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.

shouldn’t have brought up-” He

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178 Chapter 178

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

shatter

Damien every single day, that I saw Adrian in every dark–haired boy, that I wondered if

I

studied my face for a long moment. Then he

you need to stop before I start crying in

that.” He bumped my shoulder with his. “City girl’s got a reputation to

tears threatening to fall. “Shut

“Make me.”

“You’re twelve years old.”

more

turned the corner, still trading

Then I saw it.

Betty’s Bakery.

awning. The cheerful painted sign. The same window display I’d

blood turned

my throat. My feet stopped moving. My whole body

Caleb’s voice seemed far

stare at that bakery like

Because it was.

mornings. Damien’s hand warm in mine. Adrian’s chocolate–covered face. The smell

laugh when I’d get frosting

voice came out

“Your what?”

here.” The words hurt coming out. “Every

followed my gaze.

at my chest. “I can’t

forcing me to look at

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178 Chapter 178

higher. More desperate. “We need to

“We’re not going to Betty’s. The

over. Completely

stared at him.

clearly. “That’s where Mom ordered from.

me so hard my knees almost buckled.

promise.” His hands squeezed my shoulders gently. “You’re

nodded, not trusting my voice. My heart was still

voice was gentle now. “Miller’s is just around the

breathe. “Okay. I can do

walking again. Away from Betty’s. Away from those Sunday morning

Because even

I’d thought

the corner onto

when I saw

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