I laughed, though my throat constricted. “What? That’s impossible. Everyone knows it was an accident.”
The officer moved closer, holding a folder. “We have new evidence—a flash drive sent directly to us by Ms. Seraphina.”
Her name hit me like a blow. “Seraphina? Where is she? Bring her here!”
“She’s not present,” the officer replied, expression flat.
I snatched my phone, dialing her number over and over. Rings echoed, unanswered. Then dead silence.
The butler entered quietly, eyes wary. “Sir… she’s not picking up your calls.”
Helena’s voice trembled behind me. “Dominic… what’s happening? Why are they saying this? Why—”
“Shut up!” I barked, chest tightening, mind spinning. Evidence. Betrayal. Seraphina. Nothing added up. She wouldn’t dare. She couldn’t.
Then the butler’s phone buzzed. He answered, face paling. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to me.
“Sir… we just received a traffic incident report. Miss Seraphina… she was hit by a twelve-wheeler truck. She… is dead.”
Dominic’s POV
“Sir…” The butler’s voice cracked like glass. His eyes couldn’t meet mine. “We just received a traffic incident report.”
My chest tightened. Something in his tone made my blood run cold.
He swallowed, trembling. “…Miss Seraphina was hit by a 12-wheeler truck. They say… she’s dead.”
For a moment, the world turned silent. My jaw clenched, my breath stuck in my throat. Dead?
Then I laughed. A hollow, broken sound. “A… truck? And you’re saying she’s dead?” My head snapped up, eyes blazing. I shook my head violently, as if I could shake the words away. “No. No, no, no. That woman should have nine lives! You hear me? Nine lives! She cannot be dead. That is impossible!”
The butler’s lips trembled, but he said nothing.
I became hysterical, my fists slamming against the dresser. “If this is her prank again—her pathetic little game to get my attention because I’m marrying Helena—then tell her to quit it!” My chest heaved. “Do you hear me? Quit it! I am not postponing this wedding. Not for her. Never for her!”
Behind me, Helena gasped, her painted lips parting in horror. “What? Dead?” She clutched her chest, feigning panic. “Oh my God, Dominic, is this true? Is this… is this a bad omen? Is she… is she cursing us? On our wedding day?”