Sebastian's POV.My vision was blurry, all I could see were rainbow-like, unclear colors that almost blinded me. The whole room smells like death, cold and heavy, making the air feel thick around me. I felt like I was dying all over again, like the grim reaper was close. Then suddenly, I felt something wet drop on the top of my hand, soft but startling.I reacted with a slight jolt, my muscles weak and stiff. I tried to force my eyes open, but they felt so heavy. It was like they were glued shut, more than I could control. My body was aching, my mind foggy. Slowly, the realization hit me—I was in a hospital. The beeping machines, the sterile smell, it all made sense now.I finally managed to open my eyes, and there she was—Natalie. She was sitting at the edge of the bed, her face wet with tears. My kitten, my strong, fiery Natalie, is now sitting there, crying for me. When did she start caring this much about me? It wasn’t like she knew me that well. We were still strangers in so man
Natalia’s POVI didn’t move an inch. I felt my feet stuck on the floor and my knees were too tired to move. And there he was, his hand beating up down, up down. And I couldn’t do anything about it other than just watch him on the verge of dying. I couldn’t fucking save him. I couldn’t utter a word either. I was frozen. Tears welled up my eyes, as they trickled down my cheeks to the side of my mouth. No, this couldn’t be. “Do something for god’s sake” a voice screamed in my head, but I still didn’t do anything. If I’m asked why, I wouldn’t be able to give a reasonable explanation. It was as though I was glued to that spot and did nothing but cry like some three years old. “Somebody help. Call the doctors and the nurses.” Mother yelled as loud as she could. I could see the fear in her eyes. She wanted to save her son, but she couldn’t do anything. She was helpless and hopeless. Immediately, she turned to me. Her eyes filled with tears and anger. It was obvious she was surprised I jus
Natalie’s POVI stared at the doctor, my heart pounding so hard I thought it would break through my chest. He said Sebastian was awake. Could it be true? Was he really going to live?For a moment, I couldn’t move. My legs felt heavy like they were stuck to the floor. I stood there, unsure of what to do. Should I go in and see him, or stay back? My head was spinning, my thoughts all tangled up. But then, I felt Mother’s eyes on me again, burning with anger.“You see what I’ve been saying?” she spat, pointing a shaking finger at me. “You were just standing there like a statue. Useless!”I wanted to say something, anything to defend myself, but the words didn’t come. My mouth felt dry, and my chest tightened. I knew no matter what I said, she wouldn’t believe me. She had already made up her mind about me. To her, I was the villain, the evil girl who came into their lives and brought nothing but trouble.“I swear, I didn’t want any of this to happen,” I whispered, but my voice was too sof
Sebastian's POV I have always been careful. Careful of my life, the decisions I made and the aftermath of each and everyone of it, but today seemed different. I had destroyed my life in a twinkle of an eye. This event still made me doubt that I was ever serious.Just take a look, my life was on a pause. Everyone bringing me flowers, wishing for a better health and quick recovery, mother blaming me for not being careful while driving, the media spreading the news like wildfire that the billionaire CEO had been in an accident.Shit. Just then I knew my life would be over if I spend another minute herre. It's been two weeks since I was admitted. The workaholic part of me slowly died and I had started to feel like a piece of a wood who did nothing but just like around waiting for help. Plus, I never knew this accident of a thing would escalate into this big mess. No, I needed to move. I needed to something. I needed to get my ass up and do some work. I got up from the bed, taking off t
Natalie's POV.What would he think of me? The one he was trying to help went away without telling him…I should have protested against leaving. I should have stood my ground that day. It'd been two weeks now since he was admitted and I don't know if he's doing okay or not.The least I could do was hope for the best. He'd be fine, that was what was sure. I had gone to Iris's apartment to question her on the statement she had made the other day. This wasn't about any romantic feeling. This was about her. If I didn't show this much interest in the statement, she might doubt the authenticity of our “relationship.” I wasn't in for that. Come to think of it, I was clueless of where this too much care came from. For crying out loud, this marriage of a thing wasn't real. I need his help. It was high time I stuck to it.Yeah, I'd charge my strategies. Something better would do. Love wasn't for me and anything close to love would be out of the box for now.And where am I living since I've be
Natalie's POV It was the 26th of August. Oh,this day. It was the day my father died. I forced the tears back, holding tightly to the rail as I headed a great sigh, leaving all my burden and heartache on nature. I was too young to be facing these kinds of problems. If someone had told me all my problems would begin that very day I saw Iris with my boyfriend, I would have laughed and concluded they were joking.I inhaled and exhaled, practicing the mediation technique I had started incorporating into my life. I had been gradually losing my mind, my life was in a mess, I had even started going into debts. Shit, no one ever told me life was this hard. No one.It was past ten already. I needed to visit the cemetery. I took a bus there and on my way, got flowers. Dad was lonely. But I was lonelier. He never knew he'd raise his kids to be rivals. I'm sure he had never thought to that extent but here we are.Tears welled in my eyes. ***Flashback (16 years ago) ***“Come here, Natalie!” Fat
Sebastian's POV Her mouth gaped open. She wanted to hide her surprise, but fate was against her. “Where have you been?” I whispered, not believing she was standing right in front of me. She had been gone for months. I tried calling her line and meeting people she knew but all was to no avail.“Away from you.” She swallowed hard and went to the sink, the tap gushing out water. “Why did you leave? You do know you faltered part of our agreement. You're my wife and you have no right to leave my house!” “Like you own me. I hate this sense of entitlement you men have. And so that I may remind you, we're not legally married. All this isn't real, did you forget that?” “Of course not. I…just missed you.” “Get the hell out of here.” She pushed me aside, almost making her way out. “I won't accept you pushing me away with that tiny body of yours. Get back here.” I held her by the wrist.“What do you want from me?” “I want you. I want you back as my wife. As my friend. Look, I should even b
Chapter 23Natalie’s POVI turned to see Sebastian’s face etched with surprise. What? This was not true. “What are you talking about? This is my husband. He can’t steal, so what the hell are you talking about?”I had never seen her face before so what point was she making here? I was pretty sure he barely knew her either. So what the hell was she talking about then?“He knows what I’m talking about. Ask him. I caught him picking her ring that fell. I swear it.”I turned to Sebastian. His eyes narrowed at her. It was obvious she was lying. Speaking of Sebastian stealing her jewelry, Sebastian was a goddamn billionaire. For what purpose will he steal her jewelry? To crown it all, a woman’s jewelry. “Oh, my god. Are you sure of what you’re saying?” Iris ran from the podium to the audience, grabbing her by the arm with this concerned look etched on her face that seemed quite unreal. This wasn’t true. I could feel it in my veins. “You are lying. Why would he want to steal Iris’s jewelry
(Natalie’s POV)The room went quiet after Sebastian said those words. “I love you.” For a moment, I couldn’t even process it. My brain froze, and my heart started pounding, but I had no idea what to say. I just stood there, staring at him, trying to make sense of everything.Sebastian didn’t speak again. He just stood there, watching me, waiting. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw was clenched, and I knew he wanted me to say something. Anything.But I didn’t know what to say.I turned away from him, my mind swirling with questions. He loved me? Could that be true? After everything that had happened between us, all the mistakes, could he really mean it?I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions in my chest. I needed to think. I needed space.“I need to go,” I whispered, avoiding his gaze.“Natalie...” Sebastian’s voice was soft, but he didn’t move.“I can’t do this right now,” I muttered, heading towards the door. I needed to get out of here, cle
Sebastian’s POVNatalie hadn’t said a word since we left the park. Her eyes were glued to the window, but I knew she wasn’t seeing anything. She was thinking about him. Alfred. The guy who wrecked her and still had the nerve to show up and mess with her head.I hated seeing her like this, trapped in her thoughts. But I didn’t want to push her. Natalie was the type who needed time to process things, to figure out how she felt. But waiting for her to sort through this on her own was killing me.I pulled up in front of her apartment and turned off the engine, letting the silence stretch for a bit. I knew I had to say something before she spiraled deeper into whatever she was thinking, but I wasn’t sure how to start. I gripped the steering wheel, feeling the tension building inside me.Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you really thinking about what he said?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm, even though I was frustrated.She turned to look at me, her face a mix of confusion
Natalie’s POVI couldn’t sleep that night. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about that phone call. Who was that person? Why did they want to see me? And why now, when everything in my life was already falling apart? I kept hearing that voice over and over again: “See me.”It made my skin crawl.Sebastian stayed by my side the whole night. He didn’t say much, but I could feel how tense he was. I wasn’t the only one scared. It was like we were both waiting for something bad to happen.The next morning, I couldn’t take it anymore. I sat up in bed, looking over at Sebastian, who was awake too. He had dark circles under his eyes, and I knew he hadn’t slept either.“I have to go,” I said quietly.Sebastian looked at me, frowning. “Go where?”“I have to see this person. The one who called me. I need to know who it is.”Sebastian shook his head. “That’s too dangerous, Natalie. We don’t know who this person is or what they want.”“I know,” I said, biting my lip. “But I can’t just
Natalie’s POV I ran out of the house, my face wet from crying. I was so tired. Tired of everything. Tired of pretending to be married to Sebastian. Tired of his mom saying mean things about me. She called me a gold digger. She said I wasn’t good enough for him. It hurt so much. “Natalie, wait!” I heard Sebastian calling behind me. He was running after me, but I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to talk to him. His mom’s words kept ringing in my head, and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I reached the door, but before I could open it, Sebastian caught up. He gently grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Natalie, stop,” he said, breathing hard. “We need to talk.” I turned to face him and wiped my face. “I can’t do this anymore, Sebastian,” I said, my voice shaking. “Your mom hates me. She always says I’m not good enough for you. I’m tired of pretending.” Sebastian looked confused. “Pretending? What are you talking about?” “This,” I said, waving my hand bet
Natalie’s POVI ran out of the house, my face wet from crying. I was so tired. Tired of everything. Tired of pretending to be married to Sebastian. Tired of his mom saying mean things about me. She called me a gold digger. She said I wasn’t good enough for him. It hurt so much.“Natalie, wait!” I heard Sebastian calling behind me. He was running after me, but I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t want to talk to him. His mom’s words kept ringing in my head, and I just couldn’t take it anymore.I reached the door, but before I could open it, Sebastian caught up. He gently grabbed my arm and pulled me back. “Natalie, stop,” he said, breathing hard. “We need to talk.”I turned to face him and wiped my face. “I can’t do this anymore, Sebastian,” I said, my voice shaking. “Your mom hates me. She always says I’m not good enough for you. I’m tired of pretending.”Sebastian looked confused. “Pretending? What are you talking about?”“This,” I said, waving my hand between us
Sebastian’s POVWaking up not to see the woman I had had sex with beside me was a mystery to me. Where the hell did she go? I got a grip of myself as I cleared my eyes, only to see I was naked. Oh, my god. Enough reason to know why she ran away. Ha, I’ll use this to taunt her- my runaway one-night stand. She shouldn’t be qualified as my one-night stand. I truly felt something for her but I wasn’t sure yet. Perhaps it was love when I confessed it to her.Come to think of it, how did we get here?I was getting framed for stealing a diamond ring and landed in the police station and Mother came to my rescue and got it. I looked around, picked up my things, and was about to leave when I saw a wallet under a wooden stand. It looked familiar. I picked it up and realized it was Natalie’s. It was disrespectful to open or even get involved with a lady’s purse, but my curiosity got the better part of me. There was a picture of her and her father. He seemed familiar cause why not? He was proba
Natalie’s pov I have always been careful. Careful of the choices I made, careful of my life, and most of all my heart. But that night, I didn't know what came over me, because this feeling of recklessness was what I felt. Something I hadn't felt since my break up with Alfred. The counter had refused the tip Sebastian offered. I knew he wouldn’t take it lightly, so he went the sexy-rebellious way. “I love your lips. Way better and kissable, compared to my ex's.” Sebastian said as a glint of a smile brushed against my face. “I get that a lot.” “After they kiss you or…?” Huh? Did he hear me say that? Fuck me. “I only let people I like kiss me.” “It means you like me.” “I never said that…” I looked over my shoulder, butterflies. How I wish he could stop with the teasing. No, never stop. Suddenly, I felt his hand draw my jaw to his face as he kissed me slowly, then faster, our tongues wrestling intimate wars, and pleasurable noise nearly rising above the bass beat. Fuck
Natalie’s pov I have always been careful. Careful of the choices I made, careful of my life, and most of all my heart. But that night, I didn't know what came over me, because this feeling of recklessness was what I felt. Something I hadn't felt since my break up with Alfred.The counter had refused the tip Sebastian offered. I knew he wouldn’t take it lightly, so he went the sexy-rebellious way. “I love your lips. Way better and kissable, compared to my ex's.” Sebastian said as a glint of a smile brushed against my face.“I get that a lot.” “After they kiss you or…?” Huh? Did he hear me say that? Fuck me.“I only let people I like kiss me.”“It means you like me.” “I never said that…” I looked over my shoulder, butterflies. How I wish he could stop with the teasing.No, never stop.Suddenly, I felt his hand draw my jaw to his face as he kissed me slowly, then faster, our tongues wrestling intimate wars, and pleasurable noise nearly rising above the bass beat.Fuck knows. Was
Natalie’s povWhat was he about to do? His gaze was fixed on me in a way I hadn’t seen him look at me before. It better not be what I’m thinking. I swallowed, controlling my breathing, gazing into each other’s eyes with a glint of affection, or whatever that thing was. I closed my eyes as his palms smothered my cheeks. His hand was soft and felt like wool. He rubbed harder, drawing closer this time, until we were a little less than an inch closer to each other. What the hell was about to happen? I held my breath as his lips touched against mine. He kissed slowly, gradually taking more and more of my lips seeing I didn’t protest. Geez, I was kissing Sebastian Knight in a public place. What would people think of me? Hold on a minute, to them, we were married, so I needed to rephrase that question. What would I think of myself knowing I kissed him? I pressed away from me, lowering my head. I was ashamed of myself already and never expected things to go this way. “It was a mistake,