BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 70 : Whispers and Fists

Chapter 70 : Whispers and Fists

I hadn't seen Sebastian since our arrival, likely lost in a crowd of admirers. Just as I was about to step outside for some air, I saw him approaching, two drinks in hand. He sat down beside me, handing me one of the drinks.

"Sebastián, I told you I'm not drinking tonight," I reminded him, slightly irritated.

"Come on, Emily. One drink won't hurt. Keep me company," he coaxed, his voice gentle.

I took the drink, sipped it, and then set it down, my mind elsewhere.

Sebastián's gaze was intense, fixated on me, as if he was wrestling with something he wanted to say. "What's up, Sebastian? You look like you've got something on your mind. Spit it out," I urged, curiosity piqued by his solemn demeanor.

Sebastián's gaze was unyielding, his eyes drilling into mine with an intensity that seemed to reveal a storm of emotions beneath his usual playful exterior. "What's going on, Sebastian? You look like you're wrestling with something," I prodded, my voice firm yet laced with concern.

"Emily," he began, the words tumbling out over the pulsating beat of the music. His tipsiness was evident, yet there was a sobering seriousness in his tone. "You're very beautiful... you know that, right?"

His words sent a ripple of discomfort through me. "Sebastián, you can't say that to me. Remember, I'm just your ride tonight," I reminded him gently, trying to steer the conversation away from dangerous waters.

He let out a chuckle, a sound rich with charm and disarming warmth. "I know, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the view. You're stunning, Emily. Anyone would be blind not to see that."

His compliment, though flattering, made me uneasy. I had always seen his flirtations as part of his charismatic personality, nothing serious. But now, under the intensity of his gaze, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more behind his words. I took another sip of my drink, the cool liquid barely soothing the growing unease within me.

Sebastián, perhaps sensing my discomfort, leaned back, creating a semblance of space between us. "You're waiting for him, aren't you? For Luke to return and sweep you off your feet," he said, his voice tinged with a blend of sadness and resignation.

I nodded, my heart aching with the truth of his words. "Yes, I am. Luke and I are supposed to talk about getting back together tonight," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

He exhaled sharply, a sound that seemed to carry years of pent-up frustration. "I know. And I envy him, you know. Luke's always been the golden boy, the one everyone loves more... Shit, even my mother prefers him."

he said, his gaze clouding over with a mixture of sadness and bitterness.

Seeing his pain, I reached out, placing a hand over him. "Sebastián, I'm truly sorry for everything you've been through. But you have to believe me when I say that Luke cares about you, probably more than you realize."

I held his gaze, my words earnest and heartfelt. "Luke never stopped looking for you, and neither did your mother. She loved you, Sebastián, she really did."

But he shook his head, disbelief etching his features. "It sure as hell doesn't feel like love when you're left behind with the devil himself while they run off together, she left me to fend for myself, taking only Luke and leaving me with a monster." He spat out, the bitterness in his voice palpable.

His words were raw, a deep-seated hurt emanating from them. I reached out, placing a comforting hand on his. "Sebastián, I know it's hard to believe, but you were loved. And you still are, especially by Luke. He's your brother, and he'll always be there for you.

He paused, his voice trailing off into a somber silence. "You know, he put me through hell." I suspected he meant his father, but I needed to hear it confirmed. "Your father, is he the one who did this to you?" I gently probed.

Sebastian's voice, now fragile and heavy with sorrow, barely broke the silence. "Yes, my father... he forced me into unspeakable acts, things I'm haunted by. He was adamant about molding me into his own image, Emily."

My heart clenched in sympathy. It was rare for Sebastian to delve into the darkness that clouded his past. "I fought against it at first, but he broke me down. I ended up causing pain, sometimes even to those who didn't deserve it," he confessed, his gaze meeting mine, laden with an immeasurable sadness. "I'm not a good person, Emily. I'm as damaged as he was."

His confession mirrored Luke's own tormented self-perception, a stark reminder of the deep scars they both bore. "I'm just as damaged," Sebastian reiterated, his voice steeped in resigned sorrow.

I looked deep into his eyes, my heart swelling with empathy. "Sebastian, that's not true. You are more than your past," I whispered, hoping my words would light a spark in the darkness that surrounded him. My hand gently cupped his cheek, a gesture meant to break through his self-doubt. "You've risked everything for me, Sebastian. That's not what a bad person does. You are not your father, and you are not damaged."

He remained silent, his intense gaze flickering between my eyes, as if searching for truth or understanding. After a moment, he mirrored my gesture, his hands gently cradling my face. "I'll try to believe that," he whispered, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

In a whirlwind of movement, the night turned chaotic. Fists blurred in my vision, one landing squarely on Sebastian, sending him reeling off his stool. Shock paralyzed me for a moment, but I quickly gathered my wits and helped Sebastian to his feet. Looking up, my eyes locked with Luke's, ablaze with unbridled fury.