Chapter 3

Chapter 3

BLAIRE

I stepped out of the airport and was immediately hit by the bustling city

sounds. The h onking horns, the traffic, and the hurried footsteps

created at stark contrast to the serene atmosphere of Hawaii that I had

grown accustomed to.

It felt like I had entered a different world. The lush landscapes and

soothing waves of the ocean in Hawaii seemed like a distant dream

compared to the concrete jungle before me. Although I longed to return

to the peaceful island, my father’s health was my top priority. I needed

to ensure he was okay before I could go back to my life there.

My father’s health had taken a turn, and I was here as a concerned

daughter rather than a reluctant visitor. My father had always been

there for me, offering wisdom and guidance, and it was my turn to

ensure he received the best care.

My arrival in the city was meant to be discreet; only Hubert, my father’s

loyal secretary, was aware of my presence. Therefore, I was taken.

completely off guard when an expensive car pulled up in front of me.

Assuming it was meant for another passenger, I quickly stepped aside

to allow it to pass. To my utter shock, two men emerged from the car

and advanced briskly toward me.

My eyes widened as they grabbed my arm with surprising force and

ushered me into the car. Panic welled up inside me, and I was on the

verge of calling for help when I noticed a cold, unwelcome presence

sitting comfortably in the car. It was none other than Sebastian, my ex-

husband.

I was so worried about my father that it completely slipped my mind

what he said when he called me.

Sebastian's piercing gaze met mine as I entered the car. His face bore

the characteristic detached expression that had become so familiar

during our tumultuous marriage. The years we had spent together had

been marked by emotional distance, and now the sight of him in this

unexpected and unwelcome encounter sent a shiver down my spine.

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“Surprise? Didn't I tell you I'd pick you up?” Sebastian's voice was as

chilling as his demeanor. His dark eyes seemed to bore into my soul,

and for a moment, I was transported back to a time when our lives were

inexplicably entwined.

My initial surprise and fear began to shift into a mixture of anger and

defiance. I had left Sebastian and the pain of our failed marriage

behind. when I sought solace in Hawaii. The island had been my

refuge, the place where I had rediscovered myself and found a new

purpose in life. I couldn't allow Sebastian's sudden appearance to

unravel the peace and healing I had worked so hard to achieve.

“What do you want, Sebastian?” I replied, my voice steady, although

my heart raced. “You know we're divorced, right?”

Sebastian's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “Divorced? That's

funny.”

The confines of the car’s backseat suddenly felt suffocating, and it

wasn't because of the lack of space: Although Sebastian and I were the

only occupants in the car, his overpowering presence seemed to fill

every inch of the vehicle. His cold and detached aura radiated

throughout the drive, making it difficult for me to breathe comfortably.

As the city passed by outside the window, I couldn't escape the feeling

that I was trapped in a situation I had tried so hard to leave behind. The

memories of our tumultuous past together rushed back, and the we his

expectations hung heavily in the air.

“Where are you taking me, Sebastian? I bravely asked.

“You're going to visit your father, aren't you?"

My heart sank at the mention of my father. Despite our strained

relationship, he was still my flesh and blood. The idea that he might be

in danger or distress sent a wave of concern through me.

“What happened to my father?” I demanded, my fear and anger

subsiding. in the face of genuine worry.

Sebastian leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving mine. “Your

father

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Chapter 3

owes a substantial debt, and because of that, he suffered a heart

attack.”

My mind raced to make sense of this revelation. My father had never

been. one to discuss his financial matters with me, and the idea of him

being in debt was a shock. But what did this have to do with Sebastian?

“Why are you involved in this, Sebastian?” I asked, my suspicion

growing.

Sebastian's gaze remained steady. “You think so lowly of me, Blaire.

Do you think I would do anything to harm my father-in-law?”

“I don't trust you, Sebastian. So pardon me if I find it hard to believe

that you have nothing with this.”

Instead of taking offense, Sebastian's lips curled into a wicked smile, at

sight that sent my heart into a frantic race and a shiver down my spine.

It was a peculiar feeling, being face to face with the man from my past,

a man who had been both a source of passion and pain.

“I missed you, Blaire,” he declared, his voice as cool and controlled as

ever.

His words were like a haunting echo from the past. The memories of

our turbulent relationship flooded back into my mind, and I couldn't help

but recall the intense connection we had shared. Despite the many

hardships. and heartaches, there had been moments of undeniable

attraction, moments that left their mark on my heart and soul.

“I can't say the same,” I replied, my voice more resolute than I felt. The

memories of our painful history were too fresh, too vivid, to allow me to

simply welcome his reappearance into my life.

Sebastian's smile remained, as if he found amusement in my response.

“Ah, but you have always been a tough one, Blaire. That's what drew

me to you in the first place.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion. But he remained silent.

The car continued to glide through the city’s labyrinth of streets, and the

distant city lights blurred into a sea of tw inkling stars. Sebastian's eyes

bore into mine, and the tension in the air was palpable. In the silence

that followed, I felt the weight of his gaze, a gaze that had the power to

stir

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both longing and apprehension.

As much as I tried to deny it, I couldn't ignore the complex emotions his

presence had stirred within me. We had been separated for a reason,

and that reason had been a failed marriage marred by betrayal and

hurt. But the past had a way of resurfacing, and now, I found myself

entangled in Sebastian's enigmatic web once again.