Chapter 45 Homeward Bound
Brooklyn found herself bereft of words, his utterance leaving her in a state of stunned silence. The car was filled with an oppressive silence, the atmosphere heavy and laden with tension. As they merged onto the highway, Brooklyn's gaze was drawn to the blur of road signs flashing by outside the window. The figure beside her remained frosty and detached. With half an hour still to go before they reached their destination, Brooklyn could only hope that no further complications would arise.
Just as the tension in the car threatened to become unbearable, the shrill trill of Sebastian's phone cut through the silence. He glanced at the caller ID, a slight furrow appearing between his brows. "Mr. Kingsley, I must apologize for my son's lack of discipline. Davon has failed to understand the importance of manners and has caused offense to both you and your wife. Please, forgive him. I will personally come to apologize! Mr. Kingsley..."
The voice on the other end of the line was filled with desperation, belonging to a middle-aged man. A sinking feeling settled in Brooklyn's stomach as she realized the caller must be Davon's father, Daniel Lawson, the chairman of the Snigletop Group.
Brooklyn's ears pricked up, her nerves on edge. Although she was in the dark about what Sebastian had done to him, hearing Daniel Lawson's anxious plea made her realize that Davon's predicament must be severe.
Sebastian rubbed his forehead in exasperation before responding in a languid tone, "Mr. Lawson, I understand that you're a busy man and disciplining your son might not be your top priority..."
"Mr. Kingsley, I assure you, I will discipline him appropriately! Please, forgive my son and allow him to return home. I beg you..."
Sebastian's frown deepened, his voice indifferent as he replied, "Mr. Lawson, what's done is done. Since I've taken it upon myself to educate your son free of charge, I will see it through to the end."
"Mr. Kingsley, I..."
"Mr. Lawson, if you wish for your son to return home safely, I suggest you refrain from further interruptions."
Without waiting for a response, Sebastian ended the call. He tossed the phone onto the seat between them, the device landing with a soft thud.
Brooklyn found herself holding her breath. This time, she dared not utter a word. She realized that if Sebastian could handle Davon, a scion of one of Aucester's four major families, with such ease, he could just as easily deal with her and Kelly.
The car journey continued in silence. Sebastian interlaced his fingers, resting his hands on his lap. He leaned back against the seat, closing his eyes as the tension in the car remained palpable.
Suddenly, the screen of the phone nestled between them lit up. Brooklyn jumped, her gaze darting to the device.
The name flashing on the screen made her stomach churn.
It was a call from Megan.
The monotonous ringtone echoed in the car, but this time, Sebastian didn't even spare it a glance, let alone answer the call.
Brooklyn feigned ignorance of his reluctance and reminded him with a forced smile, "Aren't you going to answer?"
Sebastian's only response was silence.
He flipped the phone over.
Once turned over, the ringtone was replaced by a soft vibration. After a moment, even the vibration ceased.
Brooklyn couldn't help but smile smugly. It seemed Megan wasn't as important to Sebastian as she had thought.
The car pulled up outside the villas of Bayside Villas. Owen, the driver, opened the car door, bowing slightly as he welcomed Sebastian and Brooklyn.
Standing in the night breeze, Brooklyn stole a glance at Sebastian. His white shirt was neatly tucked into black trousers, his strong, straight legs striking against the darkness.
Brooklyn knew that Sebastian's charm, or lack thereof, was of little consequence to her. After all, he was her husband in name only.
She understood that her role was to play the dutiful wife in public, and to maintain a respectful distance when they were alone.
She had assumed that Sebastian would simply get in the car and leave, but instead, he instructed Owen, "Come pick me up at eight tomorrow."
"Very well, Mr. Kingsley."
With that, Owen drove off.
Brooklyn was taken aback. She hadn't expected Sebastian to stay.
Confronted by Brooklyn's bewildered gaze, Sebastian retorted with a hint of sarcasm, "Are you not going in? Who are you waiting for?"
In a hushed murmur, Brooklyn responded, "Sebastian, why don't you return to the mother of your child? What purpose does it serve to linger here?"
Her tone held a subtle note of jealousy.
Sebastian, pleased by her apparent discontent spurred by envy, breezed past her into the house, paying no heed to the woman left standing behind him.
With a nonchalant shrug, Brooklyn trailed after him.
As they entered, the crystal chandelier sparked to life, casting a warm glow across the living room. Sebastian, with an air of self-satisfaction, loosened his collar and sank leisurely into the plush sofa. His legs stretched out onto the glass coffee table, the gleam of his polished leather shoes catching the light. His long limbs easily spanned the tabletop.
Brooklyn slipped off her shoes, only then noticing the worn-out heels. The angry red marks on her feet were a stark contrast to her pale skin. The throbbing pain in her knees was a grim reminder of her ordeal. With a sigh, she realized she had been hurt yet again.
She pulled her coat tighter around her, preparing to ascend the stairs to change her attire.
"Come here," came Sebastian's weary command from the living room, his tone brooking no argument.
"I'll change and then come down," Brooklyn replied, her hand gripping the armrest as she readied herself to ascend the stairs.
"When did you start negotiating? Do you think I've been too lenient, or do you believe you have the right to defy me?" Sebastian's cold gaze bore into her, as if attempting to peer into her very soul.
Left with no other option, Brooklyn reluctantly retraced her steps, slowly approaching him. She came to a halt by the sofa, her slender form draped in the coat, reminiscent of a clothes hanger bearing a single garment.
Sebastian slowly lifted his gaze to her. The soft light accentuated her delicate features, enhancing her beauty. It was a rare moment for him to regard her with such intensity and emotion.
The mere thought of Davon laying a hand on her stirred a murderous rage within Sebastian.
He was well aware that Brooklyn possessed the allure to ensnare a man, after all, he himself had...
A sudden wave of irritation washed over Sebastian.
Witnessing Brooklyn's compliance, Sebastian's anger flared. He abruptly queried, "What's the matter with your house?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected shift in conversation, Brooklyn was momentarily taken aback.
She was unsure as to which house he was referring to.
After a moment's reflection, she surmised that Sebastian was likely alluding to the house she rented. She speculated that he was inquiring about the incident involving her tampered door lock.
How Sebastian had come to know of this, Brooklyn had no idea.
Sebastian could read Brooklyn's thoughts. She was usually sharp and alert, but her momentary lapse into confusion made her all the more enticing to him.
"I want the truth. Don't attempt to trick me, let alone deceive me," Sebastian declared, his gaze shifting away from her, his demeanor turning aloof and distant.
Despite her dislike for Susie, Brooklyn recognized her as part of the family. She explained, "It was merely a prank by some foolish children. I've already dealt with it."
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