Too late to want me back

The Errand

Seraphina Evermore learned early that gratitude could feel a lot like a leash.

By sixteen, she already knew how to smile when people humiliated her.

She knew how to keep her head down when rich girls whispered loud enough for her to hear. 

She knew how to pretend she didn’t notice the pity in the servants’ eyes whenever they looked at her mother in the Ashford mansion.

And most importantly—

She knew how to come running whenever Lucien Ashford called.

Her phone buzzed against the desk during literature class.

Lucien: Buy condoms. Same brand as last time.

No hello.

No please.

Just another order.

Seraphina stared at the message while the teacher’s voice faded into background noise. Her cheeks heated instantly, though it wasn’t shock anymore. Lucien had been making her do things like this for months.

Sometimes cigarettes.

Sometimes alcohol.

Sometimes gifts for Isolde Sterling.

Sometimes hotel bookings under fake names.

And sometimes—

This.

“Seraphina?”

She looked up quickly.

The teacher frowned. “Would you like to answer the question?”

A few students laughed under their breath.

At the back of the classroom, Isolde Sterling crossed her legs elegantly, smiling like she was watching a servant embarrass herself.

Seraphina slowly stood up.

“The poem is about emotional dependency,” she said softly. “The speaker mistakes suffering for love.”

For one second, the room went quiet.

Then somebody snorted.

“How appropriate,” one of Isolde’s friends muttered.

Even the teacher looked awkward.

Seraphina sat back down, gripping her phone tightly under the desk.

Another message popped up immediately.

Lucien: Don’t forget. I’m waiting.

Waiting.

That single word made her stomach twist.

Because Lucien Ashford never waited for anyone.

Unless he needed condoms for another girl.

Behind the counter, two pharmacy workers glanced at her again.

“That girl’s back again?” one whispered.

“The private school one? Yeah. I’ve seen her here like three times this week already.”

A quiet laugh followed.

“Condoms last time too, right?”

“No, emergency pills yesterday.”

“Seriously?”

“She looks way too young for this…”

The other worker lowered her voice, but not enough.

“Rich kids really are wild.”

Another soft laugh.

“Or maybe her boyfriend just doesn’t care about her.”

Seraphina kept her head lowered, pretending she couldn’t hear any of it.

That was the worst part.

Not the mocking.

But how normal this had started to feel.

Cold autumn wind brushed across her face. She hugged the paper bag tightly against her chest, wishing she could disappear into the sidewalk.

A black Aston Martin pulled up beside her.

The passenger window rolled down halfway.

Lucien Ashford sat inside lazily in his school uniform, tie loose around his collar. Dark hair fell across sharp brows, and his expression carried that effortless arrogance of someone who grew up believing the world belonged to him.

“Get in.”

No thank you.

No apology.

Seraphina got in anyway.

The inside of the car smelled like expensive cologne and Isolde’s floral perfume.

That hurt more than it should have.

Lucien held out one hand without even looking at her.

“Give it.”

She placed the paper bag into his palm.

He checked the brand briefly before tossing it into the center console.

“Good.” 

Then he smirked slightly.

“Careful. If you keep taking care of me like this, people are gonna think you’re  jealous of my girlfriend."

Heat rushed to Seraphina’s face—not from excitement, but embarrassment.

“Lucien… midterms are next week. I might not have time to keep—”

“Then manage your time better.”

The words hit like cold water.

Lucien finally glanced at her, irritation flashing in his silver-gray eyes.

“You live in my house. Study at my school. What exactly are you complaining about?”

Her throat tightened immediately.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

The Ashfords paid for everything.

Her tuition.

Her books.

The tiny room she shared with her mother in the servant quarters.

Without them, she wouldn’t even be here.

Lucien looked back at the road.

“Isolde’s birthday party is Friday. Don’t embarrass me by refusing to help.”

Seraphina nodded automatically.

A small, pathetic part of her still felt happy whenever Lucien included her in anything.

Even this.

Maybe especially this.

Because being useful to Lucien was the closest thing she had to being wanted.

Friday night arrived wrapped in diamonds and cruelty.

The Ashford estate glittered with crystal chandeliers, champagne towers, and girls wearing couture dresses worth more than Seraphina’s entire childhood apartment.

She stood quietly near the staircase holding extra gift boxes while Isolde dramatically opened presents for the crowd.

“Lucien,” Isolde laughed, “you spoil me too much.”

Lucien sat beside her with one arm stretched lazily behind her shoulders.

“You complain when I don’t.”

Everyone laughed obediently.

Seraphina stayed silent.

Then Isolde noticed her.

“Oh.” Her smile sharpened. “Why is Seraphina still standing there?”

One girl wrinkled her nose. “Why is she always around?”

“Because Lucien likes adopting strays.”

The room burst into laughter.

Seraphina lowered her eyes.

Lucien said nothing.

Not one word.

Isolde tilted her head sweetly. “Seraphina, can you get us more champagne?”

Another girl smirked. “And maybe learn how to do your makeup while you’re at it.”

“She looks like she irons school uniforms for fun.”

“That’s because her mom literally works here.”

More laughter.

Seraphina turned toward the kitchen before anyone could see her expression cracking.

Behind her, Lucien still didn’t say a thing.

Around midnight, Seraphina finally escaped to the garden terrace.

The cold air burned her lungs.

She gripped the stone railing tightly enough for her fingertips to ache.

“You look miserable.”

A deep male voice startled her.

Cassian Valecrest leaned against the doorway in a black coat, moonlight outlining the sharp angles of his face.

Unlike Lucien’s careless arrogance, Cassian carried something quieter.

Something dangerous.

He was two years older, already infamous in elite circles for destroying business rivals twice his age.

Most girls at Saint Aurelius Academy were terrified of him.

Seraphina was too.

She straightened immediately. “I’m fine.”

Cassian glanced toward the ballroom where laughter still spilled through the windows.

“No,” he said calmly. “You’re trained.”

Her breath caught.

He stepped closer slowly.

“Do you know the difference?”

Seraphina looked away first.

Because nobody had ever spoken to her like that before.

Not kindly.

Not cruelly either.

Just… honestly.

Cassian studied her for a moment before pulling a silk handkerchief from his pocket.

Only then did she realize tears had slipped down her face.

Embarrassed, she wiped them quickly. “Sorry.”

“For what?”

She opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Cassian’s eyes darkened slightly.

“You apologize too much, Seraphina.”

The way he said her name felt strange.

Careful.

Like it actually mattered.

Then Lucien’s voice suddenly echoed from inside the ballroom.

“Seraphina!”

Instantly, her shoulders tensed.

Cassian noticed.

Of course he did.

Lucien stepped onto the terrace looking annoyed.

“Why are you hiding out here?”

Then his eyes landed on Cassian.

The atmosphere changed immediately.

Lucien smirked lazily. “Didn’t realize you were entertaining my guest.”

Cassian’s expression didn’t change.

“Interesting wording.”

Lucien ignored him completely.

Instead, he tossed his car keys toward Seraphina.

“Drive yourself home.”

Seraphina froze.

“I drank,” she said quietly, steadying herself against the marble counter. “I can go back without a car.”

Lucien didn’t look concerned at all. He lazily swirled the whiskey in his glass.

“You’ll survive.”

Cassian’s expression darkened instantly.

“Then I’ll take her.”

Lucien finally looked up. “Since when is that your business?”

Cassian calmly stepped forward and picked up Seraphina’s coat from the chair beside her.

“You should worry about your girlfriend instead.”

Beside Lucien, Isolde stiffened slightly.

Lucien let out a cold laugh.

“You seem pretty protective lately.”

Cassian met his gaze without flinching.

“Protective?” he repeated calmly. “Or are you just upset someone else is treating her like a human being?”

The entire room went silent.

Lucien’s jaw tightened immediately.

“She’s always following me around.”

Cassian smiled faintly, almost mockingly.

“And?” His eyes turned colder. “Did you mark her like a dog claiming territory?”

Silence crashed across the room.

Even Isolde looked stunned.

Seraphina’s heartbeat stopped for a second as Lucien’s expression darkened completely.

Without another word, Lucien grabbed Seraphina’s wrist and dragged her away with him.