Chapter 265 Live in the Moment
Kelly gritted her teeth, thinking, 'At the critical moment, Sebastian turns out to be utterly useless.'
Brooklyn chuckled lightly, refusing, "Sorry, I don't want to dance with you."
Brandon, however, ignored her objections, reached out, and grabbed her slender wrist, pulling her up right in front of Kelly!
Brandon was very strong, and Brooklyn, caught off guard, fell into his arms.
Brandon carried a faint scent of tobacco mingled with another woman's perfume—a clear sign he was no stranger to the world of seduction. As he held Brooklyn's hand and waist, he offered no chance for escape.
Brooklyn was absolutely trapped and thoroughly irritated.
As he guided her into a waltz, the music had barely started when Brooklyn tried several times to step on his feet, only to have him dodge each attempt effortlessly.
Brandon flashed a roguish grin, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth—a rare sight for a smoker.
"Who are you?" Brooklyn demanded, her gaze sharp and suspicious.
Honestly, his looked were striking, standing out in any crowd, but his casual demeanor was off-putting.
Brandon frowned slightly, "Miss, sometimes knowing a man's name isn't all it's cracked up to be. In settings like this, it's all about a fleeting good time. Who you are and who I am, well, let's just say it's all about living in the moment."
Brooklyn thought, 'So, he is here for a one-night stand.'
Brooklyn's gaze cut through Brandon, reading the mockery in his eyes. She forced a serious smile and said, "Sir, I have HIV."
She said it with such gravity that it made him laugh.
"Darling, that's the most self-deprecating rejection I've ever heard. HIV? You might as well have said you have SARS."
Brandon seemed unfazed by her claim, chuckling as if her attempt at dark humor amused him.
Brooklyn's smile remained, though her eyes were serious. "I'm not joking."
She leaned in, as if to press her lips against his.
Brandon was momentarily taken aback. Not by the risk of illness but by the sheer audacity of her move. If he didn't act, he'd end up hurt.
He thought, 'Sebastian, you certainly have a bold taste in lovers.'
Sebastian, disgusted, stood up abruptly. He took out a handkerchief and wiped off his shoulder where a woman had touched him, his expression twisting in irritation.
His obsession with cleanliness, especially with unfamiliar women—particularly those who left a trail of makeup with every smile—was well-known. The woman who had just approached him was a prime example.
When he saw the scene unfold through the window, Sebastian's eyes narrowed. He swiftly strode out of the hall with a speed that was almost startling.
Brooklyn, released from Brandon's grip, was about to sneer when she suddenly found herself falling into a solid, warm chest.
"Back already, and you're ready to leave?" Sebastian's deep, cold voice resonated from above, carrying an air of inherent menace.
Brooklyn didn't need to look up to know—it was his familiar tequila-scented presence.
She thought, 'But what did his earlier words mean?'
Brandon shrugged, grinning. "Come on now, I traveled a long way just to see you take action."
She thought, 'What?
'Do they know each other?'
Sebastian's sharp gaze was fixed on Brandon, his eyes cold and unyielding. He couldn't tolerate someone hitting on his wife, no matter the circumstances. "If you're not planning to leave, then behave yourself and stay out of the way."
Brandon looked put out. "Oh, come on. Your wife just told me she has HIV. That kind of scared me. I think I deserve some compensation." Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he looked down at Brooklyn's head resting on his chest.
He thought, 'What on earth was she saying?'
Brooklyn, her face hidden, was concealing her emotions.
"Do you really want to dance?" Sebastian's voice was directed at her.
Brooklyn's response was swift and firm. "No, I don't."
"Oh, really? But I do."
The outdoor dance floor was alive with color, fountains sparkling, and music blending into a dazzling display. The light caught Brooklyn's face, making her skin glow and look almost edible.
As Sebastian held her waist and they swayed to the music, the simple dance steps took on a magnetic allure, drawing the admiring gaze of the guests. The pair seemed oblivious to the world around them, lost in their intimate dance.
"Don't use excuses like that to brush off a man's advances," Sebastian murmured, leaning in close. His warm breath tickled her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
Brooklyn tilted her head up. "What if it wasn't a joke? What if it's true?"
Sebastian's eyes darkened, taken aback by her response. "If it's true, then we're in the same boat. Considering the transmission routes for HIV, we might have already shared it."
Brooklyn's back stiffened abruptly. Her eyes widened in shock.
She thought, 'Transmission routes? I've been naive to think it can't be spread without sexual contact, but since he has already kissed me, is he infected too? This can't be real!'
She closed her eyes in despair, her face turning ashen, her heart pounding with fear.
"What's wrong?" Sebastian's voice was low and soothing as he tightened his hold on Brooklyn's waist, his concern evident.
Brooklyn struggled to keep her composure, barely managing to avoid collapsing. She murmured, "Sebastian."
"What is it?" His voice was deep and intensely sensual.
"We… we might both…"
She couldn't finish her sentence. Words failed her, a thousand thoughts caught in her throat, and the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back.
"What's wrong?"
Brooklyn shut her eyes tightly, her lips trembling as she finally said, "What did your friend mean when he said he wanted to see you take action? What does that mean?"
Sebastian's brow relaxed as he locked eyes with her. The outdoor lighting was dim, but her eyes seemed to be shining brightly, like stars, stirring something deep within him.
"You'll find out soon enough."
As the dance ended, the Lawrence family stood at the marble staircase, preparing for Lawrence's speech.
Sebastian gave a subtle nod to Dario, who understood and stepped out of the crowd.
Lawrence clasped his hands in gratitude and began, "Thank you all for coming to my birthday celebration. Today is…"
The guests looked up, and the reporters set their cameras, capturing the moment as the night breeze added to the atmosphere.
In the middle of his speech, a blinding light suddenly shot from the front of the villa!
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