Cecilia’s pov
Six o’clock in the evening.
My second ti at the Black family estate.
This ti, the nerves had nothing to do with eting the family and everything to do with the secret I was carrying.
Sebastian hadn’t said much during the drive, but I could feel him watching . Quiet, intense, like he was studying every shift in my expression.
I felt like a science experint under glass do.
Behind us, a white sedan and a black sports car pulled into the circular driveway, tires crunching over the gravel.
Two won stepped out of the sedan. Harper wore a slightly wrinkled suit, and her makeup had faded in the heat. She looked tired but didn’t seem to care. She was all business, like always.
Yvonne stood beside her. She looked completely different. Her hair was flawless, her skin glowed, and her perfu reached before she even said a word.
She looked like she belonged on the cover of a beauty campaign.
Cassian stepped out of the sleek black car behind them.
He wore a loose black satin shirt, white pants, and a grin that said he didn’t take anything too seriously.
He looked more ready for a yacht party than a family dinner.
Harper and Yvonne both turned toward him, eyes lighting up.
"Hello there," Cassian said with effortless charm.
They exchanged nas and smiles, and within seconds, they were in perfect harmony.
I waved at them from where I stood next to Sebastian.
"Stop waving. They’re not blind," Sebastian muttered, barely moving his lips.
"They’re walking too slowly. I’ll go et them halfway," I said, taking a step forward.
His hand landed on my elbow before I could go far. It was firm, not rough.
The kind of touch that scread-- I’m keeping you right here.
"Be careful. Don’t trip. Zaria, bring Cecilia so slippers," he said.
His voice didn’t sound demanding. It felt protective. Like it ca naturally to him.
"Don’t push yourself. Those shoes aren’t great for your... condition."
I froze.
My entire body tensed. My heart skipped a beat.
Had he just said that? In front of everyone?
I glanced quickly at the others, but no one reacted. Maybe they hadn’t caught it. Or maybe they were just pretending not to.
I wanted to snap back, to roll my eyes, to say sothing witty. But I was too afraid I’d say too much.
So I just nodded.
"Do you... feel unwell?" he asked quietly.
I lowered my eyes. "Obviously. I caught a cold."
It was the only excuse I had, and it sounded thin even to .
He didn’t reply, just kept staring at with that unreadable look. Not angry or confused. Just... focused.
His eyes were too steady, like he was already ten steps ahead of .
My heart was racing. Heat crept up the back of my neck. I wasn’t ready for this conversation. Not here. Not now.
I glanced at the house, searching for escape, even though I knew there wasn’t one.
Zaria jogged over with her eyebrows raised. "Slippers? Seriously?"
Still, she didn’t argue. She spun around and headed back inside, passing the others as they arrived.
"Cassian, Harper, Yvonne! You made it!" she called out.
Cassian grinned. "Where are you running off to?"
"Sebastian wants slippers for Cecilia," she said, shrugging.
"He’s worried she’ll trip in those heels or sothing."
Harper and Yvonne shared a glance.
Not suspicious, exactly. Just... curious. Like the kind of look friends give each other when they know sothing’s up but aren’t ready to ask.
I couldn’t bla them. I was wearing four-inch stilettos on a gravel driveway, and Sebastian was acting like I was about to faint.
Why was he so fixated on the damn slippers?
"Please don’t be weird in front of the guests," I whispered to Sebastian, trying to keep my voice light.
Harper and Yvonne were watching us now, their expressions caught between confusion and concern.
Zaria appeared with a pair of soft house slippers.
"Here you go, Cecilia."
"Thanks," I said, forcing a smile as I slipped out of my heels.
The slippers felt like a small rcy in the middle of a very strange evening.
Sebastian placed a steady hand on my lower back and started guiding toward the garden.
The pressure was gentle, but it made feel like I was being escorted... or worse, handled.
I glanced up at him. This didn’t feel like a dinner invitation. It felt like being walked into a trap I couldn’t escape.
What was I going to do? Push him away? Start an argunt in front of everyone?
Let’s be honest, I couldn’t even fight off one of his fingers if he didn’t want to.
And if I pissed him off... I had no idea what he’d do.
Take the baby and disappear? It sounded dramatic, but not impossible.
This wasn’t just fear talking. I knew what Sebastian was capable of.
His charm looked polished and effortless, like a designer suit. But underneath, everything was calculated and controlled.
He never raised his voice because he didn’t need to. He stayed calm because he always had a plan.
If he ever stopped pretending to be the gentleman... I didn’t want to know how far he’d go.
We walked ahead, and the others followed.
Harper, Yvonne, and Cassian weren’t exactly whispering, but their voices were just low enough to suggest they thought I couldn’t hear.
"Is it just , or is Sebastian acting weird?" Harper muttered.
"Super weird," Yvonne replied. "He’s treating her like she’s about to shatter."
I bit my cheek to stop myself from turning around. The last thing I needed was for them to start guessing what I hadn’t even figured out myself.
My hand started to move toward my stomach. It was automatic, instinctive.
But I caught myself halfway and let it fall back to my side.
This dinner was going to feel like forever.
Reviews
All reviews (0)