Chapter 3. My Mistake, His First Time

Evelyn stood frozen in that basement. The image of Lucas and Chloe still played in her head, hitting her like a whip. The pain was real, but beneath it, something colder was starting to take shape.

She turned around and walked away from that disgusting scene. Her steps were steady as she headed to her car. Anger burned in her chest, and so did the desire for revenge. But for now, she needed somewhere dark and loud—somewhere to drown the chaos while plotting her payback.

It didn’t take her long to find a bar downtown. She slid into a seat in the corner and asked the bartender for the strongest drink they had.

The image kept looping in her head like a nightmare that refused to fade.

Lucas had betrayed her.

“I love you, Evelyn. I’ve always loved you.”

“Let’s get married. I promise I’ll take care of you forever.”

“It’s okay, Evelyn. Even if we can’t have kids, you’re still everything to me…”

Lies.

Every word.

Every promise.

Nothing but bullshit.

Her vision blurred—either from tears or from the alcohol starting to burn through her system. But one thing was clear: her heart was shattered.

Three years of a marriage she fought to protect, every wound she swallowed to keep them together—it all meant nothing. It was just one cruel joke.

She unclipped whatever accessory was holding part of her hair and let the dark strands fall freely to her shoulders. Then she slipped off her heels, the ones that had been torturing her feet all night.

Feeling the need to freshen up, she got up and headed to the restroom. She let the cold water run over her face, trying to calm her breath, trying to pull herself together.

Under the bright light, the woman in the mirror wasn’t some meek housewife anymore. What stared back was a stunning woman with sharp features and eyes that could steal the air from someone’s lungs.

Back in college, she used to be the center of attention. Everyone noticed her.

But after she got married, Lucas once told her he didn’t want anyone else looking at her. That she was his, and his alone.

Since then, Evelyn had started hiding herself. Oversized glasses. Hair always tied back. Clothes that aged her ten years—anything to make Lucas feel safe.

But now?

Look what he did.

Her eyes burned again, but not from sadness. She bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.

Why?

Why did she stay loyal while Lucas shamelessly cheated—in public no less?

He didn’t just lie. He was cruel.

With clenched fists and a hardened gaze, Evelyn stepped out of the restroom.

The dim hallway outside, lit by slow-blinking colored lights, made time feel like it was dragging. Her steps were unsteady now, alcohol rushing through her veins.

Not far away, Sebastian Reed stood watching. His brows pulled tight, unsure why he’d followed her here. But when he saw her leave with that empty look on her face, something inside him reacted. Not just curiosity—something deeper.

He waited a beat, then started moving toward her, cutting through the crowd like nothing could stop him.

When he was just a few steps away, Evelyn looked up and their eyes met. In the next second, she staggered and collapsed into his arms.

Sebastian caught her instinctively. “Mrs. Sinclair,” he said quietly.

Evelyn opened her eyes a little. The voice was faint, but calm, almost too calm. It sent a strange jolt through her as he said her name.

She looked up and found his face close to hers. His sharp eyes scanned her from head to toe, as if seeing everything she was trying to hide.

Her vision slowly cleared, and she recognized him.

“Sebastian… Reed?” she mumbled, trying to stand even though her legs were shaky. She frowned. “What… are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer right away. His gaze stayed locked on her like he could see straight into the mess inside her. “So now you’re playing the heartbroken drunk girl? For a man who doesn’t even deserve to be loved?”

She didn’t quite register his words. Her mind was still drowning in a fog of emotion and booze. His voice was distant, but somehow it pierced right through her.

Not worth loving.

Yeah. Lucas wasn’t.

But why was it Sebastian—just a colleague to her until now—who could see right through her like this? There was a strange urge rising in her, something that begged to feel anything else besides pain. A pull toward something that might make her forget, even for a moment.

Before he could say anything else, Evelyn suddenly grabbed him and pressed her lips to his.

A kiss.

The smell of alcohol was thick on her breath as her lips locked to his, desperate, searching for something to hold on to.

He froze. His eyes widened and his hands moved to push her away, but she didn’t let go. The kiss was urgent, full of messy emotion and muffled sobs.

In his chest, something unfamiliar stirred. Not just a twinge—more like a slow, creeping pressure that reached a place he’d let stay numb for years.

Suddenly, his hands pulled her closer, and he kissed her back—deeper, firmer. The space between them burned away, replaced with heat that broke through all the silence inside him.

After that moment in the hallway, Sebastian didn’t hesitate to guide her out to his car parked nearby. Once inside, the silence was deafening. The only sounds were their pounding hearts and shallow breaths.

Evelyn felt like she was floating, lost in the whirlwind of emotion and sensation that had slammed into her out of nowhere. Her fingers gripped the seat beneath her as Sebastian’s lips found hers again—this time slower, more certain. Her head fell back, and she surrendered to every touch, every kiss he gave her.

The air inside the car thickened. Their breaths tangled, short and wild. Small sounds began to fill the space—soft moans, quiet whispers, desperate gasps.

Evelyn closed her eyes. It was painful and comforting all at once.

“What are you thinking right now?” Sebastian asked, voice low.

He tilted her chin up, eyes locked to hers.

She bit her lip. Didn’t answer.

He leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. “Look at me. Open your eyes.”

She did.

And there he was. Looking straight at her. Eyes dark, sharp. Cold as ice.

“You know who I am, right?” he said, gently gripping her chin so she couldn’t look away.

“Sebastian… Sebastian Reed.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She sounded unsure, even scared.

“Good. Remember that. Sebastian Reed.”

He held her gaze a second longer before kissing her again, this time with no hesitation.

---

The next morning, pale sunlight slipped through a crack in the curtains. Evelyn’s head throbbed as she opened her eyes. For a few seconds, everything was black.

Then she saw it—the unfamiliar ceiling. Wrinkled white sheets tangled around her. Clothes scattered on the floor. The lingering scent of sex and alcohol.

She froze. Her breath caught.

Last night came crashing back in full force.

Disaster. That’s what it was. She had slept with Sebastian Reed. While drunk. Barely conscious.

She took a deep breath, biting her lip hard. Her hands scrambled to grab her clothes from the floor. She needed to leave. Fast.

But a sound from the bathroom stopped her.

A moment later, the door opened and Sebastian walked out, wearing nothing but a black robe. His steps were calm. Like none of it was a big deal. His sharp eyes found her instantly.

“You’re awake,” he said, voice low, slicing through the thick tension in the room.

Evelyn looked down, unable to meet his gaze. “Yeah… Mr. Reed, about last night, I just…”

“Get your divorce finalized.”

The words cut her off—cold and emotionless.

Evelyn froze. Her eyes widened. “What?”

Sebastian sat down on the couch across from her, handing her a glass of water. His tone was flat, almost indifferent. “You need to end your marriage. Now.”

She took the glass, but her mind was blank. “Mr. Reed, I don’t understand. Why would I need to…”

He stared straight at her, eyes narrowing. “Because I won’t be the other man in anyone’s marriage. So you have to get divorced.”

His voice was calm, but underneath was a command. Not a suggestion.

If she didn’t decide, this man—this unreadable man—looked completely ready to make the decision for her.

Evelyn swallowed hard. Everything was moving too fast. Sure, she’d thought about divorce before… but not like this.

“Wait a second,” she finally said. Her voice was low, hesitant—but firm. “You say that like… you’re planning to take responsibility.”

Sebastian said nothing.

“Mr. Reed, I was drunk last night. You don’t need to feel guilty about anything. We’re both adults. I won’t get the wrong idea. And… this wasn’t my first time. So you don’t have to feel like you owe me anything.”

He didn’t answer right away. His jaw clenched. His hand slowly curled into a fist.

“It was my first time,” he said quietly.

Evelyn froze. Her brain stopped working.

“What?”

He repeated himself, expression unchanged. His words felt like something he’d carried for a long time.

“I said, it was my first time.”