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—
147Derek couldn’t hold back anymore. He took another step forward, his battered body tense despite the bandages wrapped around his arm and leg. Each movement seemed to remind him of his recent defeat—an embarrassment he could barely swallow. The crowd’s attention only fueled the fire simmering in his eyes. He pointed a shaky finger at Seraphina, his voice a dangerous growl. “You think this is over? You think just because you play at loyalty, you’ve won?”Allvar’s expression hardened as he noted the bandages. There was a part of him that almost pitied Derek. Almost. But seeing the way Derek’s jaw tightened, the way his eyes glittered with barely-contained fury, he knew this confrontation was inevitable. “Derek, listen to yourself,” Allvar said, his voice measured, calm in the face of Derek’s storm. “You’re injured. You should be resting, not dragging yourself here to—”“Silence!” Derek’s face twisted, veins standing out like cords against his neck. “I don’t need your pity or your fa
148Derek’s eyes burned with fury, his hands shaking at his sides. “You think you’ve won, huh, Allvar? Well, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.”Allvar couldn’t help himself. He burst into laughter, shaking his head as he looked Derek up and down. It wasn’t the response Derek was expecting, and it only made him angrier. “Really, Derek? You think you can scare me with that empty threat?”“What’s so funny?” Derek demanded, his voice thick with disbelief, his fists clenched at his sides.Serena raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two men as she stepped a little closer to Allvar. “Yeah, what’s so funny?” she echoed, her tone sharp but curious. “This looks pretty serious to me.”Allvar wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, still chuckling. “Oh, it’s just... it’s just that you’ve been trying so hard to be the big bad wolf, Derek,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “But you’re not fooling anyone. Especially not me.”
149The tension in the air was thick as Derek lunged forward, his fury blinding him to the pain in his limbs. Before he could make another move, a group of salespeople appeared, rushing over in a hurry to break up the scene."Hey, hey! What do you think you’re doing?" one of them, a tall woman with a stern expression, demanded as she stepped between Derek and Allvar, holding up a hand. "This is a public space! You can’t go around fighting here."Serena, still flushed with anger, pointed an accusing finger at Allvar. “It’s him! He’s the one causing all this trouble!” she spat, glaring at him.Allvar raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Me? No, Serena, it’s Derek who wanted to make a scene,” he said calmly, shaking his head. “I’m just here minding my business.”Derek’s face flushed red with rage. “You’re lying, Allvar! You’re always trying to get under my skin! You think you’re so much better than me!”“Allvar doesn’t need to do anything t
150Derek and Serena made their way toward the cashier, their footsteps heavy with tension. Derek’s fists were still clenched at his sides, but he forced himself to take deep breaths, trying to calm his rising fury. Serena, walking just ahead of him, couldn’t help but throw one last venomous glance over her shoulder at Allvar and Seraphina.At the counter, Allvar and Seraphina finally arrived, their presence commanding attention. They placed their items on the counter with casual ease, though both of them seemed keenly aware of the eyes still on them. Seraphina, her usual calm demeanor intact, gave a small, polite smile to the cashier, who was busy scanning their items."Anything else?" the cashier asked, her voice professional but tinged with the annoyance that had begun to simmer from the earlier scene.Allvar glanced at Seraphina and shook his head. "No, that’ll be all," he said smoothly, his eyes narrowing slightly as Derek’s voice echoed from
151 Allvar turned to the cashier, his expression calm but his words firm. "I'm afraid there's been a slight... complication," he said, his gaze briefly flicking to Serena, who was watching the scene unfold with a barely concealed smirk. "What kind of complication?" the cashier asked, her brow furrowing. Seraphina spoke up, her voice steady despite the worry in her eyes. "I seem to have misplaced my wallet," she explained, her fingers still searching her purse in vain. "I'm not sure what happened to it." The cashier's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I see," she said, her tone diplomatic. "Well, if you'd like, we can hold your items here while you look for it." Allvar nodded, his gaze still fixed on Serena. "That would be much appreciated," he said, his voice laced with a subtle warning. Serena, unable to contain her glee, stepped forward, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Oh, dear, that
152The words hit like a slap in the face. Allvar’s eyes darkened, his usually calm demeanor now strained as the cashier’s attitude shifted. "You’re threatening us?" he asked, his voice low but dangerously firm.Seraphina, her patience wearing thin, took a step forward, her eyes blazing. "We’ve been nothing but polite," she said, her voice unwavering. "And we don’t need to explain ourselves to you, Serena, or anyone else."Serena tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, of course, you don’t need to explain, do you?" she mocked. "You’ve got the whole thing figured out. A woman of mystery and lies, pretending to be something she’s not." Derek snorted, crossing his arms. "And don’t forget the poor, sad little man with her," he added, his voice dripping with derision. "A perfect pair of losers, if you ask me."Seraphina’s eyes flicked to Allvar, her expression unwavering, but her voice cut through the growing tension. "We will pay," she sai