006 ~ He's back

KRISTINE'S POV

Shock overwhelmed me as I blinked severally like I had seen a ghost as I locked eyes with him. My heart sank to my feet. I couldn't believe it.

I was frozen momentarily at first but swiftly acting on impulse as I realized my child was with him, I quickly reached for her and yanked him from his hold, pulling her to myself and shielding her eyes as though I was trying to protect her from seeing him. It was a stupid reaction, I know but that was all I could think of at that moment.

I had initially thought it might just be a figment of my imagination and that couldn't be Sebastian staring right back at me, but recalling he had used the pet name 'mi vida' on me (that was a pet name only Sebastian called me), realization dawned on me like a ton of bricks. It was him. It was really him -- My ex-husband, Sebastian Weston.

I was stunned into silence. What the hell was he doing here? How was he even here? Several distressing questions swirled my mind but I could barely find the answers to any as I grappled with the shock of seeing him again after how many years? Five, If I'm not mistaken. It had been five solid years since I last set my eyes on Sebastian. And I never thought I would again, given I had deliberately moved away from his reach. I didn't want to cross paths with him again for whatever reason. However, here we are.

"Kristine," My thoughts were disrupted as I heard Dave's concerned voice. "Are you okay?" He inquired further.

I was rendered speechless, at a loss for words because, at that moment, I couldn't exactly decipher if I was okay or not. All I knew was that an emotion was starting to build up inside of me intensely - Anger.

The shock I felt initially had now transformed into anger as I absorbed the annoying smirk on his face. The nerves he had to greet me with a stupid smirk after all that had happened. I couldn't believe it and I knew I couldn't bear to keep standing there, lest I react in a way I'd regret later.

With this resolve in mind, I completely disregarded everyone, including Amelia and Dave, as I turned to my heel and headed back inside the building with my child.

My mind spiraled with conflicting thoughts. I was still in shock. My heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest as his unexpected return caused some things that were already dead inside of me to awaken -- Rage. The thirst for revenge.

How could he come back now? Right when I had decided to forget about the past and move on. How could he show his face to me with that stupid smirk for a reunion gesture? Was he deranged?

I was upset. I was paranoid. This wasn't how I had envisioned my night to turn out. None of this was supposed to happen. His reappearance had altered the course of my life- more like ruined everything for me tonight.

I returned to my room, settling Mia into a chair before crouching down to her level. I still couldn't comprehend why she was holding him earlier. She barely knew him.

"Hey, baby... Are you okay?" I asked, patting her hair softly as my eyes darted between hers in worry.

Mia nodded. "Yes, I'm fine, Mommy." She replied. I could see she was so I simply heaved an exasperated sigh before swallowing down my anxiety.

However, another question gnawed at me as I looked at her once more.

I hesitated before asking. "Why were you with that man earlier? Do you know him?"

But Mia shook her head and responded. "No, Mommy. But he's friendly. He brought me back to you..."

"Did he now?" I asked sarcastically, holding the urge to huff.

Mia nodded naively. I inhaled deeply, my mind still racing with trepidation.

I palmed my face as I tried to gather my thoughts, but just then, I was interrupted as I heard a knock on the door.

I grunted a response. "Come on in," I said before rising to my feet.

The door swung open, revealing Dave who had a worried expression etched on his face.

"My Queen..." He called out to me, his words melting my heart softly. "Are you alright?" He asked with concern as he approached my side.

"I am," I lied as I massaged my temples with one hand. I tried to act cool as I didn't want him to have any suspicion about what had happened earlier. Of course, Dave was unaware that he had just encountered my ex-husband.

"Well, you don't seem like it." His soft voice jolted me from my thoughts. I cursed inwardly, realizing he could read me so well. "You look worried and upset. I completely understand. We should just be grateful that nothing serious had happened."

"Yeah," I nodded in agreement, lowering my hand from my face to stare at him. He reciprocated my gaze with a concerned look and my heart twisted anxiously as I absorbed his cluelessness.

Even though he could read me so well, he couldn't note how anxious I was about my ex-husband's sudden reappearance. He looked so clueless.

I managed a smile as we stared at each other for a moment. However, I still needed time to process my thoughts.

"Could you give me a minute, please? I just need to..." I asked politely.

He interrupted me softly. "You don't have to explain, baby; I understand. I'll leave you alone for now."

A sense of relief washed over me and I sighed. "Thank you,"

"You're welcome, baby. I'll be outside if you need anything. Just holla at me." He told me before turning around and departing from the room.

Once left alone, I heaved out exasperatedly, my heart still palpitating nervously. I got interrupted again but it wasn't Dave this time; it was Amelia.

"Hey," she called out to me as she approached me with a worried expression. "What the fuck was that about?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked with furrowed brows.

She scoffed at me Incredulously. "Duhh, wasn't that HIM?"

My frown deepened in response.

Amelia rolled her eyes and replied sassily. "Sebastian... He is back." She told me like I didn't already know that.