CALLIE When we arrived, Sebastian didn’t waste a second. Tossing his jacket over his shoulder, he grabbed my hand and led me inside. At the front desk, the receptionist barely had time to smile before Sebastian cut in. “We’ll take a room. Now.” The woman blinked, flustered, but quickly handed him the key. I bit back a laugh, loving how commanding he was. The moment we stepped into the room, the door clicked shut behind us, and Sebastian turned to me. His eyes burned with an intensity that made my breath hitch. “No interruptions this time,” he murmured, stepping closer. “None,” I whispered, reaching for him, closing the distance between us. He wasted no time pulling me into his arms, his lips capturing mine in a heated kiss. He pulled my coat and I followed suit, pulling off his shirt and letting my fingers trace over his chest. His hand curved over my breast, sending shivers down my spine as he kissed me again. His touch trailed downward, slipping beneath my jeans a
CALLIEThe moment we entered my room, I turned to Sebastian, unable to contain the swirling emotions inside me any longer. “What’s going on, Sebastian?” I asked. “Why the hell did you propose to me in the first place? We weren’t even dating! The plan was to pretend we were lovers, and then suddenly, you’re down on one knee. Was that part of the plan too? Or is there something you’re not telling me?”He sighed, slipping off his jacket and tossing it onto the nearby chair. “Callie,” he said softly, “I’m just as lost as you are when it comes to Sophie. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. And as for the proposal...” He stepped closer, his brown eyes locking onto mine. “That wasn’t part of the plan. It had nothing to do with pretending.”My heart stuttered at his words, but I kept my guard up. “Then why did you do it?” I asked, my voice trembling. “Why did you propose out of the blues?”“I did it because I couldn’t imagine you not being by my side,” he admitted. “Because I love you, Calli
CALLIEMy heart pounded as I took a shaky step back, staring at Sophie standing in my doorway, with a gun in her hand. “Sophie?” My voice trembled as I tried to process the scene. “What are you doing here? I thought you… ”“Shut up!” she snapped. “Did you really think you could get away with this? That you could take everything for yourself and leave me with nothing?”What the hell was she saying? “What are you talking about?” I asked, trying to steady myself.She tilted her head, her grin widening. “I hated seeing you happy, Callie. Always smiling, always getting through life like nothing ever touched you. So when I found out you liked Ethan, I made it my mission to take him from you. And guess what? I did. He was mine, not yours.”She took a step forward. “ But now, you’ve wormed your way into this family. Somehow, you’ve managed to steal everyone’s attention. And honestly, I have no idea what Sebastian sees in you. Maybe you seduced him. Maybe you’ve been playing the innocent act
SEBASTIAN As soon as we walked out of the house earlier, Callie broke down. She clung to me, tears streaming down her face as she blamed herself for everything that had happened. For Sophie’s rage. For the chaos. “It’s my fault,” she’d whispered brokenly. I held her tightly, stroking her back. “None of this is your fault, Callie. Not one bit. You didn’t deserve what she did.”But even as I said it, I knew words alone wouldn’t take away the pain. The way her shoulders had shaken in my arms had gutted me. She didn’t deserve any of this.Now, hours later, as I watched her gaze out the window and I felt relieved. The tears had stopped, and the sadness in her eyes seemed to have lifted. Even if only for a moment, it was enough.She was better now, at least outwardly, and that was all I needed to focus on for the next few days.The sprawling luxury resort loomed ahead as I drove through the gates. Callie leaned forward in her seat, her eyes lighting up as she took in the grandeur.“This
CALLIEAs soon as I was done eating, Sebastian stood, brushing imaginary crumbs off his shirt before pulling out his phone.“You can come in now,” he said into it with a tone of authority.I raised an eyebrow, curious. Before I could ask what he was up to, the door opened, and a group of people walked in, with garment bags, boxes, and accessories.My jaw dropped. “What… what is this?”Sebastian turned to me with a satisfied smirk. “Your personal styling team for the day.”I blinked at him, dumbfounded. “Styling team? Sebastian, we just bought clothes yesterday.”He shrugged, his grin widening. “Nothing is too much for my baby,” he said, his voice dripping with playful charm.I tried to hide my smile but failed miserably. “Alright, fine. Let’s see what you’ve got planned.”One of the stylists, a cheerful woman with bright red hair, stepped forward. “Miss Callie, it’s a pleasure to style you today! We’ve brought a range of outfits perfect for any occasion. Casual, semi-formal, glamorous
CALLIEIt had been three days since we arrived here, and every moment felt like a dream. I never imagined Sebastian could be this loving. The man I first met at work had a cold demeanor… so different from the tender, playful person I was seeing now.I'm so glad I’d agreed to be his fake girlfriend. And following him on this holiday? Best decision ever.A smile played on my lips as I stretched on the bed. The sound of the running shower in the bathroom stopped, and moments later, Sebastian strolled into the room, completely naked.I smirked, unable to help myself. “Oh, so now you’ve forgotten how to cover that long thing of yours, huh? You’ve gotten real comfortable walking around like this.”He glanced at me, the corner of his mouth lifting in a cheeky grin. “Why should I bother? I’m with my baby. I can do whatever I want.”I laughed, shaking my head. “Oh, so this is my future, huh? Walking into a room and seeing that all the time? Especially since we’re getting married soon.”But as
SEBASTIAN “Did we pack everything we brought?” I asked, glancing around the room one last time.Callie, kneeling beside her suitcase to zip it shut, nodded. “Yes, I triple-checked. I just hope we didn’t forget anything. You know how I am with leaving things behind.”I smirked, leaning against the doorframe. “You’re not wrong. Remember when you forgot your bag at the restaurant?”She glared playfully. “Don’t remind me. Thankfully we saw it where I left it.”As she stood, brushing her hair out of her face, I stepped closer and gently tugged her into my arms. She let out a small gasp, tilting her head to look up at me.“I wish this vacation didn’t have to end,” I murmured, my thumb tracing her jaw.Her lips curved into a cute smile, her hands resting on my chest. “Can’t we stay a little longer?” she asked.I chuckled, brushing a kiss against her temple. “I really wish we could. But we have a wedding to plan, remember? And work’s waiting for us.”She pouted, crossing her arms. “Okay, oka
CALLIE My fingers trembled slightly as I stared at the note in my hand. Before I could even think of how to respond to his sudden reappearance, Sebastian walked in.“Callie?” Sebastian’s deep voice cut through the tension as he stepped inside, his gaze darting between Ethan and me. “What’s going on here?”Ethan’s smug smirk melted into a smile. “Nothing, just a little chat,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets.As soon as the door clicked shut, Sebastian turned to me, his eyes dark with worry. “What happened? Did he say something to you?”I hesitated, then held out the note. “He left this.”Sebastian took the paper from my hand, unfolding it slowly. I watched as his face darkened, his free hand balling into a tight fist.“Ethan is really starting to step on my toes,” he growled.I stepped closer, placing my hand on his arm. “Sebastian, don’t. He’s trying to provoke you, to get under your skin. Don’t let him win.”His eyes softened slightly as he looked at me, but the tension
CALLIEIt wasn’t Sebastian’s voice that greeted me.“Hello? Is this Callie?” a woman’s voice came through the line.My heart skipped a beat. “Y-Yes, this is Callie. Who is this? Where’s Sebastian?”There was a brief pause, as though the woman was trying to find the right words. “My name is Nurse Erica. I’m calling from Fairview General Hospital. Sebastian was… involved in an accident. He’s in critical condition, but he’s stable for now.”The phone nearly slipped from my trembling hand. “What?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “What happened? Is he okay?”“I can’t share all the details over the phone, but it’s important you come as soon as possible,” she said. “He’s at Fairview General. Please hurry.”The line went dead before I could respond.The phone clattered to the floor, my hand too weak to hold it any longer. For a moment, the world blurred. My legs gave way, and I sank to the ground. Tears welled in my eyes, streaming down my cheeks as sobs escaped my lips.“No,” I whispered to
CALLIEThere was silence. None of us said anything for a while. My heart clenched painfully, and I found myself struggling to form a response.Finally, I swallowed hard and spoke. “So… when is the date?”Sebastian exhaled deeply, his gaze dropping to the floor. “In two days. January 2nd.”I nodded slowly. “That means you’ll have to fly out tomorrow.” “Yeah,” he said softly. “I don’t have a choice.”The words stung, even though I knew he didn’t mean them to. I straightened my shoulders, meeting his gaze. “Then I’ll go with you.”Sebastian’s head shot up, his eyes narrowing. He took a step closer, his hands gently wrapping around mine. “No, Callie,” he said softly. “You don’t have to do that.”I frowned, my chest tightening at the seriousness in his tone. “Sebastian, you don’t have to do this alone. I want to be there for you.”He shook his head, his grip on my hands tightening slightly. “Lucas will be there. He has to be, as part of the team. I’ll go with him. You… you’ve been through
CALLIEI couldn’t help but laugh as I leaned back on the couch. “What do you mean by that? You’re something else.”He grinned at my reaction, his sharp features softening. “Who knows? You might start crying again tonight. You’re just a softie.”His playful tone was such a contrast to everything that had happened that I couldn’t stop smiling. For a moment, it felt like we’d stepped out of the storm. The warmth in his gaze, the way his lips curved just enough to let me know he was teasing… it was exactly what I needed.But before I could respond, Sebastian closed the space between us. His hand gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear I didn’t even know was there. “I mean it, Callie,” he murmured, his voice low, sending a shiver down my spine. “I love you. More than anything. We’re going to get through this together. You hear me?”His eyes bore into mine, searching, waiting for my answer.I nodded, my throat tightening with emotion. “I love you baby,” I whispered.An
SEBASTIAN I opened the door, and there she was… Charlotte. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, and her eyes bloodshot, swollen from tears. “Sebastian!” she spat my name, her voice cracking with raw emotion. Her eyes darted to Callie, who stood frozen behind me. “You… both of you… you’ve done it. You’ve killed my son!”“Charlotte, stop,” I said firmly, stepping in front of Callie to shield her. “We didn’t…”“LIARS!” she screamed, her voice cutting through the tension. She shoved past me into the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.Callie took a step forward, her own tears flowing freely. “We didn’t do this, Charlotte. I swear to you, we had nothing to do with Ethan’s death…”“Shut up!” Charlotte whirled on Callie, her face twisted in grief and rage. “How dare you even speak to me? You! You’re the reason my son is gone!”“Charlotte, that’s not true!” Callie’s voice cracked as she tried to defend herself.“Not true?” Charlotte sneered, her lips curling in disdain. “D
CALLIEA scream tore from my throat, echoing through the empty warehouse. My hands clutched the edges of my coat as if they could hold me together. My knees pressed against the cold concrete floor, the image in front of me searing itself into my mind."What the hell is happening?" My voice cracked, the words ripping out of me like shards of glass. "Why is Ethan here? He was supposed to be… "My thoughts fractured, and I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to suppress the rising panic. My stomach churned as I stared at his lifeless body.Sebastian's hurried footsteps echoed behind me, and then he was there, dropping to his knees beside me.He froze beside me. His eyes widened, and for a moment, he didn’t move. It was as if the sight of Ethan’s bloodied body had rendered him incapable of action.“Oh my God,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Ethan? No, no… this can’t be happening.”I turned to him, my voice trembling. “Sebastian… he’s dead. Ethan’s dead. What are we supposed to do?” His
CALLIEThe phone buzzed in my hand, its vibration thrumming against my palm. I glanced at Sebastian, his eyes dark and focused as he gave a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the phone to my ear."Hello?"Silence."Hello?" I tried again, my voice louder this time. The only response was the faint sound of breathing. My heart rate spiked, my fingers gripping the phone tighter. "Who is this?"Still nothing.The silence stretched for another second before the line went dead. I stared at the screen, the unknown number taunting me.Sebastian leaned forward. "Who was it?"I shook my head, my stomach twisting. "No one said anything. They just... hung up."His jaw tightened, and he reached out to take my hand. "Let me see the number."Before I could hand him the phone, it buzzed again. This time, a message notification lit up the screen. My blood ran cold as I opened it.Unknown:Go to 152 Riverwood Lane tonight. Come alone, or someone you care about gets hurt.My breath caught in my
CALLIEI woke up to the gentle warmth of Sebastian’s lips pressing against my forehead, then my cheeks, and finally, my lips. His voice was soft but insistent.“Wake up, Callie,” he murmured. “We’ve got a flight to catch.”I groaned, stretching lazily as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. My muscles ached in the best way possible, a reminder of last night’s escapades in the bathroom. It had been… intense. Sebastian had a way of making every moment feel like an adventure, and that bath had been no exception.As I sat up, my eyes met his, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Good morning,” I said, my voice still raspy from sleep.He smiled back, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face. “Good morning, beautiful.”His gaze lingered, filled with a tenderness that made my heart flutter. It was moments like these that reminded me why, despite all the chaos and danger, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.“You slept like a rock,” he teased, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I was
CALLIEI was exhausted, my body aching from the stress of the day. Every part of me wanted to collapse, to just curl up and forget about everything, but I couldn't. Not now. Not with Sebastian at my side, looking as worn out as I felt. I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his eyes seemed to cloud over with the weight of the pressure pressing down on him.But it wasn’t just the stress from his father. It was the way everything was falling apart, how our lives seemed to be spiraling out of control… and I couldn’t help but feel like I was the reason for all of it. If I hadn’t made that stupid mistake at the club, if I hadn’t gotten involved with Sebastian in the first place, none of this would be happening.I closed my eyes for a moment, my fingers curling around his as we walked through the empty parking lot toward yet another hotel. The guilt squeezed at my chest, but I refused to let it break me. I couldn’t.I wasn’t going to let Sebastian go through this alone.When we reach
SEBASTIANI stared at the receptionist, my brows knitting together. "I'm sorry, what?"She fidgeted with the clipboard in her hands, avoiding my gaze. "I… I really am sorry, sir," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "But the order comes directly from the manager. He insists that you have to vacate the building immediately.""Vacate the building? Why?"She glanced down at her clipboard again, her fingers tightening around it. "I'm not at liberty to discuss the specifics," she said quietly, "but it’s urgent. The manager instructed me to offer you a full refund as compensation. Please, pack your belongings and come downstairs as soon as possible to sign out and collect it."I folded my arms across my chest, feeling my irritation spike. "That’s not exactly reassuring, you know. You can’t just kick us out without a valid explanation."The receptionist flinched slightly but held her ground. "I understand, sir, truly. But I’m afraid I can’t say more. I’ll be waiting downstairs."Without w