~ Sebastian’s POV ~The moment her lashes fluttered open, my heart skipped a beat.Just a second—barely even that—and her gaze found mine. And in that brief connection, something inside me cracked open. A kind of quiet relief pulsed through my chest like a whisper of hope I didn’t know I’d been holding onto.But it didn’t last.Her expression twisted. Pain flickered in her eyes like a storm rolling through calm skies. Then came the tears—silent at first, trembling down her cheeks—and the way she clutched her head as though trying to squeeze the memory out.Damn it.Whatever those bastards did to her…it went beyond physical pain. They didn’t just bruise her body. They got inside her head. Touched something they had no damn right touching.I wanted to reach out. Just hold her. Whisper something comforting. But I couldn’t. Not with Mom right there beside her.Besides, I don't want her changing her affection for Helen because of that.I can’t afford that. Not yet.When the time is right,
~ Helen's POV ~I regained consciousness, opening my eyes slowly to those of Sebastian and Mrs. Hartley. They stared at me like I was at the verge of death. What happe....Then it struck me—those men.Everything played in my head swiftly like I was running through the moment.My head banged in response as I felt the hit on my head again.I struggled and pleaded with them to let me go, but my pleads fell on deaf ears.They inched closer, laughing at my pleads. Their eyes glued to my body like it held their possession. Their breaths stink of alcohol and their face, marked with injuries.I screamed but it came back to me. I threw hits with my purse but it was of no yield. I was out numbered.Then, one of them with the most awful stink held my body like he owned me. I slapped him hard across his face on reflex, bringing blood to his nose. One of them landed me a hit to my head, pushing me to the ground. I hit the ground with my head, sending vibration through my body.Their mocking la
~ Sebastian's POV ~We arrived home.I parked the car in front of the mansion and stepped down. Without wasting a second, I carried Helen in my arms while the nurse followed closely, carrying her kit.“Sebastian!” my mom called out the moment I entered the mansion. Her voice was pitched, etched with concern.“What happened?” she asked, eyes wide as she stared at Helen in my arms.“Lisa!” she called out sharply. Lisa came running as soon as she heard her name.“Open the guest room on the right wing,” my mom ordered.“Take her son,” she added, motioning for the nurse to hand over the baby.I followed Lisa with my mom right behind me.Upon reaching the guest room, I carefully placed Helen on the bed. The nurse quickly opened her kit and began working.“What happened to her?” Mom asked again, her voice more desperate this time.“She was attacked,” I said, trying to steady my voice. “And almost… graped by some men.” My throat burned as rage surged through me at the memory of her unconsciou
~ Sebastian's POV ~I kicked the door open with my foot, slamming it into the wall so hard it echoed like a gunshot. The force made the hinges creak and the filthy stench of cheap alcohol wafted out from the dim room.The men inside froze, their twisted faces turning toward me in surprise."What do you want here?" sneered the ugliest one, his voice laced with mockery.I didn’t respond.My eyes locked onto her.Helen.She lay limp on their filthy mattress, her head bruised and hair clinging to her pale face. My chest tightened at the sight. Fury, raw and blinding, surged through me.Without warning, I lunged at the man who spoke. My fist crashed into his jaw with such force, he collapsed like dead weight to the ground. The others scrambled back, but I didn’t stop. One by one, I landed blow after blow, each strike fueled by rage.They tried to fight back, but they were amateurs—drunk, weak, and nothing compared to the storm they’d just unleashed.“You touched the wrong woman,” I snarled
~Sebastian's POV~"I'm sorry. Please, it's not what you think."A familiar voice pleaded as I walked down the hallway, heading back to my office.I had just concluded an impromptu meeting with the Human Resource team. It wasn’t on the schedule, but I had to attend. The voice caught me off guard—so familiar that I instinctively halted mid-step. I took a moment to process.Then I heard Mike’s voice respond, and instantly, I remembered who the feminine voice belonged to.Ivy. His girlfriend.What the hell is she doing here?"Please, look at me. I did it for us!" she begged, her voice shrill, trembling with desperation.I froze. My mind involuntarily flashed back to Helen. The images were vivid, too raw to have faded. Ivy, now pleading with Mike, reminded me too much of Helen—how she ended up entangled with that low-life security guard. The image of Helen and that low life stuck up in my head. How can he give that I can't?Nothing! Absolutely nothing.I'll give 10x than anything he could
~Helen's POV~“Wednesday family tray, please,” I ordered as we settled into our seats at Holly’s Eat and Crave More.It wasn’t a glamorous restaurant, but I’d heard the food was to die for. Every Wednesday, they offered a special family tray—a kind of bonus treat that included a full-course meal designed for an entire family.The tray was a feast: spicy jollof rice, assorted shrimp and meat, fresh salad, an array of small chops, a full bucket of sizzling chicken laps, tacos, peppered beef, and garlic-whipped sauce. Oh—and the waffles? Golden, fluffy, and utterly irresistible.Ashley stared at me, her eyes wide in disbelief.“Won’t that cost more?” she asked, concern etched into her soft voice.“Not at all. It’s a discount sale,” I said, flashing her a reassuring smile.“That’s nice. So… how’s work been?” she asked, her voice curious, almost teasing.Her question dragged my mind straight back to Sebastian—to the fire in his eyes when he saw me with Mali. The storm behind his calm. The