8

His gaze was fixed on me. My heart raced as a whirlwind of emotions flooded my mind.

My pulse quickens, and my stomach tightens with worry and nostalgia. Seeing Sebastian after so long stirred up memories I thought I had buried deep in my heart. There's a flash of vulnerability hidden behind the veil of calmness I'm trying to maintain.

The air crackled with tension as I prepared myself for whatever was happening next, and I tried to calm myself with that.

"What are you doing here?"

Sebastian wasn't the same, and how stupid was it that I thought he would be kinder and gentler? What happened was the exact opposite. The man was looking more and more dangerous. More... charming and deceptive. Maturity radiate better in him. Everything about his physique was already very alluring from the first time I saw him, and it had increased many times over. However, I knew that it was just a mask. A deliberate facade to attract more victims, to cover up all the rottenness inside him.

I should have known better. I shouldn't have taken the vodka that night, and experiencing the approach of the President's son seemed much better than getting drunk with my asshole ex-husband.

"Just stopping by, and greeted my ex-wife who disappeared for five years.."

"I didn't disappear. I left, and it's not your obligation to know where I am either," I shook my head softly, stuffing my hands in my coat pockets. I stepped quietly down the small staircase while swallowing vigilantly.

My heart raced inside my chest with absolute tightness. This was terrifying.

Sebastian seemed calm and relaxed, and that bothered me. It meant he had known where I was all along and devised his plan to mess with me.

"You ran away. You didn't attend the trial five years ago," His eyes darkened. "That morning you ran away too even though I wanted to hang out with you. That seems to be your nature."

My mouth opened with lightning surprise as he brought up the moment of that damn night. I snorted. "That was your stupid game. You knew I was drunk, and you weren't. You knew me and brought me to the hotel,"

"Yeah, but it was fun, wasn't it?" he advanced again, and I immediately backed away. His eyes flashed with intense interest. My breath caught in my chest. "And you only moan my name. Just me." He continued, looking down.

Our eyes locked with each other, and I could almost feel everything happening: the bad past we had gone through and the last memory of how he and Reina were in that apartment.

I looked away, trying to calm myself down. "What do you want? Tell me quickly, I don't have time for this bullshit."

"Because you need to wake up as soon as possible tomorrow, and find a way out of your cafe's bankruptcy?" Sebastian's eyes glinted at my cafe building while I stared at him with a frown on my forehead.

Damn, how did he know that?

"That's none of your business," I said quickly. I stepped back and started to leave. "Go away, and don't appear in front of me again. Ever."

I walked past him, but his hand was already gripping my arm, and I turned my body to face him. "Until forever? Are you sure?" he asked, one eyebrow rising, his face still full of that horrible grin. It was annoying to me.

"Yes. I'm fine without you, and it gets worse when you show up," I growled, trying to release his grip on my arm.

But he strengthened his squeeze, jerking me so that I pulled my body against him. His face lowered, looking at me deeply. "I wanted to help you pay off everything." He grinned, "But you're still cocky, and .... attractive. I think we can work together."

"You're very sweet," I said sarcastically. "But I can still take care of all my own business. I don't want to sniff anything out of you, and you don't have to bother helping me." I continued, looking at him sharply.

"But some guy named John Walles says that you don't have enough time," he retorted.

My heart dropped to the bottom. He must have been around for a while for him to have met Mr. Walles.

"There are plenty of men who will help me, and they're better than you." I jerked my arm vigorously as his squeeze on my arm felt unsteady. "So, there's no need to bother because I absolutely don't want to lick your boots, and crawl under you. Go away, and don't show up in front of me again." I walked away.

Sebastian looked at me flatly, cold fire burning in his deep blue eyes. I walk past him and step towards my car, leaving him alone.

Yeah, he can go fuck himself.

***

My bedroom was a sanctuary of solitude, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the curtains. The air was heavy with a feeling of restlessness as I sat perched on the edge of my bed, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. My gaze was distant, lost in the sea of turbulent memories that flooded my mind.

My encounter with Sebastian earlier still left a bitter taste in my mouth. The wounds of the past, which I once thought had healed, seemed to be torn apart slightly, exposing the raw emotions that had long been buried deep within my soul.

When I remembered the humiliating treatment I experienced at Sebastian's hands five years ago, a wave of anger and pain coursed through my veins, threatening to consume me from the inside. The weight of Sebastian and Reina's betrayal pressed down on my shoulders like a suffocating weight, filling the room with an oppressive tension that hung thick in the air.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. However, as hard as I tried, I couldn't escape the memories that haunted my every thought, each memory a painful reminder of the hurt and humiliation that Sebastian had committed.

Why did he have to appear? Why should he care so much?

My labored breath filled the silence of the room, echoing the turmoil raging inside me. My hands trembled with pent-up anger as I struggled to contain the raging storm of emotions building inside me. The urge to scream, to lash out at the unfairness of it all, threatened to consume all of me.

A soft knock on my bedroom door broke the silence, catching my attention. I looked up, my heart beating fast when I saw Mommy standing in the doorway, worry etched in the lines of her face.

"Isabella, darling, may I come in?" Mommy's voice was so soft, a soothing melody in the silence of the night.

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion, as Mommy stepped into the room and crossed the distance to sit next to me on the bed.

“I heard you came home early,” Mommy began, her voice soft and gentle. "And I can't help but worry. Is everything okay, sweety?"

I hesitated, unsure how to express the storm of emotions raging inside me. But when I met Mommy's gaze, the care and affection that radiated from her eyes, I felt a glimmer of hope rise inside me.

"It's Sebastian," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "He appeared today, at the cafe.”

Mommy's shocked expression turned soft with empathy as she reached out to gently grasp my hand. "I see," she murmured, her touch a comforting anchor in the midst of the storm. "It must be hard for you."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded, my emotions nearly spilling over. "I don't know why he suddenly appeared after five years of us..." my voice shook with emotion.

Mommy squeezed my hand reassuringly, her silent support a balm to my wounded soul. "I know, baby," she whispered, her voice filled with affection. “If he bothers you again, you should know that you're not alone in this. You're stronger than you realize, and you have people who love you standing by your side. Does he know about Ace?”

I shook my head. "No." I sighed. “Not yet. And I don't know what will happen when he finds out.” My tears came out.

Mommy didn't reply anything other than pulling me in her arms.

My shoulders shook with inaudible sobs as I leaned into Mommy's arms, my tears soaking through the fabric of Mommy's sweater. At this moment, enveloped in her comforting embrace, I felt a glimmer of hope begin to emerge.

***

Kate listened to me, she shook her head slowly with a weak expression. “Why didn't you tell me from the start, idiot?” she growled angrily at me. “I can find something. A help. I can help you.”

I sighed, my head was dizzy from the lack of sleep, and how stress had taken over my head. "I just didn't want this to burden you, Kate, and I forgot too because my head was so full.”

Kate sighed and pulled a reassuring smile. “My brother probably could,” I frowned. “He's got enough money to enjoy himself until he's old, and it's better to spend it on something more useful for his heavenly savings.” she continued.

I chuckled. "I doubt he will,"

“Yeah, but he likes you. Really likes you.” Kate pulled a mysterious smile. “He will do that.”

"Kate, I don't think this is a good idea.”

“You just need to talk, I will help you.” She said a little enthusiastically. "Tonight we will come to the club, and everything will go back to the beginning."

"Kate,"

"Trust me, darling."

"I can't imagine how Killian will react when he finds out about this," I said, sighing because Beau was Killian's number one enemy, the man never liked Beau when Beau started flirting or teasing me, even though it was just a joke, and I was okay with that. It seemed like Killian's older brother syndrome would flare up brightly when Beau was around.

"He'll be quiet, and he won't interfere," Kate said.

I tilted my head, and began to consider Kate's idea. Their family is indeed rich, and I don't think I have any problems with her brother. Beau is quite pleasant and I've known him for as long as I've been friends with Kate. That's a better option than me collaborating with a stranger, right?

“Okay.” I nodded in agreement at the plan. I smiled. “We're going to your brother's club tonight.”

Kate smiled broadly, "Okay, I have to tell Beau about this first."