Chapter 31

‎"Caroline... do you even know what you're doing?" Sebastian's cold expression faltered for a moment. Her soft palm was resting gently on his forehead, and despite himself, he felt his heart start to pound uncontrollably.

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‎"What am I doing? In what way? I don't understand," she replied, feigning innocence with a sly smile. Her eyes glinted playfully as she watched his jaw tense. Slowly, her hand trailed down from his forehead to the side of his cheek, her fingers light and deliberate.

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‎Sebastian's breath hitched, and he reached up to grab her hand before it could move any further toward his neck. "I’m taking you home. You’re tipsy," he said firmly, trying to keep his voice steady. His body was already heating up under her touch, and he knew that if she continued, he wouldn’t be able to trust himself.

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‎Caroline pulled her hand back with a small shrug. "Don’t worry about me. You can leave. I’m not done drinking," she said nonchalantly, reaching again for her glass.

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‎Sebastian's hand shot out, stopping her before her fingers could grasp the half-full whiskey glass. "Sorry, but I can’t let you drink any more of this," he said, his tone low but resolute.

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‎She narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Since you won’t let me drink, I’m heading out," she snapped, signaling the waiter. As he approached, she reached into her purse to grab her card.

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‎Before she could hand it over, Sebastian stepped in smoothly and handed the waiter his own card instead. The waiter, after processing the payment, returned it with a polite nod.

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‎Caroline looked at him, stunned. "You didn’t have to do that," she murmured, her voice quieter now.

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‎"I did," he said simply. "Either you like it or not, I’m not letting you walk out of here alone in this state."

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‎As Caroline attempted to stand up from the barstool, her legs wobbled beneath her. She swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing back onto the seat, but Sebastian was quick to catch her just in time. His strong arms steadied her, and she leaned against him, her head swimming. Her vision was slightly blurred, and everything around her felt distant and muffled — unmistakable signs that she had drunk far more than she could handle.

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‎Sebastian glanced at her with concern. “Looks like I’ll have to drive you home,” he said gently, slipping an arm around her waist to guide her toward the exit. With his free hand, he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed his assistant. “I’m at The Oak Lounge,” he said, naming the upscale bar. “Come pick up my car — I’ll be driving hers.”

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‎As they stepped outside, the cool morning air hit Caroline’s face, causing her to wince. A slight frown formed on her lips as the beginnings of a headache throbbed behind her temples. She staggered slightly, leaning into Sebastian for support.

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‎“I’m not going home,” she mumbled, her voice thick with intoxication. She gave a small shake of her head, as if trying to clear the fog. Her brows furrowed further, her discomfort evident.

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‎Sebastian looked down at her, puzzled. “You can’t go anywhere in this condition,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He was genuinely concerned, if she wasn’t going home, where did she think she could go like this?

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‎“Take me to your house,” she whispered, her tone low and slurred. Her words were barely coherent, but clear enough for him to understand. The smell of alcohol clung to her, and her expression was open, vulnerable, not something he was used to seeing from the usually guarded Caroline.

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‎Sebastian hesitated for a moment, then nodded silently. When they reached her car in the parking lot, he gently leaned her against the passenger door to support her weight. Carefully, he reached into the pocket of her coat and retrieved her car keys. Unlocking the door, he opened it and helped her slide into the seat, fastening the seatbelt around her. She was barely alert, her eyes half-closed, murmuring something he couldn't quite make out.

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‎After making sure she was secure, he closed the passenger door and walked around to the driver’s side. Sliding into the seat, he fastened his own belt, started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot.

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‎The streets were mostly empty as they drove through the city under the soft glow of streetlights. Caroline sat silently beside him, her head resting against the window, eyes wide open. Sebastian glanced at her from time to time, still trying to piece together why she didn’t want to go home, but he knew better than to ask her now, Instead, he focused on the road ahead.

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‎"I wonder what kind of woman Brother Seb likes," she said, breaking the silence in the car. The alcohol was wearing off a little, and she was slowly regaining her senses.

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‎"Someone like you," he replied, giving her a subtle hint as he glanced at her briefly. She was staring at him and giggling. He wondered if what he said was really that funny.

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‎"Someone like me?" she teased, smiling at him. "I can help you find someone like me, that’s not a problem."She said, found it amusing that he couldn’t just say things directly. Even though she didn’t have any real feelings for him, she had to admit he was tall, handsome, and had a strong build. Dating him wouldn’t exactly be a punishment.

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‎"Why are you so persistent in matchmaking me with someone?" he asked, shooting her a cold glance. Was she really this clueless? Couldn’t she see what he was trying to tell her?

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‎"Because I love the person so much," she replied innocently, looking into his eyes.

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‎Sebastian didn’t say anything after that. Her words cut deep, but not in the way she intended. His expression grew colder as he focused on the road ahead. After a long moment of silence, he finally gathered the courage to speak, heart pounding in his chest. Even if she rejected him, at least she would finally know how he felt.

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‎"Caroline," he began, voice low but steady, "since the first time I met you, I’ve wanted to confess my feelings. But I thought you’d reject me because I’m too old for you. And when I finally decided to tell you a year ago… i found out you liked Edward. So I stayed silent. But I’ve always waited for you."He turned to look at her, only to find her asleep.

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‎Sleeping Beauty.

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‎Of course. What perfect timing.

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‎He sighed and muttered to himself, "What a good time to sleep,"he said as he kept driving.

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‎Thirty minutes later, he pulled into the driveway of his mansion. After parking, he glanced at Caroline again, still fast asleep. A soft smile tugged at his lips. He got out of the car, walked around to her side, opened the door, and unbuckled her seatbelt. With careful hands, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.

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‎The maids looked on in shock—they had never seen him bring a woman home before.

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‎Once he reached his bedroom on the second floor, Sebastian gently laid Caroline down on his large bed. Then, without another word, he stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him.