Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Fierce Protective Love

Seraphina’s POV

Ma carried the familiar fragrance of jasmine and fresh-baked bread that had wrapped around me like safety for five wonderful years. Pa’s palm rested firm and reassuring on my shoulder, radiating warmth and strength. They offered no empty words or false promises that pain would disappear. They simply surrounded me with their presence. In those quiet moments, I discovered the first glimpse of calm since my world had shattered.

They led me with gentle touches to the oversized sofa. I collapsed against Ma’s side, my head finding its natural place on her shoulder while the final tremors of grief slowly left my frame.

When I finally raised my tear-streaked face, I spotted them.

My two beautiful children stood by the entrance, worry etched across their young features. Elena’s small fingers were wrapped around Theo’s hand. Her expression held deep concern while Theo appeared frightened and wounded, an expression that always tore at my soul.

"Mommy," he breathed, his voice barely audible.

Without hesitation, he released Elena’s grip and rushed forward. His small body collided with mine as he wrapped his arms around my middle with desperate strength.

"Don’t cry anymore, Mama," he murmured against my shirt. "Please don’t cry."

That innocent, heartfelt plea shattered something inside me again, but this time with bittersweet warmth. It was the raw, genuine love only a four-year-old could offer. I threaded my fingers through his silky hair and drew him nearer, pressing my lips to the crown of his head.

Guilt consumed me for allowing my children to witness my complete breakdown. I refused to let them carry my burdens. Their joy remained my primary motivation for facing each new day.

Elena approached slowly and settled onto the ottoman before me. She captured my hand and traced soothing circles across my knuckles. She was absolutely precious, and daily I marveled at how Roxanne had nurtured such an extraordinary little girl.

"Pa? Ma?" My voice emerged hoarse from weeping. "Why are you here? I thought you weren’t returning for weeks."

Ma’s hand moved in steady strokes along my spine. "Julian contacted us, sweetheart. He explained everything that occurred."

I gave a weary nod, gathering Theo onto my lap. I couldn’t discuss losing the baby or my devastating confrontation with Julian while the children were present.

"Actually," Ma’s tone shifted to something more grave. "That wasn’t our only motivation for coming home, Seraphina."

Pa’s hand disappeared into his coat’s inner pocket, retrieving a folded document.

"What’s that?" I questioned. Immediate dread settled like lead in my abdomen.

Pa extended the paper toward me. Bold, erratic black ink covered the surface. I knew that awful penmanship immediately.

Dorian.

I opened the document with trembling fingers that nearly lost their grip.

The message was brief, cruel, and unmistakably clear. He avoided mentioning the Jenkinses directly, but began by offering congratulations on their contentment. Then came the chilling threat:

"You appear content. However, contentment is difficult to achieve and demands a steep price. Most importantly, it never, ever endures."

I drew in a sharp breath. All color drained from my cheeks, replaced by an icy chill.

Dorian had murdered my first adoptive parents. He destroyed them because of his obsession with me. Now he was targeting the Jenkinses, the parents who had cherished me for five precious years.

He was threatening them.

Fresh terror crashed over me, more intense and bitter than the sorrow I had just released. If I lost them, I would have absolutely nothing left. They were my anchor, the only people I completely trusted.

Elena must have sensed the sudden, sharp shift in atmosphere. She glanced at Theo and touched his shoulder.

"Theo, should we go build something with the blocks in the kitchen? The adults need to discuss grown-up stuff."

Bless Elena’s intuition. Theo, still nestled on my lap, looked up at her before meeting my eyes.

I managed a weak, trembling smile and kissed his forehead. "I’ll join you both very soon. Go with your sister."

After they departed, the room’s atmosphere grew dense and suffocating. I clutched Dorian’s note so tightly the paper began to crease.

"Seraphina, darling," Ma began gently, moving closer. "We must address this note, but first, I need you to share your true feelings. Not the Seraphina who maintains strength for her child, but the Seraphina sitting here right now."

Her words came soft, direct, and filled with love. "Losing a child represents the most devastating pain possible, honey. It rips your heart completely apart."

I swallowed hard. Fresh tears threatened to surface, but I forced them back. I met Ma’s familiar, compassionate gaze.

"I feel like I’ve been suppressing everything, Ma. For days now. Since the instant I realized she was gone." I stumbled over those words. "The only comfort comes from knowing I did everything possible to protect my baby. That I loved her beyond measure."

I hesitated as rage bubbled up like poison.

"But Julian stole her from me. He destroyed the only piece I had remaining of her."

Pa, who had remained silent, covered my hand with his warm palm.

"We comprehend that, honey. We truly do," Pa said quietly. "But being male doesn’t mean Julian isn’t experiencing identical anguish. Seraphina, he lost his child too."

I jerked my hand away sharply, my eyes blazing with fury. Considering Julian’s suffering did nothing to ease my own. It only intensified my anger.

"I don’t care about his feelings, Pa," I declared, my voice low and dangerous. "I will never forgive him for his actions. Never."

Ma quickly grasped my arm, silencing Pa before he could respond.

"Then that settles it, Seraphina," Ma said, her devotion to me evident. "If those are your feelings, we won’t discuss it further. Especially not today. We can see how distressing this makes you, and we never want you experiencing that with us, honey. Never."

Profound relief flooded through me. This was exactly why I adored them. They didn’t criticize; they simply loved unconditionally.

I leaned forward and embraced them both fiercely, burying my face between their shoulders.

"I’m so incredibly grateful you’re here," I whispered. Tears blurred my vision again, but these carried different meaning. "I felt completely isolated, suffocating in agony, with no one to cling to."

Just as I settled back, feeling secure once more, I detected gentle footsteps descending the main staircase.

My birth mother and father entered the living room. They appeared uncertain but composed.

"Seraphina, are you well, dear?" my mother asked, though her concern seemed artificial.

I inhaled deeply, wiping away my final tears. This would be uncomfortable.

"I’d like you to meet Mrs. Jenkins, who I call Ma, and Mr. Jenkins, who I call Pa. And Ma, Pa, these are my birth mother and Alpha Maxwell."

The air crackled with silent tension resembling electricity before a thunderstorm.

Ma didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward, her petite frame radiating fierce determination. She stared directly at my birth mother and Maxwell.

"Well, you represent the absolute worst type of parents, don’t you?" Ma declared plainly, her voice controlled but cutting like steel. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

My birth parents recoiled, stunned by such sudden, brutal honesty.

"You failed to love someone as remarkable as Seraphina when she needed it most. You discarded something precious." Ma paused, allowing her words to penetrate. "But I’m also grateful, because your failure became our blessing. We gained a true daughter and grandson because of your mistakes."

I tensed, anticipating an explosion. They had never encountered anyone who dared speak to them so boldly, particularly not a stranger.

Wait, panic shot through my thoughts. I hadn’t mentioned Elena to Ma and Pa yet.

I knew the moment they discovered they also had a granddaughter, they would be absolutely thrilled. That conversation would wait for another time.