Chapter 14
Olivia
I waited for him to say something. He’d been quiet for some time, and the silence made my heart race. My pulse thudded heavily in my ears, each second stretching into eternity. The air between us felt heavier than before, pressing down on my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake. Did he believe me? Did any of what I said even matter to him?
I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t. Hell, I wouldn’t believe myself if I was in his shoes. But the only thing I had now was hope–thin, fragile, dinging hope that maybe, just maybe, he could still see the woman I was trying to become.
“Look, I know you still—”
“Don’t.”
He placed a finger gently on my lips, silencing me. That single touch sent a shiver down my spine, curling through my body like wildfire. His skin was warm against mine–so warm it burned.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said in a low voice, his tone like velvet wrapping around my nerves.
“I believe you.”
His words struck me like cold rain against overheated skin–jarring, unexpected, and cleansing. It came as a surprise, like light breaking through storm clouds I’d forgotten how to see past.
But it wasn’t just his words–it was him. He stood so close now, I could see every line of his face, every small tick of his jaw when he breathed. Every shift of muscle beneath his shirt had my attention locked, as if his body spoke its own language and I’d just become fluent. My breath caught in my throat and refused to come back down.
I wanted to touch him. Needed to. I ached to know how his skin would feel beneath my fingertips—if it would be as hot and solid as I imagined. How his arms would feel wrapped tightly around me, grounding me, consuming me.
What was I doing? I scolded myself inwardly.
This wasn’t the time to be thinking of such things, Olivia! Get a grip!
But he smelled so good–leather and spice, something darker beneath it I couldn’t name. It was intoxicating. Every inhale dragged me deeper under his spell.
He reached for my cheek and gently wiped away a tear I hadn’t even realized was there. My heart squeezed. This man…
He was special
Handcrafted by God Himself, then forged in something far crueler. His edges were sharp, but his touch–his touch was a prayer.
His hand was both firm and gentle–a perfect contradiction that made my chest flutter. It was like he knew exactly how to hold something delicate without breaking it.
“Olivia, are you only pretending to care now because Phillip is cheating on you?”
His voice was low, unsure–so unlike him. That single question stung more than I expected.
God, I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. His scent clouded my senses, made my knees feel like jelly. My chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. “N–no, I’m not,” my voice came out low as well, shaky.
He moved in even closer. His eyes had lost that storm they always carried, replaced by something soft–something rare. A calmness that only he bore. It made him look both dangerous and heartbreakingly human.
I could feel the heat his skin radiated; it clung to me like a second layer. Every breath I took was filled with him, his essence invading every cell of my body. My thoughts tangled up in knots.
“I won’t hurt you, Sebastian,” I whispered, barely able to speak.
His eyes searched mine slowly, deliberately–as if trying to reach into my soul and pull the truth out with his bare hands. “Then prove it.”
“How?” I asked, desperate. “I’m willing to do anything.”
“Don’t keep anything from me. Don’t be distant… because I need you. If this is just another scheme… I won’t survive it.”
Chapter 14
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“I promise,” I said, my voice trembling, “I’ll always be here.”
My expression turned serious as I met his heated gaze head on. “I’ve wronged you, Sebastian, and I know no amount of apology will ever be enough for all I did. But I’m going to make it up to you. My transformation isn’t just because of what Phillip did–it’s because I’ve realized my mistake, and I’m glad it’s not too late to make things right with you.”
His expression said everything. My words had an effect on him–that was a good sign.
“I know you won’t trust me immediately, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to earn that trust… even though I don’t deserve it.”
He didn’t say anything at first. The silence between us stretched, thick with years of pain, regrets, and the echoes of things left unsaid. I could feel the weight of his stare pressing into me, searching my face for any hint of dishonesty. But there was none–I had nothing left to hide.
He pressed his forehead to mine and just stared into my eyes. My gaze drifted to his lips and back up again.
Now I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me–because I was starting to become obsessed.
He noticed the way I looked at his lips, and a small smirk tilted the corner of his mouth.
He looked glorious with just a smirk.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed. My heart jumped. Ugh, great–because nothing ruins a perfectly smoldering moment like a phone call from someone you just know you wanna slap through the screen. I didn’t even check the ID yet, but something told me the universe was about to play a sick joke on me.
Just when things were starting to get better–I mean, I got him to smile, for damn sake. Why would someone choose this beautiful moment to ruin?
Pulling my head back, I looked at my phone–and just like I thought, it was Phillip. God, what the hell did this douchebag want?
Why now, when I was finally having a moment with the man I actually wanted? I could scream. Yell, even. My fingers tightened around the phone like it might explode if I didn’t control the irritation boiling beneath my skin.
It was obvious Phillip was bad luck–he always had a way of ruining everything, even without trying.
How I was ever in love with this asshole disgusted me. But he’ll get what’s coming to him, that’s for sure.
I showed the phone to Sebastian. Instantly, his expression shifted from soft to angry, and he shot me a look of disapproval.
How I wanted to throw this phone off a rooftop right now.
“Honey, If I don’t take this call, he’s going to suspect something–something is wrong,” I explained to Sebastian with a soft smile, patting his chest gently, trying to soothe the fire building behind those eyes.
I wouldn’t be mad if he yanked the phone out of my hand and smashed it right now, but I knew him. He wouldn’t do such a thing.
His face still carried that disapproving look, but he gave me a slight, stiff nod.
I cleared my throat, bracing myself for my award–winning performance.
Every syllable had to land. Every act had to be flawless. He had to buy it–everything needed to feel real.
When I finally answered the call–after letting the damn phone ring for about three minutes–I heard Phillip say, “Baby, you didn’t–why didn’t you pick up the phone sooner? Did that psychopath hurt you again?”
The call was on speaker, and Sebastian heard every word. Heard Phillip just call him a psycho.
But to my surprise, Sebastian’s expression remained calm. Too calm.
There was no anger on his face–nothing. And that was the one thing that scared me most about Sebastian: his calmness.
ཆ ཇ ༣
Phillip was many things, but he wasn’t even half the man Sebastian is.
His greed, his ambition–they were his masters. And that would be his downfall.
He wanted power, control, respect… but he was never willing to do the work. Always looking for the easy way out.
He was never satisfied with what he had. And clearly, he wasn’t satisfied with me.
But I couldn’t see that sooner- not until the day I died.
But that Olivia he thought he knew?
Chapter 155
