Chapter 40

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian was seated at his dining table, absentmindedly playing with his dinner. The last time he ate was the night before when Caleb had ordered him takeout, and he only ate a little. He had no appetite; instead, he was worried about Jayda.

Resisting the urge to dial her number or send her a text message throughout the day was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do. He wanted to hear her voice and apologize again.

Sebastian sighed and put down his cutlery. He pushed the food away and buried his face in his hands. To top it all off, Lilian and Jayda were not on good terms, and he couldn’t help but think it was his fault.

Sebastian had never felt such a heavy pain in his heart. He had no strength and inspiration to keep going or even go back to work-related matters.

It had only been a little over twenty-four hours since everything happened, but it felt like a thousand years already. He wondered how much longer he was going to last without Jayda by his side. He missed her terribly.

Sebastian gave up on his dinner. He was making his way to his bedroom when he heard the sound of the doorbell.

At first, he thought he was hallucinating. He wasn’t expecting anyone. It couldn’t be his mom because she’d already visited him earlier.

Sebastian groaned at the thought of Caleb being the one at the door. He wanted to be alone. All he needed and wanted was a miracle, and that miracle included Jayda forgiving and accepting him in her life and the baby’s life.

As he took three more steps into his bedroom, the doorbell rang again. Whoever was at the door was not going away, and they weren’t a dream. He ran his fingers through his messy hair and went to answer the door.

He was sure whoever was at his door was related to him. His security wouldn’t allow just any person to approach his apartment, especially at this hour of the night.

Sebastian’s mouth went dry as soon as he came face-to-face with the last person he thought would be at his door.

“Jayda?” he whispered in disbelief, tears welling up in his eyes.

Sebastian quickly ushered her in before she changed her mind. He honestly had no idea what she came to see him for, but he was hopeful that he would make peace with her before she left.

He noticed how tired and pale she looked. Because she was still in her office attire, he could tell she’d come straight from work.

Jayda placed her handbag on his couch and approached him. He still stood by the door, shocked that she came by.

Sebastian’s heart was really racing. He was praying she hadn’t come to officially end things with him.

Jayda stood before him, folded her arms, and spoke with tears in her eyes.

“I’m hurt, Sebastian. I’m deeply hurt. The fact that you didn’t tell me about Aaron shows that you don’t trust me, and I felt humiliated hearing about it on TV.

“The more I keep telling myself that it’s best I end things with you, the more I feel guilty that I’m depriving both of us of the happiness we deserve.

“The last twenty-four hours have been one of the hardest hours of my life. And I don’t know if I can go on knowing we are mad at each other.

“But you truly hurt me, Sebastian. I don’t know how, but you have to do something to fix the pain I feel in my heart. As much as I want to stay away from you, I can’t.” She sobbed.

She started to hit his chest. “What did you do to me, Sebastian? How did you make me such a mess? I don’t know who I am or what I am anymore! What did you do to me, Seb, what…did…you…do?”

She fell to the floor on her last statement and cried her eyes out.

With tears rolling down Sebastian’s cheeks, he sat opposite her and cupped her teary face in his hands.

“What I did was wrong, and I deeply apologize for that. I was selfish. I was afraid you would leave me when you found out about Aaron.

“I know my reason was not enough excuse for keeping the truth away from you, but I did that due to fear. I’ve grown so attached to you, and I couldn’t afford to lose you.

“I love you so much, Jayda, and the last thing on my mind is to hurt you or do anything that will make you mad at me. I found out about Aaron the night you had an accident. Amelia told us, it was why she called the family meeting.”

Sebastian knew the only hope he had to get her back was to tell her everything.

“I decided to go out to get drunk after Susan’s betrayal. I ended up having a one-night stand with Aaron’s mom, who was formerly Amelia’s best friend. She was gone by the time I woke up, so I had no idea who I had a one-night stand with.

“Since then, Katie stayed away from Amelia and my family. It was just recently that Amelia bumped into her and this revelation came out.”

He prayed Jayda was listening to him and that she would forgive him.

“Katie said she gave him her surname and kept him away from us because she was ashamed to face my family, especially my parents who treated her like a daughter when she was still best friends with Amelia.

“I swear to you, there’s nothing between Katie and me, and Katie knows that. We are only co-parents trying to be there for Aaron.”

JAYDA

Jayda lifted her face to his. She wanted to forgive him. She understood what it was like to want to go out and get drunk to ease the pain of a bad breakup. Sebastian had shown her how much he loved her and their unborn child, and now he had another son with someone else.

He was trying to do the best for that little boy too. She couldn’t hate a man with such a good character.

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian saw the look on her face, and his heart swelled with hope.

“You’re very special to me, Jayda, and no one can take your place in my heart. I’m ready to do anything for you to make you happy and for us to be together.”

He caressed her belly. “I love our baby as much as I love his older brother, Aaron. I promise to shower both of them with so much love and be there for them whenever they need me. Please, don’t give up on me, Jayda. I promise not to ever keep anything away from you again. I really need you to heal, and the only way the pain in your heart can stop is for you to give us another chance.”

When she didn’t answer him right away, Sebastian tried even harder.

“Please, love, we can make this work. I told Aaron about you on his birthday. I showed him your picture. He loves you already, and he can’t wait to meet you. I told him so many things about you including the fact that you’re pregnant with his younger sibling, and he’s very excited about being a big brother.”

He took her warm hands in his, looked into her wet eyes and declared, “I miss you. I want you back in my life.”

Jayda sniffed. “I’m sorry for assuming you were merely deceiving me and thinking you knowingly kept Aaron’s existence away from me. I’m sorry for lashing out at you. I’m sorry for all the rubbish I said to you. I didn’t mean any of what I said. I was hurt and I let my anger overtake me. I’m sorry, Seb. I’m really sorry,” she cried.

“But I don’t think I can forgive you.”