Chapter 4

Seraphina POV

After Blake stormed out, my Instagram notifications blew up.

Willow had just posted.

The photos were a series of goofy selfies of her and Blake, but their poses screamed intimacy.

The caption was a masterpiece of fake nonchalance: "Oops, got a little carried away living out a ‘what-if' scenario! So sorry if it confused anyone. We're just two chronically single besties who got a bit too into the bit. Back to our regularly scheduled programming!"

Immediately, my phone began to ring off the hook.

The messages were all from our mutual friends, their wording almost identical.

"Seraphina, it was just a joke, don't take it seriously."

"Seven years of a relationship isn't easy, delete your Ins post and give Blake a way out."

"You know Willow's personality, she's like one of the guys, don't overthink it."

I looked at these messages and let out a cold laugh. Everyone was on their moral high horse, telling me to "be the bigger person."

I saw it clearly: they were protecting that little circle centered around Blake. These people were Blake's and Willow's friends, never mine.

I didn't reply to a single message. I opened each chat, found their names, and blocked them, one by one, with resolute finality.

After purging them, my phone rang again. It was Mrs. Harrison, Blake's mother.

I answered. "Hello."

On the other end, Mrs. Harrison's voice was laced with that familiar maternal pressure. "Seraphina, Blake told me you two had a fight. Why are you breaking up over a silly little joke?"

"It wasn't a joke."

"Willow's like a daughter to us, I watched her grow up. She and Blake have always been a bit wild together, you should be more understanding." Mrs. Harrison's words were all about defending Willow. "As Blake's future wife, you need to be more understanding."

"Listen to me, delete that Ins post, and this whole thing can be over. Don't let relatives and friends make fun of us."

And just like that, I understood exactly where Blake's complete lack of boundaries came from. Willow's presence was openly condoned. If I actually married him, the future was suffocating just to imagine.

I cut her off. "This isn't a joke; it's a matter of principle. Blake and I have broken up. This decision won't change."

Mrs. Harrison's displeasure was palpable. "You child, why are you being so unreasonable?"

I didn't want to argue anymore. "Sorry, I have to go."

I hung up and blocked her number too.