In the dim light of the early morning, the room was still and quiet. The satin sheets on the massive bed were tangled and rumpled, evidence of a night spent together. Allaire Morretti stood by the window, his lean figure silhouetted against the pale dawn. He held his phone in his hand, the screencasting a faint glow on his face.
On the screen was a recent photo of Seraphina. She was poised and fierce, her striking blue eyes staring boldly at the camera, her pose exuding confidence and defiance. She wore a traditional Colombian pikin, a vividly coloured head wrap that added an exotic, regal touch to her already captivating beauty. Her dress was a masterpiece of intricate patterns and vibrant hues, each detail meticulously crafted, symbolizing both her heritage and her strength.
Allaire's gaze was intense, filled with a mixture of admiration and longing. He traced the outline of her face with his thumb, lost in thoughts of what could have been.
Behind him, Isabella slowly stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she turned to see Allaire by the window, his attention completely absorbed by whatever was on his phone. Silently, she rose from the bed, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. She approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.
"What are you looking at?" Isabella asked, her voice still thick with sleep. She peered over his shoulder and saw the photo of Seraphine. Her expression darkened instantly. "Why not me?"
Allaire stiffened, turning to face her. "Isabella, it's not what you think."
She stepped back, anger flashing in her eyes. "Then what is it, Allaire? Why are you always looking at her like that? Why can't it be me?"
Allaire sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Isabella, you don't understand. Seraphine... she's different."
"Different how?" Isabella demanded, her voice rising. "What does she have that I don't?"
"She has fire, Isabella," Allaire said, his voice tinged with frustration. "She has a spirit that can't be tamed, a strength that draws me in. You can't just try to be her. You'll never be her."
Isabella's face crumpled with hurt. "So, what am I to you, then? A consolation prize? A poor substitute for the woman you want?"
Allaire shook his head. "It's not like that."
"Then what is it like?" Isabella pressed, tears forming in her eyes. "Tell me, Allaire, because I can't keep doing this. I can't keep pretending that everything is okay when it's not."
Allaire's gaze softened, but his voice remained firm. "I'm sorry, Isabella. I care about you, but Seraphina... she occupies a part of me that no one else can."
Isabella's shoulders slumped, and she turned away, unable to hide her tears. "I thought I could be enough for you," she whispered. "But I see now that I never will be."
Allaire reached out to touch her, but she stepped out of his reach. "Isabella—"
"Don't," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "Just don't."
Before Isabella could respond, the shrill ringing of Allaire's hones interrupted them. He glanced at the caller ID: Vincent Devereux.
"Allaire?" Vincent's voice echoed through the room. "Are you still with my daughter?"
Allaire's heart skipped a beat. "With a surprise," he replied, his tone uneasy. "She left in anger, and I went after her, but I didn't see her again. I thought she went home."
"My daughter is not back home," Vincent said urgently. "Boys!" he called out to his security team. "My daughter is missing. We need to find out where she is."
Allaire felt a knot form in his stomach. "I'm coming over immediately," he said, ending the call and quickly getting dressed. Isabella reached out to stop him, her eyes pleading.
"Do you love her this much?" she asked softly.
Allaire removed her hand immediately. "I've always loved Seraphina and always dreamed of being her husband, even when I was little," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret.
As Allaire left, Isabella's tears fell freely. She clenched her fists, her heart filled with anger and jealousy. "Seraphina, you will pay for this. Allaire will never be yours," she whispered, her voice filled with bitterness and resentment.
The mansion was alive with frantic activity as Vincent's security team mobilized to search for his missing daughter. Allaire arrived, his mind consumed with worry for Seraphina. He found Vincent pacing in the study, his face lined with worry.
"Where could she be?" Vincent muttered, his voice strained with concern.
"We'll find her, Vincent," Allaire assured him, his tone firm. "I'll do everything in my power to bring her back safely."
Vincent nodded, his eyes weary. "I hope you're right, Allaire. She's all I have."
Allaire suggested, "We need to spread the word, and mobilize everyone to find her."
Vincent's face twisted with worry. "No, if they find out I have a daughter and she's missing, they'll see it as an opportunity to harm her. We need to keep it a secret and protect her wherever she is. We need to find her discreetly. I don't want her to be harmed."
Allaire nodded in agreement. "I understand, Vincent. I've already sent my men to look for her. She'll be fine, I assure you."
Vincent exhaled a tense breath, his mind racing with thoughts of his missing daughter. "We'll do whatever it takes to bring her back safely," he vowed, his voice determined despite his fear.
With a solemn nod, Allaire left to coordinate the search efforts, while Vincent remained in his study, his heart heavy with worry for Saraphine's safety.
As the night wore on, tension hung heavy in the air at the Morretti mansion. Allaire Morretti paced back and forth in his study, his mind consumed by worry for Seraphine. Every passing moment felt like an eternity, and with each second that ticked by, his fears for her safety intensified.
Suddenly, his phone rang, and he answered it without checking the caller ID. "Hello?" Allaire's voice was tight with anxiety.
"Allaire," his father's voice cut through the silence like a knife. "What happened to Vincent's daughter? You are not man enough. That's why Lucien Salvatore will always be smarter and wiser than you. They're doing far better than you ever could. You're just a dullard. I regret having you as my son."
Allaire's grip tightened on the phone, his blood boiling with anger and frustration. His father's words were like a wound being torn open, reopening scars that had never fully healed.
"Enough!" Allaire roared, his voice laced with fury. "You have no idea what you're talking about!"
But his father continued, heedless of his son's anger. "You've always been a disappointment, Allaire. You could never measure up to them. They were always the better ones, the better heirs."
With a surge of rage, Allaire angrily hung up the call, his hands trembling with emotion. The weight of his father's words crushed him, triggering memories of a childhood filled with comparisons and unattainable expectations.
In a fit of anger, he swept his arm across his desk, sending papers and objects crashing to the floor. The echo of shattering glass filled the room as he vented his frustration, each broken item a symbol of his inner turmoil.
Amidst the chaos, memories flooded Allaire's mind, transporting him back to his youth. He remembered the days when they had taken everything from Lucien Salvatore when they had killed his father and seized his family's property.
Allaire and Lucien had once been childhood friends, but jealousy and resentment had poisoned their relationship long ago. Allaire had always envied Lucien's intelligence, his charisma, his ability to command respect.
His father had favoured Lucien, praising his every success while belittling Allaire at every turn. Allaire could never live up to those standards, no matter how hard he tried.
As he stood amidst the wreckage of his study, Allaire felt a sense of hopelessness wash over him. No matter what he did, he would always be in their shadow, forever doomed to be the lesser son.
But amidst the despair, a flicker of determination ignited within him. He would find Saraphina, no matter the cost. He would prove his worth, not just to his father, but to himself.
With a steely resolve, Allaire left the shattered remains of his study behind, his mind focused on one thing: finding Seraphina and bringing her back safely, no matter what obstacles stood in his way.