Chapter 24
As soon as Sebastian boarded the plane, he felt a wave of drowsiness.
But his sleep was extremely restless, and he seemed to be talking in his sleep.
“I know I was wrong. Please come back, okay? Let’s get married.”
“Elizabeth, where are you?”
His voice was low, making it impossible to tell if he was murmuring or something else.
The assistant beside him was afraid of angering him, so he just listened quietly, trying to minimize his presence.
After about thirty minutes, Sebastian suddenly woke up. His head was throbbing, as if he had been having a very long dream.
But he couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality.
In the dream, he was still in a meeting when Elizabeth called to ask what time he’d be home, saying she had made his favorite tomato beef stew.
He looked at his phone and confirmed it was Elizabeth calling.
So he quickly rushed home.
By the time he got home, it was already noon. Elizabeth was busy in the kitchen.
Sebastian reached out to hug her.
But found himself embracing empty air. When he looked back, she was no longer there.
He woke from the dream with tears already in his eyes.
Looking around at his surroundings, he realized he was on a plane.
A deep sense of regret washed over him. If he could do it all over again, he would never let things develop to this point.
He thought he would hold her hand tightly and never let go again.
But there was no time machine in the world, no way to reset everything.
After getting off the plane, he immediately went to the address near Elizabeth’s residence.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man also leaning against a car, seemingly waiting for someone.
Sebastian glanced at him briefly then looked away, but the man stared back at Sebastian without reservation.
Sebastian frowned, then saw a familiar figure emerge from the villa’s front door.
Elizabeth wore a simple white dress with light makeup, making her look radiant and charming.
He immediately rushed forward: “Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks, seeing that Sebastian seemed to have lost a lot of weight, with dark circles under his eyes.
He looked utterly haggard.
But her expression remained unmoved: “What do you want?”
“I was wrong.” Sebastian grabbed her wrist, his voice trembling. “I was blind before, deceived by Clarissa! She framed you, fabricated evidence. I’ve already punished her.”
“So what? You came to find me?”
“I’ve thought it through. I won’t force someone who doesn’t love me anymore. I hope you won’t disturb my life either.”
“I love you!”
Sebastian’s eyes reddened with desperation: “I finally understand-you’ve always been in my heart.”
“Who’s in your heart has nothing to do with me, and I don’t want to know.”
Elizabeth turned and walked toward Julian, not even glancing at Sebastian throughout the entire process.
Sebastian tried to follow, but was stopped by an outstretched arm.
Julian had somehow appeared in front of him, completely blocking Elizabeth from view.
“Sir, Elizabeth has made it
very
clear that she doesn’t want you looking for her anymore.”
Julian’s tone was calm, but his eyes were cold as frost: “You can’t force love. I’m sure you understand this better than I do.”
Sebastian’s nails dug deep into his palms as he stared at Julian’s provocative smile, rage surging in his chest.
“Who are you? What right do you have to interfere in our business?”
His voice was low, his eyes filled with anger.
Julian calmly adjusted his suit cuffs, glancing at Elizabeth’s profile in the distance: “I’m Elizabeth’s fiancé. We’re getting married next month. Do you think I have the right to interfere?”
“So not only do I have the right, I have the obligation to protect her from harassment. If I see you again, I’ll call the police. The local laws take this quite seriously.”
Those words hit Sebastian like a sledgehammer to the heart.
He turned in disbelief to look at the car, where Elizabeth sat in the passenger seat, her face full of indifference.
“Elizabeth!”
“This isn’t true, is it?”
His voice involuntarily rose, his face showing unprecedented panic.
Elizabeth lowered her lashes: “Of course it’s true. What, do you want to come to my wedding? Sebastian, I’m telling you for the last time-don’t come looking for me again.”
Her voice was terrifyingly calm, yet each word was like a knife, cutting off Sebastian’s last hope.
Sebastian felt his vision go black, his legs going weak.
He remembered everything Elizabeth had silently done for him, now all turned into sharp mockery.
Perhaps in his self-righteous coldness, Elizabeth had already let go long ago.
Julian opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat, deliberately turning to look at Sebastian.
He curved his lips into a meaningful smile.
His eyes were full of a victor’s satisfaction.
The sports car’s roar cut through the quiet street like a sharp blade, shattering Sebastian’s last illusions.
He stood there dumbfounded, watching the car drive farther and farther away.
Finally disappearing around the corner.
The wind swept up fallen leaves from the roadside, but couldn’t take away the bone-chilling coldness in his heart.
Sebastian stared at the empty street, suddenly remembering the first time he saw Elizabeth-she had also quietly walked past him like this.
Back then, he never would have imagined that fate’s gears had already begun turning.
