Chapter - [ 4 ]

[ Sebestian ]

I stared at the papers which my wife signed a while ago and felt a strange sensation twisting my heart. I clenched my fists. The woman who once stole my heart, made me fall in love with her on the very first sight, the woman with whom I exchanged holy vows.

Charlotte Richards, she agreed to free me from our marriage.

She was desperate to leave me so she could be with Liam, her true love and I had been a fool who neve loved me.

I felt my heart constricting in my chest. She left a deep void in my heart. My blood boiled when my eyes landed on the pictures that my most trusted PI sent me. They looked mad in love, lost in each other and their chemistry was mocking at me.

"Bastian, how long will you keep punishing yourself?" Victorine's voice broke the eerie silence of the air.

"I want to be alone for some time, Vic.

I hope you understand." I said quitely.

She sighed and placed her hand on my shoulder,"You have to accept, Bastian. She made her decision. I am not trying to turn you against her but did you see any regret on her face?"

I finally tore my gaze from the pictures and landed on my best friend. I hate to believe but somewhere she was right. Charlotte could fight for us when I took the impulsive decision of throwing divorce papers on her face but she gave up without putting up a fight and walked out easily. She didn't look back for once.

"Both you and I know that she loves her best friend. You should try to move on." She said softly.

"Move on?" I frowned on her statement.

"Yes, move on, Bastian. You should show them that they don't have a leverage over you." She said pointedly.

I scoffed and turned to look outside the window. The dusk had given its arrival so in my life.

I wasn't ready to accept that my Charlotte left me.

"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?" Victorine asked the same question again.

"I love her, Vic. It's easier for you to advise me to move on but it's hard for me to accept that she's gone forever." I gulped hard.

"I know, Bastian and I am sorry if I hurt you. I only want the best for you and she was only poisoning your happiness by crushing your trust." She said the bitter truth.

"Please, let's end this discussion here. I don't want to talk about her anymore." I said in a dismissive tone.

"Okay." She threw her hands in the surrender motion.

"Please shut the door behind you when you leave. I don't want any disturbance." I said turning my attention back on the dark grey sky.

No sooner these words left my mouth, the door creaked open again and I smelled the rose perfume of my mother.

The day couldn't be more worse.

"I want to be with my son. Please give us some privacy, Miss Baxter." My mother used her domineering tone on Victorine.

"Sure, Mrs. Blackwood." She nodded and left the room.

"Sebestian, I heard a news which I expected my son to give me." My mother directed her next words to me.

I remained silent.

My mother was a strong character. She never yield to anyone and had an iron will. She used to get what she wanted. She had full leash over our family.

"Sebestian, I am talking to you and all I receive is your disrespect." She used a higher pitch this time.

I groaned and turned to face her. She wouldn't leave until I satisfy her curiosity.

"I divorced Charlotte." My throat constricted when I said out these words.

"That I know, son but may I know the reason which made you take such impulsive step?" She crossed her arms and raised a brow at me.

"She was cheating on me with another man." I didn't lie to her.

She'd eventually find out.

Her face cringed on my statement. Nothing was above our family reputation for her.

"You could have consulted me or your father before taking such decision which will reflect on our names, Sebestian." She said in a displeased tone.

"I make my own decisions, Mother. She didn't object as well." I said and earned another groan of disapproval from her.

"You had solid evidence of her adultery?" She raised her brow.

"Yes, I do, Mother." I glanced at those pictures again.

"I don't think she can cheat on you, Sebestian. I may not like her much but she was a wonderful person though she failed to fulfill her duty as your wife and Blackwood's daughter-in-law but she never let herself involve in any scandal." She said in her favour which surprised me.

"The proofs are here, Mother. She did cheat on me." I said in disbelief.

"Every story has two sides, Sebestian. You have the proof but does your conscience allow you to believe them?" She questioned me and this time I was tongue tied.

"She never denied any of them?" I said in a low voice.

"You didn't give her a reason. I may not live in this house but I have ears and eyes everywhere. They told me everything. You were out of your limit, Sebestian and Miss Baxter was here when you and Charlotte must had talked in private but you made it a public orchestra." She lost her cool.

I looked down as I had no excuse in the favour of my deeds. Charlotte was crying to prove her loyalty but I was blind in my anger.

"This is your life and your decisions, son. I am glad that Charlotte is no longer in your life but I'll not accept Victorine Baxter on her place as well.

"I don't love her, Mother. She is only a good friend." I retaliated. She was talking like Charlotte.

She used to be insecure of my friendship with Victorine and somewhere it was one of the reasons that drove us apart.

"The time will tell, son." She said at last before leaving.

I wasted no time to pick my phone and dialled my PI's number who answered it in the first ring.

"I need an update on my wife. I want to know where is she currently. I want an update in next fifteen minutes." I said and didn't wait for his response.

I had to find her to seek some answered questions.