Chapter 5 - A Perfectly Timed Li

Sebastian chose a quiet restaurant overlooking the Westhaven marina, the sort of place where businesspeople could speak in low voices without worrying about being overheard.

Arabella arrived ten minutes early. She chose a table near the window and watched yachts drift across the water while she rehearsed what she wanted to ask.

When Sebastian finally walked in, he wore his usual easy smile and carried a small bouquet of white roses.

“For you,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

She looked at the flowers before accepting them. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to.” He sat opposite her. “You sounded upset on the phone.”

“My father told me about the old dispute between the Montgomerys and the Knights.”

For the first time since he arrived, Sebastian’s smile faltered.

Only for a second. Then he reached for the menu.

“That old story? I thought your family had put it behind them.”

“Apparently, Adrian hasn’t.”

“Adrian has never been interested in letting anything go if he thinks it gives him an advantage.”

“Did you know he was asking questions about the waterfront project?”

Sebastian looked up. “Why would I know that?”

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

He set the menu down and leaned forward, taking her hand. “Arabella, listen to me. Your father is under pressure, and Adrian knows it. He’s trying to unsettle you so you’ll make a mistake.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“What question?”

“Did you know about the company’s financial problems before last night?”

Sebastian’s fingers tightened around hers, then relaxed.

“I knew there had been some difficulties. Your father mentioned a few concerns to me weeks ago.”

Arabella pulled her hand back. “Weeks ago?”

“He didn’t give me details.”

“You told me you knew nothing about it.”

“I said I didn’t know what Adrian was talking about. I didn’t know it was this serious.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it wasn’t my place to discuss your father’s business with you. I thought he’d speak to you when he was ready.”

It sounded reasonable. Almost too reasonable.

Arabella studied his face, searching for the familiar warmth that had made her trust him. She found it, or something close enough to it that she wanted to believe it was real.

“Is there anything else you haven’t told me?” she asked.

Sebastian gave a quiet laugh, but his eyes remained serious. “Of course there are things I haven’t told you. We all have private thoughts. But I’m not hiding anything that could hurt you.”

The answer should have comforted her. Instead, it left a small, sharp doubt lodged in her chest.

Their waiter arrived, and they ordered lunch. Sebastian tried to steer the conversation toward their wedding plans, asking whether she’d chosen flowers and whether she still wanted the ceremony at the Montgomery estate.

Arabella answered automatically.

She had imagined marrying Sebastian for so long that the future had once seemed simple: a beautiful wedding, a home of their own, and a life built on trust. Now every promise felt as though it needed to be examined for fine print.

“You’re quiet,” Sebastian said.

“I’m thinking.”

“About Adrian?”

“About everything.”

He reached across the table again. “Don’t let that man come between us. He’d enjoy knowing he had that much power over you.”

Arabella looked at his hand but didn’t take it.

“Then don’t give me reasons to question you.”

His expression changed. Hurt appeared first, followed by irritation he quickly smoothed away.

“I can’t believe you think I’d lie to you.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

For a moment, she almost apologised. It was an old habit: smoothing over tension before it could become an argument. But she was tired of being told to trust people who wouldn’t answer simple questions.

“I’m asking you to be honest with me, Sebastian.”

“And I am.”

He said it with such conviction that she nearly believed him.

After lunch, Sebastian insisted on driving her back to her car. He kissed her forehead and promised to call that evening. She watched him leave, then sat behind the wheel without starting the engine.

Something wasn’t right.

Her phone buzzed.

A message from Vanessa.

Are you free this afternoon? I need to see you. It’s important.

Arabella frowned and called her friend immediately.

“What’s going on?” she asked when Vanessa answered.

“Can we meet somewhere private?”

“You’re starting to sound like everyone else in my life.”

“I’m serious, Bella.”

The use of her childhood nickname softened Arabella’s irritation. Vanessa had been beside her through school, family disappointments, and every heartbreak that had come before Sebastian. She was the one person Arabella had never felt the need to question.

“All right,” Arabella said. “Come to my place.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

The call ended. Arabella started the car, trying to decide whether the afternoon would finally bring answers or simply give her new questions.

Across town, Sebastian stepped into his car and checked his phone. A message waited on the screen from an unsaved number.

Did she ask about the documents?

He stared at it for several seconds before typing his reply.

She knows about the old dispute. Nothing more.

The response came almost immediately.

Make sure it stays that way.

Sebastian locked his phone and looked through the windscreen, his jaw tense.

He had told Arabella he wasn’t hiding anything that could hurt her.

He hadn’t said he was telling her the whole truth.

And that difference, he knew, could destroy them both.