Chapter 223

By the time we finished training, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. Exhaustion weighed on me like a second skin, and all I wanted was to return to the mansion—to Sebastian. The memory of his fingers grazing my arm earlier sent a shiver down my spine, my cheeks flushing at the thought. A small, secretive smile tugged at my lips.

"What are you smiling at?" Sebastian's voice cut through my thoughts. I froze mid-step as I turned the corner, finding him leaning casually against the corridor wall, arms crossed over his broad chest.

"Just thinking," I teased, brushing past him toward the bathroom. But his hand shot out, fingers wrapping around my wrist, spinning me back to face him. In an instant, my back met the wall, his body caging me in. Heat flared under my skin, my breath hitching as his proximity sent sparks through my veins.

We were alone—thankfully—because if anyone saw us like this, the rumor mill would never stop churning.

"What were you thinking about?" he murmured, lips quirking in that infuriating smirk. My pulse hammered wildly as I met his gaze.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?" I shot back, wiggling in vain against his hold. His grip only tightened, pinning me effortlessly. Before I could protest, his lips crashed onto mine, igniting a fire that raced through every nerve.

His kiss was softer than I expected, his lips moving against mine with practiced ease. A teasing swipe of his tongue against my bottom lip had me parting for him without hesitation. A soft moan escaped me as I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer.

Celeste’s words echoed in my mind: He deserves someone who will stay, no matter what.

Was that me? Could I trust my heart to another man after Donovan had shattered it so completely? What if Sebastian hurt me the same way? Did he even want something real with me?

Questions swirled, but right now, all I wanted was his mouth on mine. He lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist as his hands slid beneath my shirt, tracing the bare skin of my back. The bathroom door loomed ahead—until a scream shattered the moment like glass.

Sebastian dropped me so fast I barely registered the impact before my back hit the floor with a painful thud. A sharp curse slipped past my lips as he bolted down the corridor toward the commotion.

Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up, only to hiss in pain as a sharp ache shot through my leg. I hadn’t even realized I’d hurt it in the fall.

"Miss Lillian?" Marcus’s voice startled me as he rounded the corner. "Are you all right?" He rushed forward, steadying me before I could collapse again.

"Just a clumsy fall," I muttered, forcing a smile. "Who screamed?"

"Victoria took a tumble down the stairs," he said, brows furrowed. "Sebastian’s with her now. He wants you taken home."

"What about the paparazzi?" I asked, wincing as I tested my weight on my injured leg.

Marcus chuckled. "Sebastian handled it. The stories were pulled, and after his threats, they won’t dare cross him again." He slipped an arm around my waist, guiding me toward the foyer.

Sebastian stood there, cradling a sobbing Victoria. His glare snapped to Marcus the second we entered.

"Where the hell were you?" he growled.

Marcus blinked. "You said to take Lillian home—"

"Frederick can do that. This is more important," Sebastian snapped. "We need to get to the hospital. Now."

The words stung like a slap. Of course, his daughter came first—but the way he dismissed me without a second glance cut deeper than I expected.

Marcus hesitated, glancing at me. "Will you be okay?"

I nodded, forcing another smile. "Go."

He released me, and I barely caught myself against the wall as Sebastian stormed past, Victoria in his arms. Just before they disappeared, her eyes met mine—and I swore I saw the ghost of a smirk on her lips.

Had she done this on purpose?

Third Person POV

"Your tutoring session is over already?" Victoria asked, poking her head out of her bedroom as Oliver passed by.

He nodded. "Yeah. We’ve been at it all day."