Chapter 20
Sebastian
“Olivia… Olivia!”
She was out cold on the floor.
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The sight knocked the air clean out of my lungs. My heartbeat spiked, racing against the time I suddenly didn’t have. One second stretched into an eternity as I stood frozen, the world around me falling into a suffocating silence that screamed louder than anything I’d ever heard.
In that moment, a thousand thoughts raced through my mind, tripping over each other in a chaotic blur–but none screamed louder than pure, searing confusion.
What the hell had happened to her?
Was this Philip? What did he do to her? Why wasn’t anyone–anyone–in the goddamn mansion to help her? This place always felt like it was overflowing with people when I needed quiet. Now, when I needed someone–anyone–it was a graveyard.
Did he find out she was spying on him?
Fuck,
Fuck, I just got her back. I just held her, kissed her, heard her voice- and now this?
I stared at her unconscious body lying so still on the cold marble floor, her dark hair fanned around her head like a fallen angel, lips slightly parted, and her chest barely rising. My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest–loud, erratic, and painful. The type of ache that digs into your ribs and refuses to let go.
I dropped to my knees beside her, my movements stiff, panicked, desperate. My fingers trembled as I pressed them to the side of her neck. Please, God. Please.
A faint pulse. She was alive… but barely.
The relief was instant and without wasting another second, I scooped her into my arms, her limp body curling into my chest and bolted down the stairs, my breath coming fast and heavy, like I could somehow breathe enough for the both of us.
“Olivia, please hold on for me,” I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of dread clawing up my throat. “Please… just hold on.” Even if she couldn’t respond, even if her eyes wouldn’t open, I needed her to hear me.
I rushed her to the hospital, the car swerving through traffic like a storm on wheels. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel, my jaw clenched so hard it ached.
The moment we arrived, nurses rushed her into the ICU like a lifeless doll. And I–I just stood there for a second, numb, dazed. Then I started pacing the corridor, the sterile smell of disinfectant choking me. My mind blanked out, refusing to process anything beyond the image of her lying there.
I should have gone sooner. I should have left that goddamn meeting. She should’ve called. Or I should’ve known something was wrong–felt it in my gut, in my bones. Isn’t that what love does? Warns you?
I ran a hand through my hair, fingers clenching the roots, frustration clawing its way up from the pit of my chest like it was trying to rip my
heart out.
What the hell went wrong today?
I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her. This this mess- was practically my fault.
Why didn’t I tell her not to go near Philip in the first place?
I clenched my fists, guilt gnawing through my chest like acid..
This was my fault.
“Mr. Sebastian?”
My head snapped up at the sound of my name. “Yes, Dr. Susan?”
The middle–aged woman approached, her heels clicking against the tile like ticking time. She removed her glasses, her expression grim. “Your wife was poisoned.”
The words punched the breath out of my lungs.
Charter 20
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“What?” I blinked, stunned. “Poisoned? I don’t get it…”
“It’s a rare and extremely harmful toxin and a large overdose of it was found in her system.”
My heart dropped, the floor falling out from beneath me,
“You brought her in just in time,” she added, her voice softer now, like she was trying not to break me. “If you hadn’t, she wouldn’t have made it.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry and tight. “But… is she going to be okay?”
“Yes,” she nodded, a tiny flicker of hope dancing in her eyes. “Right now, she needs rest. We were able to flush the poison from her system.” She gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Go home, Mr. Sebastian. Your wife is going to be fine–I assure you.”
I nodded numbly as she walked away, but how could I go home?
She was my home,
I moved to the small ICU window, peering through the glass. Nurses buzzed around her, checking IV lines, adjusting monitors. But all I could see was her–so still, so lifeless, tucked beneath white sheets. My fists clenched in agitation, nails biting into my palms.
“Olivia… don’t leave me,” I whispered, voice cracking as my throat burned.
She’d gone out with Kaylee earlier. They were inseparable. Best friends. Kaylee wouldn’t do this… would she?
But something had always felt a little off about her. Nothing obvious, just subtle things–the way she’d look at Olivia when she wasn’t supposed to be looking. The way her smile wobbled when Olivia talked about me.
Still… she adored Olivia, Didn’t she?
Then who?
I didn’t want to think about that yet. Not while Olivia was still fighting for her life. But whoever did this… they were going to pay. I’d make damn sure of it.
Ultimately, Pacing wasn’t helping, Worry was eating me alive. I pulled out Olivia’s phone–I’d found it discarded on the floor, thank God it wasn’t shattered and called Kaylee.
“Olivia…?” she answered, her voice surprised–too surprised.
My brow arched, eyes narrowing at the phone,
“Kaylee, this is Sebastian. Meet me at Saint Francis Hospital. Olivia was… poisoned.”
“Oh my God, Sebastian, what happened?!”
“I don’t know. I came home and found her almost lifeless on the ground.” I tried to sound composed, steady–like I had control. Truth was, I was a ticking bomb of panic.
“I‘–I’ll be there soon!” she replied, frantic.
I slumped into the chair, my head in my hands, elbows digging into my thighs.
Why the hell was life so fucking unfair?
This was the only woman I’d ever truly loved. And now she was fighting for her life in a cold, sterile room filled with machines.
My heart shattered at the thought of the pain she might have endured while I was out there… living.
“If Philip was responsible for this…” I muttered under my breath, jaw tightening. “I swear, I’ll have his head on a platter.” I’d ignored the smug fucker for tooo g all because of my wife,
The weight of my thoughts dragged me under, drowning me.
“Sebastian…” A voice broke through the foggy mess. I looked up.
It was Kaylee. She rushed to my side and sat beside me.
“How is she doing? Is she going to be fine?”
Her eyes brimmed with concem but behind the sympathy, something flickered. Something sharp Calculated. Gone before I could name it.
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“Yes, the doctor said she’s going to be fine.”
“Who would do such an awful thing to Olivia?!” she asked, her voice trembling with compassion…and a weird kind of rage that didn’t sit quite right.
“That’s the same thing I keep asking myself… but I think it’s Philip,” I said.
She was quiet. Then nodded slowly. “I think so too, to be honest.”
“You do?” That surprised me. Kaylee had always been weirdly neutral about Philip. Never called him out. Never warned Olivia.
“Of course. I’ve always told Olivia to stay away from him. He wasn’t good for her, but she never listens.”
Oh. Really?
She took my hand, eyes glassy with emotion. “She’s going to be okay. And I’m here for you, okay? Always. I’ve always said you were the one for her.”
That zap of unease hit me again, slithering under my skin. She was being awfully touchy, I slowly pulled my hand away.
“You both went out today, right?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Is there anything you can tell me to help find who did this?”
She launched into her explanation. “Okay, so we went to that new place on Fortenton Street. While we were returning from the ladies‘ room, I thought I saw a waiter near our table—maybe slipping something into her drink? He was fast. I thought he was just clearing plates but… God, I’m sorry—I should’ve protected my Liv properly.” Her shoulders slumped as guilt dripped from her voice.
I stared at her. Every word sounded rehearsed. Every pause perfectly timed. Something wasn’t sitting right in my gut. Something didn’t add up. And my instincts were on high alert.
“Thank you for coming, Kaylee. It’s late. I’ll stay here until she wakes up. You should get home safe.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I can stay with you, it’s no problem at all.” She reached for my hand again.
I moved before she could touch me. “I insist, Kaylee. When she wakes up, I’ll tell her you came. You can stop by the house once she’s discharged. But I’d feel better if you got home safe.”
“Always a gentleman,” she said, smiling with a glint of something in her eyes. “I’ll take my leave now. Please send her all my love when she wakes up.”
“Sure, I will.”
Not long after she left, a nurse walked up to me. “Sir, your wife is awake. Still drowsy, but she’s been asking for you.”
I was out of the chair in a blink.
I found her in the hospital bed, eyes fluttering open, skin pale, lips cracked.
I rushed to her side.
“Hey..” My voice was low and soft…
“Seb?” she whispered.
“I’m here. I’m here.”
“Are you real?” Her words were slurred, dazed.
“Yes, Lam I gently patted her forehead, brushing hair from her face.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know, you tell me. But you’re safe now, okay? I’m not going anywhere. And whoever did this to you? They’ll pay.”
I sat beside her, holding her cold hand in mine, rubbing small circles with my thumb to warm her.
Earlier, when I found her, she’d been hallucinating.
She’d begged me not to leave her before. I remembered it – she kept on whispering things I couldn’t understand.
Chapter 20
“Don’t leave me in this life too, Seb,” she whispered. “I won’t be able to live.” Her eyes fluttered closed again.
The rage returned, burning hot in my chest. Whoever did this to my wife was going to regret breathing.
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