The Cursed Proposal

Chapter 23: The Messy Mind

As the days dragged on, Sebastian buried himself in work and his investigation, letting them consume his every waking moment. Outside, the rain fell endlessly, a relentless reflection of the storm brewing within him.

He tried, desperately, to distance himself from Kaya. He avoided the kitchen altogether, stopped sharing meals, and returned long after the household had settled into silence. Though his staff watched him with quiet concern, he steeled himself against their unspoken questions. He couldn't allow himself to hope—shouldn't, couldn't—because hope was a weakness he couldn't afford, not when it came to Kaya.

Oliver kept him updated, his reports weaving a complicated web of progress and revelations. The encrypted files contained mostly records of Sebastian's father's failed projects, along with financial reports from a lifetime ago. But it was Benson's case that commanded Oliver's attention.

Benson had finally awakened. When Oliver and Kaya visited him, Kaya convinced Benson's family to let Ethan, Sebastian's trusted lawyer friend, move forward with the lawsuit against Aegis Therapeutics for attempted murder and the deeper injustices Benson had uncovered, including falsified medicine—a discovery that had initially driven him to seek out Ethan.

"You should've seen her, boss," Oliver said during his latest update. "She nailed it. Benson was so moved by Kaya's words that he authorized her to act on his behalf in the lawsuit."

Sebastian's lips twitched into a faint smile. Of course, Kaya would excel—it was who she was. But even as pride stirred faintly within him, it was buried under the weight of his growing distance from her, a chasm he had built to protect himself.

"Master, are you not having your breakfast?" Arthur asked as Sebastian walked out of his bedroom and headed straight to the front door. Arthur stepped into his path, blocking him for a moment. From a distance, Kaya watched with worry etched on her face.

Sebastian closed his eyes sharply, trying to look away from her. With a gentle but firm push, he moved Athur aside and continued toward the door. Every step felt like a struggle, his chest tightening with each one. He needed to leave. Kaya wasn't his canary in a cage. He had to get used to the silence and loneliness all over again.

"Will you stop for a second and eat?" Kaya's voice called out, halting him in his tracks.

Sebastian clenched his fists, his body rigid as he resisted the urge to turn back. He couldn't look at her, couldn't let himself waver.

"Bastian, you don't look well, let me take care of you!" Kaya's voice trembled with anger and concern as she stepped in front of him.

Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose, his headache returning with a vengeance. Agitation simmered beneath his skin as he fought to suppress his feelings. If Kaya knew the truth of his thoughts, she'd never forgive him.

"Move Ms. Lane. I need to go to work," he said, his voice cold and restrained.

"No! You are not obligated to work yourself into a grave," Kaya exclaimed, her voice rising in desperation. She grabbed his arm, her grip firm as he tried to pull him back inside.

"Sebastian! Stop!" she pleaded, her grip tightening as she planted herself firmly in his path.

Without thinking, Sebastian yanked his arm free, harder than he intended. Kaya stumbled, the force sending her to the floor.

For a moment, he froze, his breath catching. Then, slowly, he reached down, his hands trembling as he helped her to her feet. "I'm sorry," he muttered, brushing the dirt from her clothes. He couldn't meet her eyes, couldn't bear to see the hurt he knew he'd caused.

Without another word, he turned and walked to his car. The door slammed shut, the sound reverberating in the silence Kaya left behind.

Sebastian drove to the office in silence, the image of Kaya on the floor burned into his mind. Her voice still echoed in his ears, a reminder of everything he was trying and failed to protect her from.