109 The Genius I Almost Knew
Hazel’s POV
” wouldn’t call it watching, Sebastian said, his eyes steady on mine More like being
aware of your existence.
I raised an eyebrow. That’s a fine line
Fair enough He smiled slightly “But to answer your question-no, I haven’t been stalking you for twenty years.
“Then how did we end up at the same events? Same circles?” I pressed, needing to understand this connection that spanned decades
Sebastian leaned against the balcony railing. “We’re alumni of the same university.
The revelation hit me like a physical force. “What? I would have remembered seeing you there!
“I saw you,” he said quietly. “Your first day of college. You were standing in the main quad during orientation, looking both terrified and determined.
I tried to picture him there, younger but still imposing. “I don’t recall seeing you
“I was finishing my second year of graduate studies by then. Your path and mine rarely crossed.” His voice held regret. “I wanted to approach you, but
“But what?”
Sebastian’s jaw Lightened. “You were with someone?”
Understanding dawned. “Alistair
He codded. “You seemed.. happy”
“We weren’t dating then” Lelarified memories of that time flooding back “Alistair and I were just triends. We started dating a year later
Something flashed in Sebastian’s eyes-a missed opportunity realized too late
“My studies were demanding” he continued. “I spent six months of that year on a Top-secret project in the desert. When I returned, you and Everett were inseparable
thought back to those early college days trying to magine a younger Sebastian
wat bring me from afar low different night things have been door paths had crossed
“Want, I said as his words fully registered. “Second year of graduate studies? How old
were you?
Sebastian hesitated. “I was nineteen
My eyes widened. “Nineteen and in your second year of graduate school? That’s impossible.
He shrugged, looking almost embarrassed. “I skipped a few grades.”
“A few?” I stared at him incredulously
“I started university at fifteen,” he admitted. “Finished my bachelor’s at seventeen, then went straight into the graduate program.
My mouth fell open. The man before me wasn’t just wealthy and powerful-he was brilliant bevond measure.
“What did you study?” I asked, suddenly curious about this side of him I’d never
considered.
“Quantum physics and advanced robotics,” he said casually, as if discussing the weather rather than some of the most complex subjects on earth.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Of course you did.”
Sebastian smiled, the moonlight softening his features. “My grandfather insisted! needed practical skills too, so I added an MBA.”
“Naturally” I shook my head in amazement. “Is there anything you’re not good at??
His eyes met mine, unexpectedly vulnerable. “Approaching the girl I couldn’t stop
Thinking about
My heart stuttered. How strange to think we’d been in the same place, breathing the
same air, completely unaware of our shared past and potential future
After graduation, Lasked, “you never thought to look me up?”
I did. Sebastian admitted. “By then, you were engaged to Everett
Alirays Silcher fell between us so many missed connections, so many
12 Ne bretts
“The Smelail name carries weight he continued Fould have manufactured a meeting, but what would have been the point You had chosen someone else
I thought about the twisted route my life had taken. “Untill didn’t
“Until you didn’t he agreed quietly
Hleaned against the railing beside him, our shoulders nearly touching. “So when Alistair betrayed mic
“I saw an opportunity Sebastian finished. “Not to exploit your vulnerability, but to
finally step out of the shadows.
His honesty was refreshing. No manipulative games, just straightforward truth.
“You could have told me all this sooner.” I pointed out.
“Would you have believed me?” His question was sincere. “Or would it have seemed like a bizarre story from a stranger?”
He had a point. Without the foundation we’d built over recent weeks, the tale would have seemed far-fetched at best, creepy at worst.
Tell me something I said, turning to face him fully. “With your brain and resources,
you could have any woman in the world. Why fixate on someone from your past?
Sebastian considered my question carefully. I don’t believe in coincidence, Hazel Meeting the same person at three critical junctures in my life-that means something
“Like fate?” I couldn’t keep the skepticism from my voice
“Like recognizing something rare when you see it. His gaze was intense. “You never asked for anything in return for helping me. Not as a child, not now. Do you know how unusual that is in my world?”
Thadn’t thought of it that way. In Sebastian’s life of wealth and power, genuine actions, without ulterior motives must be precious indeed
“So I’m what-your proof that goodness exists?” I challenged
He laughed softly “You’re the woman who saved my life and then built her own
without ever knowing what you meant tone You’re extraordinary, Hazel. Ive always Thought ser
His words warned ine from the inside out How different his adonation felt from Alistairs-no conditions, 10 expectations, just appreciation for who was
I
I don’t know what to say admitted.
You don’t have to say anything: Sebastian replied. “I just wanted you to understand?
I studied his profile in the moonlight-strong, assured, but with a vulnerability I hadn’t noticed before. The brilliant boy who skipped grades, the teenager who nearly
drowned the man who’d been waiting in the wings of my life
“You’re something of a genius, aren’t you? I asked, the magnitude of his
accomplishments settling in
Sebastian’s mouth quirked up at one corner. “Ttest well.”
I laughed at his understatement. “Quantum physics at nineteen. Running a global empire at thirty. Testing well’ doesn’t quite cover it.
He seemed genuinely uncomfortable with the praise. “Intelligence is just one measure of a person. Not the most important one.
His humility only made him more impressive. I tried to imagine Alistair in the same position-he would have leveraged his genius status at every opportunity, worn it like
a crown
Does everyone know?” I asked. “About your academic history?”
Sebastian shook his head “My work speaks for itself. I don’t need people focusing on how young I was when I accomplished things.
I thought about the man beside me with new appreciation. Not just powerful, not just kind but brilliant in ways I couldn’t fully comprehend. Yet he spoke about quantum
fisies with the same casual tone he used to order coffee.
“You’re full of surprises, Sebastian Sinclair, I said softly
“Good ones. Thope.”
I nodded, feeling something shift between us. The distance that had kept us apart
physical emotional temporal- seemed to collapse out if self
Eshould have looked for your harder le said suddenly regret coloring his voice Alter
The river After university
And I should have recognized you when we met again 12ountered. “We both missed
chances
Sebastian turned to face me fully Eni not missing this our
The intensity in his eves made my breath catch This brilliant, powerful man har carried the memory of me through decades, waiting for the right moment to step forward
It was both terrifying and exhilarating.
I’m not sure what happens next. I admitted.
“That’s okay” he said gently. “We have time to figure it out!
Standing beside him under the vast night sky, I felt something I hadn’t experienced in
a long while-possibility. Not the tight, restrictive future I’d planned with Alistair but
an open horizon with countless paths to explore
As I watched the moonlight play across Sebastian’s features, I realized that men like him-brilliant beyond measure yet humble enough to wear it lightly-didn’t inspire
jealousy or competition
They inspired pure admiration.
