Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

178 Chapter 178

178 Chapter 178

Seraphina’s POV 1

The truck rattled down Main Street, and I couldn’t stop laughing.

“I’m serious!” Caleb protested, but he was grinning too. “She asked if you were single, like, three times before you even got out of the car.

I saw her rehearsing questions in the kitchen mirror this morning.”

“Oh my god.” I pressed my hands to my face. “That’s so embarrassing”

“For you or for her?”

“Both! Definitely both.” I peeked at him through my fingers. “Does she do this to everyone?”

He turned onto Oak Street, the bakery coming into view. “Last month she tried to set me up with the new librarian. The month before

that, it was the girl who works at the post office. Before that-”

“Okay, okay, I get it.” I dropped my hands. “Your mom is determined.”

“Determined is putting it lightly.” He pulled into a parking spot. “She has a notebook.”

I stared at him. “You’re joking”

“I wish I was joking.” He killed the engine. “She color–codes them. Green for ‘highly suitable, yellow for ‘potential, red for ‘absolutely not.”

“What color am I?”

He shot me a look. “You really want to know?”

“Now I have to know.”

“Purple.”

“Purple? What does purple mean?”

“It means ‘absolutely the only one.“” He said it in a perfect imitation of Margaret’s voice. “With a star next to it.” 2

Despite everything–despite the awkwardness at dinner, despite the weight of three years pressing on my chest–I burst out laughing.

Real, genuine laughter that made my ribs hurt.

“Your mom is insane,” I managed between giggles.

“Clinically.” But he was smiling. “Come on. Let’s get this cake before she sends out a search party.”

We climbed out of the truck, the late afternoon sun warm on my face. The street was quiet. Peaceful.

“For what it’s worth,” Caleb said as we walked, “I told her to back off. Multiple times.”

“It’s fine.” I meant it.

but she shouldn’t have brought up-” He stopped

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178 Chapter 178

before he could. Before the name could hang unspoken between us. “It’s okay. You can say his

shatter

admitted the truth–that I thought about Damien every single day, that I saw Adrian in every dark–haired boy, that I wondered if

not looking to date anyone,” I said instead.

my face for a long moment. Then he nodded. “Okay, But you deserve the best. I

“That’s why you need to

He bumped my shoulder with his.

despite the tears threatening to fall.

“Make me.”

“You’re twelve years old.”

somehow more

the corner, still trading insults, still

Then I saw it.

Betty’s Bakery.

pink and white awning. The cheerful painted sign. The same window display I’d stared through a hundred Sunday

blood turned

laughter died in my throat. My feet stopped

Caleb’s voice seemed far

could do was stare at that bakery

Because it was.

mine. Adrian’s chocolate–covered face. The smell of fresh pastries and coffee. The sound

get

voice came out strangled. “That’s

“Your what?”

come here.” The words hurt coming out. “Every Sunday.

my gaze.

my chest. “I can’t go

grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “Breathe. Just

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178 Chapter 178

leave.” My voice was rising. Getting higher. More desperate. “We need to go somewhere else.

me.” His voice was firm. Grounding. “We’re not going to Betty’s. The cake we’re picking up? It’s from Miller’s

Completely

stared at him.

it slowly, clearly. “That’s where Mom

through me so hard my knees

I promise.” His hands squeezed my shoulders

trusting my voice. My heart was still hammering. My

now. “Miller’s is just around the corner.

myself to breathe. “Okay. I can

Betty’s. Away from those Sunday morning

my chest still felt tight. My throat still ached. Because even just seeing that

thought

turned the corner onto

that’s when I saw

Maybe three years old. Dark hair in pigtails. A dress