between frustration and guilt. Students emerged from every corner, phones in hand, capturing the spectacle. "Stop filming!" Elowen yelled, attempting to shield her friend, but the crowd's curiosity was unstoppable.
Amid the chaos, Seraphina's voice rang out, clear and unyielding: "I am Seraphina Vale! A queen! And no one—no one—leaves me!"
When the melee finally subsided, she turned on Thaddeus, fury blazing in her eyes. "Why am I even with you?" she demanded. "A selfish, irritating, infuriating brat like you—what could I possibly have seen in you?"
Thaddeus' face twisted with anger. "We're done. I was going to tell you anyway,but since you're here now, you know," he shouted, making the humiliation public.
Seraphina's chest heaved with emotion. "Good. I don't even know why I wasted my time on you!"
She walked away, leaving stunned onlookers in her wake. Elowen flanked her, protective and unwavering. Her eyes flicked back at Thaddeus, a silent warning burning in their depths. "You've made a colossal mistake," she said softly but firmly.
Seraphina didn't look back. Betrayal, heartbreak, and humiliation weighed on her, but beneath it all, an ember of determination remained unbroken. Today had been a storm—but tomorrow, she would rise, resilient, unyielding, and undeniably herself.