SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 12: BEHIND CLOSED DOOR

Sebastian Blackwell had always been in control. At least, that's what he liked to tell himself.

The drive back to his penthouse was a blur of city lights and distant thoughts, the hum of the engine underlining the chaos in his mind. He hadn't expected the night to go the way it had. Lila had thrown him off guard, her resistance both infuriating and fascinating. The way she had shut down his every attempt to peel back her layers—he hadn't anticipated that level of fortitude.

But that's what made her so damn interesting.

Lila Bennett wasn't like the women he was used to. They fell in line, eager to play the games he set up, eager to offer him whatever he wanted in exchange for his approval. But Lila? She was a puzzle. A locked door that even he wasn't sure he could break down. And for the first time in years, Sebastian found himself wanting to.

He parked his car in the underground garage of his building, his mind still spinning. The door of his sleek black sports car opened with a soft hiss, and he stepped out, locking the car behind him. His steps were deliberate, purposeful, yet his thoughts kept returning to her: Lila, with her sharp retorts and her dark, guarded eyes. There was something about her, something that stirred something deep within him—something he'd long since buried beneath layers of wealth, power, and control.

He had no business being intrigued by her. No business wanting to know the secrets she was hiding, the scar that ran down her side, or the rawness behind her carefully constructed armor. But Sebastian Blackwell always got what he wanted. And right now, what he wanted was her.

As he entered his penthouse, the silence of his lavish home settled around him like a heavy cloak. The floors were polished marble, the furniture sleek and modern, the walls adorned with contemporary art. His life, like the apartment, was a well-curated display of power and wealth—nothing was out of place, nothing was left to chance.

Yet, despite the perfection of it all, his mind couldn't shake the memory of her face, her vulnerability, the tension in her voice when she'd said, You don't get to do that.

He moved to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and then went to the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. He stood there for a moment, letting the city's lights flicker below him, before taking a sip of his drink. His thoughts drifted back to the way Lila had reacted when he'd mentioned her past—the raw defensiveness, the flicker of something deeper beneath the surface.

What happened to you, Lila?

The scar on her side was just a glimpse into the bigger story. She hadn't let him get close enough to see it all, but he had no doubt that it was a story worth telling. One that would unravel her in ways she couldn't even begin to understand. And he wasn't about to let her hide from him forever.

His phone buzzed on the kitchen island, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced down at the screen. Ethan Montgomery.

Sebastian had worked with Ethan for years—mutual respect, mutual interests, but little in terms of personal connection. Still, the man had his ways of getting under Sebastian's skin. Especially when it came to Lila.

He swiped the screen and answered, his voice cool and controlled. "What is it, Ethan?"

A pause on the other end. "I just spoke to Lila."

Sebastian's grip on his whiskey glass tightened, and he bit back a sigh. "What did she say?"

"She's not buying whatever it is you're selling, man. You're playing a dangerous game with her."

Sebastian leaned against the countertop, feeling the weight of his words settle over him. "I don't need you to babysit her, Ethan. I'm not a child."

"I know that," Ethan responded, his voice firm. "But I know what it's like when someone gets too close to Lila. She's been through a lot, Sebastian. She doesn't trust easily."

Sebastian's jaw tightened. He already knew that. He had seen it in the way she clammed up every time he brought up her past. The way she'd looked at him when he'd mentioned her scar, like he had just poked a wound that was still fresh.

"I'm not trying to break her, Ethan," Sebastian said, his tone colder now. "I'm trying to understand her."

Ethan chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You might want to tread carefully with that one. If you're not careful, you could ruin everything. She's not like the others, Sebastian. She doesn't play by your rules."

Sebastian felt the familiar thrill of challenge surge through him. "That's the point."

There was a pause before Ethan spoke again, softer this time. "Just be careful, man. I don't want to see you hurt her."

Sebastian's mind raced at that. Hurt her? He wasn't sure how to respond to that. In his world, people were either useful or they weren't. And as much as he wanted to understand Lila, he wasn't used to caring about hurting someone. But there was something about her—something that made him want to do things differently. The way she had rejected his advances, the way she kept pushing him away, was... fascinating.

"I'll be fine, Ethan. You worry too much."

"I'll take that as a warning," Ethan said, his voice serious. "Just remember what I said."

The call ended, leaving Sebastian in silence once more. He took another sip of his whiskey, his thoughts turning inward.

What was it about Lila Bennett that made him so... hungry for answers? Was it the way she was constantly pulling away, or was it something more?

He couldn't deny that he wanted to break through the wall she had built around herself. But he had to be careful. He had to play this right. Because if he didn't, he risked losing her before he even had the chance to really know her.

But that wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it.

For the first time in a long while, Sebastian Blackwell didn't just want to win. He wanted to own the story. And the story of Lila Bennett was one he intended to make his own.

The only question was how far he was willing to go.