BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 16: You Kissed me

Chapter 16: You Kissed me

Each day, my life seems to weave a more intricate web of complications. Last night, two revelations shattered the fragile semblance of normalcy I had been clinging to. The first was a discovery that left me reeling: Luke, my husband, had been unfaithful.

The evidence was irrefutable, captured in a video that couldn't have been older than seven months. We were already married then, a union now tainted by betrayal. This raised a tormenting question: did his infidelity occur before or after the accident that stole my memories? Our relationship had become distant, devoid of intimacy since the day I woke up with a blank slate for a past. Could he have strayed while I was lost in a coma, or during the vulnerable days of my recovery?

The very thought twisted a knife in my heart. But in the end, the timing seemed inconsequential. The man in that video, with a face and physique so unmistakably Luke's, was a living testament to his deception.

As if this revelation wasn't harrowing enough, I was then jolted by a drunken voicemail from Sebastian. The night's anguish escalated when I returned home, only to find him inebriated, in the arms of another woman.

The stark contrast of the day's events was a cruel joke. It had begun as an idyllic escape, a day spent driving around, basking in the fleeting illusion of contentment. But as night fell, so too did the facade, leaving me to confront the harrowing reality of my unraveling life.

The silence of my room had been a sanctuary, an escape from the chaos of the revelations and confrontations. Luke's persistent pleas from beyond the door, begging for a chance to talk, only deepened my desire for solitude.

His voice, once a source of comfort, now echoed with the sting of betrayal. But the gnawing hunger was a reminder that I couldn't hide away forever. By 1pm, I assumed Luke would be at his crucial meeting with investors, leaving me a window of solitude to venture out.

With a deep breath, I braced myself and stepped into the living room. It was empty, the silence a stark contrast to the turmoil in my mind. My footsteps echoed softly as I made my way to the kitchen.

There, I prepared a simple sandwich, the mundane task a temporary distraction from the swirling thoughts. Perched on a stool at the kitchen island, I bit into the sandwich, each bite an effort to regain some sense of normalcy.

The sound of footsteps behind me shattered the brief respite. I turned, half-expecting to see Luke, but it was Sebastian. Our eyes locked in a silent exchange, heavy with things unsaid.

His presence, once a source of comfort and excitement, now felt like another layer of complexity in my tangled web of relationships. I turned away, a silent declaration that I was done reaching out, done trying to bridge the gap his silence had created.

Resuming my meal, I watched from the corner of my eye as Sebastian moved about the kitchen. He seemed lost in thought, his actions hesitant, as if battling an internal struggle. His silhouette against the fridge, hands restlessly adjusting his shirt, spoke volumes of his inner turmoil.

What was he thinking? Did he regret that night at the club, or was it something more? My heart ached with questions, but my pride kept me silent.

Finally, breaking the tense silence, he turned and faced me. Our eyes met again, this time a little longer, a little deeper. There was an intensity in his gaze that I couldn't decipher. Then, in a few strides, he closed the distance between us, taking the stool next to mine.

His voice, when he spoke, was low and laced with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "I'm sorry, Emily," he said, his voice low. The apology hung in the air, its sincerity lost in the maelstrom of my own anger and confusion. What exactly he was sorry for, I couldn't discern, nor did I have the energy to inquire. My heart, already heavy with the weight of betrayal and disappointment, could bear no more.

I turned to face Sebastian fully, my eyes meeting his with a mixture of frustration and resignation. "What are you apologizing for? If it's about ignoring me, save it. I don't care anymore. It's your life, and you can ignore whoever you want," I said, my voice tinged with a bitterness that surprised even me.

With that, I shifted back, distancing myself physically and emotionally as I resumed eating my sandwich. My one hand held the sandwich, the other absentmindedly cupped a cup on the island.

Sebastian's response was not in words but actions. Slowly, almost hesitantly, his fingers crept towards mine, an unspoken plea in their tentative movement. He remained silent, the apology already hanging heavily in the air. Gradually, his pinky finger brushed against mine, lifting it gently, a delicate touch in a moment fraught with tension. T

hen, with a slight movement, he entwined his fingers with mine, his physical closeness contrasting the emotional distance that had grown between us. "I'm sorry, Emily. The last thing I want is to ignore you, but I feel like I have no choice. It's the only way," he murmured, his voice laden with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

His words only deepened my confusion. "I don't understand what you mean," I admitted, my voice a blend of curiosity and exasperation. "Your voicemail, your actions now, none of it makes sense to me." The confusion was genuine, a puzzle I couldn't seem to piece together.

His behavior, the unexpected apology, and the cryptic voicemail – all these elements swirled in my mind, forming an intricate web I was struggling to unravel. Sebastian's only response was a faint, almost inaudible "I'm sorry." This repetition of apologies, void of any substance or explanation, ignited a fury within me. Abruptly standing from my stool, I turned towards him, my frustration boiling over. "I am so tired of hearing 'I'm sorry'," I exclaimed. "Why does everyone around me keep apologizing but never give me a real explanation?" My voice, laced with exasperation, echoed in the kitchen.

I fixed my gaze on him, searching for answers in his eyes. "What is it, Sebastian? Are you going to explain yourself or not? What did you mean by 'that's the only way'? And your voicemail... what are you trying to say?" My questions tumbled out, a torrent of confusion and desperation for clarity.

But still, Sebastian remained silent, his eyes locked on mine. This silent staring only fueled my growing agitation. In a burst of emotion, I yelled, "Just tell me, for God's sake! Say something, anything!" In a moment of impulsive frustration, I shook his shoulders, pleading for him to break his silence.

Then, unexpectedly, his lips found mine. Sebastian was kissing me. In that instant, my mind went blank, a whirlwind of shock, confusion, and an unidentifiable emotion rendering me motionless. I wasn't sure if it was the surprise that kept me from pushing him away or some buried desire that allowed the kiss to continue. The world around us seemed to dissolve, leaving only the perplexing reality of our intertwined lips.