Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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"It's fine.", I responded to Calista's forced apology.

To be honest, I didn't want to talk to Calista and I was not in the mood to pretend otherwise. Whatever I say, it will just sound like a lame excuse.

I didn't know what Calista's real thoughts were, and I didn't care. She already labeled me as a despicable person, and I had no arguments or will to fight against that.

I wanted to be alone and think of my next steps.

The only way for me to be confident is to be self-sufficient. Even if that means leaving my identity as Seraphina behind and taking on a new one, I need to be able to stand on my own two feet and not depend on anyone. Only like that, I will be able to walk with my chin held high.

What is the point of a second chance and immortality when I am back to being miserable? I had to break this vicious cycle of depending on others and waiting for a better time to come because no one will help me.

I was relying on my parents who ignored me. I was waiting on my college degree so that I can get my hands on the fund my grandmother left me. In the end, I was helpless to stand up for myself and my hopes and dreams were extinguished in that alley in Venice, together with my life. And it all happened because I am weak.

There is one lesson Aldus repeated many times, and I realized he was right. I shouldn't trust anyone.

I could feel the familiar embrace of depression and dejection tightening around me as I sank deeper into my thoughts.

My current lifestyle is thanks to Aldus and just how he gave it to me easily, he can take it away as well. Without my identity as Aldus's daughter, I have not much left. I need to figure out how to deal with this.

I don't know if my thoughts reflected on my face, but Calista put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"It's not fine, Serina. I was out of line. My brother is the most cynical man I know and I'm sure that he has his reasons for accepting you as his daughter, yet I questioned that and made you feel bad. Allow me to fix it."

I let out a long breath and turned to look into her red eyes full of unspoken enthusiasm. Why doesn't she give up? I said that it's fine and she should leave me alone. Or is this some game she is playing?

"How will you fix it?"

Calista grinned. "Let's go shopping! It's a perfect opportunity for the two of us to get to know each other."

I observed Calista's eyes that shone with excitement and I wondered if she is just eccentric or if she has some personality disorder.

First, she is talking like I'm some deceiving thief who came to steal Aldus's things, and now she wants me to go shopping with her? Is she for real? Who solves things with shopping?

Did I want to spend time with her? Absolutely not.

Did I want to get to know her? Maybe, for Aldus.

I guess I owe him at least that much because refusing this peace offering might offend Calista and hurt Aldus as well. I don't want them to fight because of me.

I can be polite and do my part, no matter how much it hurts to be reminded that I don't deserve any of this. And then... maybe this is just what I need. A reality check.

Without a word spoken and got up and walked back to the villa with Calista trailing two steps behind me.

Aldus was in the hallway. His appearance returned to the normal one, how I'm used to seeing him and I couldn't read his expression.

"Serina, come with me…" Aldus gestured toward the study room and I followed after him while ignoring a lump that was stuck in my throat. Is he going to scold me?

"Not you. I want to talk to my daughter, in private.", Aldus said to Calista sternly, and then he closed the door in her face.

I heard him release a long exhale.

"I'm sorry, Serina. If I knew that Calista will be like this, I would talk with her before letting her meet you. Or even better, I would let you stay in London or anywhere else because meeting my spoiled sister this soon is probably just doing harm."

I kept my head lowered and my mouth shut. No matter what I said, it would be either a lie or it would make things worse, and I didn't want to sound ungrateful. That was the last thing I wanted. Speaking badly of Calista is Aldus's right because they are siblings and I'm an outsider.

Aldus approached me and took my left hand in his. With his thumb, Aldus rubbed the remnants of dried blood from my wrist.

"Did you try to remove it?" His guess was spot on, and I stood motionlessly, not daring to meet his gaze.

"That is not how things work, Serina. Even if you could remove the bracelet, we are family now, and there is no way to leave. Regardless if you like it or not and how much we disagree, we are stuck together and we need to work it out or suffer. You accepted me as your father and in that same package came an aunt that throws tantrums and speaks without thinking. If you can look beyond Calista's rough edges, you will see a good person who came all the way from Lemuria to meet her niece. The way to deal with Calista is to shut her up and tell her when she crosses the line."

"I don't think I can do that.", I said honestly.

Aldus touched my chin and made me look up, to meet his gaze.

"Serina, you are more capable than you think. You made me see you as my daughter. Trust me when I say that handling Calista is a much easier task than dealing with me. Just be yourself and you will do fine."

Aldus's words warmed my heart and soothed the ache that formed in my chest, and his slightly awkward hug caught me by surprise.

He said that we are family and that we are stuck together, and I don't mind being stuck with Aldus.

Aldus is a wonderful father and guilt swelled inside me because of my previous thoughts of leaving him.

After everything he has done for me, it would be super ungrateful if I just bail out.

Maybe our relationship started with me being part of Aldus's experiment, but now I know that he really sees me as part of his life, and other than investing his time and efforts in me, Aldus also wants to see me grow because my success is his as well. Leaving now would be robbing him of seeing the results of his labor. And I will do my best to give him the best show and make him proud.

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