Chapter 78

Chapter 78

BLAIRE

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I couldn't help but suppress a smile as I observed him fumble,

attempting to compose himself. He even discreetly blew on his hand,

checking his breath. After clearing his throat, he finally spoke up.

“Can I excuse myself for a minute? I'll be back shortly,” he stammered.

There's a fear in his eyes, probably thinking that I'm going to disappear

the moment he turns his back.

I raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. “You're fine,” I reassured him.

“This won't take long. I'll be back in five minutes,” he insisted,

determination evident in his voice as he made his way towards the door

behind him. With a deliberate gesture, he left the door ajar, affording

me a glimpse of the room beyond. Inside, I could see a meticulously

arranged set of furniture, each piece hinting at a level of refinement and

elegance.

Watching him go into the room, I felt really curious. It looked like this

was where he lived now.

I waited for another few minutes before he came out of the room. His

hair was a little bit damp, probably from washing his face. He had also

changed into a clean shirt before he took the chair across from me.

Despite the dark circle under his eyes, he still looks as handsome as

ever.

“Where are you planning to stay?” I asked directly.

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He was caught off guard by my sudden bluntness. I don't need to beat

around the bush. I came here for one reason only, and that is to give

him a chance to be a father to Blaze. Everything between us was over.

The only thing that connects us is

our son.

“I have a few properties around the city,” he answered.

Of course, he does. What am I thinking? He owns a multi-billion-dollar

company, and of course, he has other properties he can stay at.

“I'm sure you didn’t come here just to ask me that,” he said while

fidgeting with his fingers. He looks nervous, which I don't see often.

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“Yes, you're right. I came here to talk about Blaze,” I started.

He was stunned upon hearing that. “What about Blaze? Is he okay?” he

asked worriedly.

“He’s fine. He's getting better every day,” I replied.

He let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that. “That's good,” he said.

“He wanted to meet you,” I said.

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He suddenly looked pale as he stared at me. He was too stunned to

speak. I saw him try to open his mouth, but nothing came out. He looks

like he is about to faint any minute now.

“Breath, Sebastian,” I reminded him when it seemed like he had

forgotten to breathe.

“Did you tell him who I was?" he stammered, the question hanging

heavily in the air. It was clear that he struggled to comprehend the

reality of the situation.

“I didn’t need to,” I replied softly. “You gave yourself away when you

cried out for him last night. He's a perceptive child.”

A chuckle escaped his lips. “I'm well aware of that,” he admitted. “I've

only spoken to him once, but even then, I could see how remarkably

mature he is for his age. He has a keen understanding of the world

around him.”

Sebastian's admission offered a glimpse into his thoughts, revealing a

side of him I hadn't anticipated. It was as if a veil had been lifted,

allowing me to see beyond the facade he often presented to the world.

“He’s been through a lot,” I added, my voice softening with empathy.

“But he’s resilient, just like his father.”

A flicker of gratitude crossed Sebastian's features at my words, his

expression betraying a hint of vulnerability. It was a rare moment of

connection between us, one that hinted at the possibility of

reconciliation and understanding.

As we lingered in that moment of mutual understanding, I sensed a

shift in the air, a tentative hope blossoming between us. Despite the

complexities of our past, there was a glimmer of possibility for a

brighter future.

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Chapter 78

“I want to make things right,” Sebastian confessed, his voice tinged with

determination. “For him and for us.”

His words stirred a mix of emotions within me, reigniting a flicker of

hope amid the lingering part of me dared to believe in the possibility of

doubts. While redemption and reconciliation, another part remained

resolute in its purpose.

“There's no more chance for us, Sebastian,” I stated firmly, my tone

leaving no room for misunderstanding. “You've had your opportunities,

and they've slipped through your fingers time and time again. I'm here

solely for Blaze. He deserves the chance to know his father, regardless

of our past.”

As the weight of my words settled between us, I could see the

acceptance in Sebastian's eyes. It was a bittersweet acknowledgment

of the reality we faced, a recognition that while our paths diverged long

ago, there was still hope for a new beginning for Blaze's sake.

Sebastian nodded solemnly, accepting the truth of my words. Despite

the

disappointment that lingered in the air, there was a shared

understanding between us—an acknowledgment of our respective

roles in Blaze’'s life.

“I understand,” Sebastian replied, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.

“This is more than enough for me.”

His words sparked a glimmer of optimism within me, a cautious hope

that perhaps, despite our tumultuous history, Sebastian was ready to

step up and embrace his role as a father.

“I'm willing to give you a chance,” I said, my voice softening with

sincerity. “But know that this is your last opportunity. Make it count.”

With a silent nod of agreement, we both understood that the road

ahead would be fraught with challenges. But for Blaze's sake, we were

willing to set aside our differences and work towards a brighter future-

one filled with love, forgiveness, and the promise of a newfound family

bond.

“I will try my best to make everything right.”

“I hope you do.”

“You have no idea how happy I am right now,” he said.

“This is your one and only chance, Sebastian. If you mess this up, I will

never

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Chapter 78

forgive you.”

“I'll remember that,” he answered.

We were surrounded by an awkward silence. He was smiling as he

stared at me with love and admiration. I commended him for choosing

to let go despite his eagerness to be part of Blaze's life. However, life

has other plans for us. It seems like I have to accept now that our lives

will forever be entangled. No matter how hard I try to stay away from

him, there's always a force that will bring us back together.

“Since I already made myself clear, let's talk about our setup.”

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“I'm happy with whatever setup you want, Blaire. I'm already grateful

that you allow me to be a part of my son's life. Just let me know how

you want to do it,” he said.

n

+5

“Good. At least we're clear that we're going to do this on my terms,” I

replied. “Blaze and I can't stay here. We have a life back in

, and that's where we want to settle. We're going back as soon as

Blaze's condition has become stable. As for you, you are free to visit

him whenever you want. You can also call him anytime.”

“My parents want to meet him. Can I bring him when I visit my folks?

You can also come if you want,” he offered.

I can't say I have a particularly close relationship with Sebastian's

parents. Throughout our marriage, we've only crossed paths a handful

of times. They've always had a rather unconventional approach to

retirement, opting for frequent cruises to satisfy their wanderlust and

desire for adventure.

As a result, our interactions have been limited to occasional family

gatherings or special occasions when they happen to be ashore.

Despite the distance between us, there's always been mutual respect

and cordiality whenever we do meet, but I've never quite felt like a part

of their inner circle.

“I think I'm good. You can take Blaze with you even without me on the

condition that you're not going to do the same stunt you pulled when

you kidnapped Blaze from the hospital,” I reminded.

He lowered his head as if he were embarrassed by what he had done.

“I won't, I promise,” he replied.

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“Then we're good. As long as you don’t do anything that we haven't

talked about, Do you want to add anything?” I asked him.

“No, I'm good,” he answered.

+5

We were once engulfed by an awkward silence. Our eyes locked, and I

immediately felt the strong tension between us. I suddenly regret

looking into his eyes, because now I can see passion and light in his

eyes. He yearns for me,

and so do I.

I didn’t notice that I had been holding my breath the whole time we

were looking into each other’s eyes. He was about to step forward to fill

the gap separating us when my feet automatically stepped back. It was

as if my whole body went into autopilot and defense mode. I quickly

saw the disappointment spread through his eyes when he saw my

reaction.

I didn’t mean to react that way, but it seems like my body has a different

plan. After all that had happened, I hadn't realized that I'd been in

constant defensive mode when it came to Sebastian. Despite our

agreement, there's still fear inside me that he will do something to hurt

me and my son.

“I'm sorry,” he quickly apologized when he noticed my reaction. “Do

ride? I can drive you home,” he offered.

you

need a

I blew a silent sigh of relief once he decided to take a step back. “No,

thanks, I'll just take a cab. I'll go ahead,” I said. I didn’t give him any

chance to object. I quickly grabbed my purse and headed towards the

door. But I didn’t even take a few when his phone rang. I have no plans

to listen to his conversation, but I was startled when Sebastian

suddenly raised his voice.

“What? I can't understand you, Candice. Talk slowly,” he said.

steps

I stopped my track and turned in his direction. I can't explain it, but

somehow, I can sense that there's something wrong.

“What the fck happened?” Panic was evident in his voice.

I became more curious because I hadn't seen Sebastian panic like this.

I immediately knew something was wrong. My heart started pounding

when I realized that something had happened back at the house.

I walked briskly towards Sebastian and snat ched the phone from his

hand.

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“Candice, this is Blaire? What's happening back there?” I asked, trying

to calm myself despite my inner turmoil.

“Blaire...” she began, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and

disbelief.

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“Candice, please, just tell me what's going on!” I couldn't help but raise

my voice; the suspense was becoming unbearable.

“It all happened so suddenly,” Candice explained, her words coming out

in a rush. “The next thing I knew, armed men were barging into the

house. And Blaze..."

My thoughts immediately went to Blaze. My heart raced at Candice’s

words, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins as I tried to

make sense of the situation. Armed men invading our home? It seemed

unfathomable, like something out of a nightmare.

“Where's Blaze? What happened to Blaze?" I demanded that my

concern for Blaze and our safety override any other thoughts. “Candice,

tell me what happened to my son?!" I wanted to stay calm, but panic

had already consumed me.

“They took him, Blaire. I'm so sorry.” Candice choked out between so

bs, her words piercing through me like icy daggers. I wanted to believe

it was all a terrible mistake, a cruel trick of the mind, but the reality of

her words hit me like a freight train.

They had taken my son. My innocent, beloved child. The thought sent a

chill down my spine, leaving me numb and paralyzed with fear.

Sebastian's offer to drive me home broke through the haze of shock

that enveloped me. Despite my silence, he wrapped his hands around

my shoulders, offering the silent strength that I desperately needed in

that moment.

“You have to be strong, Blaire.” Sebastian's voice cut through the

silence, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness threatening to consume

me. “Our son needs us,” he reminded me.

His words were a reminder that I couldn't afford to fall apart, not when

my son needed me more than ever. With a newfound determination

coursing through my veins, I nodded silently, allowing Sebastian to lead

me towards the car. Though my heart ached with uncertainty and fear, I

knew that I had to find the strength to fight for my son, no matter what it

took.

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