11:40 Sat, Dec 14 G
Chapter 65
The sun was high in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over the estate as we pulled into the driveway of Sebastian’s family home. He wanted us to meet his family and invited us to have lich with them. For the first time in what felt like ages, I felt a sense of calm. I had been dreading this lunch all week, but now that we were here, surrounded by warmth and laughter, I felt like I could finally breathe.
Sebastian’s mother, Esther, was already waiting at the door with a broad smile, her arms open wide as she welcomed us. I could see where Sebastian got his gentle nature–his mother had a similar air of grace and kindness, a softness that put me at ease. The kids rushed ahead, wrapping their arms around her legs, and she laughed, ruffling their hair with affection.
“Adeline, my dear,” she greeted me warmly, pulling me into a tight embrace. “We’ve been waiting for this day for so long. Welcome, welcome.”
“Thank you, Esther,” I replied, genuinely touched by her warmth. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all.”
Inside, the house was as welcoming as the people within. Sebastian’s younger sister, Elena, stood by the large window, sipping on a glass of lemonade. She looked stunning and poised, her black long hair similar to Sebastian’s falling over her shoulders in soft waves. As soon as she saw us, her face lit up, and she crossed the room with a smile.
“Adeline, finally,” Elena said, hugging me. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Elena,” I replied, smiling back. “It’s nice to finally meet you too.
We sat down to lunch, and the conversation flowed easily. The kids were laughing with Sebastian’s mother, and the light banter around the table made it easy to forget the outside world. As we ate, Esther shared stories of Sebastian’s childhood, filling the room with laughter. Even Tristan, who usually kept to himself, was giggling, his face lit up with joy.
For the first time in a long time, I felt light. I wasn’t thinking about the press, the mess Killian had caused, or the constant turmoil that followed me like a shadow. Here, with Sebastian’s family, everything felt… normal. Peaceful. Almost too good to be true.
Elena leaned over during the conversation, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “So, what’s the secret to getting my brother to finally propose? I’ve been waiting years for him to settle down.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “It took a lot of patience, trust me.”
Her eyes softened, and she reached out to touch my hand. “I’m really glad he found you. You make him happy, and that’s all that matters.”
I smiled back, warmth spreading through me. It was strange how quickly Elena and I had clicked, like we had known each other for years. In the short time we spent together, she had become the kind of friend I hadn’t realized I needed.
For a moment, I allowed myself to forget everything. The complications with Killian, the press, the uncertainty that still lingered in my heart. Here, in this bubble of happiness, I could let go.
But that feeling of peace was fleeting.
As the lunch continued, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it at first, not wanting anything to disrupt the moment. But it buzzed again–and again. My heart sank. I knew exactly who it was without even looking.
Killian.
The familiar weight returned to my chest, and I clenched my fist under the table, determined not to let it ruin the day. I had already decided to ignore him, to push whatever he wanted to say to the back of my mind. He had no place in my life anymore, and I wasn’t going to let him pull me back into the chaos.
But it was hard to shake the feeling that something was brewing–something bigger than the scandal in the press one past
1/3
|||
O
<
Chapter 65
we shared.
72%
Sebastian noticed my change in mood. He leaned in, his hand gently brushing against mine as he whispered, “Everything okay?”
I smiled weakly, nodding. “Yeah, it’s fine, Just… work stuff.”
He didn’t press, but I could tell he was watching me carefully. Sebastian was always good at sensing when something was off, but thankfully, he didn’t push. He trusted me to handle things in my own time, and I appreciated that more than he knew.
The afternoon wore on, filled with more laughter and conversation. The kids played outside with Esther, and Sebastian and I sat on the porch, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves around us. Elena had gone inside to make more lemonade, leaving the two of us alone for the first time since we’d arrived.
Sebastian’s arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me close. I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his breathing. This was what I wanted–peace, stability, a future without the weight of my past dragging me down.
“You seem quiet,” he said softly, his voice gentle.
“Just… thinking,” I replied, not wanting to burden him with my worries.
He kissed the top of my head. “You don’t have to carry everything alone, you know.”
“I know,” I whispered, my throat tightening.
Before I could say more, the door swung open, and Elena reappeared, holding a tray of drinks. She set them down on the table in front of us, her eyes flicking between Sebastian and me
“Am I interrupting something?” she teased, though her gaze lingered on me a little too long.
“Not at all,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just enjoying the quiet.”
We sat together, the conversation flowing again, but my mind was far away. Killian’s calls echoed in my head, and I couldn’t shake the sense of dread that was building inside me. I wanted to ignore it, to push it aside like I had been, but something told me I couldn’t avoid this forever.
As we gathered our things to leave, Esther pulled me into a tight hug, whispering in my ear, “You’re a part of this family now Adeline. We love you and the kids. You’re safe here.”
Her words touched me in a way I hadn’t expected, and for a moment, I let myself believe them. We drove back to our home.
The kids played in the backyard, their laughter echoing in the distance. I sat on the living room couch, absentmindedly tracing the rim of my coffee cup. My mind, though, was still lingering on the warmth of Sebastian’s family from earlier in the day. His mother, Esther, was a comforting presence, and his sister, Elena, had an easygoing energy that made me feel welcome in a way I hadn’t felt in years. For the first time in forever, I had almost forgotten the turmoil surrounding me.
Almost.
But it was hard to shake the weight pressing on my chest, the persistent buzzing of my phone from earlier still gnawing at me. Killian’s messages, his calls… each one more insistent than the last. I had ignored every single one, unwilling to let him disturb the fragile peace I was trying to build.
I didn’t want him to ruin what I had now. Not after the press conference, the photos of that kiss, and the mess that f “owed. But Killian seemed determined to claw his way back into my life, regardless of the damage it would cause.
“Adeline?” Sebastian’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to see him standing by the sliding door, watching
2/3
<
Chapter 65
72%
the kids with a soft smile.
He walked over, sitting beside me on the couch, his warmth instantly comforting. He didn’t ask about Killian, and I was grateful for that. Instead, his hand found mine, his thumb gently stroking over my knuckles. I relaxed into him, letting his presence soothe the tension that had been building in my chest all day,
“You seemed a million miles away,” he said softly, turning his head to meet my gaze.
“I guess I was,” I admitted. “It’s been a lot… but being with your family today was exactly what I needed.”
His smile was warm, understanding. “I’m glad you liked them. My mom couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful you and the kids are. Elena’s already planning a weekend getaway for us
I laughed, the sound feeling unfamiliar but welcome. “That sounds nice.”
Sebastian shifted closer, his expression becoming serious. “You deserve this, Adeline. You deserve to be happy, to have a future without all the pain from your past dragging you down.”
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to wrap myself in the promise of peace, to let go of everything that had once kept me tethered to a life of confusion, betrayal, and heartbreak. But I wasn’t naive enough to think it would be that simple.
And yet, at this moment, with Sebastian so close, I wanted to pretend it could be.
He leaned in slightly, his breath warm against my skin. My heart skipped a beat as his hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. For a moment, the world shrank down to just the two of us. I could feel the electricity in the air, the promise of something new, something better.
His lips were inches from mine.
But before they could meet, a loud knock echoed through the house. The sound was sharp, cutting through the moment like a blade. I tensed immediately, my body jerking back from Sebastian.
My heart pounded in my chest, a cold dread pooling in my stomach as I saw Killian standing at the door way. His eyes fixed on us, glaring at us, they were dark, a storm brewing behind them, and the energy rolling off him was palpable. He looked pissed off.
SEND GIFT