Chapter 23
Touché.
Sebastian’s eyes met mine again. I could see this conversation was as painful to him as it was to me.
“Melissa, I know you have trust issues because of what you’ve been through. I knew it three years ago, and that’s why I was so afraid to tell you about that fucking revenge. I was waiting for the right time. And I know I fucked up from the very beginning, but you know what?” He paused for a moment, exhaling heavily. “That whole mess made me realize that if my love was not enough for you, and believe me, I was trying hard, real hard, to prove to you every day how much I cared about you. How much I loved you. But if that still wasn’t enough for you to see my intentions were genuine, we could never have a healthy, loving relationship. We both need to start from ourselves, Melissa. We both need to figure out what we truly feel and want.”
I couldn’t help a tear falling down my cheek slowly as I nodded, smiling through my watery eyes. “It sounds like a goodbye,” I muttered quietly, my voice cracking as I tried so hard not to break in front of him.
Sebastian remained silent. His eyes fell, and he pressed his lips tightly together, exhaling heavily.
"I need you to understand that I only ever wanted to ensure the safety and happiness of our daughter," I murmured, shifting my gaze between his. "I'm sorry."
"I'll go check on Angel," he replied coldly, avoiding eye contact as he passed by me. His scent hung in the air, and I fought back tears, feeling like I was losing him for good.
***
Sebastian.
After Melissa and Angel left, I sank onto my bed, enveloped in the lingering sweetness of my daughter’s presence still wafting from the duvet. Seeing Melissa at my door was the last thing I expected. Just a couple of hours ago, I was so fucking scared that she might’ve taken our daughter and vanished from my life once again. Yet, she came to me, cradling our child in her arms. Despite the lingering anger towards Melissa, that sight melted my heart. This was my family. They were my everything.
Shaking my head, I found myself smiling like a fool as I reminisced about the evening. The moment when Angel turned around, fixing her big, shiny eyes directly on mine, and in the most shy, quiet, and sweet voice, called me, ‘Daddy,’ brought tears to my eyes. It made my heart race in a way I had never felt before. I loved that little girl from the very first moment I laid eyes on her. She was perfect. Her luminous, chocolate-brown eyes wandered all over my face, silky, glistening hair, cute little nose, prominent cheeks, and slightly pointy chin. Everything about her was flawless, and that moment, the first moment I shared with my daughter, was etched into my memory.
I couldn’t explain it, but I felt an instant, unbreakable bond with her, hoping she felt it too. When Angel wrapped her tiny hands around my neck for the very first time, and I felt the warmth of her small body against my chest, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. How someone so small could evoke such a hurricane of emotions within me? I could not find the right words to describe the feelings she awoken in me when she hugged me. I had my whole world in my arms. She became everything that mattered to me. For the first time, I felt like my life made sense.
The ensuing days passed swiftly. Melissa and Angel settled into one of my properties, which gave me a sense of calm, knowing they were in a secure environment, closely monitored by trusted security personnel. I visited Angel every single day, and the daily visits became our cherished routine, bringing so much joy to Angel and, in turn, filling my heart with happiness.
In terms of my relationship with Melissa, not much had changed. I limited our interactions to those about Angel only, allowing myself time to clear my mind. Fortunately, my legal team expedited the necessary formalities. Within days, Angel was officially recognized as my daughter, bearing my last name, and joint custody was granted. I was grateful for Melissa’s cooperation throughout the process, which helped me deal with everything swiftly. She also decided to change her name back to her maiden name, Atkinson.
We soon established a routine that seemed to work just fine. We split our days to have equal time with Angel, who became my main focus. Everything else faded into the background.
My Monday at the office was consumed by a series of relentless meetings. As I stepped into my office after the last one, shedding my suit jacket onto the chair, I checked my phone to see a string of missed calls from Paige.
This woman wouldn’t give up.
After a long, deep breath, I dialed her number. I held the phone to my ear, but the sound of the door opening caught my attention.
I looked over to see Melissa peeking through the partially open door, asking hesitantly. “May I come in?”
At the same time, Paige’s excited voice filled the line, “Sebastian? I’m so happy to hear back from you. I—”
I ended the call, my focus drifting solely to Melissa. Draped in a long-sleeved, tight black velvet dress that gracefully reached just below her sleek ankles, she captured my attention from head to toe. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail, exposing her neck, and it only intensified the allure.
“Did something happen?” I asked, slightly concerned by her unexpected visit.
“No,” she replied softly, shaking her head. Her pearl earrings brushed against her neck, where my lips would fit perfectly. My thoughts diverted to places I shouldn’t be dwelling. Her gentle voice filled the room, but all I could focus on was her neck, her prominent collarbones, and how she would moan against my ear as I planted soft kisses on her exposed skin. With a shake of my head, I tried to dispel the enticing thoughts, discreetly loosening the collar of my black shirt.
“Sebastian?” She had caught me in a moment of distraction. “Were you... listening?”
I cleared my throat and nodded. “Yeah, you said we haven’t gotten a chance to talk around Angel, and we should clear things between us,” I stated, maintaining composure.
“And?” She leaned in, her hands nervously gripping the handle of the bag she held.
“I agree. We should talk. Eight tonight?”
“Okay,” she whispered, slightly abashed. “By the way, I met your father on my way here. He wants to meet Angel. He invited me... all of us for dinner on Sunday.”
I scanned her face. “And? What did you say?”