Chapter 6

Kaira sat in the chair, silently processing the weight of Sebastian’s words as he carefully tended to the bruises on her wrists. His touch was surprisingly gentle, the warm scent of antiseptic filling the air as he dabbed at the wounds left by her fall. The house had fallen into an uneasy silence, the kind that lingered after the departure of guests. The Blackwoods were preoccupied with tending to Evelyn, leaving the atmosphere heavy with their absence. Only the faint whispers of the servants broke the stillness as they hovered at the edges of the room, their astonished eyes fixed on the scene before them.

Kaira, the forgotten daughter, the invisible one, now had everyone's attention. Evelyn may have been the star of the evening, but it seemed Kaira had unknowingly stolen the spotlight, and Sebastian, of all people, was at the center of it. Whispers spread like wildfire among the servants, many mentally noting not to cross her. It seemed Kaira had climbed the ladder in ways they had never anticipated.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked, her voice soft but tinged with genuine curiosity.

Sebastian paused, lifting his gaze to hers with an enigmatic smile that sent her heart into a flutter. “I didn’t realize you enjoyed hearing my proclamations of love so much, princess,” he teased, his tone light but laced with an intensity that made her cheeks warm.

Kaira couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “I didn’t know you loved me enough to risk your precious social status for my sake,” she shot back, the sarcasm in her voice masking the vulnerability underneath.

He didn’t respond immediately, his focus returning to the cut on her hand. He secured the bandage with a deftness that suggested this wasn’t his first time doing such a task. When he finally stood, he simply said, “All done,” before pulling a chair closer to her and sitting down.

“You should still visit the hospital,” he added nonchalantly.

Kaira raised a brow, confused. “Why? It’s just a bruise. Nothing serious.”

Sebastian gestured to her head, his expression neutral, but his words sharp. “Your scalp. I’m sure it hurts after what your stepmother did.”

Only then did she register the dull ache at the base of her skull, a painful reminder of how her stepmother had yanked her hair earlier that evening. She winced at the realization but quickly masked it.

Breaking the silence, Kaira asked, “Did you mean what you said earlier?” Her voice was quieter now, tinged with uncertainty.

Sebastian’s gaze flickered to hers, his lips curling into a smirk. “Why would I joke about something like that, princess?”

“But why would you want to help me get revenge on my family? And how does marrying you accomplish that?” she pressed, her brows furrowing in suspicion.

Sebastian leaned back, his confidence unwavering. “You ask too many questions, princess. But let me spell it out for you. The Ashfords—my family—own the biggest company in the city. By marrying me, you gain access to a wealth and status your family could never dream of. You can take back everything they stole from you. What better revenge is there than making them bow to you?”

His words were sharp, calculated, and undeniably tempting. Yet, Kaira couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this than he was letting on.

“And what do you gain from all of this?” she asked, her voice wary.

Sebastian shrugged, his expression unreadable. “You.”

The simplicity of his answer sent a shiver down her spine. There was no trace of teasing in his voice this time. But Kaira wasn’t convinced.

“Why me?” she pushed further, her tone edging toward defiance.

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stood from his chair, his demeanor suddenly colder. “Think about my offer, princess. You know where to find me when you’ve made up your mind.”

Before she could respond, he turned and began walking toward the door. Panic bubbled in Kaira’s chest, her thoughts racing. Had she offended him? She didn’t want him to leave, not like this.

“Sebastian!” she called out, rushing after him.

He paused, sparing her a glance as she stepped in front of him. Her heart pounded in her chest as the words tumbled from her lips, sealing her fate. “I’ll marry you.”

Sebastian’s lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “You made the right choice, princess,” he said, his voice smooth as velvet.

As the weight of her decision sank in, Kaira surprised even herself with what she said next. “Can I go with you?”

Her hands flew to her mouth as the words left her lips. What was she thinking? She barely knew him, yet there she was offering herself to him.

Sebastian chuckled, the sound low and rich as he stepped closer. His voice dropped, teasing but edged with something darker. “So eager to get into my bed, princess?” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. “I should warn you though, I don’t promise to be a gentleman tonight princess.”

Kaira’s breath hitched, her face burning, but she refused to back down. He smirked, stepping aside to open the car door. “Come on, then. Get in.”

Swallowing her nerves, Kaira climbed into the sleek vehicle, her pulse racing as Sebastian slid in beside her. As the car pulled away from the house, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d just made the best or worst decision of her life.

- - -

Kaira sat on the sleek couch in Sebastian’s home, her heart hammering in her chest. She couldn’t deny it—she was attracted to the man beside her, his gaze so intense it made her swallow hard.

“Are you scared of me, princess?” Sebastian asked, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched her fumble nervously with her hands. He’d thought she was finally warming up to him, given how often she lingered in his presence. Apparently, he was wrong.

“No, I’m not,” Kaira replied hastily, though her voice betrayed her. She wasn’t scared of him, not exactly. She was terrified of what he made her feel—the way every ounce of her rationality seemed to evaporate when he was near. Not even Julian had ever made her feel this reckless, this unmoored.

Sebastian smirked, leaning just a fraction closer. “Hmm, you shouldn’t be scared of me, princess. I don’t bite unless you want me to.” His voice dipped, his meaning unmistakable. “Besides, we’ll be married soon. You might as well get comfortable around me.”

Her breath hitched as he shifted closer, his cologne enveloping her senses, leaving her no room to escape.

“Now,” he said, his tone suddenly serious, though he didn’t retreat. “Enough messing around. Let’s talk about the contract.”

Kaira blinked, startled, as he pulled a folder from the table and placed it in front of her. “We’ll be married for a year. By then, you should have achieved your goal. During that time, you’ll have full access to my wealth, and after the divorce, I’ll ensure you walk away with a generous alimony. If there’s a child... well, we’ll co-parent.”

She stared at him, dumbfounded. “When did you prepare this?”

“Since the day I met you,” he replied, his tone so casual it made her stomach twist.

Her eyes widened in shock. “What if I didn’t want revenge?”

He leaned back slightly, his smirk returning.“Then it would’ve been a waste of a golden opportunity, don’t you think?”

Kaira had no words, only the rustle of papers filling the silence as she read through the terms. Finding no fault, she picked up the pen and signed, sliding the contract back to him with trembling hands.

“Good,” Sebastian said smoothly, rising to his feet. “Now, let’s go to bed.”

Kaira froze, staring after him as he climbed the staircase. She didn’t move, unsure what to do.

Halfway up, he stopped and glanced back, frowning. “Why are you just standing there, princess?”

“I don’t know where I’m supposed to sleep,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sebastian chuckled darkly. “You were so eager to jump into my bed, and now you’re acting all shy? You’ll be sleeping with me, of course.”

Her pulse quickened as his words wrapped around her like silk. “Don’t worry,” he added, his voice dropping to a sinful drawl. “I won’t touch you—unless you ask me to. And when you do, you’ll be begging me not to stop.”

His promise sent a shiver racing down her spine, her knees weak beneath her and she couldn’t help but feel curious to what it would be like sharing his bed.

She followed him up the staircase, her mind a whirlwind of nerves and curiosity, only for her steps to falter as she reached the door to his bedroom. He turned to look at her one last time, a wicked smile curling his lips.

"Come in, princess," he murmured, holding the door open. With a pounding heart, Kaira stepped inside. Though it wasn’t her first time in his room, the circumstances were different now. This time, it felt as though she was stepping straight into the devil’s trap.