94 What Happened That Night
Hazel’s POV
The watch gleamed in Sebastian’s outstretched hand, its expensive face catching the light My breath caught in my throat as recognition dawned on me
“You left it at my apartment Sebastian explained, his voice even I took it off when ! was helping clean you up after you got sick. Must have forgotten to grab it on my way
Out
Mortification crashed over me in waves. The mental image of Sebastian Sinclair-
billionaire business magnate, the man who’d been haunting my thoughts-cleaning up my vomit was almost too much to bear
I would have called sooner, but..” He hesitated, his usual confidence wavering “T wasnt sure if you’d think I was making up an excuse to see you
The sincerity in his eyes struck me like a physical blow. After everything I’d accused
im of he was worried about how I might interpret his intentions. Guilt twisted in my stomach, sharp and insistent.
“Sebastian. 1-” I swallowed hard. “About what happened earlier I owe you an apology.
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
“I accused your family of some terrible things. Thinking your kindness was just a ploy to get my blood because I’m RH-negative. The words tasted bitter as they left my mouth. “I was completely out of line.
Sebastian’s expression shifted from confusion to disbelief, then suddenly
unexpectedly, he laughed The sound was warm and genume completely at odds with the composed businessman image he usually projected
“Is that what’s been bothering you?” He shook his head amusement dancing in his eyes. “Hazel you already accused me of this when you were drunk
My eyes widened what?”
You were quite adamant about it actually His lips quirked up of the corners said, and I quote I know what you want you want to harvest my organs because Um
You
special blood
I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. “Oh my God I whispered covering my lace with my hands didn’t
You absolutely did.” Sebastian was clearly enjoying my mortification. “You made me promise not to take your kidneys in the middle of the night
1 pecked at hun between my fingers. And you still helped me home after that?”
“What can I say? I found your paranoia oddly charming His smile softened Though I do wonder where you got the idea that my family has some nefarious interest in rare blood types
Flowered my hands slowly, embarrassment giving way to curiosity “You really don’t know about the rumors?”
“Enlighten me.”
“There’s talk in certain circles that the Sinclair family’s wealth comes from medical experiments.” I watched his face carefully as I spoke. “That you collect people with rare genetic traits for research.
Sebastian’s expression darkened momentarily before setting into something
unreadable. “People will create stories to explain what they don’t understand,” he said finally. “My family’s wealth comes from generations of strategic investments and technological innovation, not sci-fi horror plots.
The way he said it made me believe him completely. I felt foolish for ever considering such outlandish rumors
I’m sorry: I said again, the words feeling inadequate
‘Don’t be. I’d rather you speak your concerns directly to me than harbor suspicions His gaze was steady on mine. Is there anything else you’ve been wondering about that night?
Heat crept up my neck “What else did I do or say when I was drunk
Something flickered across Sebastian’s face- so quick I almost missed at. His eyes dropped briefly to nus lips before darting away
Nothing worth tentioning” he said, a bit too casually “You fell asleep pretty quickly
once we got to your apartment
The slight hesitation in his voice set off alarm bells in my head. Sebastian Sinclair was many things, but a good liar wasn’t one of them at least not with me
You re not telling me something, I said, leaning forward slightly. “What happened that night?
He shifted in his seat, uncharacteristically uncomfortable “Hazel, you were drunk
Whatever you said or did-
Sa Land do something” I interrupted, my anxiety spiking. “Was it embarrassing? Did I CIN Make inappropriate confessions
Sebastian sighed, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair-a rare gesture of gemane discomfort. It’s not important
It is to me. I reached across the table, surprising us both by placing my hand over his “Please, Sebastian. Not knowing is worse than whatever the truth might be
The moment stretched between us, charged with something I couldn’t quite name Sebastian’s gaze dropped to our hands before returning to my face, his expression softening.
“You were vulnerable,” he said finally. “You told me about Alistair, about how he betrayed you after everything you’d done for him
My throat tightened That’s all?”
“You mentioned feeling unlovable.” His voice grew quieter. “That perhaps there was Something fundamentally wrong with you that made people leave
The revelation hit me like a punchy to the gut. Those were my deepest insecurities. things I’d never admitted aloud to anyone
“And then what happened? I whispered, both dreading and needing to hear the
answer
Sebastian hesitated. You asked me to stay with you until you fell asleep. You were afraid of beng alone
There was something in his tone that fold me he was stiff holching back A memory stirred at the edges of my cost tetrafless soincrfing about avarmonps aganist idne
strong arms holding me close fd dismissed it as a dream, but now..
paused, gathering courage. “Did I try to kiss you
Sebastian’s eyes widened slightly-confirmation enough. Embarrassment flooded through me, hot and overwhelming
Oh God
I groaned, pulling my hand back and covering my face. “I’m so sorry. That was completely inappropriate
Hazel Sebastian’s voice was gentle but firin “Look at me
Trelostantly lowered my hands, bracing myself for his discomfort or pity.
Instead, his expression held something else entirely-a warmth that made my heart
stutter
You have nothing to apologize for, he said quietly. “Nothing happened that either of us needs to regret.
The careful way he phrased it made me pause. “But I did try to kiss you, didn’t I?”
Sebastian’s silence was answer enough
And you stopped me.” I concluded, fresh mortification washing over me. “Because! was drunk and making a fool of myself.
I stopped you because any man with a shred of decency wouldn’t take advantage of someone in that state be corrected firmly. “Not because I didn’t want
He cut himself off, jaw tightening as if he’d said too much
My pulse quickened. “Not because you didn’t want what?”
Our eyes locked across the table the air between us suddenly electric with unspoken possibilities. Sebastian opened his mouth then closed it again, clearly weighing his words carefully
“Not because i didn’t want to he finally admitted his voice dropping to a near whisper. But what I want isn’t unportant What matters is that you were vulnerable and deserved respect
The admission hung between as hanging everything and nothing all at once in that moment sebastien Salate wasu i the tubidaling billionate or mix divsterious
m
eheluctor – he was simply a man who had cared enough to protect me, even from
Sebastian.” I began, not entirely sure what I wanted to say next
His phone buzzed loudly, breaking the moment. He glanced down at it, his expression shifting back to professional detachment
“Thave Tomake this he said, already standing. “Business emergency
I nodded both relieved and disappointed by the interruption
Sebastian pansed looking down at me with an expression I couldn quite read Fon what it’s worth, Hazel, there’s nothing wrong with you. The people who left-that’s on
Before I could respond, he walked away, phone pressed to his car, leaving me with more questions than answers about what really happened that night-and what it meant for whatever was developing between us.
