The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 13: The Edge of Fear and Fate

Sebastian's mind went blank when he heard a woman scream. His thoughts immediately raced to Kaya—not because she wasn't in his arms, but because every girl he had ever dated had always faced terrible accidents. His blood surged, chaotic and fast. He ran as fast as he could toward the voice. There he found Kaya pinning an unconscious woman to the floor. Sebastian could only see Kaya at that moment, he was shocked and terrified at the thought that something might have happened to her. He had done it; He had tied her to him—the cursed proposal from the king of chaos.

Sebastian could tell Kaya wasn't hurt, yet her eyes reflected a storm of fear and conflict. Security quickly took the unconscious woman away, but something slipped from her clothes. Sebastian watched as Kaya picked it up with her handkerchief and examined it. He wasn't sure if her curiosity stemmed from determination or if she wasn't quite in her right mind. After all, she had almost been killed.

"Sebastian we need to examine this. I don't know what it is, but we need to—" Kaya said, but Sebastian halted her to speak further.

"Sunshine would you stop for a moment? You've almost been killed," Sebastian said, leaning forward to press their foreheads together, trying to calm the storm inside him. Kaya attempted to respond but fell silent at his stern gaze, a reminder of her own recklessness.

After that incident, Sebastian called Liam and Emily. They were tasked with ensuring Kaya got home safely while he and Ethan handled damage control at the event. He caught a glimpse of Kaya, her head bowed all the way to the car. He couldn't stop his anger right now, and he needed to make sure the event could be back running smoothly.

                                                                                             ***

Upon arriving home, Sebastian was greeted by Arthur. "Where's Kaya? How is she?" he asked, urgency threading his words.

Arthur reported that Kaya had locked herself in her room, refusing to come out after Emily and Liam had left. With a calmer demeanor, Sebastian approached her door and knocked softly. When Kaya opened the door slightly, she looked like a scared little girl.

"Are you still mad at me?" Kaya whispered. Sebastian felt a pang of guilt as he noticed her red, swollen eyes. It was evident that she had been crying.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you before. I'm not mad at you. Could you open the door for me?" Sebastian said gently. She opened the door wider, letting him in. They stood in a charged silence, unsure of what to say.

"I..." Both of them said at once. Kaya gave Sebastian a chance to speak first.

"Look, Sunshine. I'm sorry for what I did. I know you are scared of me now, but I hope you can forgive me. I was just terrified you were hurt. I know you think you're fine, but it's hard for me not to get angry when you don't prioritize your safety." Sebastian explained, his voice steady yet laced with concern.

The atmosphere thickened with unspoken tension. Kaya fidgeted, the only sound breaking the silence being her soft hiccups. Sebastian waited for her response, desperate to know if their bond was beyond repair. He had always prided himself on his ability to stay composed, but Kaya was different—she made him feel vulnerable.

"Ehm. Sebastian. I'm sorry. I know I was wrong for not understanding you and just reacting impulsively. I never had someone care for me like you do. I mean, I have my parents, but I didn't tell them everything, even about my car crash years ago," Kaya admitted.

Sebastian furrowed his brows, a tight smile creeping onto his lips, not entirely matching the turmoil inside him. Her vulnerability cracked the dam of his frustration.

"I'm fine. Emily was with me, and we went to the hospital for a check-up," She hurriedly added, as if to ease his worries.

Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling to contain the storm of emotions brewing inside him. Only Kaya could make him feel this way—like he was unraveling. The thought echoed in his mind: She will be the death of me.

"Do you need to sit down, Mr. Blackwood?" Kaya asked timidly. Sebastian looked at Kaya again with a stern look. He put his hand on his waist and sighed loudly. Oh, Sebastian was really one breath away from unleashing his fury.

"Come here, Sunshine," he said softly, yet a trace of bristling anger edged his words. Kaya approached hesitantly, and when she was close enough, he pulled her into a tight embrace. For a moment, he inhaled her comforting scent, grounding himself. Kaya returned the embrace, murmuring apologies as she cried in his arms. He smiled softly, allowing the moment to linger in silence.

                                                                                           ***

After a few minutes, Kaya's tears subsided, and they found themselves sitting on her bed. Sebastian brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, wiping away her tears. Arthur had brought water for her and quietly left them alone again. The tension had eased, but Sebastian felt compelled to discuss what had happened earlier, unsure of how to begin.

"I'm sorry Sebastian, I should have known you were more scared than me. I promised you I would handle the situation, and I did. I knocked out Jade right away and dodged her knife. I followed what I've seen in movies," Kaya said.

Sebastian felt a mixture of pride and concern about her actions, simply stroking her head with a smile.

"I'm not sure if Jade hated me enough to try to kill me, but I think she wasn't herself. I know I pushed you before, but I think the vial is important; it fell off from her clothes," Kaya said wiping her eyes. She walked to her desk retrieved a plastic bag containing the vial and handed it to Sebastian.

He opened it, trying to detect any familiar smell. Usually, Liam would have more expertise regarding chemicals, but this time Sebastian recognized it. The unsettling aroma of burnt plastic and herbs filled his nostrils—a scent that twisted his stomach with recognition and dread. It was a synthetic cannabinoid.

Sebastian pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed Oliver. "Hey Oliver, meet me at my house, untrace. I need you to take a look at something," He hung up after Oliver confirmed he would arrive in half an hour, catching the confusion etched on Kaya's face. Sebastian couldn't fathom the fear he had just put Kaya into, but he knew she would try to investigate on her own—unprotected.

"It's Synthetic cannabinoids if I'm not mistaken. It's used to manipulate behavior. If someone slipped this into another person's system, it could make them act against her will. If this is true, and it belongs to Jade, someone may drugged her into drinking it," Sebastian explained, watching as shock spread across Kaya's face as fear crept into her expression.

"Don't worry, I already put someone I trust on this. He'll be here to investigate the vial. So calm down, okay? Nobody can harm you here," Sebastian reassured her, his voice steady and firm, seeking to dispel the shadows of fear that danced in her eyes.

Kaya's heart raced, a mixture of anxiety and resolve swirling within her. She took a deep breath, grounding herself in the moment, feeling the warmth of Sebastian's presence anchoring her. "I want to help you, Sebastian. We can't let this go unanswered. We need to find this bastard."

Sebastian's gaze softened, admiration mingling with worry as he looked at her. "Together," he echoed, a promise hanging in the air between them. The weight of the situation pressed down on them, yet at that moment, the connection they shared felt like a lifeline, pulling them both through the chaos.

As their eyes locked, an unspoken understanding passed between them—a silent vow that they would protect one another, come what may. The chaos outside faded into the background, leaving only the warmth of their shared resolve. With hearts pounding, they braced themselves for the storm that lay ahead, ready to confront the darkness together.

To be Continued.