Chapter 19. Sleeping in the Wolf’s Den

Evelyn’s face changed instantly, her eyes widening in shock.

“At your house?” she whispered.

She hadn’t even had the chance to ask why Sebastian had brought her here instead of the hospital when he was already striding into the villa. His voice was firm as he addressed someone inside.

“Is Silas here?”

“Doctor Silas arrived ten minutes ago. He’s waiting in the living room,” a servant replied.

Evelyn still stood frozen in the doorway until a maid beside her gently reminded her,

“Miss Evelyn, it’s freezing out here. Please come inside, Doctor Silas is waiting.”

Only then did she snap out of her daze. She steadied her breathing and followed the maid inside, her eyes sweeping over the villa. The grand baroque-style mansion towering in front of her was one of the ten most famous estates in Boston. Thanks to Sebastian, she was seeing it with her own eyes.

The maid led her into the living room.

“Silas.” Sebastian’s voice echoed coldly in the wide space.

A man turned from the glass display case. Slim and dressed in a white doctor’s coat, he had been examining a collection of antiques. But at Sebastian’s call, he immediately faced them.

“So this is the patient you dragged me here to see?” His tone was chilly, his gaze sweeping over Evelyn from head to toe as if weighing something. “Looks like the rumors aren’t completely wrong.”

Evelyn’s face stiffened, her fingers curling unconsciously into fists.

But Sebastian cut him off. “I called you to check on a patient, not to gossip.”

Silas raised a brow and set the object in his hand back down. “Fine. Where’s the injury? What am I looking at?”

Evelyn hesitated, reluctant to move closer. Sebastian patted the seat beside him. “Come here.”

Silas’s expression flickered with surprise at the gesture. Evelyn, however, chose another chair, putting distance between them, unwilling to spark any misunderstanding.

“So it’s just your neck?” Silas asked flatly.

“Yes,” Evelyn murmured.

Silas opened his medical kit, pulled out a pair of tweezers, and carefully lifted the blood-soaked handkerchief from her neck. Because it had been pressed tight to stop the bleeding, the dried blood glued the cloth to her skin. When he pulled it away, the pain ripped through her like tearing flesh.

Evelyn sucked in a sharp breath, her face tightening.

As the cloth came free, the metallic clink of shifting instruments filled the air. Silas let out an impatient sigh. “Sebastian, are you kidding me? You dragged me out here in the middle of the night for this tiny cut? Any clinic could’ve handled it.”

Sebastian’s stare was ice. “You talk too much.”

Grumbling under his breath, Silas continued anyway. He couldn’t just leave her untreated. His movements were brisk, yet precise. “I’ll clean it, put some ointment on, and bandage it. A few days, you’ll be fine.”

Evelyn swore he was trying to make it hurt more. The sting of alcohol-soaked cotton burned like fire against her skin, biting deep. She tried to hold back any sound, but her face betrayed the pain.

“Silas, go easier. This isn’t a military camp,” Sebastian’s voice cut in from behind.

The doctor shot him an annoyed glance. “Then you do it.”

Still, his hands grew gentler. Once he finished dressing the wound, he closed the kit. “Can’t promise it won’t scar. Keep it dry for a few days, eat light, no alcohol.”

Evelyn didn’t care about a scar. What mattered was that her face had been spared. If the cut had gone a little deeper, it might not have been her neck that was ruined.

As he left, Silas cast Evelyn one last glance, then warned Sebastian,

“Be careful about certain things. If word gets to your grandmother, it could hurt you, and others.”

Sebastian frowned, but said nothing.

Once Silas was gone, Evelyn rose as well. “It’s already eleven. I should go home, Mr. Reed. Thank you for everything you’ve done today, I...”

“You’re staying here tonight.”

His cold voice cut her short, leaving her stunned.

“Mr. Reed, you can’t be serious.”

He had saved her, yes. She was grateful. But that didn’t mean their relationship needed to go further. Nor did she believe he had any obligation to house her.

“Come on, it’s late. I’ll just head home.”

She didn’t want to linger with him any longer. But before she reached the plush wool carpet, a strong hand closed around her wrist. With a startled cry, her heels slipped, sending her tumbling straight into Sebastian’s lap.

“Let me go!”

She struggled, fists clenched, but his grip trapped her easily. In one swift motion, she was pinned to the sofa, her hands pressed above her head. His face hovered mere inches from hers, their breaths mingling.

Evelyn’s mind spun.

“Evelyn, my patience is wearing thin tonight.” His face was hard, his eyes burning with exhaustion and irritation. His voice was rough. “You can leave if you want, but shouldn’t you give me something in return?”

Her face drained of color. With unexpected strength, she shoved him back.

“Mr. Reed, I’m not the kind of woman who throws herself into your bed!”

“Who said I thought you were?”

“Then why ask me to stay?”

“We’re ten kilometers from the city. My driver just dropped Silas off. You planning to walk back?” His voice remained calm. “And do you think I don’t have guest rooms?”

Standing, Sebastian leveled her with a serious look.

“Guest… rooms…” Evelyn coughed lightly. “You mean I’d stay in a guest room?”

He offered her his hand. “Unless you’d rather sleep somewhere else?”

Without thinking, she took it. As he pulled her to her feet, she heard him murmur,

“If you want the master bedroom, I don’t mind.”

Heat flushed her cheeks. She quickly stepped back, putting distance between them.

Just then, a maid entered after seeing the doctor out.

“Sir, the guest room is ready. Miss Evelyn, would you like to check if anything’s missing? I can have it prepared right away.”

Evelyn seized the chance. “I’ll take a look.”

Watching her rush off, Sebastian sipped his tea, something unreadable glinting in his eyes.

That night, steam filled the bathroom, the scent of roses curling in the air. Evelyn sank into the bathtub, feeling as though she’d stepped into another world. Was she insane? How had she agreed to spend the night under Sebastian’s roof?

Her thoughts spun back to earlier that evening. On the hill, in front of Lucas and Chloe, Sebastian had pulled her into his arms. The way he cared for her wound, it hadn’t felt like an act.

Her mind tangled further. Did Sebastian really like her? All because of one night together?

The next morning.

Evelyn woke early. Even though the guest room was luxurious and comfortable, the unfamiliar surroundings kept her from sleeping soundly. After getting ready, she headed downstairs.

Sebastian was already at the breakfast table.

“Good morning, Miss Evelyn.” The maid’s greeting made him glance up.

“You’re up early. Didn’t sleep well?” he asked.

She shook her head. “It’s fine.”

“Come have breakfast. Daniel will be here soon to pick me up. Where are you going? I can take you.”

“Please just drop me in the city center.” She hesitated. “Mr. Reed…”

“Here at home, call me Sebastian.”

She froze.

“Outside of work, I don’t like being called so formally.”

“…Alright. Fine.” She cleared her throat. “I just wanted to say, it doesn’t feel right for me to keep staying here.”

“Why not? You’re in the middle of a divorce, aren’t you?”

“But I’m not divorced yet. Legally, if we live together, it could be considered illegal cohabitation.” Her voice shrank until it was barely audible.

Sebastian was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Fair point.”

“See?” Evelyn nearly cheered, amazed at how quickly he agreed.

“Then just give me your lawyer’s contact. We’ll push the divorce through, and then we’ll get married.”

“What...” Evelyn choked on her juice.

Married?

Had she heard wrong, or had Sebastian completely lost his mind?