Chapter 255 Can't Afford Slip-ups
Brooklyn's pale fists were clenched tightly, and tears streamed down her face as she looked down. "Sebastian, stop tormenting me, please. Let me go, and let yourself go. I don't want to continue."
He gripped her shoulders gently, his voice softening. "Why? I was only away in Averlake. Why have you changed your mind?"
Brooklyn scoffed, brushing away her tears with a dismissive gesture. Her laugh was bitter and cold. "Sebastian, you're truly a man of great character. Because you went to Averlake, I lost the Mitchell Group and became a laughingstock in the media—the Kingsley family's joke!"
He thought, 'Is that really all? It doesn't sound like Brooklyn.' Sebastian found it hard to believe.
He reached out to wipe her eyes with his thumb, but she violently jerked away. "Don't touch me!"
She thought to herself, 'I'm infected with HIV! Don't you get it? Stop touching me!'
But Sebastian was determined to get through to her. He held her shoulders firmly. "Look at me. Tell me, why do you want a divorce? Why don't you want to be with me?"
Brooklyn couldn't meet his eyes. She kept her gaze down. "Sebastian, we're not suited for each other. If being together means mutual torment, then I'm being very rational and clear-headed. I'm saying it again—let's get a divorce."
Sebastian thought, 'This damned topic again!'
Sebastian, who had been trying to stay calm, finally lost his temper. He watched as a silver spoon clattered onto the porcelain plate, splashing chicken broth everywhere.
He stood up angrily, pacing back and forth, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration. He finally turned back to the unresponsive Brooklyn on the couch. "Brooklyn, do you really think I'll just let you throw a tantrum? I've had enough of this. Don't bring it up again."
She looked up, managing a thin smile. "Oh, so now I've made you angry? In the end, you love yourself the most. What am I to you? A prop to be showcased when needed and discarded when not? I'm a woman, not an object."
Her attempt to reason with him only fueled his anger more!
Sebastian thought, 'I have never doubted Brooklyn's intelligence, but why can't she get a clue when it came to our feelings?'
"Your identity has been made public. From now on, you're officially Mrs. Kingsley. I won't be hiding your status anymore. Also, here's the invitation to tomorrow night's event. You're coming with me."
She thought, 'An event at a time like this?'
She didn't even have the strength to scoff.
The crimson gold-embossed invitation lay in her hand. Brooklyn opened it and said, "Sebastian, do you really think we should attend this kind of event?"
She thought, 'Lawrence Turner's birthday party, hosted by Megan's father—why on earth would he be so eager to have me attend?'
"Sebastian, this invitation only has your name on it. It seems they don't want me there to ruin things." Brooklyn let the card drop from her slender fingers, feeling utterly defeated as she stood up.
She took a step, but as she brushed past Sebastian, he caught her hand with precise accuracy. His fingers splayed over hers, locking them together. He didn't look at her face but said with determination, "Of course, you're coming. It's a plus-one event. As my wife, who else would I bring?"
Brooklyn looked up, the dazzling crystal chandelier blinding her momentarily. "So, I'm still part of this charade?"
Sebastian tightened his grip. "No."
He paused for a moment, then turned to face her directly. Brooklyn's eyes were red and swollen, but Sebastian didn't press her for an explanation—she wouldn't tell him anyway. "I'll make sure everyone knows you're my wife. No one else will come near you, let alone try to covet you."
With that, he released her hand and sent her back to her room.
As soon as she left, Sebastian's phone rang.
It was Jennifer.
"Sebastian, tomorrow night is Lawrence's birthday party. It's time to formally address your relationship with Megan. Lawrence dotes on Megan, so I hope you're clear about your position."
Sebastian, with one hand in his pocket, watched Brooklyn's retreating figure and smirked coldly. "When have I ever cared about these things? Jennifer, you might want to reconsider your plans with Brooklyn. Don't push me into retaliation—I'd hate for you to lose me by the time I strike back."
Jennifer's fingers dug into the leather of her sofa. "Sebastian! You…"
"Jennifer, after more than twenty years, do you really think you can stop me from doing what I'm set on?"
Jennifer shut her eyes, the corners crinkling with worry. "You'll regret it if you don't leave yourself a way out now. You will regret it!"
"Regret?" Sebastian thought, his mind wandering to past mistakes. "For over twenty years, the only thing I regret is how, in my younger days, I hurt the people I loved and myself through my own extremism."
He thought, 'Does Megan want to become the mistress of the Kingsley family? Tomorrow night, I'll make it clear to Megan that the position is reserved for one person only—no one else needs to apply.'
He ended the call abruptly and dialed Dario's number.
"What's the situation on your end?"
"Boss, everything's under control. Rest assured, tomorrow will be flawless."
Sebastian liked the sound of "flawless." He couldn't afford any slip-ups involving Brooklyn.
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