chapter 29

Petal’s POVAfter my classes ended, I said goodbye to Samy and decided to head to Starbucks for some coffee. I could use a break before heading home. Once inside, I placed my order at the counter and took a seat at a cozy table near the window. As I waited for my drink, I scrolled through my phone, mindlessly catching up on social media. I was enjoying the rare moment of peace when I suddenly felt a presence beside me.Looking up, I was met with Lucas' familiar smile. "What a coincidence, Petal. We meet again," he said, his voice filled with a casual warmth.I blinked in surprise but smiled politely. "Yeah, we meet again.""Mind if I join you?" he asked, gesturing to the empty chair across from me.I nodded, and he took a seat. "So, what brings you here? Shouldn't you still be in college?" Lucas asked, leaning back in his chair."I finished my classes early today," I replied, shrugging. "Thought I'd grab some coffee before heading home."He nodded in understanding, but before he could say anything else, our names were called as our orders were ready. I stood up to collect my espresso, and Lucas followed to pick up his iced tea. I reached into my purse to pay for my drink, but Lucas beat me to it, pulling out his card and covering the bill for both of us."I can pay for mine, you don't have to," I protested, a bit embarrassed.He shook his head, smiling as he waved away my concerns. "Let me get it for you this time. You can pay next time.""But—""No 'buts,' Petal," he interrupted, handing me my cup. "Consider it my treat. Next round’s on you." With that, he carried both of our drinks back to the table, pulling out my chair for me before taking his seat across from me.'What a gentleman,' I thought as I sat down, sipping my coffee.As we drank, we started chatting about random things. Lucas asked about my college, my hobbies, and my future goals. I answered his questions, trying to keep the conversation light and casual, though I noticed how intently he listened to everything I said. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me, which was a bit refreshing but also slightly unnerving."So," he began, his tone shifting a bit, "what's your relationship with Sebastian?"His question caught me off guard, and I nearly choked on my coffee. 'What do I tell him? That Sebastian is my mom’s best friend's son? Or that he's obsessed with me and practically forces his way into my life?' I thought to myself, unsure of how much I wanted to reveal."Sebastian's... the grandson of my grandfather's friend," I said cautiously. "My mom thinks of him as a brother."I peeked at Lucas through my lashes, trying to gauge his reaction. He didn't seem satisfied with my answer. His eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward."He seems pretty close with your family," he remarked."Yeah, you could say that," I replied awkwardly, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction. Thankfully, Lucas noticed my discomfort and changed the topic. He began telling me a few light-hearted jokes, and I couldn't help but laugh, his easygoing nature putting me at ease once again.But just as I was starting to relax, someone else approached our table. I looked up, and my heart nearly stopped. There, towering over us with a dangerous glint in his eyes, was Sebastian. His entire demeanor screamed anger—his fists were clenched, his jaw was tight, and his eyes were burning with fury.I gulped nervously. 'Oh no,' I thought, my body tensing up at the sight of him."Petal, let's go," Sebastian ordered, his voice low and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine.I stayed rooted to my chair, refusing to obey him like a frightened child. 'No, I won’t just follow his commands anymore,' I told myself, summoning what little courage I had. I stared back at him, silently defying his demand.When Sebastian saw that I wasn’t moving, he pulled out a chair and sat beside me, his eyes never leaving mine. Slowly, he leaned in close, so close that his breath tickled my ear. "Either you come with me right now, or I'll kiss you in front of everyone here. You know I won't hesitate, Petal," he whispered, his voice sending a wave of heat through me.My heart pounded, and my face flushed crimson. I knew what he was capable of, and as much as I hated it, I realized I didn’t want to create a scene. Begrudgingly, I said goodbye to Lucas and followed Sebastian out of the café like a lost puppy, my bravery crumbling under his intense gaze.Sebastian didn’t even check to see if I was following him, but of course, he didn’t have to. He knew I would. We walked to his car in silence, and he opened the passenger door for me without a word. I got in, buckled my seatbelt, and watched as he got into the driver’s seat beside me. He started the engine, and we drove off without so much as a glance in my direction.The tension in the car was suffocating, and I could barely breathe. My mind raced with thoughts of what he might do or say. When I finally glanced at him, his earlier words echoed in my mind. 'Either you come with me obediently, or get ready to be kissed in front of everyone.' The memory of his whispered threat made my cheeks burn even hotter, and I cursed myself for being so easily controlled by him.It wasn’t until the car stopped that I realized where we were. I looked outside and saw the all-too-familiar sight of Sebastian’s penthouse—the same place he had brought me when it rained. Anxiety surged through me. I didn’t want to be here again.Sebastian got out of the car, slammed the door shut, and walked around to my side, opening the door for me. But I stayed where I was, refusing to move. I wasn’t going to let him control me this time."Get out of the car, Petal," he growled, his voice filled with frustration. When I shook my head in refusal, his expression darkened. Before I could react, he reached in, grabbed me, and hoisted me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes."Sebastian!" I shrieked, pounding my fists against his back as he carried me toward the building. But my efforts were futile. He was too strong, and no amount of struggling would make him budge. We stepped into the elevator, and I continued to squirm, but he ignored me, hitting the button for his penthouse floor without a word.When the doors dinged open, he strode into his apartment and unceremoniously dropped me onto the sofa. I bounced slightly as I landed, glaring up at him, but he didn’t say anything right away. Instead, he took a seat across from me, his intense gaze pinning me in place.For a long moment, the room was silent except for the sound of our breathing. Then, finally, Sebastian spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "What the hell were you doing with Lucas?"My heart sank. I had no idea how to answer that without making things worse. The blood drained from my face as I realized I was in deep trouble.Here's your update. Don't forget to reward me with 🎁🎁🎁gifts 😅😅Happy reading