BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 32: The Cost of Love and Betrayal

Chapter 32: The Cost of Love and Betrayal

Forced off the boat, I felt the heavy weight of Sebastian's gaze, his frustration evident. Louis's men guided us through the iron gates into a grand mansion, the air of luxury thinly veiling the menace that lurked within. Inside, we were met by a man whose aura screamed power and danger – Louis.

Sebastian's greeting was laced with a forced nonchalance. "Hello, Louis. Long time no see." His voice was steady, but there was a tightness in his jaw that betrayed his true feelings.

Louis' response was a smile that sent chills down my spine, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Oh, Sebastian, the plans I have for you," he said, turning his attention to me with a predatory gaze. He took my hands, his touch firm and unyielding. "And who do we have here? I'm Louis, king of this little jungle. And you are?"

Sebastian's voice sliced through the thick tension, sharp and unwavering. "Louis, back off. She's not part of our sordid past. This is our fight, not hers. She's just..." He paused, his voice suddenly drenched in a concoction of feigned disinterest and a hint of something darker, "a fleeting distraction. Just for kicks, nothing more."

It was a high-stakes gamble, a stark contrast to the protectiveness Sebastian had displayed earlier. Louis, with his innate skepticism, scoffed at this sudden shift. His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Sebastian with a predator's focus.

"Oh, really? You're playing a different tune now, Sebastian. There's a glimmer in your eye, a crack in your armor. So, who is she, really?" Louis's voice was a blend of curiosity and threat.

Sebastian, his voice laced with a strained frustration, retorted, "I told you, Louis. She's nobody. Just some girl I picked up for a bit of fun."

But Louis wasn't buying it. His gaze drilled into Sebastian, his voice laced with accusation. "No, I don't buy it. You're too wound up over nobody. So, who is she, Sebastian? Your secret lover? Your wife, perhaps?"

Desperation flickered in Sebastian's eyes, but he clung to his facade. "Think whatever you want, Louis. She's a non-factor in our affairs. Release her, and let's settle this, man to man," he implored, his voice strained yet eerily steady.

Louis's laughter, cold and mocking, echoed off the walls of the lavish room. "I think she means more to you than you admit, Sebastian. Let's see, shall we?" He turned his attention to me, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous curiosity. "Your name, darling? And what exactly are you to him?"

Under the crushing weight of the moment, I spoke, my voice barely hiding my panic. "I'm Emily. Sebastian is... a friend, my brother-in-law," I stammered, desperate to dispel any brewing illusions.

Louis's laughter grew wilder, almost unhinged. "Incredible! Did Sebastian snatch you from his brother as well? A real family drama unfolding here."

I protested, my voice rising in defense. "You're wrong. You don't know anything"

"Oh, sweetheart, I understand perfectly. It's plain to see," Louis taunted, his tone dripping with derision. "Sebastian here is head over heels for you. What a deliciously tragic love story. Yearning for the one person he can't have."

Confusion and frustration churned within me like a storm. Why would Louis believe Sebastian was in love with me? My gaze flickered to Sebastian, searching for answers, but he was deliberately avoiding my eyes. In a desperate bid for clarity, I turned back to Louis. "You're mistaken. There's nothing romantic between Sebastian and me."

"And what exactly did he do to you? What do you want from us?" My voice trembled slightly, betraying my fear.

Louis's expression morphed into something more sinister, his eyes alight with a malicious glee. "Oh, you want proof, sweetie? Watch this." He pointed the gun at me, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper as he addressed Sebastian. "Sebastian, tell me, is your heart racing because I have a gun to her head, or is it racing because you crave her more than life itself?"