SERAPHINA'S STOLEN HAPPINESS

PERSON

ctor's office with the medical

s times, but now that it had finally

t? Fear?

s all

fortably on a white leather sofa, scrolling through her tablet. Th

nd's expression. "Should I be celebrating,

managed a

Everything

er handbag and fell into step besid

wee

s Seraphina spoke with the receptionist, she e

g," she confirmed.

the desk with a small appointm

abella has alr

s headed towar

derstood her moods, and could tell when something was bothering her even before she said a word.

lla never treated her like a woman who n

ed, Seraphina reached into

ld call

glanced

the first person

hina

o her husband. She had even rehearsed a few differe

his number and ha

PA thing too seriously, right?" S

form these little duties, what

ina la

ill have you organising another charity event,

ery single fundraiser, yet somehow yo

'm married

means you have to attend ever

he ones where people e

hook her h

don't embarrass your husband by disa

in, but her attention

r

n

ic

e ti

her he would answer when his fam

, swee

diately touc

ve something

ng, darling. Is it something

e faded

d down at

hing

ying his child. Wasn't that important eno

r the hurried voices in the background, and she didn't want the first time

lied quietly. "Call

sweetheart.

all e

he phone and handed

s bu

ok one look

ess. Anoth

es

e told him it was importan

ook he

upt his work. I'll tell

ed the phone i

as though someone has j

a manage

m f

urse y

ked towards the pearly white Merce

r last birthday, although Isabella often joke

r's door and looked

. I'll

e passenger seat, adjusti

nk y

ngine and pulled away

ll me what's going on, or

a looked

nothing g

the doctor's office. You barely spoke to the receptionist, and you called

rned towards

r before returning her

me the doctor found

a nearly

ha

u came out of that office. I was beginnin

abe

'm only

othing wro

g like someone has just h

ina he

ined his reaction so many times that she had forgotten she

a was her b

eep something this

a took a

pregn

t eased off th

ed towards her friend,

t. W

hina

pregn

squeal escap

oodness!

ze her friend's hand before returni

by! Why didn't you

laughed

und out th

ns! I'm going

gious, and for a moment, Seraph

expressio

just one

a looke

prob

r actually discuss

sabella's face sett

do you

sses, travelling, the house, family gatherings. But so

h wanted childr

ooked down

ouse filled with their laughter, little footsteps running through the h

pa

w if Demian want

frowned

u ever a

direc

y n

get a little time together, there's usual

d out at the pa

He's never given me any indication

ugh a quieter stree

ried, but don't decide how he's going

he isn'

when it happens. But you can't spend th

gave a s

out what happens afterwards. Demian already spends most of

figure

d very co

lise they have something more important than an

at her with a r

sister Alice and h

had their littl

he birth. She had asked Felicia, her personal shopper, to visit several bo

efully chosen, and Ali

ut them?"

la hes

old you. But you have to promi

turned t

t is

een her and Martins were really bad. Th

a's eyes

re jo

m n

ys seemed so h

son who discusses her marriage problems wit

oked genuine

rious w

thing. Small disagreements would turn into huge fights,

shook h

wondering whether staying togeth

s terr

tically raised Alice and me on his own after our mother died. H

hina

was a kind man, although rather traditio

daughter getting divorced

rtbroken when he found

to separating. Alice was doing everything

used at a t

covered she w

listened

hanged between them. Suddenly, they had something to think about beyon

just become perf

them a reason to confront the things they had been avoiding. They went for counselling,

lla s

ppier than I've se

looked t

s beau

u to convince yourself that your marriage is alread

ed befor

family loves children. Have you

miled despi

practicall

busiest day of his life, but the moment that

buying him so

oys to fill an entire bedroom. I'm surp

omen l

he usually serious businessman would become playful, allowing the litt

him that she rarely saw di

be the same wit

ht warmed

you're righ

ourse

ten nannies and leav

lla l

t hire an entire childcare tea

isn't

stay away from his own child. Just imagine him comin

hina

dn't mi

e already i

than a distant one. I want our child to gr

hat's exactly w

eaned back

morning, the uncertainty

e would react, but perhaps Isabella was right. Maybe she was

hand over her

ttle life grow

planned for, but on

turned onto a private ro

ith snow. At the end of the road stood a pair of imposing wrought-ir

own and entered t

ced her thumb against t

sed her credentials, and th

the winding driveway

azed throug

dows that reflected the afternoon light. White columns framed the grand ent

ways loved

running through the hallways. She had pictured a Christmas tree surrounded by colourful p

ren't as far away as

an welcomed the news with the sa

down at the tiny face with that rare, unguard

d if he spoiled

responsibility for being the s

never had to question w

e window and start

ce interrupted

hina

I smi

sion for the last five minutes. I can p

ina la

, I

hat's th

. A flight of pale cream marble steps led to the double doors,

ff the engine and g

the clinic. I'm sure she'll have somet

nk y

to the garage and

a opened

world, remember that you have a meeting with th

ina gr

lla, p

e that. I didn't put

oping you'd forg

y, I'm very g

ead, smiling as she s

ll see yo

owards the entrance, one hand rest

Deamian's face whe

uld pull her into his arms, and whether he would be just

e held on t