Chapter 4
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When I woke up the next morning, my head was pounding. Sebastian was already gone.
I remembered him confessing his feelings last night. With him nowhere to be seen, I wondered if he just acted like nothing happened and bailed on me after pouring his heart
out.
It was not a big deal. I didn’t take it seriously, after all.
As I was zoning out, Sebastian came in, dressed to the nines and carrying a tray with a fancy breakfast.
His eyes were like stars as he asked, “Yvonne, do you want to eat here or at the dining table?”
He freed up one hand and handed me a glass. “Here, have some honey water first. You drank a bit too much last night.”
It had been a long time since anyone had cherished me like this.
For years, I was always the one making breakfast and waking Zackery up.
Every time he drank too much, I was the one handing him honey water in the morning.
A rush of warmth and pent–up grievance welled up inside me, rising from my chest to my nose and eyes. And suddenly, tears started streaming down my face.
Sebastian was completely thrown off.
He quickly set down the water and breakfast tray, and then dropped to his knees beside the bed, looking genuinely apologetic. “Yvonne, I’m sorry.
“I shouldn’t have said those things to you while you were drunk… I just missed you so much. I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you.”
The financial big shot of Hoficaster suddenly looked just like that shy, awkward kid he used
to be back in school.
But I wasn’t the type who needed someone to ‘make it up‘ just because of a drunken
confession.
I felt like Zackery had already used up all the love I had to give.
“I’m sorry, Sebastian. I just don’t think I’m good enough for you anymore,” I said.
He got even more flustered, practically draping himself over the edge of the bed like a puppy, giving me those big, pitiful eyes.
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Chapter 4
He crawled closer, nuzzling my hand with his cheek.
“You don’t love me anymore. Maybe you never did,” he said, sounding so hurt.
I burst out laughing.
I reached out and gently stroked his adorably panicked face.
“That’s not what I meant. Why don’t we just have breakfast?” I said.
He carefully set the breakfast on the bed tray.
Then he brought me some mouthwash and made sure I finished my honey water.
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Sebastian pulled open the hotel curtains, letting the early morning sunlight of Hoficaster pour in.
Then he flipped on the TV and put it on the morning business news.
Back in college, everyone knew I had this habit, and he still remembered.
We sat on the bed, eating breakfast.
Suddenly, the anchor said, “Zackery, Hoficaster’s financial prince, showed up at the launch event for his new subsidiary, accompanied by just–debuted actress Xandy. He announced that Xandy will be the official face of the company.”
I stopped mid–bite and stared at the TV screen.
There was Zackery, his arm wrapped intimately around Xandy, surrounded by a swarm of reporters as they fired off questions.
Xandy was beaming, microphone in hand, her smile dazzling.
And on the middle finger of her left hand, that diamond engagement ring was shining so brightly it almost hurt to look at.
Turned out, when Zackery said he wanted to get married at twenty–six, he never meant me.
Sebastian quickly changed the channel.
He let out a deep sigh, pulled me into his arms, and kept pressing gentle kisses to my forehead.
“Yvonne, be with me. I promise, I would never hurt you like that,” he said softly.
Zackery once promised me “forever” too, and now, it was hard for me to believe in that word
anymore.
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Chapter 4
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I shook my head. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I just don’t think I’m ready to open my heart again yet.”
I watched as the light in his bright eyes slowly faded.
But he still held me tightly, his voice rough. “It’s okay, Yvonne. I can wait. I’ve waited eight years already.”
I muttered, “So, that engagement ring… Zackery gave it to Xandy.”
I wasn’t sure if it was me spacing out, or just the words “engagement ring” and “Zackery,” but something about it really seemed to hit Sebastian hard.
His face turned bright red again.
He shot me a look, eyes full of wounded accusation.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Who knew the big shot of Hoficaster could be so different? You’re just like a grumpy little kitten.”
He playfully nudged me with his head, and kept snuggling up to me, showering me with gentle affection again and again.
We stayed like that until his work phone rang, forcing him to pull away.
As he straightened his clothes, I teased, “Mr. Spence, looks like the food in Hoficaster isn’t doing you any favors. Feels like you’ve been living the clean life for way too long.”
Sebastian’s ears turned bright red.
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