My Sister Stole My Mate And I Let Her (Seraphina) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 RETAIL THERAPY

SERAPHINA’S POV

My vision blurred as I stood on the sidewalk in front of Maya’s apartment building, my fingers trembling on my phone as I tried to order an Uber to take me home.

The sun was lower in the sky now, casting long gold shadows on the pavement. I’d barely spent an hour in there, and yet it had felt like an eternity.

I cursed myself when my fingers slipped for the umpteenth time, wondering when exactly I would stop letting Celeste and Kieran and Ethan and every other ugly part of my past affect me so acutely.

It was like I took a step forward only to stumble three steps backwards.

“Sera!”

I stiffened at the sound of Maya’s voice and didn’t turn, locking my spine.

“Sera, wait—”

I shook my head. “Save it, Maya. I don’t want to hear you justify his actions or plead his case.”

Remorse flashed across her face as she stepped in front of me. “I’m not here to do that, Sera. I’m here to apologize to you.”

I blinked. “You are?”

She took her hands in mine. “Of course I am. Gods, Sera, I’m so sorry, I had no idea it would blow up like that.”

“You could have warned me,” I said tightly. “I could have told you that that’s the kind of shit that happens when you put Ethan and me in the same room.”

“I feel so awful, Sera.”

I sighed. “I get it. You didn’t mean harm.”

“I didn’t,” she said quickly, breath hitching. “But I still hurt you. And I’m so fucking sorry.”

I looked at her—really looked—and saw the ache in her eyes, the one I’d carried in mine for so long. Regret. Shame. Something deeper, unspoken.

I frowned, glancing back at the building. “Did something happen?”

She shook her head. “Forget that.” She squeezed my hand tighter. “Do you forgive me?”

I bit my lip. “Listen, Maya, I understand that Ethan is your mate, and I know that bond is stronger than anything else. I don’t want our friendship to affect that, so maybe you and I should maintain some distance—”

Maya’s eyes flared. “Sera! How can you say that?”

The hurt in her eyes took me off guard. “I—”

“Does our relationship mean that little to you that you’d just give it up?”

My mouth gaped. “No, that’s not what I—” I exhaled. “I’ve never had a friend like you, Maya—”

“And I’ve never had a friend like you!”

I blinked. “That... can’t be right.”

“It is,” she insisted, stepping closer. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I can be brusque, intimidating, and generally antagonistic.” She shrugged. “Those are not particular attributes that attract friends.”

My lips twitched. “You are pretty intimidating,”—I squeezed her hand—“but I’ve been told lately that I’m becoming more and more antagonistic.”

Her laugh was like a sigh. “Oh, no, am I rubbing off on you?”

“Even more reason why we should keep our distance.”

Her grip tightened on mine. “Don’t even dare joke about that, Sera.”

I couldn’t help it this time; I laughed.

Forgiveness wasn’t a straight line. It curved, twisted, doubled back on itself until you barely knew which way was forward.

I wasn’t ready to forgive Ethan. Maybe I never would be.

But Maya... Maya was different.

I pulled her into a hug, tightening my arms around her.

“I don’t want to lose you, too,” I murmured.

Her entire body heaved with her sigh of relief. “I’m so sorry I betrayed you; it’ll never happen again.”

“You didn’t betray me,” I said, pulling back slightly, “but Ethan did. And if he uses you like that again—”

Velvet & Vice — for your darkest delights. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

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