The Devil Who Claimed Me

Chapter 78: I am not the same man.

"Got shocked?"

Mila stopped in her tracks. When she turned, she saw Valentina smirking meaningfully.

She realized it wasn’t a coincidence. It was planned.

"You did this on purpose," she grunted.

Valentina only smiled. In truth, it had been Serene’s idea.

Watching Mila’s pale face and the way she had fled, Valentina knew it had worked perfectly.

"Yes. I did," she admitted, "to show you your place."

She took a step toward her. "The queen has returned to claim what’s hers. And a concubine like you should know to step back."

Those humiliating words stung her heart.

Mila gritted her teeth. She wasn’t a concubine. She would never be that.

"For your information," Mila said, "I’m not interested in standing between anyone. Since they are reconciling, I bless them."

Dropping those words, she hurried away.

Valentina’s smile disappeared. That wasn’t the reaction she wanted.

She had expected tears, a breakdown, not this calm indifference.

"Pretending to be bold?" she snorted. "Let’s see how long your attitude lasts."

Inside the study...

Dominic pushed Serene away, his expression darkening. "Don’t cross the line," he grumbled.

Serene lost her balance and fell unceremoniously. She whipped her head toward him, stunned.

"You pushed me?" Disbelief flickered in her eyes. "What’s wrong with you? I’m Serene. Your Serene. Aren’t you happy to see me?"

There was no warmth in his eyes.

"Why are you here?" he asked flatly. "You left three years ago. Said you would never come back. What are you doing here now?"

"I was young back then. Foolish. I wasn’t thinking properly. When Mom died, I felt lonely. Very lonely. I felt suffocated. I thought leaving would fix everything."

She moved in closer to him. "But I was wrong. I belong here. I belong to you. So I’m back."

She reached for his hands, holding them gently. "I know I hurt you, broke your heart. But I never forgot you. I was just too stubborn to come back. Now I finally understand what you mean to me."

Her hand lifted to his face, her gaze softening. "You still love me. I can feel it. Let’s start again, okay?"

He pushed her hand away. "Start over?" He stood up abruptly. "It’s too late. I don’t love you anymore."

For a moment, Serene couldn’t react. Her mind refused to accept it.

"How could that be?" She rose to her feet. "You loved me for years, followed me everywhere, and proposed to me ten times before I finally said yes to you."

Her chest rose with agitation.

"And now you are saying you don’t love me? Just like that?"

She shook her head, forcing a breath. "You are angry," she said quickly. "That’s all. You are saying this to punish me."

"Humph." He snorted as he turned to face her. "You are still the same... Arrogant enough to believe everything revolves around you. But I’m not the same man anymore."

His gaze hardened.

"What we had ended three years ago," he continued. "You ended it. And I accepted it."

Serene opened her mouth to argue. But he turned away, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"There is nothing left between us," he said coldly. "Stop trying to get close to me."

"I wasn’t in my right mind back then," she insisted, desperation creeping in. "I had just lost my mother."

"I respected your decision," Dominic replied. "You wanted to leave. You wanted to cut ties. I let you go. I never contacted you. This proves I’ve already ended things with you."

He looked back at her. "And now, you are nothing to me."

Serene held his gaze for a moment, trying to see any flicker of hesitation or regret for saying that. But all she could see was cold detachment.

"No..." She shook her head, refusing to believe that he had already moved on. "You are lying."

The next moment, her gaze sharpened. "Is it because of that woman? Have you fallen in love with her?"

Dominic’s expression changed. His eyebrows twitched. "My personal life has nothing to do with you. I can be with whoever I want."

Serene could see things were slipping out of her control. The man who once crazily loved her had no feelings for her. This was something she couldn’t accept.

Dominic should only follow her. He should only have her in his heart. How could he stop loving her?

"It’s not you... It’s your anger speaking," she said, forcing composure in her tone. "I understand... You needed someone when I wasn’t here. That doctor... she is just a temporary attraction. You don’t have feelings for her."

She moved in closer and desperately cupped his face. "You loved me. And you still do."

"Serene, stop it." He tried to push her away.

Serene clung to him. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing herself against his chest.

"I love you," she said desperately. "I came back for you. I won’t leave again. Please... don’t push me away."

"That’s enough," he roared and pushed her away hard.

Serene staggered, barely managing to steady herself against the table.

Shock filled her eyes.

He had never treated her like this before. The man who once looked at her with warmth now looked at her like a stranger.

She didn’t recognize him. How could he have changed so much in just three years?

Dominic glared at her coldly. "You came. I welcome you. Stay here as a guest as long as you want. But don’t trouble me. Now get out of here. I have work to do."

Feeling humiliated, Serene stormed out. Her fingers curled into fists.

’This is all because of that woman,’ she muttered inwardly. ’I have to get rid of her before it’s too late.’

As she hurried down the hallway, Valentina appeared.

"How was that?" she asked, looking at her expectantly. "Dominic must be happy to see you. What did he say?"

"Happy?" Serene scoffed. "He doesn’t want me anymore. Said he doesn’t love me anymore."

The smile on Valentina’s face disappeared.

"He said everything between us is over," Serene continued bitterly. "Told me to stay here as a guest."

"What?" Valentina couldn’t believe it. "He said that?"

"Yes. He told me to stay here as a guest and not to bother him. Can you believe it?" Serene cocked her head.

Valentina tried to calm her down. "Look, Serene... You need to calm down."

Serene shot her a sharp look. "How can I calm down?"

"He didn’t ask you to leave," Valentina pointed out. "That means something. He is just angry. Once his anger subsides, he will accept you."

At that, Serene’s fury ebbed a bit. "Do you mean it?" she asked.

"Of course. Three years is not a short time. He is heartbroken. Give him some time to calm down. Feelings like that don’t disappear so easily."

Serene’s anxiety eased a little more. She believed each word Valentina said. Or she forced herself to think that way.

"You are right. I should give him some time. But..." Her tone turned dangerously cold the next moment. "I want that woman gone. She shouldn’t be near him."

Valentina always wanted to drive Mila away. But with Dominic’s protection, she couldn’t do anything. Now that Serene was here, it would be easy for her to get Mila out of here.

"She will leave this place soon. She has to. Let’s work together."

Valentina extended her hand, and Serene took it.