Chapter 30
BRIANNA’S POV
Sebastian changed so fast. He wasn’t wearing the morning robe he had on earlier in the dining. But a light t-shirt and shorts that revealed his thick arms and legs that were covered with silky hairs. He was looking different. So different from the Sebastian I knew. I was so used to seeing him in designer suits and formal wear and his silk morning robes, I couldn’t picture what he’ll look like in a t-shirt and shorts.
“Hey, Brianna,” he breathed out, his deep-set, olive-black eyes intent on me. “How are you feeling now? I’m so sorry for what happened earlier. Catherine can be…,” he slashed out a quick breath, struggling to find the right word. “I just need you to know it won’t happen again. Okay?”
“I’m…I’m feeling better now,” I stuttered. It was so hard to remain coherent with him close. I wondered why he was apologizing for something he didn’t do. Catherine should be the one apologizing. Even though I knew it’ll be over her dead body. “It’s nothing to worry about. I was at fault.”
He shrugged a sigh. The next thing I knew, he took a step closer and reached for my face. His warm hand gently tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear and proceeded to brush against the area Catherine had hit me after I spilt hot chocolate on her guest – Rose.
My heart dribbled in my chest and my breathing suddenly became laboured. His Alpha scent was so strong. So intoxicating, it laboured my breath the more. I thought of taking a step back. But something stopped me, nailed me to the spot. I didn’t know if he could notice how tense I was with him so close. But I hope he didn’t.
“You’re hurt. Again,” his tone was low. But I could feel that worry I feared setting in. “Tell me, who did this to you? Was it Catherine?” He asked before letting down his hand.
Swallowing hard, my mouth suddenly felt like the desert. I had tried to hide that mark from him when I was serving him breakfast earlier. I didn’t want him to start worrying for me as he did after I received that lip bruise on the night of that cocktail party. But it seemed like I didn’t do a good job of hiding it well. He’d figured it out.
And that was the other problem. How do I tell him? Tell him that his cheating wife was responsible for the mark. How do I tell him his cheating wife had given me strict orders not to talk or engage in any form of activity with him?
Oh Sebastian, don’t do this. Please just go.
“Em…em…I,” his expectant gaze was stuck on me, hungry for an answer. My mind was racing with the thought of what to say. In thought of the perfect lie. There was no way I could tell him it was Catherine who was responsible for the mark. It will cause trouble. It’ll be like adding fuel to an already blazing fire. I can’t do that. I didn’t want to be the cause of that chaos.
“It's nothing serious. I had gotten into a fight with one of the maids. And…and she slapped me on the face. That was how I got the mark. It wasn’t Luna Catherine. Please believe me. You don’t need to worry. It’s just a scratch. And it’s already fading.”
“A fight?” he tilted his brow, looking at me uncertainly. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “We resolved our differences. So it’s nothing for you to worry about.”
His gaze lingered on me a bit longer. And my eyes dribbled around awkwardly to avoid them. I could tell he wasn’t looking so convinced. I just hoped he won’t ask further questions like what caused the fight or the name of the maid. Amelia was the only maid I knew by name.
“Brianna listen, look at me,” he said and it sounded more like a plead. Like he needed me to for once look him directly in the eye and not feel the need to look away like a coward. “I just need you to know I’m always with you. I’m always here for you. You’re never alone. Okay? I promise to never let anyone hurt you ever again. No one will cause you any more pain as long I’m with you. If you’re having any problem or trouble or any challenge, do not hesitate to tell me. Okay?”
His words were music to my ears and soul. Aloe to my wounds. And balm to my worries. They calmed me. Eased the tension that was flooding my body. His eyes were so enchanting, I lost myself in their depths. In them, I found serenity. Peace. Protection. Security. In them, I felt safe.
I just nodded in response, forgetting how to think. How to move my lips. How to talk. Forgetting the need to look away from his magnetic eyes. But can I trust him? Trust him to protect me from everything plaguing me? From my dark past….from his wife.
“Good,” he said with a smile I found almost impossible not to return. “Now, about the reading lesson. When should we start?”
On hearing that, I blinked severally. And that was when I realized my gaze has been stuck to his all this while. That was the longest I had stared into his eyes since the first day I saw him at that auction hall. Even though I found it hard to admit, the feeling…was good.
Catherine’s last rules about me not talking or engaging in any form of activity with him began to ring louder and louder in my head. She had stressed that particular rule more than the others.
“I’m sorry, Sebastian but I’m no longer interested,” I overcame a glitch.
“I…I don’t understand,” he hesitated, blinking with bafflement. “You asked for it. You wanted it.”
Of course, I wanted it, Sebastian. I want to learn to read perfectly so badly. I want to be able to pronounce every word in a book confidently. But with everything that has happened with Catherine, it’ll be better for me to lay low now. I didn’t want to break her rules. I didn’t want to add to my punishments. I didn’t want to anger her more. Even though it seemed like the more I tried the less it worked out.
“Yes,” I affirmed, pressing my lips together in frustration. “I wanted it. But now I don’t. I just figured out I’ll be too busy with the work in the castle and---”
“That’s not even a problem,” he reassured, cutting me off. “I can make out spare time for you.”
Gosh!! I gritted inwardly. Why was he making everything so hard? Why?! Why does he have to be so kind and nice and considerate, even though it was a super good thing?
“Thank you so much for your kind gestures but I’m so sorry. I’m no longer interested,” I insisted, wishing I didn’t say that. Wishing the ground will just split open and swallow me in to bring an end to all these.
“Ok,” he shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “If that’s your decision. Then I respect it. I will never force you to do anything you don’t want or feel like doing.”
I jerked my head in response. He made his way down the hallway and I couldn’t help but gawk at his impossibly broad shoulders as they swung in unison with his graceful steps. I couldn’t stop gawking. Like a hawk until he disappeared out of sight after which I rushed downstairs to the kitchen.