BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

*Chapter 19: A Forbidden Temptation*

**Chapter 19: A Forbidden Temptation**

Sebastian

Kissing Emily? Yeah, that was a screw-up. I knew it the second it happened, like this heavy weight of 'what the hell are you doing, Sebastian?' crashing down on me. It was a slip-up, a crack in the armor I've spent so long building up. Every time I'm around her, it's like playing with fire, and man, I'm starting to like the burn a little too much.

That dance night was a game-changer. Having her close, moving together, it was messing with my head. It felt like every nerve in my body was on high alert, every sense tuned to her. And when she hugged me? Forget about control. It was like I was hardwired to react to her, to feel things I had no business feeling. Exciting, sure, but damn, so wrong.

Then there's Luke, my brother. The guy's head over heels for her, and here I am, stepping into territory I've got no right to be in. I've been trying to keep my distance, playing it cool, staying away when she's around. But it's like trying to hold back the ocean with a broom. She's everywhere, in my head, under my skin, and it's driving me crazy.

I was tearing up inside, man. Sticking around in Luke's shadow, wrestling with this twisted mix of want and guilt – it was eating me alive. So, I bailed. Picked up a penthouse downtown. It's no match for Luke's place, but it's got space – space to breathe, to clear my head, to put some distance between me and the storm that is Emily.

This whole thing, it's a mess, a collision course with disaster. And I'm right in the thick of it. But now, at least, I've got some room to maneuver, to figure out how to handle this without burning everything to the ground. Including myself.

a place where I can try and glue back the pieces of my willpower that she shattered. It's a spot to breathe, away from the whole Emily situation, away from the temptation of being close but never close enough. I needed this, needed to try and find some kind of normal in the chaos she's thrown me into. But let's be real – putting miles between us isn't going to snuff out what I feel. It's a war inside me, and I'm not exactly on the winning side.

Settling into this place, it's got its perks. It's big enough to throw some killer parties, distractions to drown out the constant loop of Emily running through my head. Not a bad idea, to lose myself in the crowd, in the noise.

I haven't told Luke about the move yet. Tried calling, but the guy's a ghost. Part of me thinks he'll be glad I'm out of his orbit, not breathing the same air as Emily. Let's face it, crashing at his place was always a temporary deal. When Emily woke up, something in me just needed to be there, to see her pull through. I never bargained for the mess of feelings that followed.

At first, messing with Emily was just a game, you know? Just me trying to needle Luke, brother stuff. But damn, things got real, fast. What started as a bit of fun turned into something else. Feelings for Emily started creeping in, sneaking up on me when I wasn't looking. And now, shaking them off? That's like trying to shake your own shadow.

Yet, beneath it all, I never wanted to hurt Luke. He was my brother, and despite our differences and the rivalry that often colored our relationship, I couldn't bear the thought of betraying him. This internal conflict was a relentless storm, tearing at the seams of my conscience.

So, here I was, in a penthouse downtown, trying to distance myself from a situation that had grown far too complicated. I needed to sort out my feelings, to understand this unexpected turn of events. Perhaps, in this self-imposed exile, I could find a way to reconcile my emotions with the loyalty I owed to my brother.

Underneath all this tough exterior, there's one thing I can't shake off – I never wanted to hurt Luke. He's my brother, blood. Sure, we've had our share of scraps and showdowns, but the thought of stabbing him in the back? That's not how I roll. This whole mess with Emily, it's like a storm inside me, tearing me up.

So here I am, putting distance between me and this twisted-up situation. Got to figure out what the hell's going on in my head. This self-imposed exile might be my shot at sorting through this chaos, trying to balance these crazy feelings with the loyalty I owe Luke.

I've never been one to spill my guts, but if I'm being real, Luke's the guy Emily should be with. She's all about the good stuff – kindness, light – and that's a world away from where I'm at. My mind's a mess, thanks to the old man. His voice, calling me 'mini him', it's like a damn echo that won't quit. Deep down, I get it – I'm a chip off the old block, carrying around a piece of his darkness.

Emily needs to watch her step around me. If I've learned anything, it's that you can't outrun your blood. She's this beacon of light, but she might just get swallowed up by the shadows I drag around. I'm more like my father than I care to admit. At the end of the day, I'm 'mini him', through and through.