"My shirt looks better on you than it ever did on ," he added, his voice lower, almost as if he was talking to himself.
Lilith’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Maybe I’ll keep it then."
Sebastian’s gaze flicked back to her, sharp and possessive.
"Who said you were allowed to take it off?" he said, his voice dipping into a husky, low tone that seed to fill the entire room.
The intensity behind his words made Lilith pause.
Her eyes flickered up to et his, dark and unreadable. But there was sothing else too—heat.
The air between them grew heavier, and for a brief mont, neither of them moved.
Sebastian exhaled slowly, dragging his eyes away from her legs and back to her face.
"Let help you dry your hair," he offered, his tone softening but still holding that dangerous edge. "You might catch a cold."
Lilith arched a brow, but she didn’t refuse.
She crossed her arms, leaning slightly against the dresser. "And if I say no?"
Sebastian’s lips curved faintly.
"Then I’ll have to insist," he replied, picking up the towel from the bed without a word. His fingers brushed against hers briefly as he stepped behind her.
With a gentle nudge, he guided her toward the vanity, his grip firm but careful. Lilith sank into the chair, her eyes lifting to et his through the mirror.
Sebastian’s tall fra stood over her, his expression calm but intense as he carefully began drying her hair. The towel moved slowly, his hands threading through the strands with a tenderness that felt almost too intimate.
Lilith watched him in silence, noticing the slight clench of his jaw as he focused—how his eyes stayed on her reflection just a mont longer than needed.
His touch was light but deliberate, as if every movent held aning.
For a mont, she wondered if he even realized just how soft he was being.
The heat of his hands seeped through the towel, and she felt every brush against her skin like an unspoken confession.
Sebastian didn’t rush.
He worked slowly, carefully, as if this wasn’t just about drying her hair but sothing more.
Her lips curled faintly as she rested her chin on her palm, letting him continue.
Through the mirror, his eyes flickered to hers, locking for a brief mont.
Neither of them looked away.
And for the first ti in a long while, Lilith felt... cared for.
Sebastian’s thumb brushed over the edge of her ear, tilting her head slightly as he dried the last few strands.
His reflection in the mirror leaned in just a little closer.
"Done," he said quietly, his breath warm against her neck.
But his hands didn’t move away imdiately.
Lilith tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze et his in the mirror once more, the tension between them lingering—heavy, but undeniably sweet.
"Let’s have dinner," Sebastian whispered, his voice soft against her ear.
Lilith t his gaze in the mirror for a mont longer before nodding. "Alright."
He stepped back, offering his hand to help her up. Lilith followed behind him as they made their way downstairs.
The dining room felt warm and welcoming, with the soft glow of the chandelier reflecting off the polished table. Maids moved gracefully around, carefully placing dishes filled with rich, comforting food that filled the air with a delicious aroma.
Sebastian pulled out a chair for her, and Lilith sat, watching as he took the seat across from her.
The first few monts passed in quiet as they began eating. But the question had been lingering at the back of Lilith’s mind since she stepped into Rose Manor.
Finally, she set her fork down gently and glanced up at him.
"Why does your grandmother treat Rose like that?" she asked, her voice careful but direct.
Sebastian’s hand paused, his knife still pressing against his plate. For a brief second, his entire fra tensed.
Lilith noticed imdiately.
His gaze lifted to hers, unreadable, but the flicker in his eyes was impossible to miss.
He took a breath, setting his silverware aside with deliberate calm.
"Because..." he started, his voice even but hollow, "we’re her step-grandchildren."
Lilith’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Sebastian’s expression remained neutral, his posture straight. But the way his fingers lightly tapped against the edge of his glass betrayed the emotion he was holding back.
"Step-grandchildren?" Lilith repeated softly.
Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting briefly to the large window beside them, where rain continued to drizzle against the glass.
"My grandfather... was married to soone else before her. Rose and I co from that marriage." His voice carried no bitterness—only a quiet, distant acceptance.
Lilith didn’t press further, sensing there was more to the story than he was willing to share at the mont.
Instead, she let her eyes settle on him, quietly observing the man who always seed calm but carried more than he let show.
"Rose has ," Sebastian added after a pause, his gaze returning to Lilith’s. "That’s all that matters."
Lilith’s lips curled into a faint smile. "She’s lucky to have a brother like you."
Sebastian’s eyes softened just a little, but he said nothing more, returning to his al in silence.
"What about you?" he asked suddenly, his voice calm but curious.
Lilith glanced at him, swirling her spoon lightly in the bowl before replying, "I’m an orphan." Her tone was casual, as if it were just a simple fact.
Sebastian’s eyes lingered on her longer than necessary, his brow subtly furrowing.
For a mont, silence hung between them, broken only by the soft clink of utensils and the distant patter of rain outside.
Then, setting his fork down with quiet finality, he looked at her, his gaze intense but warm.
"Not anymore," Sebastian said, his voice low and certain.
Lilith raised a brow, tilting her head slightly.
"You have ," he added, leaning back in his chair as if what he said was the most natural thing in the world.
Lilith’s lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the simplicity in his words—the weight behind them.
Her eyes searched his face, but Sebastian wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t teasing.
He ant it.
The warmth that flickered in her chest startled her, though she masked it quickly with a small smirk.
"Is that right?" she asked, resting her chin on her palm.
Sebastian’s gaze softened slightly, but the intensity remained.
"Yeah," he replied, picking up his glass and taking a sip, his eyes never leaving hers.
Lilith didn’t respond right away.
But as she watched him, a part of her—one she hadn’t acknowledged in a long ti—felt sothing unfamiliar.
Safe.
After finishing their al, Sebastian quietly followed Lilith back upstairs to the guest room. His footsteps were light, but his presence lingered close behind her, as if reluctant to let her out of his sight.
When they reached the room, Lilith turned to face him, leaning casually against the doorfra.
Sebastian’s gaze flickered around the room briefly before settling back on her.
"If you need anything... you can call ," he said softly, his hand lingering on the edge of the door.
Lilith’s eyes t his, reading the subtle hesitation in his expression—the part of him that didn’t quite want to leave.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as she crossed her arms. "I’ll be fine. I promise not to disappear overnight," she teased lightly.
Sebastian’s lips twitched, but he didn’t fully smile.
"I’m holding you to that," he replied, lingering for just a second longer.
With a final glance at her, he stepped back and quietly closed the door behind him.
The soft click filled the room, and Lilith exhaled, allowing the quiet to wrap around her.
Yet as she stood there, she couldn’t ignore the feeling that his warmth remained, lingering long after he was gone.
***
Sebastian paused for a mont outside Lilith’s door, listening to the soft sounds coming from inside. When everything grew quiet, he let out a small breath and walked downstairs, his steps firm and steady.
Instead of going to his study or the main hall, he turned left and stopped by a hidden part of the staircase. He pressed gently against the wall, and a secret door clicked open, blending perfectly with the rest of the structure.
Sebastian stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit and just large enough to fit a small security office. A group of bodyguards stood inside, their eyes quickly snapping to him as he entered.
A cold, heavy feeling filled the room as Sebastian’s gaze moved over them. His presence alone was enough to grab their attention.
His face hardened, and the shadows in the room made his features look even sharper.
The tension rose imdiately.
"I told you to stay alert," Sebastian said in a low voice that broke the silence. "How did she get inside this house... and dare to touch Rose?"
His sharp eyes landed on Brett, the lead bodyguard.
Brett straightened, but he didn’t look away.
"She caught us off guard, sir. She wasn’t alone, Sienna was with her," Brett explained calmly but respectfully. "We stopped them as soon as we understood what they were trying to do."
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, and the room felt heavier with his displeasure.
"I don’t care who she brought with her," he said, his jaw tightening. "No excuses. If She or Sienna step into this house again without my permission—take care of it."
Sebastian’s cold gaze swept over everyone, making sure they understood exactly what he ant.
Brett lowered his head slightly. "Understood, sir. It won’t happen again."
Sebastian stared at him for a few monts before turning back toward the hidden door.
"Make sure it doesn’t."
As the door shut behind him, the cold look in his eyes remained.
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