CHAPTER 103
SEBASTIAN’S POV
That night, I was hoping we could finally make our first love. I yearned for her so badly. Every part of her. Every day, every hour, every minute and every second, my love for her deepened and intensified. I wanted to prove to her that I wasn’t playing. I wanted to show her that I was ready for us to happen. Ready to take us to the next level.
But she said she needed just a little more time for Catherine’s death and every other thing to subside. I understood perfectly.
Catherine was my wife and people would raise their brows if they saw how quickly I moved on after her death, thinking I wanted her to die and might have had a hand in it. So Brianna was right. We needed to take things slow.
The last thing I wanted was to rush her or put her under pressure to come up with a decision. I will wait for as long as she wants. I just hope she won’t make me wait forever because I won’t be able to endure for that long. My entire body hurts really bad whenever I’m not with her or see her. I guess it’s correct and safe to say she is my addiction. The intoxication I couldn’t get enough of.
The morning was sweet and peaceful, carrying with it the promise of a new beginning. The dawn’s first light streamed in through the window, casting a gentle, warm hue across the room. The air was fresh and crisp, filled with the faint aroma of blooming flowers and dew-covered grass with the birds chirping melodiously outside. I took in a deep breath of satisfaction. I couldn’t ask for a better morning.
A breakfast of scrambled eggs with sautéed spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers along with a side toast and a cup of freshly brewed coffee was waiting for me at the dining table, the enticing aroma wafting through the air into my nostrils. The morning paper sat folded beside the breakfast plate.
Pulling out a seat, I sat down and took the paper to glance through it first before I could start eating. I couldn’t wait to see the headline and follow-up story announcing my innocence in Catherine’s death and release from that god-forsaken cell.
It happened to be the first thing I saw on the front page. Fair enough. But something else drew my attention, making me lean in and squint my eyes as if to make sure I saw correctly.
The headline read: “Prominent Royal Couple, Alpha Christian and Rose Miles, Arrested for Alleged Involvement In Drug and Gun Smuggling Operations.”
The follow-up story was on the next page.
My mouth fell open as I read it. I was mistaken to have thought Rose was the only one involved in the illegal business after the chief detective showed me the paperwork for the gun fingerprint test results.
I thought Christian wasn’t aware but it turned out that both of them were in it together. Royal accomplishes. How shameful and degrading.
Although Christian and I were friends in high school, we weren’t that close, just head nods, handshakes and smiles whenever we saw each other.
He was so gentle one might think he wouldn’t hurt a fly. I never thought he could be capable of doing such. If it were Rose, I would believe it since she is always up to no good and easily gets into trouble right from the time I have known her. But Christian…I never expected it. They were arrested just yesterday evening, but investigations were still made to figure out the means they used in smuggling the drugs and guns, and their accomplishes too. Surely, they wouldn't have pulled all this off on their own.
Why did they do it? Was it for the money? I knew smuggling and trafficking drugs do bring in a lot of money, but the Alpha King position also comes with plenty of money and perks. How much more could they want? How can they be so greedy? I wouldn’t be surprised if Rose came up with the idea and convinced him to go along with it. Thank goodness she didn’t influence Catherine to that extent. However, I still needed to check if Catherine had any more weapons left in the castle I didn’t know of.
I was still lost in thought, wondering why Christian and Rose decided to follow such an illegal path when the head maid’s voice sounded, jolting me back to reality.
“Sebastian,” she called out as she approached briskly with a brown envelope dancing in her hand.
She settled beside me. “You haven’t even touched your meal. Did your three days stay in prison teach you to starve yourself?” She asked as if to scold me.
“No…” I laughed a little, shaking my head as I closed the paper and kept it back on the table. I will finish it later. Right now I eat so she won’t bite off my neck. “I was just going through the paper.”
She handed me the letter she was holding. “This just came in for you now. A man brought it. He is at the gate right now. He said Regina, Catherine’s mum sent him.”
I wanted to take a scoop from my breakfast, but at that mention of Catherine’s mum, my open mouth closed and my fork fell from my hand. Not again. What does she want this time? She has already done more than enough harm by bringing that detective lady and her minions to bother us. The sooner she realised that Catherine was the cause of her death, the better for her.
I adjusted and looked up at the head maid. “Is he a cop…a detective?”
I just hope he isn’t because if he is, then there was no way I was letting him into this castle. He should return the way he came.
The head maid looked away briefly, folding and moving her lips as she gave it a thought.
“I don’t think so,” she sighed lowly, looking back at me. “He is in casual clothes with no long badge detectives usually wear on their neck…I think he’s more of a driver because he came with a truck but the guards won’t let him through it until he states what he came for and most importantly, has your permission.”
“Truck?...” I muttered in puzzlement, my gaze roaming around as I tried to understand why he wanted to come into the castle with a truck. Did he want to carry something?
I hadn't given it much thought before realizing that Catherine's mom must have sent him to collect all of Catherine's things and take them back to their house.
“Tell them to let him in. I think he’s here to take Catherine’s belongings.”
“Ok,” she bowed slightly before heading for the exit in the same brisk steps she came in with.
I opened the sealed envelope, took out the crisp letter and went ahead to read its contents:
***Sebastian, this is Catherine’s mother and your mother-in-law Regina Hardwell writing with a heavy heart. Firstly, I would like to say my late husband and I made a colossal mistake by giving our daughter to you in marriage. I curse the very day she became your wife. Funny thing she wanted to marry you by all means and swore never to marry anyone else, and we were foolish to have thought you two were perfect for each other. Thought your match was made in heaven. Little did my precious jewel know this marriage would be her death sentence, leading her to an early grave.
I know you killed my daughter. I don’t care about the law, the media or what anyone says. You shot her! You killed her in cold blood!! She always called, crying and complaining about your neglect and cruelty towards her, all because you were obsessed with that slave you bought from the auction. I thought it was a minor misunderstanding and you will come to your senses, but I was wrong to think that.
You killed her just so you could be with some dirty insignificant slave that won’t add any value to your life. How low you’ve sunk. You might think you’ve won. Think you have the last laugh but I can assure you’re dead wrong. For taking what’s most precious to me, I will come for you, Sebastian Stan. Your next marriage won’t bring you happiness. You will watch as your happiness and joy and everything good coming your way burn and turn to ashes in your mouth. Mark my words.
Since my daughter is dead, and you’re the one responsible, you no longer bear any right or ownership to our kingdom. We have decided to break away. And I warn you never to think of challenging this legally if you want peace because I’m ready to fight to the bitter end.
Tell your maids to pack my daughter’s belongings. All of it, leaving nothing behind and move them into the truck the driver came with. We have recovered her body from the morgue and fixed a date for her funeral service.
I warn you never to set foot on her funeral ground or in my kingdom again or else I will take serious actions against you.
Enjoy the rest of your miserable life, murderer!