Chapter 42: Sebastian's POVWould I be considered a frog for pretending to go to bed after Natalie had spoken peace to my soul? I couldn't find myself sleeping. And please, don't think I'm overreacting or being immature for putting up with this kind of behavior. Only the bitten one knows how to avoid the serpent.I had gone to make myself a cup of coffee to perhaps bring my thoughts to calm,but no. It was all to no avail. The house was too quiet. It made my thoughts louder, and I didn’t like it. I couldn’t sleep. Natalie was beside me, sleeping soundly. I could hear her steady breathing, but it didn’t calm me. My mind was stuck on Samantha.I turned to look at Natalie. Her face was soft in the dim light from the window. She always looked so peaceful when she slept. I wished I could feel the same, but my chest felt tight. I lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, hoping the heaviness would go away. It didn’t.Finally, I got up. The floor was cold under my feet, and I tried not
Chapter 43Sebastian's POVThe meeting with Samantha stayed in my head all night. I tried to shake it off, but it didn’t work. Her smile, her words, the way she talked—it was too smooth. Too perfect. People like Samantha didn’t change overnight. Hell, they didn’t change at all.I had returned home after a terrible meeting headed by mom and Samantha and I'd gladly proclaim it the worst meeting of my life.Natalie noticed I was off. She didn’t push, though. She never did. “You’ll figure it out,” she told me before bed. I nodded, but I didn’t know if I believed it.Come to think of it, it seemed as though this marriage of a thing we thought wouldn't see the end of day is what's being so flawless. I bless the day I met her.The next morning, I woke up tired. I’d barely slept. Natalie was still in bed, curled up under the blanket. I made coffee, hoping it’d help me think clearer.What was Samantha really up to? Was she trying to make Mom happy? Or was she playing some long game? Knowing he
Chapter 44Natalie's POVThe day started normal enough. I wasn’t thinking about Samantha, or Sebastian, or anything heavy. Just errands. I needed to go shopping. Sebastian didn’t like shopping much, so I decided to go alone. I didn’t mind - it gave me a chance to clear my head.It was sunny but not too hot. A good day to be out. I parked at the boutique, and headed inside. I had a list on my phone: just usual stuff. Nothing special.I was almost done shopping when I felt it. That weird feeling like someone’s watching you. I brushed it off at first. The boutique was busy. Lots of people around. It was probably nothing.But then it didn’t go away.I looked over my shoulder, pretending to check my phone. There was a man standing near a different aisle, just staring. He wasn’t tall, not short either. Average-looking. He had a black cap pulled low over his face and wore a plain jacket. Nothing about him screamed danger, but the way he stared... it was off.I ignored him and moved to the n
Sebastian’s POVI stood there for a second after she handed me the piece of paper, just staring at the address on it. Natalie was still sitting, her hands shaking, her face pale. I knew she was scared, but I couldn’t show it. I had to be calm. For her, at least.“What did he say exactly?” I asked, trying to sound normal.I didn’t like the way she looked at me. Like she was waiting for some kind of reassurance I couldn’t give her. There was a part of me that wanted to tell her it was nothing, that she didn’t need to worry. But I knew better than that. This wasn’t nothing.“He... he said you need to meet someone,” she said, her voice trembling. “That if you don’t, things will get bad. Really bad.”I folded the paper again, shoving it into my pocket. “Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll take care of it.”I hated saying that. Hated lying to her, but what else could I do? I couldn’t tell her the truth—not yet. I needed to figure this out first. It didn’t matter who this guy was or why he was
I couldn’t shake the feeling that Sebastian was hiding something from me. As he stood by the window, staring out like it could give him the answers he needed, I just watched. His back was turned, but I could still see how tense his shoulders were. He was acting like nothing had happened, but I knew better.“Sebastian,” I called out, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’re not telling me everything, and I need to know what’s going on.”He didn’t move, didn’t respond. I was starting to get frustrated. This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. I wasn’t just going to back down because he didn’t want to talk. I couldn’t let him keep me in the dark when everything felt off.“I’m serious,” I continued. “Who was that man? And why come to me instead of you? What’s going on that I don’t know about?”Finally, he turned around, his face unreadable. He looked at me, then looked away, like he was weighing something in his mind. “I didn’t want you involved, Natalie. That’s all. You’re better off n
Chapter 47: Natalie’s POV“Look who see here, Natalie. ” Iris said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.I froze mid-step, the sound of her voice hitting me like a slap. My heart sank as I turned to face the one person I had hoped to avoid for the rest of my life - my sister, Iris. Standing beside her, with a smug smirk fixed on his face, was Alfred. The unrepentant asshole.My jaw clenched, but I forced myself to stay calm. “Iris,” I said evenly, trying not to let my voice shake. “Alfred.”“Didn’t think we’d bump into each other so soon,” Iris said, crossing her arms. She was wearing a sleek, overpriced dress that screamed money, her long nails painted a shade of red that matched her lipstick. Everything about her was polished and sharp, just like her personality.Alfred, on the other hand, looked as smug as ever. His expensive watch glinted under the mall lights, and he had that same arrogant air about him that I used to find charming—until I learned the hard way how deceptive it was.“W
Sebastian's POV The walk up to the house felt like dragging chains behind me. Every step was heavier than the last. I stuffed my hands deep in my coat pockets. I wasn’t here for nostalgia. I just deeply regretted why I was here. But I needed to be here. My mother's husband couldn't get away with his "threats".Before I could knock, the door swung open.“Sebastian.”She stood there - Mom - looking exactly how I remembered. Her hair tied back in that same tight bun she always wore when she was annoyed. The lines on her face had deepened, though, like life had been pressing its thumb down hard on her lately. She looked at me like I was a stranger.“What are you doing here?”Straight to the point. I stared at her for a second, debating whether to be polite or blunt, especially after our last encounter. I went with blunt.“I need to talk to your husband.”Her expression tightened, the way it always did when his name came up. “ That’s why you’re here?”“Yeah.” I tried stepping past her, b
Natalie~~~~~~I sat on the couch, staring at the empty coffee cup in my hand. The room was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. It kept replaying the moment I saw Iris and Alfred today. The smug look on Iris’s face, the way Alfred stood there like nothing had happened between us. It made my stomach turn.I put the cup down on the table and leaned back, closing my eyes. I needed to think, to plan, but all I could feel was anger. No, not just anger - betrayal, frustration, everything mixed together. I felt like I was sinking in it.The door opened, and I heard Sebastian’s footsteps before I even looked up. He walked in, his coat around his arm, and stopped when he saw me.“You look terrible,” he said, blunt as ever.“Thanks,” I muttered. “Just what I needed to hear.”He dropped his coat on the chair and sat across from me. “What happened?”I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I saw them today.”“Them?”“Iris and Alfred,” I said, my voice shaking a little. “They were together. All over the place like no
The cold night air hit my face as I stepped outside the hospital. The chaos from earlier had faded, leaving behind an eerie quiet. My body felt heavy, my mind even heavier.I should have felt relief.Iris and Samantha were in police custody. They wouldn’t be able to hurt Natalie again. The nightmare should have been over.But it wasn’t.Something inside me wouldn’t rest.I stood near the entrance, watching as the police officers led the two women to the waiting patrol car. Samantha fought against their grip, her wild eyes burning with rage."You think this is over?!" she screamed, twisting in the officer’s hold. "You think you’ve won, Sebastian?! You have no idea what’s coming!"Iris, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. She simply walked forward, her face blank. But I knew better.She was calculating.Planning.Waiting for the right moment.The officers shoved them into the car and s
Sebastian’s POVThe second I stepped into that place, I knew something was wrong.The air was damp, thick with the smell of dust and something metallic - blood. My fists clenched at my sides as my eyes swept across the dimly lit space. A warehouse. Abandoned, judging by the broken crates and rusted chains hanging from the ceiling. My pulse pounded in my ears, louder than my own footsteps as I moved forward.Natalie was here.She had to be.And if they had touched her -God help them.A low, taunting laugh echoed through the space. I froze.Then, a voice. Smooth. Cold. Familiar.“I was wondering when you’d get here.”I turned sharply, my muscles coiled, ready to strike. From the shadows, a figure stepped forward - Iris.She looked at me with suprise, arms folded, eyes gleaming with something dark. Like she had been expecting me. Like she was enjoying this.“Where is she?” My voice came o
The first thing I noticed was the cold.It wrapped around me, heavy and unforgiving. The air smelled damp, thick with dust and something metallic. My body ached, my head pounding like a hammer was inside it. When I tried to move, my arms wouldn’t even budge.Panic crawled up my throat.I forced my eyes open.Darkness.A single dim light flickered above, its glow barely reaching the corners of the room. The walls were made of concrete, cracked and stained with things I didn’t want to think about. My breath came out in short, shallow gasps, fogging up the cold air.I tried to move again, but something tugged at my wrists.Tied.My arms were pulled behind me, thick ropes digging into my skin. My ankles were bound too, tight enough that I could feel the circulation slowing.I swallowed hard. My mouth was dry, my throat sore.The last thing I remembered was answering Sebastian’s call. Then the door
The moment Natalie hung up, I was already moving.My car roared to life as I slammed my foot on the gas, gripping the wheel so hard that my knuckles turned white. The city lights blurred past me, streaks of yellow and red against the night. My mind raced faster than the car, faster than the panic crawling up my throat.What could possibly had gone wrong?Who was there?Did Samantha and Iris get to find where we stay? Shit.She had whispered, "They're here."Now, she wasn’t picking up.I dialed her number again. One ring. Two. Straight to voicemail.A curse slipped from my lips - fuck. I pressed harder on the gas, ignoring the honks of angry drivers as I weaved through traffic. The streets felt endless, stretching longer than they should, as if the universe was playing a cruel trick on me. But I kept going.The apartment we had rented came into view - a small, old building at the cor
Chapter 85 – Natalie’s POVI walked fast, my heartbeat pounding too loud in my ears. It was like my heart was screaming, "Be afraid! Be afraid!" The streetlights flickered above me, casting long, fearful shadows on the empty pavement. Every few seconds, I glanced nervously over my shoulder. He was still there. The man. The one who had been following me for the last ten minutes.At first, I thought it was just my imagination. But now, I was sure. He was following me. His slow steps matched mine, always keeping a distance. I couldn't see his face clearly, but his eyes seemed to gleam in the dark. My skin crawled with fear.So women weren't safe walking alone on the streets anymore?I quickened my pace, my breath catching in my throat. The streets were deserted, and the only sound was the echo of our footsteps. I felt trapped, alone, and scared. Why was he following me? What did he want?I took a sharp turn into a side alley, hoping to
I knew what I had to do. Sebastian had done his part. He had backed them into a corner. But it wasn’t over. There were still two people left. Iris and Samantha. They were careful. Too careful. But I had learned something important. Even the smartest people slip when they are afraid. I took a deep breath and checked my phone. Iris first. --- Iris I chose the café on purpose. Public. Bright. Safe. People talked here, laughed here. But behind the smiles and clinking cups, things could get ugly. Iris walked in exactly three minutes late. Always controlled. Always polished. She wore a beige blazer, matching heels, and sunglasses she didn’t need. She spotted me and walked over, her steps sharp. "Natalie," she greeted, sitting across from me. Her lips curled into a small, fake smile. "It’s been a while." I sipped my coffee. "It has." She
I sat at the table, my fingers tapping lightly against the wood. The room was small and smelled of dust. A single bulb flickered over on the floor, casting weak shadows on the walls. The air felt thick, like something heavy was pressing down on my chest.Natalie stood by the window, her arms crossed tight. She didn’t say a word, but I could feel her eyes on me. The room was quiet, too quiet. Outside, cars passed, their lights flashing through the glass. She looked like she wanted to speak but held back. Her fingers gripped her sleeves, and her lips pressed into a thin line. The air between us felt heavy, full of things unsaid. I tapped my fingers on the desk, waiting. Finally, I sighed. “Just say it, Natalie.”"You don’t have to do this," she said at last. Her voice was calm, but there was something tight in it.I didn’t look at her. Instead, I stared at the black folder on the table. Inside it was everything. Every secret. Every lie. Every crime they had
The weight of everything sat heavy on my shoulders. My mother’s betrayal, my stepfather’s schemes, and the way my entire world had crumbled right in front of me -it was too much.But I wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing.I sat at my desk, staring at the dim glow of the lamp. The room felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in on me. Natalie sat across from me, her eyes filled with worry, but she didn’t say anything. She just watched, waiting for me to speak.I finally exhaled, tapping my fingers against the desk. “I can’t let this go.”Natalie frowned. “Sebastian—”“No,” I cut in. “Don’t tell me to let it go, Natalie. You heard what she said. She did this to me. She ruined me. And she doesn’t even care.” My jaw tightened as anger surged through me again.Natalie sighed, shifting in her chair. “I know. I know how much this hurts you. But revenge-”“This isn’t just revenge,” I said sharply. “This is justice.”
The room was silent, except for the sound of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.I stood frozen at the doorway, gripping the wooden frame for support. My breath hitched, and my stomach twisted as I tried to process everything I had just heard.Sebastian’s mother-his own mother -had betrayed him. She had admitted it without a trace of guilt, without even flinching. She had planned his downfall, worked with the very man who had tried to destroy him, and she had done it because of me.I swallowed hard, my throat dry.Sebastian sat behind his desk, his head in his hands, his shoulders stiff. He hadn’t noticed me yet. Or maybe he had, and he was just too overwhelmed to acknowledge my presence. I had never seen him like this before—so broken, so defeated.I took a shaky step forward. “Sebastian?”His body jerked slightly at the sound of my voice. He lifted his head, and when our eyes met, my heart clenched. His gaze was filled with something I couldn’t quite define—anger, pain, disbelief.