Chapter 155
There had been more darkness and pain than happiness in her life.
But the happy moments had been real too.
“Do you want to play with them p>
Sebastian noticed the longing in Lexi’s eyes.
He rose from the blanket and held out his hand to her, his expression unexpectedly gentle.
Lexi shook her head, a bitter smile touching her lips.
“I’m too old for that now p>
“You’re never too old to do something you want p>
Sebastian pulled her to her feet and led her toward the children.
Lexi couldn’t speak French, so she could only watch as Sebastian chatted with the children, translating everything for her afterward.
A group of children.
Two adults.
Under the endless blue sky, they created their own little symphony of laughter.
For a while, there were no rival families.
No enemies.
No secrets.
No complicated relationships.
Just happiness.
Unfortunately, happy moments never lasted long enough.
By evening, Sebastian drove Lexi back to the flower shop.
Before she got out, he caught her slender wrist.
“Lexi p>
His voice was low and serious.
“If you decide you want to come back to me, you can come back anytime p>
He paused.
“But my patience isn’t unlimited. Don’t make me wait too long p>
Lexi’s heart trembled.
For a moment, she didn’t know whether she should nod or shake her head.
What existed between her and Sebastian felt like an impossible equation.
No matter how she tried to solve it, there was only one answer.
She didn’t want to waste Sebastian’s time.
She certainly didn’t want her existence to drive a wedge between him and his father.
And then there was Lauren.
That woman stood between them like an uncrossable chasm.
Sebastian waited.
But Lexi remained silent.
Eventually, his expression cooled.
“Alright. Get out and get some rest p>
He waited several seconds longer.
Still nothing.
His heart sank.
Sometimes silence was the clearest answer of all.
Sebastian already knew what she had chosen.
“I’m sorry p>
Lexi pressed her lips together.
She had fought with herself for a long time before finally forcing those two words out.
Then she opened the door.
She didn’t dare look back at the hurt on Sebastian’s face.
She simply walked into the flower shop.
Only after she heard his car pull away did she finally release the breath she’d been holding.
That night, she had the same nightmare she’d had before.
Sebastian was walking away with Lauren.
No matter how loudly Lexi screamed.
No matter how desperately she cried.
He never turned around.
Not even once.
Lexi jolted awake.
Cold sweat covered her forehead.
She stared toward the window.
The sun was already high in the sky.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and was about to get out of bed when a commotion erupted outside.
There were shouts.
A woman’s screams.
And angry curses.
Lexi frowned, grabbed a jacket, and hurried outside.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
Isabella tood in the middle of the flower shop with her hands on her hips, directing several men as they smashed everything in sight.
Vases shattered against the floor.
Shelves were overturned.
Flowers were trampled beneath heavy boots.
Stephanie tried to stop them, but one of the large men shoved her aside.
Her forehead slammed against the edge of a cabinet.
Blood immediately began streaming down her face.
Outside the shop, a crowd had gathered.
People pulled out their phones, filming the destruction while whispering among themselves.
“Isabella! What the hell are you doing p>
Rage shot through Lexi as she stormed toward her.
Isabella turned.
“What? Are you blind? Can’t you see what I’m doing p>
Her chin lifted arrogantly.
“Lexi, you really have a terrible memory. Did you forget who chased me out of this shop with a broom the last time I came here p>
Her eyes hardened.
“Did you honestly think I was someone you could bully p>
She gave a cruel laugh.
“This time, I’m taking everything back. A thousand times over. Ten thousand times over p>
Then she turned toward Stephanie, who was lying on the floor with one hand pressed against her bleeding forehead.
A vicious smile spread across Isabella’s lips.
“Do you even know who owns this place?” Lexi demanded, forcing herself to remain calm.
“If they decide to pursue this, even your sister won’t be able to protect you p>
Isabella scoffed.
“Of course I know who owns it. I looked into it myself p>
She folded her arms.
“It belongs to Julian Reed. So what if it does p>
Her expression twisted with resentment.
“I loved him so much, and he couldn’t even be bothered to look at me p>
She laughed bitterly.
“If that’s how he wants it, then I don’t need him anymore p>
Then she glanced toward Lexi.
“And my sister has the Blackwoods behind her. In this city, even if every member of the Reed organization showed up, they’d still have to bow their heads when they saw the Blackwoods p>
Lexi’s temples throbbed.
She couldn’t decide whether Isabella was dangerously ignorant or simply unbelievably naive.
Judging by everything she had done, Lexi suspected Isabella had acted alone.
She had probably never told Lauren about this.
If Lauren had known, she might have stopped her foolish little sister.
“Miss, it’s all done p>
The leader of the men approached Isabella respectfully.
He had strange tattoos winding around his arm and a deep scar running across his face.
The kind of men Isabella had hired were street thugs—petty criminals who were more familiar with police stations than honest work.
They were exactly the kind of people someone like Isabella would hire when she wanted to destroy something and didn’t care about the consequences.
Isabella glanced proudly around the ruined shop.
“Bring in the gasoline p>
Lexi’s eyes widened.
“What p>
“Burn this place down p>
“Isabella, that’s enough p>
Lexi lunged toward her.
But Isabella shoved her back.
One of the men immediately grabbed Lexi from behind, pinning her arms.
Isabella stepped closer.
Her blood-red nails caught Lexi’s chin, forcing her face upward.
One long nail dragged lightly across Lexi’s cheek.
“Looks like you need to be taught a lesson p>
She raised her other hand.
Then—
A strong hand clamped around Isabella ’s wrist.
She froze.
At the same moment, Sebastian drove his foot into the man holding Lexi.
The thug went flying sideways.
Sebastian tightened his grip.
Isabella cried out.
The moment she recognized him, all the color drained from her face.
Even the pain couldn’t make her dare scream.
Lauren’s heart lurched.
She trembled as she watched.
That morning, she had begged Sebastian to bring her to the flower shop.
She’d intended to use the visit to intimidate Lexi.
She had never imagined Isabella would turn her little plan into a disaster of this magnitude.
Sebastian released Isabella.
Red marks were already forming around her wrist.
She immediately scrambled behind Lauren.
“Isabella p>
“Lauren p>
Lauren spun around and slapped her sister across the face.
The crack echoed through the ruined shop.
Isabella stared at her in disbelief.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Why are you hitting me?
Lexi was the one who bullied me first!
I was only getting revenge p>
“I should hit you harder p>
Lauren’s jaw tightened.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done p>
“What did I do wrong p>
Isabella cried.