Natalie’s POV I 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.
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 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
(Natalie’s POV) I woke up the next morning feeling tired but knew I had to get ready for work. I stretched and thought about everything that happened yesterday. Being with Sebastian felt comforting, even if his mom didn’t seem too happy with me staying. I pushed the thoughts aside as I needed to focus on my job now. I dressed up quickly and hurried out of the house. The drive to work was quiet. My mind wandered to how the company had been acting strange recently. A few months ago, I found something wrong with the money in the accounts. At first, I thought it was just a mistake, but the more I looked into it, the more I thought there might be fraud happening. I had talked to Sebastian about it before, and he helped me figure things out. Now, it seemed like things were going wrong again. When I arrived at the office, everything looked normal. People were at their desks, typing away, answering phones, and working on their tasks. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t ri
Chapter 36 Sebastian's POV I walked into the bar after a long day at work. I was tired and just wanted to relax with a drink. The bar was loud. People were laughing, talking, and some were dancing. I looked around for a quiet spot but didn’t find one. I made my way to the bar, the music playing softly in the background. I sat down on a stool and ordered a soda. As I waited, I looked at the people around me. Some were having fun, while others were deep in conversation. I sighed, feeling out of place. I wanted to enjoy my drink and forget about the problems at work. There was a big issue going on, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Natalie was working hard to solve the problem. I just wanted everything to be okay again. As I took a sip of my drink, I noticed someone at the far end of the bar. My heart sank. It was Samantha, my ex-girlfriend. I couldn’t believe it. I never expected to see her here. She looked different but still beautiful. Her long, wavy hair flowed down her shoul
Chapter 37 Natalie's POV I woke up the next morning. I felt tired but happy because I was married to Sebastian. I smiled when I thought about him. He was so nice, and I loved him very much. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. The kitchen smelled good. I turned on the stove and got some eggs and bread. I wanted to make a big breakfast because I knew Sebastian would love it. I was mixing the eggs when I heard someone behind me. It was my mother-in-law, Mrs. Smith. She was standing by the microwave, looking at me. She didn’t look happy. “What are you doing in my kitchen?” she asked. Her voice was cold, and I felt a little nervous. I knew she didn’t like me much. “I’m making breakfast for Sebastian,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. “He likes eggs and toast.” Mrs. Smith crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “He can make his own breakfast. He doesn’t need you to do it for him.” I took a deep breath. I wanted to say something nice back, but I didn’t want to
Sebastian’s POVI was sitting in the study, trying to read through some papers. My study was quiet, with the only sound being the hum of the air conditioner. I liked it here because it was away from all the noise in the house. The tall windows showed the city lights outside, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I kept thinking about the other night, when I’d seen Samantha in that bar.I hadn’t expected to see her there. Samantha was my ex-girlfriend, and we hadn’t talked in years. Things between us ended badly, and I thought that was it. I thought I’d never see her again. But then, out of nowhere, she showed up at that bar. And now, for some reason, I couldn’t get her out of my head.Just then, I heard a soft laugh coming from downstairs. I frowned, wondering who it could be. I wasn’t expecting any visitors. My mom was the only one who usually stayed at home during the day, but this laugh didn’t sound like her. It sounded younger… familiar.I got up from my desk, feeling a bit curiou
Natalie's POV When I got home after a long, tiring day at the office, I was ready to just sit down and rest. I had taken off my shoes right from the car, cause no one's going to stress no girl. The house was quiet. Then I saw Sebastian standing by the window. He was staring outside, his eyes fixed on the lights in the distance. He looked deep in thought, like he was thinking about something important.I walked over slowly. “Sebastian?” I said softly. “Is everything okay?”He didn’t answer at first. He just kept looking outside, not turning to look at me. I waited for him to say something, but he stayed quiet. I started to feel a little worried. I had never seen him this quiet before.Then, all of a sudden, he turned and looked at me. His eyes were soft, and he had a small, sad smile on his face. Without saying a word, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a big, warm hug. I was surprised at first, but I hugged him back. His arms felt safe, and I could feel his heartbeat, f
Sebastian’s POVThe night air felt thick, like it was pressing down on me. I sat on the couch, staring at my hands. My fingers were curled into fists, but I wasn’t even aware of it until I felt my nails digging into my palms.The house was quiet, except for the sound of the clock ticking. Natalie sat across from me, hugging a pillow. She wasn’t speaking. Her face was blank, but I knew what that meant. She was scared.We had every reason to be scared.A knock on the door made both of us freeze.Natalie’s grip on the pillow tightened. Her eyes snapped to mine, wide and full of fear.I stood up slowly. My heartbeat was steady, but my chest felt tight.We knew who it was. We had been waiting for him.I walked to the door and opened it.He stepped inside without a word. He was dressed in black, his expression calm, his eyes sharp. There was something about him that always made the air feel colder.He sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze moved between me and Natalie.“I have
Natalie’s POVThe house was quiet. Too quiet.I sat on the couch, staring at the empty wall. The silence wrapped around me, thick and heavy, like a wet blanket I couldn’t shake off. It wasn’t the kind of silence that felt peaceful. It was the kind that screamed and wish everything could just end.Cause why the hell was this happening? What have we done wrong to deserve this from Iris, Samantha,a nd Sebastian's stepfather…Regarding his stepfather, Sebastian has a lot of explaining to do. Why is he making our stay here traumatic?Sebastian was in the kitchen. I could hear the sound of water running, the faint clinking of a glass against the counter. He wasn’t talking. He hadn’t said much since we got here. He was thinking, planning, trying to figure out how to fix what they took from us.I pulled my knees up to my chest, hugging them tight. My fingers curled into the fabric of my jeans. I felt cold, even though the room wasn’t. Maybe it was because everything I knew was gone. Stolen. B
Sebastian’s POVI drove fast. The tires screeched as I swerved past slower cars, my hands gripping the wheel like it was the only thing keeping me together. The city lights blurred outside the window, and the farther we went, the darker the roads became.Natalie sat beside me, her arms crossed, staring out the window. She hadn’t said much since we left. I could hear her breathing - deep, slow, controlled -:but I knew she was barely holding it together.I wasn’t either.Everything was gone. Our name, reputation…. everything. My stepfather had taken it all, with Iris and Samantha right by his side. They hadn’t just stolen from us; they had destroyed us.I swallowed the anger rising in my throat. It burned like fire, but I couldn’t let it consume me. Not yet.The silence in the car was thick, almost suffocating. Finally, Natalie spoke. “Where are we going?”“Away,” I muttered.She sighed. “I know that. But where?”I hesitated. “Another city. A safe place. Somewhere no one can find us.”S
Natalie's POV I paced back and forth in the living room, my arms wrapped tightly around myself, my heart hammering against my ribs. The air between Sebastian and me was thick, the weight of our argument pressing down on us like an invisible force. I hated fighting with him. We had been through so much together, and yet, here we wereon opposite sides, again.Sebastian sat on the couch, rubbing his temples, his expression tight. His usual calm demeanor was cracked, revealing the frustration bubbling beneath the surface.“Natalie, we can’t keep doing this,” he said finally, his voice rough with exhaustion. “We have to decide what to do next.”I stopped pacing and turned to face him, my arms still crossed over my chest. “And you think going public is the answer?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Do you really believe we can control the narrative? The media will twist everything we say, Sebastian. This could getl out of control.”He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “Then what
Sebastian’s POVI sat at the small table in our hotel room, flipping through pages of notes and screenshots on my laptop. My eyes burned from lack of sleep, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when we were so close.Natalie was curled up on the bed, scrolling through her phone. She had been quiet for a while, too quiet. I knew she was thinking, just like me. Thinking of how to bring Iris down.“This isn’t enough,” I muttered.Natalie glanced up. “I know.”I rubbed my face and leaned back in the chair. We had gathered messages, emails, a few receipts—stuff that hinted at Iris’s shady deals, but nothing solid enough to destroy her. People like her didn’t leave obvious trails. She was too smart for that.“We need someone who can make sense of all this,” Natalie said, sitting up. “Someone who can dig deeper.”I frowned. “Like who?”“A journalist. An investigator. Someone who isn’t scared of her.”I let out a dry laugh. “Good luck finding one.”Natalie bit her lip. “I can try.”I watched her
Sebastian’s POVI sat at the small table in our hotel room, flipping through pages of notes and screenshots on my laptop. My eyes burned from lack of sleep, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when we were so close.Natalie was curled up on the bed, scrolling through her phone. She had been quiet for a while, too quiet. I knew she was thinking, just like me. Thinking of how to bring Iris down.“This isn’t enough,” I muttered.Natalie glanced up. “I know.”I rubbed my face and leaned back in the chair. We had gathered messages, emails, a few receipts—stuff that hinted at Iris’s shady deals, but nothing solid enough to destroy her. People like her didn’t leave obvious trails. She was too smart for that.“We need someone who can make sense of all this,” Natalie said, sitting up. “Someone who can dig deeper.”I frowned. “Like who?”“A journalist. An investigator. Someone who isn’t scared of her.”I let out a dry laugh. “Good luck finding one.”Natalie bit her lip. “I can try.”I watched her
Natalie’s POVThe hotel room was too quiet. Uncomfortably so that I began hearing voices in my head.Sebastian had booked a private suite, far from the city, far from the reporters, and far from the god forsaken Iris. But no amount of distance could erase what had happened.I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my lap. My fingers felt stiff, like they weren’t mine. My chest was heavy, my throat dry. The shock of everything still hadn’t fully left me, but now that we were alone, reality was settling in.Iris had done this to me.She had called the reporters, leaked the news, and thrown me under the bus. And for what? To ruin me? To see me crumble?I swallowed hard. She had won. Again.Sebastian sat across from me, elbows on his knees, hands clasped. The car ride here had been silent, his grip on the wheel tight, his jaw clenched.Now, he looked like he wanted to say something but was waiting for me to go first.I didn’t.“Natalie.” His voice was quiet, careful.I blinked an
(Sebastian’s POV)The cameras kept flashing. The reporters kept shouting. My head was pounding.I grabbed Natalie’s arm and pulled her toward me. She was frozen, her eyes wide, her breathing shallow. The shock had taken over."Move," I said, my voice low but firm. She didn’t react. She just stared ahead like she wasn’t even here.The reporters pushed closer. They shoved microphones in our faces."Natalie, how do you feel about your sister's betrayal?""Sebastian, do you have a comment on the leaked reports?""Iris, why did you do it?"I clenched my jaw and turned to Iris. She was calm. Too calm. Like she wasn’t standing in the middle of the mess she made."Did you call them?" I asked, my voice sharp.Iris shrugged. "They were coming anyway. I just made it easier."Rage boiled inside me, but I had no time for her. I had to get Natalie out of here.I tightened my grip on her wrist. "We have to go."She didn’t move."Now, Natalie," I said again.This time, she blinked and looked at me. T
(Natalie’s POV)I was done crying. My head hurt, my eyes felt swollen, and my body was just… tired. I had spent the last two days in my apartment, ignoring calls, ignoring the news, ignoring everything. But no matter how much I tried, the anger wouldn’t go away.Sebastian had destroyed everything.I used to think he was different, that he wasn’t like the rest of them. But I was wrong. He was just another liar who thought he could get away with anything because he had money.I stared at my phone. Twenty missed calls from him. I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to listen to his excuses.A knock on my door.I ignored it. Probably a neighbor or some delivery mistake.Another knock. Louder."Natalie, open the door."Sebastian.My hands clenched into fists. Of course he was here. He just couldn’t leave things alone. I got up, marched to the door, and swung it open.He looked like hell. His suit was wrinkled, his tie was gone, and his hair was a mess. His eyes were wild, like he had been running