Chapter 91
Lexi laughed softly—he had said what no one else dared, yet it was painfully true.
Talent and loyalty were slipping to the Reed family, leaving Sebastian with one hell of a challenge.
Feeling powerless, Lexi moved to the kitchen, preparing a simple vegetable porridge.
Sebastian leaned at the doorway, arms crossed, his eyes gentle but amused.
He glanced at the rain-streaked sky, lost in thought, as memories of his mother caring for him came flooding back.
Watching Lexi bustling in the kitchen, he felt a strange sense of home he had never known.
Lexi, flustered under his gaze, shut the kitchen door to escape the intensity of his stare.
The steaming porridge, paired with simple side dishes, was comforting beyond words.
She fed him, gave him water and medicine, and watched as he swallowed the pills with a grimace, his distaste clear.
“Afraid of medicine, huh?” she teased.
He shot her a warning glance.
“Everyone has weaknesses. But if this leaves this room… I won’t forgive you p>
A pampered life, a privileged upbringing—the world had never asked Sebastian to taste its bitterness.
Now, cocooned in warmth and care, he allowed himself a rare moment of vulnerability.
Outside, the rain drummed softly, the world hushed and still.
Sleep claimed him soon after, and Lexi, poring over her script, eventually drifted off too.
When she awoke, night had fallen.
The rain had stopped.
Sebastian was gone—no trace remained, as if he had never been there at all.
All that remained was a small piece of paper tucked under her water glass on the table.
The note was written in precise, elegant handwriting, as if carved into the paper itself.
“I’ve returned to the hospital. Lauren’s condition has worsened p>
That one line told Lexi everything she needed to know: Sebastian’s thoughts were still with Lauren.
Even when he was here, his heart was elsewhere.
Lexi forced a bitter smile, crumpling the note into a ball before tossing it into the trash.
Some things were meant to be discarded—they had no reason to linger.
With Lauren’s allergic reaction keeping the filming on hold, Lexi suddenly had time on her hands.
The media storm over Lauren’s hospitalization had been muted by Sebastian, though a few vicious rumors about Lexi still lingered.
She had long since grown immune.
It was the weekend, and Lexi had planned to take Nita to the amusement park, as they had promised each other weeks ago.
But before she could leave, her phone rang.
It was Dominic.
The night before, after a deal at the club, he had been ambushed.
A black hooded figure had beaten him mercilessly.
No permanent injuries—but enough to warrant a hospital stay.
Dominic had tried to shield Lexi from the news, fearing she would worry, but one of his men couldn’t resist calling her.
Lexi immediately postponed the outing with Nita and rushed to the hospital.
Dominic was heavily bandaged, bruises marking the corners of his mouth.
When he saw Lexi, he tried to smile—but the movement made him wince.
“Were you able to find out who did this?” she asked, frowning.
Her voice was soft but edged with worry.
“Who else?
Besides Sebastian… no one in this city would dare lay a hand on me.
He’s mad because I interfered with one of his operations.
The rest is just his subtle revenge p>
Before Dominic could continue, his men started arguing on his behalf, claiming Sebastian’s previous “accident” on his golf course was the same kind of move.
Lexi’s chest tightened.
She knew Sebastian wasn’t the type to take petty revenge—but her instincts still prickled.
She had to check directly with him.
The hospital wing for critical patients was shared by Dominic and Lauren.
Lexi approached the room quietly.
Through the glass, she saw Sebastian feeding Lauren with a spoon.
Both of them were smiling, a rare, carefree happiness radiating between them.
Her heart clenched.
The hand resting on the door handle froze.
She didn’t have the courage to knock.
“Lexi, what are you doing here? Are you trying to ruin things between my sister and Sebastian again p>
It was Lauren’s sister, Isabella, standing there with an insulated flask in her hands, her voice sharp and accusatory.
Lexi turned her gaze on Isabella.
Her eyes were ice, making Isabella stumble backward in fear.
This woman had the audacity to act righteous after all she’d done—thick-skinned was an understatement.
Lexi didn’t want to waste time arguing.
She couldn’t bear to watch that warm scene of Sebastian’s attention on Lauren, so she turned to leave.
But Isabella grabbed her arm, sparks of confrontation in her eyes.
The argument drew Sebastian’s attention.
He gently set down the spoon, stepping out into the hallway.
Seeing Lexi and Isabella, his brow furrowed.
“What are you doing here?” His tone was clipped, commanding.
“I came to check on my sister,” Isabella replied, her lips pursed, striding confidently into the room.
Lexi could do nothing but watch as Isabella used this moment to gloat—sure that Sebastian would punish Lexi for Lauren’s worsening condition.
“Lauren… how is she?” Lexi asked, steadying her voice.
She chose her words carefully, piercing through the tense silence.
“This reaction is severe. She hasn’t improved yet. Looks like she’ll need more time here,” Sebastian said, his voice even, his usual cold edge softened slightly.
Even with top-tier doctors on the case, Lauren’s condition stubbornly refused to improve—something Sebastian could not ignore.
Lexi took a step forward, lowering her head.
“My brother was attacked last night… I just need to know if this has anything to do with you. I know he interfered with your operations, and holding a grudge is understandable p>
Sebastian’s eyes suddenly went icy, dark clouds passing over his expression.
He cut her off sharply.
“Lexi,” he said, his voice slicing like a blade straight to her heart, “you’ve always asked if I trust you… now it’s my turn to ask—you trust me p>
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
She wanted to tell him she believed him—but all the evidence pointed to Sebastian.
The fear and awe she had always felt toward him rose in full force.
She couldn’t bridge the chasm between them with mere words.
“I understand,” he said finally, disappointment dripping from every syllable.
His voice was low, hoarse, and heavy with frustration.
His eyes, deep and weary as autumn leaves in a dying wind, held a quiet despair.
Turning on his heel, he strode back into Lauren’s room, leaving Lexi alone in the sterile hallway.