Chapter 179
Alex's POV.
The cool night air bit at my face as | helped Sebastian out of the car. He moved slowly, a hand pressed tightly to
his side like he was afraid something might snap loose. His face was pale under the dim porch light, jaw tight
with the kind of pain that would make most men crumble. But Sebastian? He still managed to glare atlike I'd
offended his pride just by being there.
“I don’t need your help, Alex,” he said, his voice hoarse but sharp
“Sure, you don’t,” | replied dryly, keeping a firm grip on his elbow. “You looked real steady when you nearly face-
planted getting out of the car.”
He scowled, a faint flush creeping up his bruised face. “I can walk.”
“Great. Then do it,” | said, not letting go until we reached the front door of the house I'd given him. It wasn’t
nearly as grand as my mansion, but it was good enough to make a point.
I unlocked the door and flipped the lights on, guiding him inside. “Welchome,” | muttered, steering him
toward the couch.
Sebastian grunted as he eased onto the cushions, every movement stiff and deliberate. “You didn’t have to do
this.”
“Yeah, 1 did,” | said, stepping back and crossing my arms. “You can fightabout it later when you're not held
together with duct tape and determination.”
His lips twitched, but the half-smile was more a wince. “Don’t hold your breath.”
| studied him for a moment, my gaze lingering on the swelling around his cheekbone and the cuts that hadn't
fully healed. Every bruise was a reminder of what my mother’s men had done, of how far she’d gone to make a
point. My stomach churned just thinking about it.
“How's the side?” | asked, nodding toward the ribs he was guarding.
“Feels like | got hit by a freight train,” he said, leaning back gingerly. “But hey, at least I'm not dead. Small
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtvictories.”
“You're not as funny as you think you are,” | said, shaking my head.
“And you're not as intimidating as you think you are,” he shot back, one corner of his mouth quirking up. “But
here we are.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “You're impossible.”
“And you're predictable,” he said, his gaze sharpening. “So, what's this about? You're not here just to play
nurse.”
| hesitated, the weight of what | needed to say settling heavily on my chest. He already knew about the
kidnapping, but there was more to it...more that he needed to hear.
“Daniel Brooks,” | started, my voice low. “The bastard didn’t just take my kids. He drugged them. Pulled them
right out of school like it was nothing. And when the police went in...”
1 trailed off, the memory slicing throughlike a blade.
Sebastian's expression darkened, his hand clenching into a fist on his lap. “What happened, Alex?”
“When | got there,” | said, my jaw tightening, “I found Christiana standing there... in her underwear. Her eyes
were red, tears streaming down her face. She looked broken. And that despicable man, Daniel, was standing
there like he'd won.”
19:35 Thu, Dec 26
Chapter 179
Sebastian cursed under his breath, his voice laced with venom. “Son of a bitch. If I'd been there...”
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“You weren't,” | snapped, the frustration boiling over. “And neither was I. That's the problem, Sebastian. | wasn’t
there to protect them. | wasn’t there earlier to stop him.”
He leaned forward slightly, wincing but undeterred. “And now?”
“He’s in a cell,” | said coldly. “But that’s not enough. Not for what he did.”
Sebastian nodded slowly, his face unreadable. “It'll never be enough, Alex. Men like him... they don’t deserve
mercy.”
| clenched my fists, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I should've seen it coming. | should've...”
“Stop,” Sebastian interrupted, his tone sharper than before. “You can’t change what happened. You can’t undo it.
But you can make damn sure it doesn’t happen again.”
| looked at him, surprised by the sudden intensity in his gaze.
“You're not used to feeling powerless, are you?” he said, his voice quieter now.
“No,” | admitted, the word bitter on my tongue.
I ” :
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| didn’t respond, the silence stretching between us like a chasm.
Finally, | sighed, sitting down in the
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“Regret what?”
“Being tied to this family. To me. To her.”
He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “Regret implies | had a choice.”
I met his gaze, the unspoken
understanding settling heavily
between us. No eon we
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resentment lingered, we were bound
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“Rest,” | said finally, standing up. “You look like hell.”
Sebastian smirked faintly. “And you look like you haven't slept in a week.”
“Fair point,” | admitted, heading for the door.
“Alex,” he called after me, his tone soft but steady.
| turned, my brow furrowing.
“Thanks,” he said, the word reluctant but genuine.
I nodded once, not trusting myself to speak.