After the bell rang signaling the end of class, students in the room began packing their bags. Eliot remained seated, unmoving, his expression slightly grave. With his right elbow propped on the desk and his palm supporting his head, he seemed lost in thought.
Around him, classmates discussed their plans after school—some heading to a café to do homework, others to a record store for part-time work, while a few debated what to wear for the concert that evening.
The students on duty started cleaning the classroom, wiping the chalk marks off the blackboard with damp cloths. The sun gradually tilted westward, casting an orange glow over the entire city. Wisps of clouds were tinged with the colors of dusk, shimmering with a brilliant golden light.
Eliot sat motionless in his seat. The homework and textbooks he needed to take home were already packed in his bag, leaving him with nothing else to tidy up. He could simply pick up his bag and leave at any moment.
Yet he didn't want to leave the school. He wished to stay in the classroom a little longer, as if avoiding something—or more precisely, avoiding someone: his only family member and biological sister, Seraphina.
Since the incident a year ago, Eliot could no longer interact with Seraphina as openly as before. An invisible barrier had risen between them, and he had shut her out beyond the walls of his heart, no longer sharing the closeness they once had.
Seraphina, however, had grown even more domineering. She meddled freely in Eliot's life, her desire to control and possess him intensifying day by day, suffocating him and leaving him no room to breathe. It was as though she had trapped him in a sealed room, where no matter how he struggled, he could not break free from her grasp.
Rather than saying Eliot despised Seraphina, it would be more accurate to say his feelings toward his sister were largely rooted in fear. Her forceful methods and violent temperament filled him with dread. He lacked the courage to meet her icy gaze or withstand her anger.
In the face of such overwhelming power, Eliot had no means to resist. Attempting to defy her would only lead to even more terrible consequences. To avoid harm as much as possible, he had no choice but to submit, allowing Seraphina to dictate his every move.
The ringing of the phone snapped Eliot out of his thoughts. The caller ID made him frown, but he immediately pressed the answer button, not daring to hesitate for even a second. A voice he knew all too well, yet one that sent chills down his spine, echoed in his ear.
"Why aren't you out yet?" Seraphina's voice was impatient, causing Eliot's hand holding the phone to tremble slightly.
"Sorry… I… I just went to the restroom. I'm coming out now," Eliot replied apologetically, his submissive tone easing Seraphina's displeasure somewhat. He quickly slung his backpack over his shoulder and hurried out of the classroom, almost jogging toward the school gate.
"Don't let this happen again. I don't want to waste my time waiting for you, understood?" Seraphina's commanding tone struck Eliot's ears, her cold voice nearly making him break into a cold sweat.
"I… I understand. Sorry, sis, I won't do it again," Eliot replied, his face pale. Though he was long accustomed to Seraphina's temperament, he couldn't help but feel a deep-seated fear toward his sister—an instinctive dread that surfaced whenever he faced her.
The word "sis" and Eliot's timid reaction softened the coldness in Seraphina's eyes. Even the corners of her lips curled into a faint smile. She watched intently as Eliot drew closer, his expression tinged with fear and unease as he jogged toward her.
Seraphina opened the car door, wrapped an arm around Eliot, pushed him inside, and closed the door. The car sped away.
Seraphina pulled Eliot onto her lap, one arm encircling his waist while the other caressed his face and neck. Her once-cold expression now radiated an obsessive, infatuated look, her eyes filled with a terrifying intensity and possessiveness.
With her significant physical advantage, Seraphina held Eliot firmly in her embrace, resting her head in the crook of his neck. Her lips wandered over the delicate, pale skin of his neck and nape, leaving deep marks as if a hunter branding their prey—a declaration to the world that this boy belonged to her.
Eliot stiffened in Seraphina's arms, feeling as though she might tear him apart and devour him at any moment. Every time her teeth grazed his skin, he couldn't shake the illusion that she was about to bite through his veins.
Eliot dared not even breathe, afraid of making any move that might anger Seraphina. He obediently allowed her to play with his body, his eyes—identical to Seraphina's—staring blankly ahead.
Seraphina was deeply displeased that Eliot's gaze was not fixed on her. When they were alone, she forbade her younger brother from looking at anything other than her. Her temperament, always unpredictable, suddenly turned icy as she viciously pinched Eliot's cheek, her expression freezing over.
"Are you ignoring me, Eliot?" Seraphina's voice was laced with intense anger, and a wave of chilling hostility washed over Eliot. Her grip was merciless, her sharp nails even piercing his skin.
Eliot felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar. Terrified, he stared fixedly at her, cold sweat breaking out on his back, his face growing even paler. "N-no," he stammered timidly.
Despite having lived with Seraphina for many years, he still couldn't grasp her emotions. Her moods were more unpredictable than the weather. Often, Eliot was left bewildered by her outbursts, unsure of what he had done wrong or even what she was thinking.
"Liar," Seraphina spat the word coldly, a cruel glint flashing in her eyes. Her nails mercilessly left several bloody scratches on Eliot's cheek, drawing beads of crimson blood.
The sight of her brother's pained, contorted face did nothing to quell her anger. Instead, it fueled the darkness within her, feeding the monster in her heart and igniting her sadistic desires.
Seraphina slapped Eliot hard across the face, the forceful blow leaving his cheek red and swollen. Stunned and trembling, Eliot felt panic welling up inside him, tears brimming in his eyes. This wasn't the first time he had faced such a situation, but each encounter only deepened his fear of Seraphina.
Eliot knew all too well that Seraphina was paranoid and stubborn. Once she had made up her mind about something, she would not waver in the slightest. Even if he tried his best to explain his innocence, she would never believe him. Instead, she would accuse him of making excuses and respond with even more brutal behavior.
At this moment, Eliot felt as if he were pressed against the fangs of a wild beast—one wrong move, and he would be torn to shreds. Based on past experience, it was best not to deny her accusations. Even if Seraphina wronged him, he had to swallow the false blame along with his tears. Otherwise, he might not be able to go to school tomorrow.
"I'm sorry... Sister... I'm sorry..." With no other way to secure even a sliver of hope, Eliot could only apologize repeatedly, his tone humble and submissive, stopping just short of kneeling to beg for forgiveness.
Seraphina's hand gripped Eliot's hair tightly, the sharp pain in his scalp making him appear even more pitiful and helpless. Tears streamed down his cheeks as Seraphina's cold, cruel demeanor pushed his fear to its peak.
Eliot's groveling did nothing to soften Seraphina's heart. Her icy aura plunged the atmosphere to freezing point, and even Claire, sitting in the driver's seat, couldn't help but be intimidated by Seraphina's terrifying presence.
Claire dared not intervene in the conflict between the siblings, remaining completely detached and turning a blind eye to everything happening behind her. She had witnessed scenes like this countless times since the day she began following Seraphina—from initial discomfort to now being accustomed to it, her heart had grown increasingly hardened.
Claire sympathized with Eliot's plight, but as long as Seraphina was present, she could never offer him even the slightest help. She could only watch helplessly as Eliot's expression turned to despair under Seraphina's torment. Over time, she too grew numb to it, no longer paying attention to the siblings' situation.
"Do you think apologizing will solve everything?" Seraphina smiled faintly, her expression devoid of warmth, sending shivers down Eliot's spine. She gently caressed his neck, planting soft kisses on his swollen cheek as if the earlier brutality had been nothing but an illusion. Yet Eliot felt his situation growing even more dire.
Eliot knew that Seraphina's tenderness at this moment was merely the calm before an even greater storm. If he couldn't find a way to resolve the crisis before him, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Driven by a desperate will to survive, Eliot's blank mind began racing. Suddenly, he remembered the bracelet he had secretly purchased as a gift to congratulate Seraphina on the box office success of her recently released film.
The gift had arrived at the school's delivery station earlier that day, and Eliot had retrieved the package during his lunch break, intending to give it to Seraphina that evening.
He had originally planned to present the gift in a suitable atmosphere, but reality had shattered his plans. Eliot never imagined that the gift he had meant to give with heartfelt congratulations would now become his lifeline. While he felt a sense of loss, he also experienced a surge of excitement at finding a glimmer of hope for survival in the midst of his desperate escape.
"Sister... I... I have something to tell you... Could you... listen to me?" Eliot stammered out the words, his hands timidly wrapping around the other's neck. Driven by the instinct to survive, he forced himself to overcome his fear.
Eliot's ingratiating gesture pleased Seraphina. Her cold, stern gaze softened, and she released her grip on his hair, her expression shifting to one of surprise and curiosity. She caressed Eliot's face, kissed his eyelids, and her tone grew gentle.
"What is it?" Seraphina nuzzled his nose with her own.
Eliot took out an exquisitely wrapped gift from his backpack and held it out to her with both hands, forcing a smile. Yet, the pain from the slap made his grin appear strained.
Seraphina was overwhelmed with immense joy at receiving the gift. No matter what the gift was, as long as it came from Eliot, she would treasure it as something unique and precious. As for gifts from others, including fans, she wouldn't even spare them a glance, instead instructing Claire to dispose of them.
In Seraphina's eyes, only Eliot existed; only his presence filled her vision. No one else could enter her sight. Eliot was her only family in this world, her deepest love, the irreplaceable treasure in her heart, and the one she would protect with all her might.
Eliot was the most important pillar of her existence, dominating her emotions and controlling her feelings. She harbored a morbidly intense affection and possessiveness toward him, all with the aim of binding him to her forever, never allowing him to leave her sight.
Seraphina carefully unwrapped the gift, afraid of causing even the slightest damage. After removing the outer wrapping paper, an elegant dark blue gift box appeared before her eyes. The texture of the packaging and its high-end appearance alone hinted at the gift's considerable value.
Seraphina opened the box, and what caught her eye was a silver bracelet with a treble clef pendant. The treble clef was adorned with small diamonds, radiating a dazzling brilliance. The simple yet elegant design perfectly matched Seraphina's taste, and the musical note pendant made it all the more unique.
Seraphina eagerly put on the bracelet Eliot had given her, removing the one she had been wearing. She examined the new bracelet repeatedly, her heart overflowing with happiness. Her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing joyful crow's feet, and her beautiful face blossomed into a contented smile, like sunlight breaking through layers of dark clouds.
"Thank you, Eliot. I really like this gift." Seraphina thanked him solemnly, planting several firm kisses on Eliot's lips. In her heightened mood, she couldn't resist leaving a deep crimson bite mark just below his collarbone.
"I'm glad you like it." Seeing his sister's mood shift from gloomy to bright filled Eliot with a sense of relief, as if he had narrowly escaped disaster. The turbulent waves in his heart gradually calmed. He paid no mind to the pain in his body, wishing only for Seraphina to remain in good spirits—nothing else mattered.
After her moment of joy, Seraphina noticed Eliot's wounds. His handsome face was covered in small scratches, his left cheek swollen and red, and even the corner of his mouth was split. The sight of her brother injured pained Seraphina deeply. Even though she was the one who had intentionally hurt him, she still felt a pang of regret afterward.
Yet Seraphina would never apologize to Eliot. Even if he had done nothing wrong, even if she had falsely accused him, she would never deny her actions.
On the other hand, Seraphina relished Eliot's fear of her. She believed fear was one of the most effective ways to control someone. As long as Eliot harbored a deep-seated dread of her, he would never dare to defy her will, entertain rebellious thoughts, or leave her side.
Seraphina didn't particularly care whether she could earn Eliot's love. What mattered most to her was his presence by her side. In her eyes, love was merely a pleasant addition—something that would be nice to have but wasn't essential. She wasn't overly eager for such an elusive thing.
As long as she felt love for Eliot, that was enough. To be precise, her feelings for him ran deeper and stronger than mere love or familial affection. It was an indescribable emotion that had permeated her entire existence.
Seraphina gently traced Eliot's wounds, pressing her forehead against his as she spoke softly, "I don't believe Eliot did nothing wrong. You were indeed ignoring me earlier. If you hadn't done that, I wouldn't have lashed out." With that, she suddenly dug her fingers into his injuries, savoring the sight of her brother's pain.
"Mm..." Eliot couldn't help but let out a pained groan.
Seraphina's words sent Eliot's recently calmed nerves back into a state of anxiety. He clenched his fists, his palms slick with cold sweat. Swallowing hard, he found himself teetering on the edge of an abyss once more. If his response was even slightly off, he knew he would face utter destruction.
He gently grasped Seraphina's wrist, suppressing the pain from his wound, and replied in a tone full of apology and vulnerability, "I'm sorry... Sister, I was just thinking about when to give you the gift. I... I wanted to give it to you in the right atmosphere. I... I wasn't ignoring you."
Having lived a life of constant brushes with death, Eliot had long since honed his ability to lie with remarkable skill. Though his acting was far inferior to that of Seraphina, an award-winning actress, his sincerity and ingratiating smile were enough to ensure that, even if they didn't completely dispel his sister's suspicions, he had successfully navigated out of danger.
Sure enough, Seraphina was satisfied with his performance, and Eliot's trembling, animal-like demeanor pleased her even more.
She decided to let the matter go but tightened her grip on him, causing beads of blood to well from his wound as a warning: "Don't let it happen again, understood?"
"U-understood, Sister," Eliot replied solemnly, nodding his head.
The storm had finally passed.
Seraphina cupped Eliot's face and licked his wound, her tongue sweeping away the blood that had trickled out. She longed to tear at the injury with her teeth, craving more blood to flow into her mouth and nourish the monster within her heart.
Seraphina didn't act on this terrifying impulse—not out of concern for Eliot's suffering, but because he had already learned his lesson. Though she yearned to see more fear and tears on Eliot's adorable face, pushing him too far all at once would be too cruel.
Seraphina didn't want her image in Eliot's mind to grow any worse, so she wisely knew when to stop.
Her lips left Eliot's wound, and she kissed the corner of his injured mouth. Her gaze fell on the bracelet Eliot had given her, her eyes filled with tenderness as a warm current flowed through every corner of her body.
She caressed the bracelet with her other hand, her fingertips brushing over the pendant, feeling the sentiment Eliot had conveyed to her through it.
As one of the top-tier artists in the country, Seraphina, who consistently ranks high on the annual artist income list, possesses an astonishing ability to generate wealth. Eliot, whom she deeply loves, is undoubtedly a significant beneficiary of this fortune. The amount of pocket money Seraphina gives him is so substantial that he can no longer keep track of how many digits are in his bank account.
Eliot once told Seraphina that he didn't need such an enormous sum of money. He wanted to earn his living expenses through part-time work and didn't wish to become a freeloader who relied solely on his sister.
Instead of listening to his perspective, Seraphina interpreted this as Eliot's attempt to leave her. Enraged, she strictly forbade him from taking on any part-time jobs, prohibited him from interacting with strangers in society, and even resorted to violence to dissuade him from such thoughts.
Eliot insisted that he had no intention of leaving his sister and merely wanted to develop his own abilities. However, Seraphina didn't believe him and beat him until he was left crying and pleading for mercy on the floor.
Since then, Eliot has never brought up the idea of working part-time again. He withdraws only the basic living expenses from the bank card Seraphina provides him each month, rarely purchasing expensive items for himself—except for gifts meant for his sister.
Seraphina is fully aware of Eliot's spending habits. Knowing that he never squanders money, she sometimes becomes dissatisfied with how little he spends, feeling as though he is depriving himself. The lavish material life she provides for Eliot is almost excessive, yet Seraphina believes she is still far from doing enough.
Nevertheless, Eliot remains unaffected by Seraphina's extravagant ways. He continues to adhere to his own habits, spending money only when necessary and avoiding wasteful expenditures on unnecessary luxuries.
After the car arrived at their destination, Seraphina opened the door, tightly embraced Eliot, and quickly entered the house.
In truth, she would have preferred to carry Eliot inside, but to avoid being photographed by lurking paparazzi, she had to abandon the idea. While Seraphina can tolerate the media fabricating stories about her, she cannot bear the thought of Eliot being subjected to even a single word of media commentary.
Claire took the suitcase from the trunk and followed them inside. After setting down the luggage, she closed the door and left without lingering for even a second longer.
Due to the nature of her work, Seraphina often traveled to different places, and visiting two cities in a single day was a common occurrence for her. She carried a suitcase with her essentials—a few sets of clothes, two pairs of shoes, a makeup bag, scripts, notes, a laptop, books, charging cables, and more.
At the entrance, Seraphina helped Eliot take off his shoes and slipped on his slippers. She then picked him up and settled with him on the sofa, sharing a tender moment. Through this closeness with Eliot, she eased the fatigue brought on by a day's work.
Two years ago, after her contract with her former company expired, Seraphina established her own agency, gaining complete control over her career plans and schedule.
She made it a rule to finish all work by 5 p.m. each day, refusing to take on any additional tasks or attend events afterward. This was because she wanted to personally pick Eliot up from school and spend more time with him.
Every morning, Seraphina woke up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare breakfast for both of them and pack Eliot's lunchbox. She drove him to school herself before starting her own workday.
Saturdays and Sundays were non-negotiable rest days. Seraphina would turn down all engagements during these two days, and even during film or drama shoots, she would firmly insist that the entire crew adjust to her pace.
The life of an entertainer is relentless and demanding, and learning to balance family and career is an essential skill. Seraphina refused to sacrifice her personal life for her acting career. Eliot held the most important place in her heart, and she would not allow herself to be absent from most of his life.
Eliot and she relied on each other. Not only did she have to play the role of an older sister, but she also had to take on the responsibilities of a parent. Taking care of Eliot was her top priority as an entertainer, with work coming second.
Having spent years navigating the entertainment industry, she had seen too many artists whose inability to balance personal life and career led to tragic outcomes. She constantly reminded herself not to become a cautionary tale.
Seraphina lay completely on top of Eliot, kissing him incessantly. The disparity in their height and strength was significant, and Eliot wasn't particularly fond of his older sister always lying on him—it felt as if a mountain were pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
As usual, the two engaged in casual conversation. Seraphina asked about Eliot's school life, while Eliot inquired about his sister's recent work schedule. Compared to Seraphina's glamorous life as an entertainer, Eliot's high school routine was far more monotonous.
Despite this, there was no generation gap between them, nor any awkwardness from a lack of common topics. As long as Seraphina remained emotionally stable, they could carry on smooth, even pleasant conversations.
After their chat, Seraphina began preparing dinner. Eliot worked on his homework at the dining table. Once dinner was over, the two took a walk in a nearby park before returning home to attend to their respective tasks.
Eliot reviewed his lessons in the study, while Seraphina studied her script in the bedroom, pondering how to better portray her character in the play.