Chapter 141
“Get down p>
Sebastian stopped beside a park bench.
“You wait here. I’ll be right back p>
Lexi nodded.
But she couldn’t help wondering what he was planning.
A short distance away, a group of elderly couples were dancing.
A soft melody floated through the morning air as they moved gracefully across the pavement.
Lexi watched, fascinated.
Then—
Something cold touched her forehead.
She startled and turned around.
Sebastian stood behind her, smiling.
“Here p>
He handed her a small cup.
“I spent ages searching online for this p>
His expression looked almost boyish.
“They say it’s the best ice cream in Paris p>
He held it out to her like a child waiting proudly to be praised.
Lexi stared at the ice cream.
Then at Sebastian.
For a moment, she couldn’t help smiling.
Lexi couldn’t help laughing.
She accepted the ice cream, peeled back the wrapper, and took a bite.
It was every bit as sweet and delicious as Sebastian had promised.
For a moment, they simply sat together on the park bench, looking like any ordinary young couple enjoying a quiet morning in Paris.
No mafia families.
No enemies.
No bloodshed.
No secrets.
Just two people sharing ice cream.
“Come on p>
Sebastian tossed the wrapper into a nearby bin and calmly wiped the corner of his mouth and his fingers.
“Saint-Roch Church is just ahead. We can find that fortune-teller and have our relationship read p>
Lexi raised an eyebrow.
“You actually believe in this stuff p>
She had never believed in fortune-telling, palm reading, or anything that claimed to predict a person’s future.
She believed people made their own choices.
“There’s only one way to find out p>
Sebastian stood and took her hand.
They walked through the park together.
A few minutes later, the magnificent stone structure of Saint-Roch Church rose before them.
Not far from the church stood a small green building.
Tarot symbols were carved into the wooden door.
Sebastian pushed it open.
The interior was surprisingly simple.
There was only a table, a large cabinet filled with bottles, and windows overlooking the steady stream of pedestrians outside.
A breeze slipped through the open doorway, making the bells hanging above it chime softly.
The sound was almost musical.
Footsteps sounded upstairs.
A woman draped in black descended slowly.
Her skin was dark, contrasting beautifully with her delicate features.
Her eyes were deep and striking, with the faintest hint of blue.
A small beauty mark beneath her chin made her appearance even more distinctive.
She looked at Lexi and Sebastian.
“You came at exactly the right time p>
Her voice was calm.
“I only see three clients a day p>
She smiled faintly.
“You’re my third p>
Sebastian pulled out a chair for Lexi before sitting beside her.
“What do you think of us p>
The fortune-teller narrowed her eyes and studied them carefully.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she slowly shook her head.
“Let’s each draw a card p>
She reached beneath the table and brought out a deck of tarot cards.
After shuffling several times, she spread them across the table.
“Let the cards answer you p>
Lexi glanced at Sebastian.
He nodded.
She hesitated.
The reason Lexi disliked fortune-telling wasn’t simply because she thought it was superstition.
She hated the idea of having her entire life reduced to a few sentences spoken by someone else.
What if she began measuring every decision against a prediction?
What if she spent the rest of her life trying to prove—or disprove—something someone had told her?
She didn’t want that kind of fate hanging over her.
Lexi took a breath.
Then she reached out and selected one card from the deck.
She turned it over.
The image depicted two cliffs facing each other, separated by a dangerous chasm.
The fortune-teller studied it briefly.
Then she looked toward Sebastian.
He reached toward the cards.
His hand hovered for a moment before he selected one from the far edge of the spread.
He turned it over.
The King of Swords.
The fortune-teller smiled.
“You’re here to ask about love p>
Sebastian nodded.
“Please. Tell us what they mean p>
The woman gave a quiet laugh.
Then she sighed.
“The two opposing cliffs represent difficulties and obstacles p>
She pointed toward Lexi’s card.
“But this isn’t necessarily a dead end. There is still a narrow path connecting the two sides p>
Her gaze shifted between them.
“It means that after trials and hardship, you may eventually reach a distant destination p>
Then she looked at Sebastian’s card.
“The upright King of Swords represents authority, power, and loneliness. A man who sits above others, commanding respect but often standing alone p>
She paused.
Then she turned the card upside down.
“The reversed King of Swords suggests emotions becoming difficult to control and judgment becoming clouded p>
Her expression grew more serious.
“Your relationship will require a long period of adjustment. There will be obstacles between you p>
She looked directly at them.
“If either of you gives up along the way, then I’m afraid you may never reach the end together p>
Sebastian’s expression slowly changed.
Lexi glanced at him.
“You were right p>
He reached into his wallet and placed a stack of euros on the table.
“This kind of game really can’t be trusted p>
He took Lexi’s hand and led her out.
Sebastian didn’t believe in the cards.
He didn’t believe their future could be decided by ink printed on cardboard.
Whatever anyone said, he and Lexi belonged together.
They might face obstacles.
They might be forced apart.
But he refused to believe that their story would end anywhere except together.
Unfortunately, the moment they stepped outside, Lexi understood exactly what the fortune-teller had meant.
Lauren stood across the narrow street beneath a pale-yellow umbrella.
Her white dress moved gently in the wind.
She looked thinner than Lexi had ever seen her.
Her face was almost unnaturally pale.
Her eyes were distant and unfocused.
The only vivid color on her face came from the lipstick she wore.
Lauren’s assistant, Yvonne, supported her by the arm, worry written all over her face.
The four of them were separated by nothing more than a narrow street.
Yet Lexi suddenly felt as though a galaxy stood between them.
Lauren had been ordered to rest because of her anorexia, and all of her entertainment activities had been suspended.
New York was too noisy and crowded for her recovery.
So she had come to Paris to clear her head and hoped the change of environment would help her recover.
She’d heard from Yvonne and several locals about a fortune-teller near Saint-Roch Church who was supposedly remarkably accurate.
Lauren had come hoping to ask about her future with Sebastian.
She never expected to find him here.
With Lexi.
And holding her hand.
The moment Lauren saw their intertwined fingers, all the color drained from her face.
Her blood seemed to rush violently through her veins.
She couldn’t take it.
Her knees buckled.
“Lauren p>
Yvonne caught her.
“Someone help! Please p>
Sebastian’s expression changed instantly.
He released Lexi’s hand and ran across the street.
Lexi stood frozen.
Her hand remained suspended in the air where Sebastian’s had been.
Slowly, she lowered it.
A bitter ache spread through her chest.
Everything had been so beautiful.
But only before all these complications had appeared.
Now Sebastian was rushing toward Lauren.
Lauren lay unconscious on the pavement.
And Lexi suddenly realized that her presence here was unnecessary.
She turned around.
Without saying a word, she walked in the opposite direction.