Hi reader I wanna tell you that in that in this chapter i tried something a little different so... yeah have fun reading <3
Sebastian woke before dawn, his mind restless. The city skyline stretched outside his bedroom window, but his thoughts were consumed by Lila. Last night had been a shift—one he hadn't seen coming, one that scared him more than he cared to admit.
He'd meant every word he said. He was willing to try, but the vulnerability that came with caring for her was an unfamiliar and dangerous territory. His life had always been about control—business deals, calculated risks, and walls so high no one could climb them. But Lila didn't just scale his defenses; she walked straight through them, as though they didn't exist.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a text from Lucas.
Board meeting at 10. Don't be late. Also, you're terrible at pretending you're fine.
Sebastian smirked at the last part but didn't reply. Lucas was perceptive, but there were things Sebastian wasn't ready to share. He tossed the phone aside and got up, the weight of the day already pressing on him.
Meanwhile, Lila
The bar was closed for the day, leaving Lila with an unexpected pocket of free time. She sat at her small kitchen table, the remnants of her morning coffee forgotten as she stared at the folded letter from her mother.
Sebastian's words from last night echoed in her mind.
"You don't have to figure it out all at once."
She unfolded the letter, her hands trembling slightly. The handwriting was familiar, but seeing it after all these years felt surreal. She hadn't opened it yet, hadn't dared to read the words inside.
What if it changes nothing?
The knock at her door startled her, breaking her spiral of doubt. She set the letter aside and crossed the small apartment to open it. To her surprise, Sebastian stood on the other side, looking as composed as ever in his tailored suit.
"Sebastian," she said, her voice laced with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
He held up a paper bag. "I figured you might not have eaten breakfast."
Her lips curved into a soft smile. "And you thought food was the solution?"
"I thought I'd take my chances," he said with a faint smirk, stepping inside when she moved aside to let him in.
Lila gestured to the table. "I was just... thinking."
Sebastian's eyes flicked to the letter, noticing the tension in her posture. "The letter?"
She nodded, her arms crossing defensively. "I don't know why it feels so hard. It's just words on paper."
"It's more than that," Sebastian said, setting the bag down. "It's everything you've been carrying."
Lila hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the letter. "I want to move on. I want to let go of this anger, but I don't even know where to start."
Sebastian reached out, his hand resting over hers. The simple gesture steadied her in a way she didn't expect. "You don't have to do it alone," he said quietly.
She looked up at him, her defenses cracking under the weight of his sincerity. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I care about you," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "And because I know what it's like to carry something alone for too long."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Lila felt the warmth of his hand, the steady presence he offered without asking for anything in return.
Finally, she nodded. "Will you stay while I read it?"
Sebastian's expression softened. "Of course."
Later that Evening
Sebastian leaned against his car, waiting outside the gallery where Lila had been invited to meet with a curator. The connection had been her boss's doing—a chance for her to display her artwork in a prominent exhibit.
When she emerged, her face was flushed with excitement, her sketchbook clutched to her chest.
"They loved it," she said, her voice breathless. "They want me to submit a series for their fall showcase."
Sebastian's lips twitched into a rare, genuine smile. "Of course they do. You're talented, Lila."
She grinned, practically glowing. "This could be my big break."
"It will be," he said with certainty, opening the car door for her.
As they drove through the city, the air between them was light, easy. Lila recounted the curator's comments, her hands animated as she spoke. Sebastian listened, his usual stoicism softening in the glow of her enthusiasm.
For the first time in a long while, he felt something close to contentment.
A Shift in the Shadows
But contentment was fleeting, and as the car pulled up to Lila's apartment, the shadows of their pasts loomed larger.
Sebastian walked her to the door, his hand brushing hers as they climbed the stairs. When they reached her door, she turned to face him, her eyes searching his.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"For what?"
"For believing in me. For... being here."
Sebastian's hand found her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. "I'll always be here, Lila."
She smiled, leaning into his touch. But as she moved to unlock the door, something in the hallway shifted—a shadow, a flicker of movement.
Sebastian's instincts kicked in immediately, his body tensing as his gaze snapped toward the source. A figure lingered at the end of the hall, cloaked in darkness.
"Stay here," he murmured, stepping in front of her.
"Sebastian—"
He silenced her with a look, his posture rigid as he advanced. The figure retreated, slipping into the stairwell before Sebastian could get close enough to confront them.
When he returned, his expression was grim.
"What was that?" Lila asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"I don't know," Sebastian admitted, his jaw tightening. "But I'll find out."
The protective edge in his tone sent a chill down Lila's spine. She didn't press him further, but as he left, the unease lingered, a reminder that their pasts weren't as buried as they wanted them to be.
YOU ARE READING
SCARRED HEARTS
RomanceThis is a story about two people who both seek power, but in completely different ways. As they push and pull each other, they have to face whether their desires will destroy them or save them.
