Chapter 4: Her Savior
When Basil had retrieved the camera earlier, he watched the footage alongside Elodie, both their foreheads creased in deep frowns.
"Can you ever do anything right?" Basil shot at Elodie.
"Basil, don't start. Don't blame me. I was sure I set it up properly. You probably shifted the angle by mistake when you went to turn it on… and that fool, that fool didn't even check before going ahead with the plan. What a waste." She sighed, gripping her hair in frustration.
They were both in the car, watching the footage, completely dissatisfied with the outcome.
Basil scoffed and looked at the young lady beside him.
She noticed and shot back, "Don't give me that look. It's your fault too. You were the last person there. Couldn't you have checked if everything was perfectly set up? I leave things in your hands for a minute, and you screw it all up."
Amidst her rant, Basil turned to the windshield, tuning out her accusations. His mind was stuck on how much time they had wasted plotting something that had turned out to be a complete waste of effort—until the next scene appeared.
"Look," he pointed, grabbing Elodie's attention.
Séraphine, who hadn't been visible before due to the poor camera setup, rose, her fully naked back down to her bare butt showing as she rode a man whose face wasn't visible, only his groans accompanying her rhythmic moans.
Elodie's eyes lit up, a large smirk spreading across her lips. "Yes," she squealed, turning the laptop towards herself. "It isn't such a waste after all."
Basil's world spun on its axis. He hadn't expected seeing Séraphine on top of another man to have this much effect on him, and though he'd had a hand in it, he was now devastated and hurt, forgetting his own contribution to the abomination.
Elodie, too focused on the footage, missed Basil's body language entirely, fully absorbed by its content. She turned to him, "This is the only proof we need, you know that?"
Basil forced a deep, fake smile, his forehead beet red. "Let's get going. Go show grandmother how slutty my sweet sister can be," she said, dragging the words in a tone dripping with betrayal. Basil immediately fell into character. He had Elodie transfer a copy of the file to his phone, making it look like an anonymous person had sent it to him.
Usually, at this time of the morning, the great Basil family gathered in harmony for breakfast. And today, which was supposed to be as joyous as the day before—since the old lady's birthday had just been celebrated yesterday—was far from it.
Basil, full of rage and fury, stormed into the big mansion where everyone was preparing for breakfast.
With the way he barged in, all eyes were already on him, and Grandmother, worried, was the first to speak. "Basil, why do you look so upset? Did something bad happen?"
He halted in front of the whole family and announced, "Something worse, Grandmother. I'm devastated. Séraphine has just betrayed me."
Grandmother's ears caught his words, especially when he mentioned Séraphine and betrayal in the same breath. Everyone's attention sharpened.
What could Séraphine have done?
"Son, are you sure of what you're saying? How could Séraphine betray you? That's not possible," the old lady defended her in a tone filled with sincerity, not even asking for details yet. She hoped Basil was mistaken. Her heart sank further when she realized Séraphine wasn't in sight.
"Grandmother, let me show you," Basil said, stepping forward. "Someone sent this to me. Even I can't believe it. Grandmother, I'm devastated." He clicked on the video.
The explicit content played immediately, and everyone around, including Grandmother, watched.
Séraphine's moans and a man's groans, coming from beneath her, filled the air. Without watching further, Grandmother felt her body go cold. Her hands trembled, and she was numb.
Others continued to watch in disbelief, struggling to accept that Séraphine could have done such a thing.
Only sharp gasps escaped the old lady's lips, her eyes widened beyond measure. The more the sounds played, the more enraged she became.
"Basil, turn that thing off! Somebody get me Séraphine, now!"
The old lady had never shouted like this in a long time, and she had never spoken about Séraphine in such a harsh tone, but she was furious.
One of the house servants, visibly shaken, rushed immediately to Basil and Séraphine's shared room. With a frantic knock, Séraphine didn't stir, still fast asleep.
Since the door was unlocked, the servant entered easily and hurried over to tap Séraphine's fair calf. She was naked, lying face down, with the sheets barely covering her butt.
After a few more taps, Séraphine began to stir but wasn't fully awake. She grumbled, touching the space beside her, and mumbled, "Basil…"
The servant persisted, tapping again, and Séraphine finally turned toward her. As soon as their eyes met—Séraphine's red, puffy eyes staring back at the servant—she felt a wave of empathy. She knew the old lady of the house was enraged, and the tension in the air was too thick for Séraphine to handle.
"Miss Séraphine," the servant said, her voice trembling, "the old lady calls for you. She's very upset. You should dress quickly and come at once."
Séraphine immediately thought that perhaps grandmother had discovered her and Basil's late-night encounter and was about to scold her.
She nodded, dismissing the servant with a glance. After she left, Séraphine grabbed a robe from the corner of the bed, threw it on, and hurried downstairs.
As she descended the stairs, she saw the entire family staring at her, their eyes cold and hard. Séraphine's stomach churned with unease—this was more serious than she'd imagined.
Grandmother stood glaring at her, tears brimming in her eyes. Séraphine rushed over to her.
"Grandmother, are you alright? Did something happen?"
Before she could reach her, the old lady swung her arm back and slapped Séraphine across the face with all the force she could muster, sending her stumbling. Gasps filled the room as Basil rushed over, shocked.
"Grandmother—" he began, only to be cut off by another slap, this time landing on his own face.
Turning back to Séraphine, who clutched her cheek in shock, the old lady spat, "You despicable daughter of a nobody! How dare you disgrace me like this? Don't you have any respect or dignity?"
Her voice was tight with pain. "How could you?"
Séraphine stood there, completely clueless, too stunned to respond. Grandmother had never hit her before—whatever had happened must be serious.
Elodie entered the room just in time to witness the scene she had long dreamt of—her sister being despised. She immediately noticed Basil rubbing his cheek.
No one dared speak; the room was thick with tension, all eyes on the old lady.
"Grandmother, I think I'm being accused of something I didn't do," Séraphine stammered, her voice small.
Elizabeth hissed, her voice sharp, "Accused? Was I a fool all this time? Accused, Séraphine? Then explain this filth!" She pointed to Basil, who held the phone.
"You know what?" Elizabeth's voice broke, her finger trembling as she pointed toward the door. "Get out of my sight, out of this house—right now. You've shamed us all."
Séraphine, and everyone else in the room, stood frozen in disbelief.
"Grandmother…" Basil tried to intervene.
"Stay out of this, Basil!" Elizabeth snapped, before turning back to Séraphine. "Leave. Now."
Her voice carried an unshakable finality.
Standing behind Elodie, a figure appeared—a tall, slender man with a smooth, deep voice. "Why are you sending your precious daughter-in-law away, Elizabeth Basil? Is she no longer precious to you?"
Who dared to address the old lady by her first name?
"Why cast her out like this?" the man asked, his voice filled with mockery.
Everyone's eyes shifted toward the man. He was dressed in an all-black suit, dark sunglasses hiding his eyes. Slowly, he removed the shades, revealing a smile that was both bright and unsettling.
"Uncle…" Basil recognized him instantly.
In the heat of the moment, Séraphine rushed toward the man, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm being accused! They're sending me away. I swear, I didn't do anything wrong."
To everyone else, her embrace seemed inappropriate, very wrong, but Séraphine didn't care. In her eyes, this man was her only savior now.
It was no ordinary man that stood before them—it was the great Maynard himself. After years overseas, he was back. And this time, he was here to reclaim everything that was his.
Basil had always strived to impress. "Uncle, please don't take her side. She's done something incredibly shameful."
Amidst her sniffles, Séraphine caught a familiar scent—a scent she could never mistake from the man's skin.
"Is that why she deserves to be cast aside like a piece of rag? Someone who was once precious to you all?"
Basil nodded eagerly. "How pretentious," the man muttered, gently unwrapping Séraphine's arm from his waist.
Holding her wrist, he paused. "If what she's done is so shameful, then she's unworthy of marriage, right, Basil?"
Still in a daze, Grandmother looked stunned, while the others nodded eagerly. "Then I'll marry her instead."