Chapter 85
SEBASTIAN’S POV
Early in the morning, we left Amelia’s parents’ house for my castle. She couldn’t return, a choice I respected. I admired her bold decision to pursue medical school, furthering what she learned from her parents. I assured her I’d always remember her and encouraged her to call if she needed anything, though I knew her modesty might make that difficult. That explained her reluctance to accept the check I offered.
I thought about writing a complaint to the Alpha Kings Association, asking for a divorce from Catherine if it turned out she fired Amelia unjustly. I’ve endured a lot, and though it wouldn’t be easy, I was willing to take the risk, considering everything Catherine had done. However, Amelia said she was at fault, so I put the idea on hold. But if Catherine did something else foolish, then I’d consider it without hesitation.
After we arrived at the castle, the first thing I did was rush to the cell room and unlock it. I hoped Brianna didn’t know the door was locked from the outside and that no guard kept watch yesterday. Though I had my doubts, I really wish she didn’t know.
I came in and what I saw made confusion and anger knot inside me.
“Sebastian…” Brianna’s lips trembled, almost uncontrollably as she clutched the bars tightly. Her beautiful glacial eyes were now red and swollen with tears as though she had been crying since yesterday night. From the look of it, I was sure she didn’t even have a sound sleep last night.
My fist and jaw clenched, and anger surged through me; thoughts raced out of control. I hated seeing her like that. She was okay yesterday when I left. Who hurt her? Who made her cry? Catherine came to mind first, but it didn’t make sense. The door was locked, and I had the keys. She couldn’t have reached her; it just wasn’t possible.
I needed to find out, so I took cautious steps towards her so as not to frighten her, my gaze never breaking away even for a second on hers that was steaming with tears.
As I approached, I touched her through the bars, my hand on her pale, tear-stained face. It seemed to calm her a bit. Her eyes fluttered peacefully as she nestled into the comfort of my palm. I asked her a single question.
“Who hurt you?”
She struggled to speak as if something gripped her throat. She didn’t have to explain; I just wanted one word — a name. And if it turned out to be Catherine, I’d go ahead with the complaint letter for divorce to the Association. I don’t care about the Alpha King rules or what the others might think. I’ll send the letter, explaining everything if necessary.
“You’re… you’re alive,” her eyes widened with a gleam as she said that, mine dimming as I was more confused than before.
“Why would you say that?” I moved my hand from her face, looking at her with a mix of confusion and anticipation. “Did you think something bad happened to me…did you think that I was dead?”
“I heard a gunshot at the door last night…I thought armed robbers broke into the castle and…and that they killed everyone…”
A gunshot? Robbers? I turned away, frowning deeply. If armed robbers robbed the castle last night, I should have heard by now. My security guards haven’t mentioned anything, and everything seems calm and okay.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, turning my attention back to her.
She nodded vehemently, like a frightened child. I huffed.
“Everything is fine. I wasn’t around yesterday. I went for a short trip. I’m not dead and no one in the castle is dead as far as I know, so you can stop crying. I hate seeing you like this.”
I wanted to hold her shaking body, to embrace her, to feel her and tell her that everything was okay. And that she didn’t have to worry about anything. But the bars kept us apart. Every day, every hour, every minute, every second, I struggled against my strong desire to be close to her.
Amelia was right when she said I needed to let her out of there. But as my gaze travelled over to her tear-stained face and searched her beautiful, wet eyes, a hint of doubt found its way into me. If I let her out, how sure was I that she wouldn’t attempt to escape like before, and go out to the wicked world and people who hurt her? I can’t let that happen. I needed to protect her from all that. She was mine, and mine alone to protect.
I needed to build a strong foundation of trust with her. Make her feel comfortable and safe with me. I needed to make her know my intentions for her were good before I could let her out. Things were going fine. All I needed was a little more time. Just a little more.
“I’ll go get the maid for you and learn more about this,” I said quietly but firmly. Robbers can’t break into my castle and get away with it. I’ll find them and teach them a lesson that will make them stop stealing and trespassing on others’ property.
“Okay,” she muttered and bent her head slightly, her long feathery lashes fluttering as she dabbed her eyes with the back of her hands. She kept doing that until I went out.
I sent a maid to take care and feed her with breakfast the head maid prepared. I made sure the meal was tasted before it was passed to her. Now that Amelia was gone, the head maid was the only one I could fully trust to prepare her meals.
I checked with my security guards who patrol with the dogs at night about the gunshot and armed robbers Brianna mentioned. To my surprise and relief, they said they heard nothing and saw no unfamiliar faces. They spoke confidently, and I trusted them. I’ve known them for a while, and they’re competent and loyal; they wouldn’t lie to me.
That could only mean one thing – Brianna might be imagining things. Keeping her locked up might be causing her to see and hear things that aren’t real. Damn! I shouldn’t have left her alone.