The celebration roared on.
Gold confetti had started falling from the high ceilings. Laughter echoed from the balconies. The orchestra shifted to a livelier tune.
But Serene stood still, her heart louder than the music.
Gloria was gone, vanished back into the elegant crowd like she'd never been there. But her words were still dripping down Serene's spine, cold and sharp.
"Good girl."
She hated that.
The original Serene—the woman Roman thought he'd buried—would've spat in her face. Would've screamed. Would've clawed her way out without asking. But this version of her? She knew how to survive devils.
By dancing with them.
She moved through the ballroom like a ghost in ivory. Every smile she returned was practiced. Every nod, every thank-you-for-coming, every glance at Roman—perfectly composed.
But inside?
She was crawling.
Scraping.
Screaming.
Her fingers curled subtly around the silk of her dress, anchoring herself. No one could see her breaking. No one could know.
Because Serene had learned something in her sleep:
Monsters don't kill dolls.
They display them.
But once a doll cracks…
They burn it.
She wouldn't let them burn her again.
Across the room, Roman watched her.
Of course he did.
His eyes were fixed on her like a predator studying prey that had begun to behave... strangely.
Serene turned her head before their eyes could meet. She smiled at one of the guests and let out a soft laugh she didn't feel.
Play your part.
Just a little longer.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lelo standing beneath the crystal chandelier, a small plate of untouched cake in her hand. The girl wasn't even looking at her anymore. Her eyes were fixed on Serene's stomach.
The baby.
Serene's breath hitched.
It still didn't feel real. Even with her body confirming it in quiet, aching ways. Even with everyone toasting to the "miracle" she never asked for.
But the worst part wasn't that she was carrying Roman's child.
The worst part… was that for the tiniest, most twisted second—
She didn't hate it.
She hated him. Hated what he'd done. Hated how he stole her life, shattered her mind, and rewrote her with his version of love.
But the child?
That innocent thing inside her?
It hadn't chosen this.
And that… made everything harder.
Serene turned sharply and made her way toward the back terrace, needing air—space—anything but eyes. She slipped out the glass door and into the night.
The cold kissed her skin. The wind, finally free of perfume and music, wrapped around her like a secret.
And then—
A voice behind her.
"You're different."
Serene stiffened.
Roman.
Of course.
He always showed up when she needed to breathe.
Slowly, she turned. "Am I?"
Roman stepped toward her. His black-on-black suit made him look more shadow than man. "You've changed," he said softly, like it was a compliment. Or maybe a warning.
"I just found out I'm pregnant," she replied, forcing calm. "That's a lot to process."
He studied her.
Too closely.
Too long.
Serene met his gaze evenly, letting nothing show. "You're surprised I'm not clinging to you, weeping with joy?"
"I'm surprised you're not angry."
Serene's heart skipped.
That was a test.
She smiled. "You want me to be angry?"
Roman's lips curved, but it wasn't a smile. "I want you to be honest."
Serene took a slow breath, every word calculated. "I don't know what to feel, Roman. I wasn't awake when it happened. When the doctor confirmed it. Everyone else found out before me. Even the help. That's... a lot."
He said nothing.
But she could see the flicker in his eyes.
The doubt.
The danger.
"You scared me," she added softly, placing a hand on her belly. "But maybe it's just the hormones."
That seemed to settle something in him.
Roman stepped closer.
Too close.
His hand brushed her waist, then slid over her stomach, resting gently over the small rise that hadn't been there before.
"I won't let anything happen to either of you," he said.
Serene wanted to scream.
But she smiled instead. "I know."
Inside, the music rose again.
Another toast. Another speech. Another round of golden lies.
Roman leaned in, kissed her cheek, and walked back inside like the devil he was—satisfied that his doll was still broken in all the right places.
But she wasn't.
Not anymore.
And soon?
He'd see.
They all would.
---