Chapter 426

Sera is my wife now. I’ll take care of everything.

Madison felt like her entire world was completely crumbling around her, shattering into a million jagged pieces she couldn’t even begin to pick up.

When she had taken the job as Seraphine’s nanny, she’d honestly believed she was doing the right thing, the only thing she could do.

Even if she couldn’t shout from the rooftops that Seraphine was her daughter, at least she could stay close, watch her grow up, take care of her every day, and pour all that hidden, aching love into the quiet moments they shared.

She had convinced herself that just being there would be enough to fill the massive hole in her heart after all those years of forced silence.

But now every single choice she’d made felt brutally, painfully wrong, like a knife twisting deeper with every breath.

A heavy, crushing weight pressed down on her chest, making it hard to even draw air as waves of guilt crashed over her, threatening to drown her completely.

She had told herself that being near Seraphine would soothe the pain of everything she’d missed, but the truth hit her like a freight train now. She had missed so damn much.

How many nights had her little girl cried herself to sleep when Madison wasn’t around to hold her? How many times had Seraphine been hurt, scared, or broken while Madison stood right there, totally blind and clueless?

The thought ripped through her heart like fire, leaving her trembling as she stared at Seraphine with wide, desperate eyes, silently pleading with the universe to let this all be some horrible nightmare she could wake up from.

How the hell had she let this happen? How could she have been so close to her own daughter yet feel so heartbreakingly far away?

Across from her, Seraphine dropped her gaze, her fingers tightening around Voren’s’ as a flood of buried, agonizing memories came rushing back all at once, hitting her like punches to the gut.

“You weren’t there…” Seraphine’s voice came out soft and broken, raw with all the pain she’d carried alone for years. “When Noelle beat the hell out of me.”

The words pierced Madison like a dagger straight to the heart, stealing her breath and leaving her reeling. She wanted so badly to deny it, to scream that it couldn’t be true, that she would’ve protected her baby girl no matter what. But she couldn’t. Because she hadn’t been there on that particular day.

Seraphine blinked hard, fighting back the hot tears pooling in her eyes. If Voren hadn’t gotten his shaman to bring all those memories flooding back, she would still be living in that fake, comfortable lie, never knowing the nightmare she’d actually survived.

A single tear slipped down her cheek before she angrily swiped it away with the back of her hand, her whole body shaking.

“She would’ve killed me…” Seraphine’s voice cracked, another brutal memory flashing behind her eyes like lightning. “If I hadn’t been useful to her.”

Her stare went distant, lost in some far-off horror only she could see. She could still feel the constant, suffocating fear that had wrapped around her like chains, the ugly bruises blooming across her skin, the sharp, relentless pain that never seemed to end.

Her pain mirrored Voren’s, but he had his plans on how to deal with Noelle. That was the only thing keeping him calm.

“The only reason she kept me alive at all was because I kept donating blood to Daisy.”

Madison stood completely frozen. The color drained from her face. “No…” Her lips trembled. “No…” She slowly shook her head in disbelief. “I didn’t know.” Pain filled her voice completely. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kylie stepped forward immediately, looking just as devastated. “I treated you like my own daughter.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “You could’ve come to me. I would’ve protected you.”

Before Seraphine could answer, Voren spoke instead. His voice remained calm, but there was unmistakable anger simmering just beneath the surface. “She couldn’t.”

Everyone looked toward him.

“Those memories were erased.” His eyes darkened dangerously. “Someone used a spell.” He looked directly at Humphrey and Kylie. “I told all of you before. There was something suspicious about the memories she’d lost.”

The realization struck everyone at once.

Humphrey’s hands slowly curled into tight fists. The veins in his neck became visible as his Alpha aura almost slipped free. Einstein lowered his head, guilt crushing his heart.

He had spent years believing Seraphine was safe, meanwhile she had been suffering right under his nose. He had failed to protect his own daughter.

Desmond was in shock from all he was hearing, just as Nessa but as for Vladimir, his guilt only increased. Everyone thought Seraphine was just hot headed defiant. They had no idea about the experience that molded her that way.

Humphrey finally lost his temper. “That bitch.” His voice echoed powerfully across the deck. His eyes blazed with raw fury. “I’ll deal with her myself.”

Before anyone else could react, Voren calmly shook his head. His arm tightened protectively around Seraphine. “No.” His voice carried quiet but absolute authority. “Sera is my wife now.”

His eyes met Humphrey’s. “Her fight became mine the moment she accepted me.” A dangerous smile appeared on his face. “I’ll take care of everything.”

No one argued. They all knew Voren meant every single word.

Not long afterward, everyone quietly retired to their rooms for the night. But sleep refused to come easily for most of them. Too many secrets had been revealed.

Too many painful truths had surfaced. Every person lay awake, replaying the night’s events over and over in their minds. Some thought about revenge. Others drowned in regret.

Almost everyone found themselves wanting someone to pay for everything that had happened.

Inside the honeymoon suite aboard the yacht, the room was dimly lit by soft moonlight filtering through the windows. Voren lay beside Seraphine with one strong arm wrapped securely around her.

She rested comfortably against his chest. Neither of them spoke, neither of them slept. They could both tell the other was wide awake. Yet the silence between them wasn’t awkward at all. It was comforting, safe. It gave them space to think, to sort through the countless revelations, and to quietly make plans for everything that still needed to be done.

Eventually, their breathing became slower and deeper. Sleep was finally beginning to claim them.

Then, Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound echoed through the quiet room. Voren carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to disturb Seraphine. He walked to the door and opened it.

Standing outside was Vladimir. The older Alpha looked unusually serious. His eyes briefly drifted toward the bedroom before returning to Voren. “Is your wife asleep?” His voice was low, almost a whisper. “I need to have a word with you.”