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

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178 Chapter 178

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

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 Lily had my eyes or his smile–then

anyone,” I said instead. “Not now. Maybe not

long moment. Then he nodded. “Okay, But you deserve the best. I mean

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

shoulder with his.

despite the tears threatening

“Make me.”

“You’re twelve years old.”

yet somehow more mature

still trading insults,

Then I saw it.

Betty’s Bakery.

painted sign. The same window display I’d stared through a

turned to

laughter died in my throat. My feet stopped moving.

voice seemed far away. “What’s

Couldn’t breathe. All I could do was stare at that bakery like it

Because it was.

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

laugh when I’d get frosting on

came out strangled.

“Your what?”

here.” The words hurt coming out. “Every Sunday. With Adrian. It was our thing. Our

followed my

chest. “I can’t

grabbed my shoulders, forcing me

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178 Chapter 178

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

Grounding. “We’re not going

Completely different

at

slowly, clearly. “That’s where Mom ordered from. We’re not going to

hard my knees almost buckled. “We’re

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

my voice. My heart was still hammering. My

Caleb’s voice was gentle now. “Miller’s is

breathe.

again. Away from Betty’s.

My throat still ached. Because even

thought

the corner

when

sidewalk. Maybe three years old. Dark hair in pigtails. A dress that looked like it had been put