Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

Chapter 185

185 Chapter 185

Seraphina’s POV

The little girl’s chubby arms around my waist. Her sticky face pressed against my stomach. That word-*Mama“-echoing in my ears.

I couldn’t shake it.

Back at Margaret’s place, I went through the motions. Helped set up for her birthday dinner. Smiled at the right times. Laughed when

everyone else did. But my mind kept drifting back to that street corner, to those innocent eyes looking up at me with such certainty.

“Sera, honey, you’re burning the garlic bread.”

Margaret’s voice snapped me back. Smoke curled up from the oven.

“Shit!” I yanked the tray out, nearly dropping it. The bread was charcoal black.

Margaret took the tray from my hands, her eyes soft with concern. “What’s going on with you tonight?”

“Nothing. Sorry. I’ll make another batch.”

“We have plenty of food.” She set the ruined bread aside. “Talk to me.”

“I’m fine. Really.” I forced a smile. “Just tired from the drive.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she let it go. For now.

Dinner was loud and chaotic in the best way. Margaret’s friends filled her dining room with laughter and wine and terrible dad jokes. I

sat at the corner of the table, picking at my pasta, trying to be present.

“So Sera,” one of Margaret’s book club friends–Linda? Lydia?—leaned toward me. “Margaret says you’re a professional boxer. That must

be so glamorous.”

“It has its moments.”

“Do you travel a lot?”

“Yeah. Constantly.”

“That sounds exhausting.” She took a sip of wine. “Do you ever think about settling down? Starting a family?”

The pasta turned to cement in my mouth. I forced myself to swallow.

“Linda,” Margaret cut in smoothly. “Sera’s only twenty–six. Plenty of time for all that.”

“Oh, I know! I just meant—” Linda backpedaled. “My daughter’s your age and she’s already talking about freezing her eggs. These young

women today, so practical about these things.”

I excused myself to the bathroom. Locked the door. Stared at my reflection.

*Mama.*

15:06

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185 Chapter 185

girl’s face swam in my vision. I gripped the edge of the

Get it together, Seraphina.

sang Happy Birthday, I started gathering

materialized

“Home. It’s getting late.”

request. “The guest

“Margaret, I can’t—”

You almost gave yourself second–degree burns.” She stepped closer,

think I’m letting you

“I’m fine to drive.”

my mouth to argue. “One night. That’s all I’m asking. Stay. Let

you for once.”

the command–made my defenses

thing Saturday morning. I have a match Monday. I need to get back

practice.”

softened with relief.

stabbing through the curtains

touched alcohol. My head pounded. My eyes were swollen.

plate high with blueberry ones–my

remembered.

ate dinner last night,” she said, sliding the

stomach twisted into knots. The sweetness

“It’s barely nine.”

lie to add to the growing pile. “And I want to hit

for a long moment, her eyes seeing straight through me like they always did. Then

“Alright. But drive carefully.”

trying to memorize the

15.05

1-2/4

185 Chapter 185

cheerfully informed me that my usual route was

Take Highway 7 through

my knuckles cracked. Through downtown. Through his part

No. No way.

to find another route. Any other route. But the little blue arrow

insisting on

I have already wasted 3 hours on

I’d be in my car the whole time. Just passing through.

even know I was

as I merged onto Highway

mindless pop song about love and

it up louder, letting the bass drown out my

a crawl. Of course. Saturday afternoon in downtown, everyone out for shopping,

my whole hand, trying to burn off

Red light.

My eyes wandered out of habit, scanning

across the street, tucked between two

with grass

it automatically. White tables with cheerful yellow umbrellas. People laughing,

and their simple

I

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