I Leapt 15 Years Into The Future To Protect My Daughter Chapter 07
“My name is Vivienne Vale,” I said.
“Fifteen years ago, I was your son’s wife.”
Sadie reeled back in shock. Her eyes locked rigidly on
mine, and she knotted her fingers tightly around her silk
scarf.
She heaved a long sigh afterward.
“I can’t tell if you’re truly who you claim to be, but Bastian
clearly cares about you far too much for me to step
between the two of you.”
She turned toward Zoe, her tone heavy with
disappointment.
“I bent over backward for you. I poured massive Crowe
family resources into helping you win Bastian over. I even
looked the other way at all the dirty tricks you and your
daughter pulled on Seraphina. And after everything I did
for you, you still couldn’t get the job done.”
Bastian squeezed his eyes shut, worn down to his breaking
point. He lifted a hand to summon the guard standing
nearby and issued an order.
“Strip Sadie Crowe of all estate access and privileges.
From now on, she is not permitted onto Crowe Estate
without my explicit approval.”
Sadie stumbled off, completely hollowed out. Zoe, who had
been ready to play the innocent victim, instantly grew frantic.
She dropped to her knees, clutching Bastian’s slacks and rambling frantically.
“Bastian, Bastian! I stood guard over the Crowe name for
those five years you were gone, and I looked after Seraphina all that time too. Claire’s just reckless and childish–I’ll make her apologize to you right now. Claire, get over here this instant!”
She snatched the weak, trembling Claire, forced her to her
knees on the floor, and snapped harshly.
“Claire! Apologize to Miss Crowe at once!”
Claire clamped her jaw shut and refused to utter a word,
then shouted straight at Seraphina.
“I’m not apologizing! You deserve every bit of this, Seraphina!”
“Why does your Papa get to be Bastian Crowe, while my own Papa’s a domestic abuser?”
“You’re plain and useless, and you deserve to get pushed around by me! So what if your mom died? You had it coming! I will not apologize!”
Zoe raised her hand and struck Claire hard across the cheek.
“Shut your mouth right now!”
I’d grown tired of this entire farce. I turned to Seraphina.
“Sweetie, what do you want to do about all this?”
Seraphina stepped forward, calm beyond her years, her face unreadable as she looked down at the humiliated Claire.
For just a moment, something like pity flickered in her eyes.
I sighed to myself–my daughter still had a kind heart after all.
Then, to my surprise, she spoke in a flat, even tone.
“My mom and dad aren’t gonna let you two get away with what you did. Are you scared now?”
Claire pressed her lips together and stayed silent, but her shaking hands gave away how terrified she truly was.
A faint, cool smile tugged at Seraphina’s lips, bearing the cold composure of a Crowe heir. Her voice turned icy and decisive.
“I’m giving you two choices, One: you and your your mother pack up and leave for good, with absolutely nothing to your names. Two: you can accept financial support from our family, but you have to publicly admit all the bullying you did at school and personally apologize to every person you’ve ever tormented.”
I’d assumed Claire would dig in her heels and refuse
outright, but she stared blankly at Seraphina for a long moment before giving a small, slow nod.
“I’ll stay.”
I nearly lost my balance entirely. Zoe let out a shrill scream and lunged to attack Claire, only for Seraphina to kick her roughly backward. Seraphina signaled the bodyguards to pin Zoe down, then struck her across the face several times herself. She clapped her hands slowly, unsatisfied with just that, then waved the guards off to drag Zoe off the premises.
Bastian’s eyes widened slightly, a faint, nostalgic look softening his features.
Just like her mother…”
Seraphina glanced up at Bastian and me, offered a
sheepish little smile, and reverted back to her usual quiet, reserved self. She shifted awkwardly on her feet.
“Sorry… I let all my pent–up frustration get the better of
me.”
Bastian shot me an awkward, nervous glance and spoke hesitantly,
“Truth be told… Seraphina’s had a temper and aggressive tendencies since she was little. I brought in child psychologists to work with her on it, but the therapy never stuck. I figured it might be a good thing, keeping people from picking on her, so I stopped pushing treatment after a while.”
“No way,” I shot him a sharp glare.
“She needs ongoing treatment with multiple therapists to
work through her emotional struggles properly.”
I’d thought life for my daughter and me would finally get
back on track, but three days later, malicious rumors
about me went viral across every social platform.
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