~ 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
~Sebastian's POV~“Good morning, sir.”My staff greeted me politely as I entered the building, their voices blending into the usual morning murmur. I didn’t spare much attention. I walked straight toward my office, the weight of responsibility pressing into every step.Once inside, I sank into my chair. Mike stood beside me, unfolding his tablet with practiced efficiency.My dad doesn’t seem to be coming in today, I’m guessing he’s still exhausted from yesterday. Probably decided to spend some quality time with Mom.Mike cleared his throat and launched into the day’s rundown.“Today’s packed. You’ve got a meeting with the Velmo president at 10 a.m., and the restructuring and infrastructure compliance board meeting is at noon,” he stated, pausing for a breath.I barely flinched. There was no room for complaints.“And,” Mike continued, “The Extension Lead Company is releasing its second film of the season. I think this one's worth the investment. They’ve consistently put out box office
~Helen's POV~Is Sebastian in love with me?He didn’t have to speak—the storm in his eyes told me everything. The kind of rage that comes from deep within. The kind a man can only feel when he’s hurt by someone he cares too much about.And I felt it.The tension in the hallway was thick, crackling like a live wire. My heart pounded, not from fear—but from something far more dangerous. Desire. Hope. Maybe even love. He stood there, still and silent, yet I could feel his fury pulsing like a heartbeat. Not the cold indifference I was used to, but something more primal. Possessive. Emotional.His gaze scorched me—fiery, piercing, wounded. I’d only greeted him, trying to ease the awkwardness of what he’d witnessed earlier. I didn’t expect a smile, but I hadn’t expected to be invisible either. He brushed past me like I was nothing, again. Cold. Distant. Dismissive.One moment, he acts like he cares—the next, he walks out like I never existed. And yet… instead of being angry, I found myself