Chapter 98
Wasn’t he supposed to be at the movies with Lauren?
Her earlier plan—to avoid Sebastian interfering by mailing the tickets to Lauren—had failed.
Somehow, he had tracked her.
“How did you know I’d be here?” Lexi tried to sound composed, hiding the ache in her chest.
Sebastian exhaled slowly, taking the seat beside her.
Shoulder to shoulder.
His dark eyes gleamed as he lifted one brow lazily.
“You really think I didn’t know your plan? Everything you said to Julian in the hospital, I heard it. And don’t forget… you’re still wearing the watch I gave you p>
He glanced at the watch on her wrist—his gift, his mark.
The honesty in his gaze was unmistakable.
He had let her come to understand one thing on her own: she and Julian were never meant to be.
“Where is Julian now?” Lexi’s voice trembled, bitter and sorrowful.
She needed to know, to finally let go.
Sebastian’s tone was low, deliberate.
“Today’s my sister’s wedding in Morocco. He went to see her off. Old attachments die hard, even for a former love p>
Before meeting Lexi, he had been like his sister, bound to duty and family alliances.
But she had opened his eyes.
Delivering his sister to the airport only solidified his vow: never let Lexi fall the same way.
“I understand…” Lexi murmured, rising from the bench, a ghost of melancholy in her steps.
“Since you’re already here… one round on the Ferris wheel before leaving. Don’t waste your effort dressing up for nothing p>
He handed her the bouquet.
Fresh, just-bloomed buds, their fragrance lifting her spirits.
The pale blue of her dress shimmered under the moonlight—like a water nymph, delicate and ephemeral.
She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent and the moment.
Sebastian was right—she couldn’t punish herself for Julian.
She would live beautifully, for herself, for those who loved her, and even for those who didn’t.
The Ferris wheel spun again, lights flashing, dizzying in their brilliance.
“Legend says… if lovers kiss at the top, they’ll be together forever p>
Sebastian’s gaze lingered on the cityscape before turning to her.
Dark, infinite eyes, pulling her in like a tide she couldn’t resist.
“Legends are for children, Sebastian. You don’t actually believe that, do you?” Lexi forced a laugh, masking her nerves.
His grin was devilish, tinged with something tender.
“Then why not try p>
Before she could react, he leaned in, and Lexi’s heart caught as his warm lips met hers.
Sebastian’s arms tightened, deepening the kiss—a claim, a promise, dangerous and intoxicating.
The rich scent of tobacco clung to him, wrapping Sebastian Blackwood in an intoxicating haze.
Lexi felt her mind go dizzy, her body softening like water under the sun.
With a soft click, the Ferris wheel came to a stop.
Rationality returned in a rush, and Lexi pushed Sebastian away, wiping her lips furiously.
She tried to erase the memory of him, but the harder she tried, the hotter her face burned, like she had been set aflame.
“Lexi… your heart was racing just now. Admit it—you felt something p>
Sebastian’s deep, dark eyes held hers with an almost hypnotic force.
Truth was, his heartbeat had matched hers perfectly.
That sweet, tender rhythm—the likes of which he had never experienced—filled him with a strange joy, like rare night-blooming flowers unfurling in layers.
“I don’t care how many times you’ve kissed me, Sebastian. I will never like you p>
Lexi forced the words out, trying to quell the storm of her own emotions.
Sebastian let out a low, amused chuckle at her defiance, the elegant lines of his face softening in the moonlight.
Their connection went far beyond a simple kiss.
“Lexi… you truly have no impression of me at all p>
Sebastian straightened her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Lexi’s face flushed hotter.
She searched her mind, scanning for memories of him, but all she found was a strange familiarity—nothing more.
She shook her head firmly.
She had never met him before, not really.
Sebastian sighed softly, the words he wanted to say trapped behind his lips.
He feared they might be too much for her to bear, so he swallowed them, leaving them locked in his heart.
“Lexi… let’s go on a trip,” he said suddenly, his dark eyebrows raised, a faint playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“They say the fastest way to truly know someone is to travel together p>
For the first time, the icy wall around him melted.
He wasn’t impossible to approach after all.
“If you don’t go… I’ll release the footage of our kiss to the media. You should know, I recorded everything,” he added, holding up his phone with a gleam in his eyes.
It sparkled like a thousand stars.
Lexi’s heart sank.
She lunged for the phone, desperate to snatch it away.
How could she have forgotten?
Sebastian Blackwood was a devil in human form.
As she leaned forward, he pulled back just enough, and she tumbled against his chest.
Her carefully restored composure shattered again.
She tried to rise, to escape his hold, but Sebastian’s strong arms circled her, holding her firmly in place.
A gentle, non-sensual kiss brushed her forehead.
Lexi’s long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings, trying to hide the softness and confusion in her eyes.
“Lexi… in this life, I will never let you go. You’d better give up that thought now p>
His voice was like a dark enchantment, sending a shiver through her body.
She lifted her gaze to his, lost in the overwhelming warmth and dominance in his eyes.
She was sinking into quicksand, helpless to resist.
Neither of them noticed the late-arriving Julian standing at the edge of the Ferris wheel, witnessing their closeness.
A flash of sorrow crossed his face before he clenched his fists and turned away.
This was not his place—he had arrived too late.
Though torn in a thousand ways, Lexi had no choice but to agree to a short trip with Sebastian Blackwood—after all, he held leverage over her.