Chapter 23

Chapter 23 BLAIRE I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was holding back my urge not to put a pillow on top of Sebastian’s head while he was sleeping.

How could he sleep so soundly after the betrayal he committed last night?

It was six in the morning when I decided to get up and prepare myself. I’m not really sure how I will be able to look him in the eye without yelling at him. I soaked myself in a warm bath for at least half an hour while thinking of ways to avoid him. I’m also planning to check a few vacant spaces later for the business that I’m planning to put up.

I was thinking that if I have to settle back here, I can’t just stay at home and wait for my husband. I wanted to start doing something for myself. I already did it in Hawaii. So, I was planning to do it here in New York as well.

After I’m done taking a shower, I wrap myself in the bathrobe before coming out of the bathroom. It was past seven in the morning when I finished taking a bath. When I came out of the bathroom, I immediately saw Sebastian sitting on the bed with a laptop on his lap. He lifted his head the moment he heard the door open. A smile broke from her lips as he greeted me.

“Good morning. You’re up early. Want to have breakfast with me?” He has been busy these past few days, and this is the first time that I have woken up before him. Entirely because I didn’t get much sleep last night. “I figure we haven’t had much chance to have breakfast together because of my work. How about we take a stroll and find a good restaurant? What do you think?” he asked excitedly.

My face remained straight as I watched him speak. Is this guilt? Is he feeling guilty because of what happened last night? That’s why he was trying to make it up for me.

“I have plans,” I answered coldly before going straight to the closet. I felt him follow me inside the closet, but I made myself busy choosing what clothes to wear.

“Are you alright?” I heard him ask.

But I didn’t bother looking at him before I answered. “I’m good,” I replied as I continued to go through with my clothes.

“Are we okay?” he revised his question.

“Do we have any reason not to?” I asked him. I wanted to see if he’s going to lie about it or if he’s going to come clean.

“I couldn’t think of any. Is there something that I should be worried about?” he asked innocently.

1/6 09:06 Mon, 22 Jan D Chapter 23 I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at him. “I don’t know. Is k*ssing my stepsister in the middle of the night something that I should not be worried about?” I asked him.

directly.

“H-How did—

“How did I know? Really? That’s all you have to say. “I couldn’t hold back my anger anymore. G od knows how long I have been trying to calm myself down since last night. But now, watching him try to act as if nothing happened infuriates me.

He took a sharp breath. “I can explain, he started.

“Oh, yeah. Come on, explain to me how you wrapped your arms around her waist so you could k*ss her properly,” I said sarcastically.

“Blaire, that’s not what happened,” he denied.

Of course, no criminal will admit his crime.

“Oh, please. Spare me nothing you can say with your lies, Sebastian. I saw it with my own eyes. There’s nothing you can say that will make me believe that it was nothing. This is different from what happened a year ago. Which makes me reconsider that maybe you’re lying as well when you told me that nothing happened between the two of you in the hotel.”

“Okay, that’s unfair.”

“No! You’re the one who’s unfair! How can you manage to sleep soundly beside me after you k*ssed my sister?” I screamed in anger.

“Will you please hear me out?” he said in frustration. “Yes, I did k*ss her last night.”

“Stop right there.” I cut him off. “That’s all I need to hear. I don’t want to hear the rest. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Please leave; I need to get dressed,” I said coldly. I turned. around and went back to choosing my clothes. I can still feel his presence behind me, but I choose to ignore him. I heard him blow a sharp breath before he decided to leave.

I let out a sigh of relief once he was finally gone. I went back to preparing myself. I decided to wear denim jeans and a white shirt. I paired it with white sneakers so I would be comfortable as I walked along the streets of New York. I scheduled a few viewings today, so I wanted to be in my most comfortable clothes.

I tie my hair up in a loose bun and put on a little bit of makeup. Once I’m done, I look at myself in the mirror one last time before getting out of the closet.

I found Sebastian in the room the moment I stepped out. He was drying his hair with a white towel, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. If we were in different circumstances, I’d definitely jump on him and pin him to the bed. But I’m too.

2/6 09:06 Mon, 22 Jan Chapter 23 angry to even fantasize about that. I roll my eyes at him, disregarding his threat about that specific action.

I headed straight to the door, but I was surprised when he suddenly blocked his n*ked chest in front of me. I had no idea how he managed to go there so fast.

“Get out of my way,” I told him, glaring.

“You’re going somewhere?” he asked.

“None of your godd amn business,” I responded with a dead look in my eyes.

“You’re my wife, so it’s my business to know where you’re going,” he insisted.

“I don’t think you’ve got a say on this after what you did last night,” I said.

He growled in frustration. I frowned as I watched him, as if he were losing patience. He doesn’t get to do that. If there’s someone here who should be frustrated, it’s me.

“Look, I know it doesn’t sound right. But I’m begging you: please listen to what I have to say. After that, you can decide whether you still want to get mad at me,” he pleaded.

I squinted my eyes, weighing the situation. I don’t want to make the same mistakes that I did before. So this time, I’m going to hear what he has to say. Then, I’ll decide right after.

“Fine, I’m all cars.”

“I went to my office last night to work. I don’t want to wake you up, so I figure it’s better for me to go out and work at my office.

Even though I’d rather spend my night sleeping than working, I have an important email I need to attend to. And while I’m working, I receive a text from Catherine. She threatened to hurt herself if I didn’t come and meet her.”

“I heard a lot of boo-h oos, but nothing about the k*ss,” I said upon hearing his explanation.

He took a sharp breath before explaining again. “She tried to k*ss me to prove that I still have feelings for her.”

“And you end up k*ssing her instead. Great! I heard everything that I needed to hear, I said sarcastically as I tried to leave by shoving him to the side, but he was quick to hold both of my shoulders to stop me from moving.

“Yes, I did k*ss her back because I wanted to know if my feelings for her were all gone as well. I quickly realized that it was. I have no feelings for her anymore. My heart fully belongs to you now,” he said excitedly.

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“So you’re telling me that until last night, you still had doubts about your feelings for me?” I asked, arching my eyebrow. He tried to open his mouth, but he remained silent. I can see the confusion in his eyes. He probably hasn’t thought about it until now. I sneered, “I thought so. “I pushed him to the side so he would not block the door anymore. This time, he didn’t resist.

I went straight downstairs only to find my father, Stacy, and Catherine were all waiting in the living room. I looked at Catherine, and she was looking at me, smiling. As if she were bluntly gloating about what happened last night. My eyes twitched while I was biting my lower lip, hardly just to calm myself down. I shouldn’t let her off the h vook easily the first time she tried to ruin my marriage.

“Oh, you’re here. Where’s Sebastian? Let’s have breakfast together,” my father said as he slowly folded the newspaper that he was reading before I came.

“Sebastian is still getting ready. You can go ahead without me. I have no plans on having breakfast here,” I responded coldly. I hate where I-am now. My father is so sick that he can’t handle any stress. That means I also couldn’t let him be aware of the conflict surrounding the three of us. Despite my eagerness to rip that smile off Catherine’s face right now, I need to calm down..

“That’s nonsense, Blaire. It’s been a while since the last time we shared a meal at the table. Come on, Stacy and Catherine have been busy preparing this meal for us,” my father insisted.

“Dad—”

“Come on, let’s go.” He didn’t give me a chance to decline. My father immediately grabbed my hand and led me to the dining area.

The table was set the moment we stepped inside the dining area. I couldn’t help but arch my eyebrow upon seeing how much food was on the table.

“Are we having our last meal? This looks like a meal enough for a month,” I commented.

“Blaire...” my dad called my name with a warning tone.

“I’m just stating a fact, dad,” I said, shrugging my shoulders as I took a seat on the passenger side of the power seat.

“Good morning, everyone.” Sebastian was greeted upon entering the dining hall.

I didn’t bother lifting my head to greet him. I keep myself busy by starting to put food on my plate. So, I was completely taken by surprise when he suddenly k*ssed me on the lips in front of everyone.

“Good morning, love,” he said while his face remained inches away from mine.

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I squinted my eyes at him as a warning, but he just smiled and planted another k*ss on my lips before taking his seat.

“Let’s eat everyone,” Sebastian announced.

We were just starting to eat when Catherine quickly picked up the coffee pot and poured some into Sebastian’s cup.

“You don’t have to do that,” Sebastian whispered to Catherine, but it was loud enough for me to hear. He looked at me nervously, as if he were hoping that I wouldn’t make this a big deal.

Instead of making a scene, I smirked before lifting up my cup and handing it to Catherine, gesturing to her to pour coffee on my cup as well. Catherine glanced at the other people around the table who had no idea what was happening between us. She then posed a fake smile before pouring it into my cup.

I’m not sure if she’s doing it on purpose, but she deliberately filled my cup too much, causing it to overflow. “Oh, my! I’m sorry,”

she said as the excess coffee from my cup. continued to flow. I was about to put it down when she suddenly hit my arm, resulting in the hot coffee spilling on her hand.

She shouted in pain as she immediately clutched her arm to her chest. “Why did you do that, Blaire?” she said.

I frowned in confusion. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything.” I responded in surprise. I was shocked by her accusation.

Sebastian was switching his gaze between us. It was as if he was weighing who’s lying.

In the midst of intense scrutiny, I stood my ground, firmly declaring, “I swear I didn’t do anything!” The weight of judgment pressed upon me, but I refused to yield.

Stacy, the ever-concerned mother, sought to understand the situation. “Catherine, what happened?” she inquired, hoping to unravel the events.

Catherine explained, her voice tinged with victimhood, “I was just trying to be nice, pouring some coffee for Sebastian. It seems Blaire got jealous and poured hot coffee on my hand.”

“I did not!” I interjected, my frustration and disbelief driving my words. I needed to set the record straight.

Seeking an impartial account, my father turned to Sebastian and asked, “Did what happened?”

you see Sebastian’s gaze met mine-a mix of discomfort and reluctance. With an audible sigh, 09:06 Mon, 22 Jan R U Chapter 23 (48%)

he admitted, “I did not,” lowering his head as if burdened by the weight of the situation.

“But that doesn’t mean I did what she accused me of!” I retorted, my frustration. intensifying.

Catherine, attempting to diffuse the tension, interjected, “It’s okay. It wasn’t a big deal, guys. I forgive her. I know she didn’t mean it. Maybe she’s just mad. I understand.”

My incredulous response hung in the air, a blend of astonishment and disbelief. Catherine’s forgiveness felt like an unexpected twist in a narrative I couldn’t fully comprehend. The room brimmed with unresolved tension, leaving me grappling with the aftermath of an accusation that lingered around the dining hall.

Let’s all take a deep breath. I’m sure it was just an accident,” Sebastian suggested, trying to control the situation.

“Of course, it wasn’t an accident! She did it to herself to make me look bad!” I exclaim.

“Are you saying that I deliberately poured hot coffee on my hand? Why would I do that?” Catherine denied it as she clutched her hand..

“Let me see that,” Sebastian said before grabbing Catherine’s hand.

“It’s fine, Sebastian,” she said while trying to hide her arm behind her back. “I don’t want to get Blaire in trouble. It’s really fine,”

she added, acting as if she were saving my ass. But she can fool everyone but me.

When Sebastian pulled her arm, we all saw how red her skin was because of the burn. He looked at me, and his eyes were dark.

“If you’re mad, place your anger on me,” he said coldly. “Let’s put some cream on your burn,” he said before pulling Catherine out of the dining hall.

I found myself wrestling with a mix of emotions-frustration, confusion, and a lingering sense of injustice.

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