novelxo 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. 1/4
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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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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.