SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 10: UNRAVELING

Hi, so... this is the same title of the chapter 5 but it felt fitting so I put it anyway and if someone ad suggestions I'm very open to ideas! thank you

Lila stepped into the sleek, dimly lit restaurant, the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filling the air. The atmosphere was intimate, almost suffocating in its elegance. Dark wood panels, exposed brick walls, and candles flickering on each table created a romantic, yet serious vibe—exactly the type of place where someone like Sebastian would thrive.

The hostess greeted her with a polite smile, but her gaze flickered downward for just a second, as if taking note of Lila's worn-down appearance. Lila's nerves were frayed; she'd barely been able to get her mind straight after Ethan's warning and the painful memories that had surfaced. Still, she was here, and now she had to face whatever game Sebastian was playing.

"Mr. Blackwell is expecting you," the hostess said, leading Lila to a table near the back, tucked into a secluded corner.

Sebastian was already there, sitting back in his chair with one arm resting casually on the backrest, his usual air of dominance surrounding him. He didn't look surprised to see her walk in, nor did he seem impressed. His expression was unreadable, eyes fixed on her with that same intensity that always made her stomach twist.

Lila hesitated before sitting down across from him, noticing that his gaze flickered over her outfit—a simple black dress with a modest neckline—and then lingered on her face. For a split second, she thought she saw a flash of something softer in his eyes, but it was gone before she could confirm it.

He didn't speak right away, taking a sip of his wine with a steady, controlled movement that seemed to last forever.

"Do you mind if we skip the pleasantries tonight, Lila?" Sebastian's voice cut through the air, low and commanding. "I'm not here to talk about the weather or your favorite color."

She didn't respond immediately, gathering her thoughts. "I wasn't planning on wasting your time," she said coolly, meeting his gaze head-on.

He smirked at that, leaning forward slightly, his lips curling into a hint of a grin. "That's the thing with you. You think you're always in control. But you're not. Not with me."

She felt the weight of his words land like a heavy blow, and a part of her resented the fact that it felt true. But she wasn't going to let him have that victory—at least, not yet.

The waiter arrived at the table, and Sebastian ordered without even looking at the menu. When he was done, the waiter left them in silence.

For a moment, the tension between them thickened. Lila's heart raced, not knowing what Sebastian wanted from her or why he was pushing so hard. She could feel the question building up inside of her, itching to be asked, but she held it in. Now wasn't the time for weakness.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here," Sebastian said, breaking the silence.

"Actually, I'm wondering why you've been so damn insistent," Lila replied, her tone sharper than she intended.

Sebastian's grin widened. "Good. At least you're not entirely oblivious."

Lila narrowed her eyes, suddenly tired of the mind games. "Cut to the chase, Sebastian. What do you want?"

He leaned back in his chair again, his gaze unwavering. "You know how it is. Nothing's ever simple in my world. But for you? I'm willing to make it as clear as I can." His voice was soft, almost coaxing now, like he was trying to make her feel safe. It was unsettling.

Lila's mind was spinning, trying to piece together the puzzle of his intentions, but one thing was clear: this wasn't just about business. There was something else, something deeper. And for reasons she still couldn't fully understand, she felt like she was about to cross a line she wouldn't be able to uncross.

The waiter returned, setting down their food—steak for Sebastian and a light salad for Lila. She barely noticed it. Her mind was too tangled in the conversation they hadn't yet had.

Sebastian cut into his steak with slow precision, as though taking his time to watch her every move. "It's funny, you know," he continued, his voice casual, almost playful. "How everyone has their breaking points. Everyone has something they're hiding, some mark on them, something that makes them vulnerable. Something that can be used to tear them down."

Lila's throat tightened at his words. Her eyes flicked toward the scar hidden beneath the sleeve of her dress. The one he'd seen earlier. She knew where this conversation was going, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for it. Not yet.

"What's your point?" she managed, her voice low, steady.

He placed his fork down and finally looked her in the eyes. "You think you can hide from your past, Lila. But the thing is, it has a way of catching up with you. And me? I don't run from things. I confront them."

Lila swallowed hard. "What exactly are you trying to confront here, Sebastian?"

He paused, studying her, as though deciding whether to continue or let the moment slip away. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but intense. "You. Your scar. The story behind it. I want to know everything, Lila. Why it's there. Why you let it define you. I want to know what it took for you to get to where you are now."

Lila froze. The breath left her lungs, and for a second, she felt as though the floor had been ripped out from beneath her. She hadn't expected him to bring it up so bluntly, so directly. The scar, the memories—it had always been her secret, the one thing she never allowed anyone to get close to.

"Sebastian," she said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to just dig into my past like it's some kind of... game."

He didn't flinch, didn't even seem to register her protest. "It's not a game, Lila. It's power. You think I'm some kind of monster for wanting to understand you? For wanting to know the things that make you who you are? You think I don't have my own scars?"

Lila's eyes widened, but she couldn't bring herself to speak. For a moment, she was caught between anger and something else—something dangerously close to fear. Was this what it felt like to be seen? To have every part of you, every hidden thing, laid bare for someone else to claim?

Sebastian's voice softened, almost surprisingly. "I know there's more to you than you let on. And I want to know it. All of it. You don't have to tell me right now. But sooner or later, you will. Because I'll make you."

The weight of his words hung in the air, suffocating, as Lila struggled to breathe through the tension he had created. Her thoughts raced, her emotions swirling, but no matter how much she tried to keep her guard up, she couldn't help but feel the pull.

He was right. In some twisted way, Sebastian was right. She had been running from her past for so long, keeping it buried so deep inside that even she had forgotten the full extent of it. But now, with him sitting there, staring at her with that damnable certainty, she realized that maybe—just maybe—she couldn't keep hiding anymore.

And it scared the hell out of her.

She took a deep breath, refusing to look away from his gaze. "You think you can just... demand the truth from me, like I'm some kind of puzzle you can solve?" Her voice was quiet, but defiant.

Sebastian didn't answer immediately. He simply stared at her, a challenge in his eyes, before speaking softly, almost too gently. "I don't need to solve you, Lila. I just want to understand you. And that... that's something you might not even understand yet."

The words were a whisper, but they carried a weight that made Lila's chest tighten. There was so much more to this than she had realized.

And she wasn't sure she was ready for it.