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

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178 Chapter 178

it before he could. Before the name could hang unspoken between us. “It’s

shatter

I thought about Damien every single day, that I saw Adrian in every dark–haired boy, that I wondered if Lily had my eyes or

to date anyone,” I said instead. “Not now.

for a long moment. Then he nodded. “Okay, But you

I blinked hard. “That’s why you need to stop before I start crying

bumped my shoulder with his. “City girl’s

tears

“Make me.”

“You’re twelve years old.”

yet somehow more

the corner, still trading

Then I saw it.

Betty’s Bakery.

The same window display I’d stared through a hundred Sunday

blood turned

laughter died in my throat. My feet stopped moving. My whole

seemed

breathe. All I could do was stare

Because it was.

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

laugh when I’d get

came out strangled. “That’s

“Your what?”

to come here.” The words hurt coming out. “Every Sunday. With Adrian. It was

my gaze.

can’t-” Panic clawed at my chest. “I can’t go in

grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look

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178 Chapter 178

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

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

Completely

stared at

where Mom ordered from.

through me so hard my knees almost

His hands squeezed my shoulders gently. “You’re safe. Okay? You’re

heart was still hammering. My hands were still

was gentle now. “Miller’s is just

breathe. “Okay. I can do

Away from Betty’s. Away from those Sunday

ached. Because even just seeing that bakery–even just walking

thought were

turned the corner onto Maple

when

years old. Dark hair in pigtails. A dress that