SCARRED HEARTS

CHAPTER 16: CRACKS IN THE WALL

Lila stood frozen, her back to Sebastian, her heart hammering in her chest. The weight of his gaze was suffocating, and for the first time in years, the walls she had so carefully constructed around herself felt like they were beginning to crumble.

She could feel his presence behind her, steady and unrelenting. Every second that passed made the room feel smaller, and the air heavier. The scar on her skin—one she'd kept hidden from the world for so long—now felt exposed. Vulnerable. She never talked about it, never let anyone see it.

And yet, here was Sebastian, looking at it, touching it with the kind of tenderness she hadn't even known she needed.

"Please," Lila whispered, barely able to get the words out. She could feel the sharp sting of tears threatening to spill over, but she refused to let them fall. No. Not in front of him.

Sebastian didn't push her this time. He didn't reach for her again. Instead, she heard him take a deep breath, the kind of breath that signaled he was processing, recalculating. There was something almost comforting in his silence—like he understood that some things couldn't be forced. Not yet.

"You don't have to explain," he said quietly. His voice was so soft now, like the gentlest of caresses. "But whenever you're ready, I'm here. I won't leave."

The sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten, a fresh wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She clenched her fists at her sides, fighting the instinct to turn to him. To lean into his warmth. Don't let him in. Don't you dare. But her body betrayed her, a tremble running through her as if it knew that resisting him was becoming more and more impossible.

She stayed where she was, her back still to him, her mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. She couldn't bring herself to face him fully—not now, not when the past felt like it was catching up to her. The scar was more than just a physical mark; it was a reminder of everything she had worked so hard to bury. It was a wound that never fully healed, even though she tried her best to forget it.

Her silence stretched on, but Sebastian, mercifully, didn't push her. Instead, she could hear him moving toward the couch, settling down with a quiet rustle of fabric.

"Take your time," he said, the words soft but firm. "I'm not going anywhere."

Lila closed her eyes, trying to steady herself, to find a semblance of control. She could feel the heat of his presence from across the room, but at least he wasn't crowding her anymore. And that gave her a little space to breathe.

But even with the distance, there was something about him—the way he didn't force her, the way he respected her boundaries—something that made her feel as though maybe, just maybe, he wasn't like everyone else she had known.

I can't do this, she thought again. I can't let myself want him.

But the truth, the ugly truth that she was trying so desperately to ignore, was that she did want him. She had wanted him from the moment he walked into her life, even though every part of her screamed at her to stay away.

Lila took a shaky breath, finally turning to face him, though she kept a few feet of space between them. Her gaze locked on the floor as she tried to steady her breathing.

"I don't know how to let you in, Sebastian," she said softly, the words almost lost on the air. "I don't know how to trust anyone anymore."

Sebastian didn't move, didn't say a word. He just waited.

Lila finally looked up at him, her eyes meeting his. There was an intense stillness in his gaze, one that made her heart race in a way that terrified her. But he wasn't rushing her. He wasn't demanding anything of her. He was just there, watching, waiting for her to make the next move.

"You've been hurt before," he said gently, his voice low. "I know. But not everyone is going to treat you the way they did."

Lila shook her head, her chest tight. "You don't understand. I've built these walls for a reason, Sebastian. They keep me safe."

"I don't want to tear them down," he said quietly. "I just want you to see that you don't have to hide behind them. Not with me."

The words sank deep into her heart, and despite everything in her telling her to push him away, she felt the flicker of something—a warmth, a possibility—that she couldn't deny.

Could I let him in? Could I really take that risk?

She stared at him for a long moment, her pulse hammering in her ears. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him, to believe that this wasn't some game for him. But she was too afraid of the consequences, of what would happen if she let herself fall. She'd seen what happened when she let her guard down before.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, breaking the fragile moment between them.

Lila turned, startled, but Sebastian was already on his feet, his expression shifting from gentle to sharp. He wasn't happy about the interruption, she could see that much.

"I'll get it," she said quickly, grateful for the distraction.

Before she reached the door, Sebastian's hand shot out, gripping her wrist gently.

"Lila," he said, his voice low and serious. "Don't shut me out."

She looked down at his hand, his touch sending a jolt through her. It was warm and solid, like he was anchoring her to the present, to the moment. But she couldn't stay here, not yet, not when everything inside her screamed for space, for distance.

With a small, forced smile, she pulled away gently. "I won't shut you out," she said, her voice quiet. "But I can't do this right now."

Before he could respond, she turned and opened the door.

Standing in the hallway was Maggie, looking concerned, but her gaze flickered past Lila and settled on Sebastian, her eyes narrowing just slightly.

"Am I interrupting something?" Maggie asked, her tone teasing but wary.

Lila stepped aside, trying to mask the tension in the room. "Not at all. I just... I think I need some air," she said quickly, her gaze flicking back to Sebastian.

Maggie shot her a questioning look, but Lila didn't want to get into it right now. Not in front of him.

"Are you sure?" Maggie asked, stepping into the room, but her eyes never leaving Sebastian's. "We were supposed to meet up for drinks."

Lila nodded quickly, though she wasn't sure what she was agreeing to. She needed a distraction. She needed to get out of this room, away from Sebastian's magnetic presence.

"Yeah, let's go," Lila said, her voice soft, her tone almost apologetic as she glanced back at Sebastian. "I just need a little time. We can talk later."

Sebastian's gaze held hers for a beat longer than necessary, the unspoken words heavy between them. But he didn't argue. He didn't try to stop her.

"Later," he said simply, before turning to leave, but not without one last lingering look that made her insides twist.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Lila leaned against the wall, her breath escaping in a shaky exhale. She wasn't ready to let him in. Not yet. But as the minutes ticked by and she felt the pull of his presence still lingering in the air, she couldn't help but wonder—was she ever going to be ready?