Chapter 4

           “Sebastian... so what you're trying to tell me right now is that you’re engaged?” His father wheezed through the oxygen mask, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Yeah, Dad,” Sebastian replied, his voice steady but his jaw clenched. “I’ve been dating her for a while now. I met her through Jay, and I love her.”

His father’s eyes widened slightly, a weak chuckle escaping him. “You love a girl you met through Jay... and she’s not after your money? She’s not another Susan?”

The moment his father mentioned Susan’s name, Sebastian's shoulders tensed. His expression hardened, a dark shadow crossing his face. The name was like a knife twisting in his gut. “She is not Susan,” he said coldly, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. “And she never will be. She didn’t even know who I was. She was just being herself.”

“You must love this girl,” his father rasped, his eyes gleaming with something close to disbelief. “You’re even defending her.”

If only he knew the truth, Sebastian thought, his stomach knotting. 

“So, how is that deal with the Kent Empire going?” his father asked, shifting the topic to the casualness of a man who didn’t have death looming over him.

“Dad, you’re so sick, and all you can think about is some deal with a motherfucker,” Sebastian snapped, frustration boiling over.

“Seb... language,” his father chided, his voice sharp despite the frailty.

Sebastian let out a long breath, reigning in his anger. “Are you going for your chemotherapy in the correct order?”

“Forget the chemotherapy,” his father dismissed with a wave of his hand. “When do I get to meet this fiancée of yours?”

“You’ll meet her when she’s ready,” Sebastian assured him, trying to keep his tone calm.

“And will she be ready before I die?” his father asked, a sad smile tugging at his lips.

“Dad, don’t be paranoid,” Sebastian scolded gently. “It’s not like you’re dying anytime soon.”

His father chuckled, but it quickly turned into a violent cough that rattled his frail body. Sebastian’s eyes intensified. His voice mixed with fear and anger. “This is what I'm talking about; you need to be careful, Dad.”

We can’t have you dying before the doctor’s diagnosis dates. They gave you four months, and this isn’t even a month.”

His father raised an eyebrow, a ghost of his old, stubborn self shining through. “I just want to see the girl who’s caught your attention,” he teased, but his eyes were tired, filled with a yearning that made Sebastian’s heartache.

Sebastian forced the best fake smile he could muster. “You will,” he said softly before turning and leaving the room. Once outside, his face fell, and he pulled out his phone.

A message notification lit up the screen.

I dropped her off successfully... I’m sitting outside in the car just as you requested, sir.

Sebastian quickly typed a response, his fingers moving with urgency. Notify me immediately if you notice anything unusual, even the slightest detail. Remain there and let me know if you see anything else strange.

He didn’t trust this situation, not fully. Not yet.

With a heavy sigh, he sent Kate her first month’s payment. Her phone buzzed moments later, confirming the transaction. Kate’s eyes expanded as she saw the credit alert pop up on her phone screen. She felt all her worries melt. She let out her breath, She hadn’t realized she had been holding her breath for a while. Then, a sense of overwhelming relief flowed down her body. She was delighted as a little smile lit up her face.

Without hesitating, she quickly sent half the money to the man her father had owed. She couldn’t risk having him come after her again. With that weight partially lifted, she turned her attention back to the mess in front of her. She picked up the cardboard boxes stacked to the side and began packing her things. It didn’t take long; she didn’t own much. After three boxes, she had everything she needed packed away.

"Where will I stay this evening?" She questioned out loud, feeling a hint of fear rising. "Jasmine," she thought out of the blue. Reaching for her phone, she dialed Jasmine.

“Hi! Jasmine, How are you doing? I was wondering if you could accommodate me at your place tonight?” she asked, trying to keep her voice firm.

“Yeah, sure! Even if it’s for more than a night, I’ve been worried about you. How have you been coping? Should I come pick you up?” Jasmine replied, concern evident in her voice. 

“Yeah… If that's cool with you,” Kate said trying to sound casual, though her voice trembled slightly.

“What's that? Sure I'm cool with that,” Jasmine responded with a warm voice. I will be with you in twenty minutes.”

Minutes later, Jasmine arrived at Kate’s place and rushed out of the car to give Kate a tight hug. Kate was struggling to break free and she was choked by Jasmine's arms around her neck. 

 "Why are you dressed like this?" Kate asked, noticing Jasmine’s black hoodie paired with black sweatpants.

“Because this was the first cloth I could get my hands on in my closet. I didn't want to waste any more time immediately when you called me because it was late, so I drove as fast as I could.” Jasmine explained, her eyes relieved as she looked at Kate.

They both gathered Kate’s scattered luggage, loading the boxes into the car. 

As they did, Kate couldn't shake the feeling of unease creeping up her spine. She was grateful for Jasmine, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging thought that things were moving too fast—Sebastian, the money, the contract. Everything felt like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Kate glanced around, her eyes darting over the darkened street. She felt watched, a shiver running down her spine. As they both carried the last box into the car, Kate noticed a black SUV parked at the end of the street. The shadow of the man was barely visible, but it frightened her.

"Jasmine, We need to go. Now.” She quivers, her voice trembling.