SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 14: CRACKS IN THE ARMOR

Lila couldn't shake the feeling of Sebastian's touch, the way his fingers had burned against her wrist. She didn't know what was worse—the heat that had surged through her at his proximity, or the way he made her feel like her walls were built out of paper instead of stone.

After he left, she spent hours trying to push him out of her mind. She buried herself in work, focusing on editing manuscripts and brainstorming new marketing strategies for the small but growing literary agency she ran from her office. But the nagging thoughts wouldn't leave her alone.

He's not going anywhere.

Those words kept playing over and over in her mind, like a broken record. And worse, the more she thought about them, the more she realized they were true. Sebastian Blackwell was the kind of man who didn't just visit—he took what he wanted.

And right now, he wanted her.

She knew it wasn't just about the challenge. It was more than that—he saw her. All of her, in ways that no one else did. Even if she didn't want him to.

She cursed herself for that. For letting him in, even a little.

Lila pulled herself out of the chair and walked over to the window, staring out at the bustling street below. The world was loud, chaotic, and yet she felt like she was standing in a vacuum. Sebastian had disrupted her life, and she wasn't sure if she hated him for it—or if, deep down, she craved the disruption.

The sound of a knock at her door interrupted her thoughts.

She turned, frowning. Who could it be? It was almost seven in the evening, and most of her clients knew better than to disturb her at this hour unless absolutely necessary.

"Come in," she called, not bothering to hide the edge in her voice.

The door creaked open, and to her surprise, it wasn't Sebastian. It was her friend, Maggie, one of her closest confidantes and a fellow writer who worked with Lila on various projects. Maggie's warm brown eyes softened when she saw Lila standing by the window, lost in thought.

"Long day?" Maggie asked, crossing the room to sit on the edge of the small couch that Lila had yet to throw out.

Lila didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced at the clock. 7:10 p.m. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't realized how much time had passed.

"Something like that," Lila muttered, dropping back into her chair.

Maggie raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. She was used to Lila's moods.

"So... what's really going on with you and Blackwell?"

Lila's head snapped up. Maggie was grinning, and Lila could see the mischief in her friend's gaze. But it wasn't just teasing—it was curiosity. Maggie wasn't the type to ask unless she knew something was up.

"What do you mean?" Lila asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"You know exactly what I mean," Maggie teased, kicking off her shoes and tucking her legs underneath her. "You've been acting weird ever since that dinner. And the way you just keep brushing him off... You're not fooling anyone."

Lila groaned and leaned back in her chair, covering her face with her hands. Why was it so hard to talk about him?

Maggie waited, giving her time to respond, but when Lila didn't say anything, Maggie pressed on. "Is it just me, or is Sebastian Blackwell a little... different when it comes to you? Like, I can tell he's not just toying with you. He's serious."

Lila wanted to argue, to tell Maggie that Sebastian was nothing more than a rich, charming playboy who was used to getting whatever he wanted. But the truth was, Maggie wasn't wrong. Sebastian was different with her. And Lila hated that she could feel it too.

"It's complicated," Lila finally admitted, lowering her hands from her face, her voice soft. "He doesn't know when to quit."

Maggie's lips curled into a sly smile. "So you like him, huh?"

Lila felt her face flush. "No," she lied quickly. "I don't... He's just... persistent."

"Oh, honey," Maggie said with a wink. "Persistent? You can call it that, but I see the way you react when he's around. You're all kinds of messed up about him, Lila."

Lila clenched her jaw, but her mind wandered back to the moments they'd shared—the way Sebastian had looked at her, the way he touched her wrist, the way his presence made her heart race.

"I don't trust him," Lila said, her voice quiet but firm. "I can't afford to."

Maggie leaned forward, her gaze serious for the first time. "I get that. You've been hurt before. But not everyone is going to treat you like the people who hurt you."

Lila didn't respond right away. Instead, she focused on the ring on her finger, absentmindedly twisting it around, feeling the cool metal against her skin.

"I'm not letting anyone in," she finally said. "Not him. Not anyone."

Maggie didn't push her further. Instead, she sat back, giving Lila space. But after a long silence, Maggie spoke again, her voice gentle.

"Just be careful, okay? The more you fight it, the more it'll consume you."

Lila bit her lip, the truth of Maggie's words settling deep inside her. But she couldn't let herself be weak. She couldn't let herself be vulnerable—not with someone like Sebastian.

Before she could answer, her phone buzzed on the desk. She glanced at it, and her heart skipped a beat.

It was a message from Sebastian.

I'll be at your place in 30 minutes. We need to talk.

Lila's heart raced. Talk? About what?

She didn't have time to think about it. Before she could stop herself, she found her fingers typing a response.

I'm busy.

A few seconds later, his reply pinged back, teasing and insistent.

I'm not leaving until we talk. You can't keep avoiding this forever.

Lila sighed, feeling her pulse quicken. She hated that he had this power over her, this ability to get under her skin without even trying.

"Well, that answers that," Lila muttered, staring down at the screen. "He's coming."

Maggie stood and walked over to her, clapping a hand on Lila's shoulder. "Good luck, girl. And remember—just don't do anything stupid."

Lila gave her a weak smile. "I'll try."

As Maggie left, Lila stared at the phone in her hand. She didn't know what was coming. But one thing was certain: Sebastian Blackwell wasn't just some passing interest. He was someone who could unravel her, piece by piece.

And for some reason, she was beginning to wonder if she wanted him to.