139Serena’s shock was almost comical, her jaw slightly dropped as her eyes darted between Allvar and Seraphina. But the surprise quickly sharpened, her lips twisting into a mocking smirk. She crossed her arms, letting her gaze linger on Allvar with exaggerated amusement.“Allvar,” she drawled, voice dripping with condescension, “fancy seeing you here. I didn’t think this was quite… your scene.”Next to her, Derek cast a dark glare at Allvar, though his bruised face and bandaged jaw made his attempt to look intimidating a bit pathetic. Allvar fought back a laugh, but a flicker of amusement betrayed him as he glanced at Derek’s state.“Nice look, Derek,” Allvar said with a chuckle, folding his arms. “What happened? Did you trip over your ego?”Derek’s face flushed, but he forced a grin, stepping closer as if to assert dominance. “Funny coming from you,” he sneered. “Who would’ve thought a guy like you would be out with… company? Thought you were still recovering from the last time Sere
140Serena’s mouth tightened, struggling to keep a forced smile. “Well,” she muttered with a dismissive wave of her hand, “enjoy it while it lasts. I give it… a month, tops.”Seraphina kept her serene smile. “Thanks for the concern, Serena,” she replied, her voice calm and perfectly polite, which only seemed to agitate Serena further. “But honestly? We’re having a fantastic time. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have real shopping to do.” Her gaze dropped to Serena’s outfit—a smirk just barely visible. “You understand, right?”Serena’s eyes flashed with anger, her lips pressing into a tight line as she caught the implication. Derek, seeing her mood, took a step forward, his attempt at intimidation only hindered by his bruised face. “Think you’re funny, huh, Allvar?” he sneered, forcing his face into what he probably thought was a menacing expression. “Bet you still remember the days when you couldn’t even afford to step foot in a place like this.”Allvar let out a mocking laugh. “Oh, righ
141As they continued their shopping, Serena’s fury was almost palpable. Her steps were brisk, heels clicking sharply on the polished floor, each step a testament to her annoyance. She muttered under her breath, her words laced with venom."How 'dare' he," she seethed, casting an irritated glance in the direction Allvar and Seraphina had gone. "First he drags our name through the mud at university, and now this?" She huffed, crossing her arms tightly.Derek shot her a wary look, clearly uncomfortable. Serena’s gaze landed on him, her eyes narrowing at his bruised face. "Honestly, Derek, what happened to you?"He sighed, glancing away. "I told you already, Serena. It was… an accident," he muttered, his voice barely masking irritation."An accident?" Serena’s eyebrows shot up, disbelief clear in her tone. "Are you serious? When I saw you this morning, I nearly screamed. You looked like you’d been in a fight. Why didn't you tell me about it sooner?"Derek shrugged, looking down at his fe
142Derek shot her a wary look, rubbing his sore jaw. “Look, Serena… Maybe it’s best if we just let it go. Allvar’s got his own life. We don’t have to make everything a competition.”Her head whipped around, a fiery glare fixed on him. “Let it go? Derek, he’s openly trying to humiliate me. If you think I’m just going to sit back and do nothing, you’re out of your mind.”Derek sighed, knowing better than to argue further. The tension hung between them, though neither said another word as they walked on, each stewing in their own thoughts.Meanwhile, on the other side of the store, Allvar gave a sheepish smile. “Thanks for stepping in back there,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “Seems like I’m making you do that way too often.”Seraphina raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Oh, you definitely owe me now,” she teased, giving him a light nudge. “I’ll be adding it to the list.”He laughed softly, but his expression grew more serious as he glanced down. “You’r
143As they continued down the aisles, Seraphina’s cheerful energy brightened Allvar’s mood. She waved off his attempts to be modest as she piled luxurious items into their cart, her laughter infectious.“Allvar, I’m serious,” she said, glancing at him with a playful smile. “Take anything you like. Today’s my treat!”Allvar chuckled, though he looked a bit shy. “I appreciate it, really, but you don’t have to go overboard. I’ll be fine with just one or two things.”“Oh, nonsense,” she replied, waving a hand dismissively. “I’ve never met anyone who needed some spoiling as much as you do. Now, what about this jacket? It’s practically calling your name.”He hesitated, reaching out to touch the soft fabric. It was undeniably nice, the kind of thing he’d admired from a distance but never seriously considered buying. “It’s… a bit much, don’t you think?”“Not at all,” Seraphina said, her eyes twinkling. “If you like it, it’s yours. I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”Allvar shook his head, smil
144Allvar sighed, preparing himself for the inevitable. He knew Serena and Derek were the type to throw insults when they were feeling insecure, but this time, he wasn’t going to let it bother him. Not with Seraphina standing by his side.He glanced at her, seeing the way her expression shifted from calm to sharp. She stood tall beside him, her posture radiating quiet confidence, ready to defend him if need be. He couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of appreciation. Derek, who had been unusually quiet, couldn’t stay silent for long. His eyes glinted with mockery as he stepped forward, his lips curling into a smirk. “I just don’t get it, Allvar,” he began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “How in the world did someone like you manage to land a post at Waterfall Corporation? I mean, I can’t even imagine.”Allvar kept his expression neutral, though his fists clenched at his sides. Derek’s mockery wasn’t new, but he had learned not to rise to the bait. He responded with a dry chuckle
145“You know,” she cut in smoothly, her voice sweet but with a hidden edge, “it’s funny, Derek. You’re always so quick to assume how things work in this world. But Allvar? He’s not the type to need anyone to ‘help’ him get ahead.” Her eyes flickered briefly to Allvar, a small, affectionate smile curving her lips. “He does just fine on his own.” Derek sneered, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to lash out. “I don’t know what kind of games you two are playing, but it’s pathetic,” he snapped, narrowing his eyes at Seraphina. “You think this—this—has any real value? Allvar? He’s nothing.”“Oh, you’re right,” Seraphina replied with a delicate, mocking tilt of her head. “Allvar’s 'nothing'. But he’s more than enough for me, Derek. That must sting, doesn’t it? Knowing he has something you’ll never have: integrity.” Her tone was sweet, but there was a bite in her words that made Derek flinch.The tension thickened in the air, and Derek shifted uneasily. But his ego wouldn’t let him back
146“She’s way out of your league,” Derek muttered under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “What’s a woman like that doing with a loser like you?”Allvar’s eyes narrowed as he shot Derek a pointed look. “You know, Derek, maybe you’re right. A woman like Seraphina deserves someone who actually knows how to appreciate her.” He leaned in slightly, his tone turning just a shade colder. “Someone who knows not to mess with her, or anyone she cares about.”Derek scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Appreciate her? You think you’re capable of that? Don’t kid yourself, Allvar. You’re just playing a role, and when the act is up, she’ll see you for what you really are.”Seraphina stepped closer to Allvar, a smirk playing on her lips. She glanced briefly at Derek before locking eyes with Allvar. “You’re just jealous, Derek,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension like a sharp knife. “Because despite everything you’ve tried, Allvar’s got something you’ll never have—