Chapter 18

SEBASTIAN

On the thirty-minute ride back to his apartment, all Sebastian could think of was Jayda. Guilt hammered him. He should be there for her. ~With~ her. She shouldn’t have to go through all of this alone, especially if she was sick.

He wished he could take back all that he said to her. He was willing to accept his mistake and do anything in order to be with Jayda and their baby.

He concluded that Lilian was the key to Jayda’s heart. She knew everything about him and Jayda, and yet she’d never said anything, at least not directly.

Sebastian groaned. He felt like a fool when he remembered his last conversation with Lilian. Obviously, there was nobody called Liam. She’d been trying to make him mad—and it had worked.

Even though Lilian and Sebastian were not on good terms, he was willing to make peace with her and plead for her to help him win Jayda and his baby back. That was why he came up with a weird excuse and collected Lilian’s number from Amelia, his younger sister.

***

JAYDA

After Lilian made sure Jayda cleared everything on her plate and took her medicines, she plopped down on the sofa beside her.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you, Lily. Thank you for skipping work today to take care of me,” Jayda said to Lilian.

Lilian smiled. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Are you sure you’ll be able to go to work tomorrow? Maybe you should take one more day off.”

“No, Lily, I promise you that I’m fine. I have a new case to work on. This individual is one of our biggest clients in the firm. Mr. Tucker has appointed three interns and two paralegals to assist me so as to reduce the workload,” Jayda clarified, but she could still see the disapproval on Lilian’s face.

Jayda tried to make her friend feel better. “I think what made me dizzy was because I failed to eat and take my medication this morning. I promise to have my breakfast and take my medicine every morning before I leave for work, and I will also try to leave work early so as to come home and rest.”

Lily nodded.

“How I wish you would let me deal with Sebastian,” she grumbled.

Jayda groaned. “I thought we’ve agreed not to talk about him anymore.”

“That fucking asshole needs to be taught a lesson,” Lily said.

“Lilian,” Jayda warned as she placed her hand over her belly.

Lilian smiled sadly. “Sorry, I get so mad whenever I remember all that he said to you. I wanted Gabriel to arrange some guys to beat him up,” she added.

Jayda smiled at Lilian’s protectiveness. “I appreciate it, but you know I’m not a fan of violence.”

“Do you think he will sign those papers you sent to him?” Lilian asked.

“I don’t know, but I think he will. He is to return the documents to my secretary by noon tomorrow.” Jayda shrugged.

“I’m in a phase where I’m trying to forgive myself for everything and just accept the fact that I have to raise my child alone. To be honest with you, Lilian, I don’t know if I will be able to forget about Sebastian, but I promise I will try my best.”

Lilian nodded. “What if he comes back to, like, maybe ask for forgiveness and declares he wants to be in the child’s life?”

“I’m done with him, and I honestly don’t want him around me. Besides, I don’t see him as someone who will come to apologize for the hurtful words he said to me,” Jayda paused as a horrible thought occurred to her. Miller was a very common last name, but…

“Lily, tell me you don’t have a cousin named Olivia.” She was talking about the new intern who’d started recently.

Lilian’s eyebrows flew up. “That’s Sebastian’s sister. Why?”

“Just when I decided that I don’t want anything to do with the Millers.” Jayda face-palmed.

“Hey, she has no idea you are in any way involved with her brother,” Lilian assured her.

“Maybe I should switch interns. She was appointed with two other interns and two paralegals, including Debbie, to assist me in this new case. I can replace her.”

“That poor thing shouldn’t be paying for her brother’s sins. You needed to see the way she was pleading for me to take good care of you. She adores you, and I’m sure it would mean so much to her to assist you in the case.”

Jayda exhaled. “Her presence will always remind me of her brother, who I’m trying so hard to forget about.”

“The case won’t take forever, Jayda. Don’t break my cousin’s heart,” Lilian pleaded.

“Okay,” Jayda agreed.

She’d just have to find another way to keep Sebastian out of her head.

***

SEBASTIAN

It was almost 9 p.m., and instead of driving to his place, Sebastian drove to Caleb’s apartment. His life was a mess, and he needed to start making things right.

He wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the amount of guilt he was feeling. Settling things with Caleb would be a relief.

Sebastian sighed in defeat. He had been in front of Caleb’s apartment, knocking on the door and pressing the doorbell simultaneously for five minutes, but Caleb refused to open up.

“Caleb, please open the door. Look, I’m sorry for everything I did and said to you; please just open up. I’m miserable without you. You’re my only brother and best friend, I need you, Caleb.

“You were right when you said I’ve turned out to be a cold beast, and I hate myself for saying rubbish about Jayda and accusing you of fucking her.

“I’m really sorry for everything, and I want to make things right. I’m ready to move on from Susan’s betrayal and accept my responsibilities. Please, dude, open up!”

Sebastian finally shouted, not giving a fuck if a third party could hear him. Caleb still refused to open up.

Defeatedly, he sat on the floor by Caleb’s door with his face buried in his hands.

A few minutes later, Caleb reluctantly opened the door. Sebastian stood in relief.

Caleb ushered him into his luxurious, two-bedroom apartment.

Caleb, who was all ready for bed, stood by the door with his arms folded, looking straight into Sebastian’s eyes.

Caleb’s face was not looking friendly, so Sebastian knew his best friend was still mad at him.

“I know you heard everything I said outside. I’m really sorry, bro, our friendship means everything to me. Please forgive me.”

“Are you here because you need my help, or because you’re truly sorry?”

Sebastian hung his head. He wanted Caleb’s advice, but he ~needed~ his best friend back.

“I need my brother to forgive me first, and then anything else can come later,” he confessed.

“I’ll consider your apology…” Caleb was saying but was interrupted by Seb who pulled him into a brotherly hug.

“I need to catch my breath, so can you please get off me.” Caleb chuckled.

CALEB

Sebastian had a sad smile on his face. “Sorry.”

Caleb went to the bar area in his apartment. He took a bottle of wine and two glasses. He poured some wine for Sebastian and himself, then settled on the sofa beside him.

Sebastian let out a sigh and began to explain to Caleb everything that had happened.

Caleb burst into a peal of satisfied laughter. He loved how Jayda handled the whole situation. No doubt she had taught his best friend a lesson that he would never forget.

“I even love her more now,” Caleb confessed, which earned a glare from Sebastian.

“Chill, bro. I don’t mean love in the context of what you feel for her. I mean love in the context of respect. I haven’t met her, but I have so much respect for her already.

“I knew she wasn’t after your money the day she returned what you left her, but I never knew she was someone of a very high position. Damn, I’m really impressed.

“So, what are you going to do now? You’re to return the documents tomorrow. Will you sign them?”

“Of course not. I want to be in their lives,” Sebastian said possessively. “Mom said I should do what Daniel advised. I should go see her and apologize to her.”

“Wow, your mom knows about it?”

“Yes, I went over to the mansion this evening. She talked some sense into me.”

“She’s right, but you’ve done a lot of damage. You can’t expect Jayda to open her arms and accept you as if nothing ever happened.”

“I know. But I’ll keep pleading and trying to win her over.” Sebastian sipped some wine.

“Olivia is currently interning where she works. She said Lilian came over to the firm to take Jayda home because she wasn’t feeling good, and that she heard Lilian was Jayda’s best friend.”

“Lilian, your cousin? The one you’ve never gotten along with?” Caleb asked in disbelief.

“Unfortunately, yes!”

“You really have a long way to go, Seb, and you also have many hearts to win.”

“I know,” Sebastian mumbled. “That’s why I need your help.”

“To be honest, Sebastian, I don’t think there’s anything I can do. At least for now. You have to approach Jayda yourself, make her see that you’re sorry and that you’re a changed person. Then maybe later I can come in to talk to her on your behalf, but the bulk of the work is on you.”

Sebastian nodded in understanding.

“I got Lilian’s number from Amelia. But I would like to reach out to Jayda first before I ask Lilian for any help.”

Sebastian looked at his friend. “I ~have~ to make her see how sorry I am.”

“What if you can’t?”

“I have to,” Sebastian repeated. “I won’t accept any other option.”