21
New York, Mia
I sat on the sofa, my emotions still in turmoil, while Bella gently caressed my back in a comforting gesture. Her words offered a glimmer of solace. “It’s going to be okay,” she reassured me.
With a heavy sigh, I replied, “It’s not. It’s all over the news. Since the day I met Sebastian, my whole life has been turned upside down. Always in the gossip papers, always under scrutiny.”
Bella glanced at her phone, her fingers deftly swiping across the screen. “It’s taken care of,” she informed me. “I don’t see it anymore. Sebastian must have handled it.”
I took a deep breath and looked at my phone, which had become a constant source of messages from concerned family members and friends-my mom, Sophia, and Sebastian among them. Each offered their support, but at that moment, what I needed most was space.
My phone rang, displaying Sebastian’s name on the screen. I showed it to Bella, who encouraged me to answer. With a shaky hand, I swiped the screen to accept the call.
“Hey… are you alright?” Sebastian’s voice came through the line, filled with genuine concern.
I hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Yes, I’m doing better.”
Sebastian’s voice held a mix of relief and worry as he said, “I took care of the media.”
“I’ve seen,” I responded, grateful that he had been proactive in managing the situation.
His next words sent a shiver down my spine. “My parents are not very happy about the situation.”
I understood their concerns. No family would be thrilled with such a sudden turn of events. “I understand if they don’t want to see me anymore,” I admitted.
There was a short, heavy silence on the line, and then Sebastian’s voice returned, filled with a weight I couldn’t ignore. “No, that’s not it. In fact, they want to see you now even more. And they are literally forcing me to marry you.”
I couldn’t help but groan in frustration. One family problem seemed to blend into another. “I cannot believe this,” I sighed, my hand massaging my temple as if it could soothe the stress.
Sebastian’s voice was apologetic as he suggested, “Maybe if we already explained everything to them, they will change their minds.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
I hoped so too. “When are we visiting?” I inquired.
“I’m on my way back to LA now, but I’ll send the jet Friday to pick you up. Is that okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” I answered, knowing that this conversation had given me little choice in the matter.
“Good, take care. I’ve put extra security at your apartment,” Sebastian informed me.
His words caught me off guard. “You did what? Security?” I questioned in surprise.
“Yes, you can trust those bulky men outside,” he reassured me.
I hurriedly ran outside to confirm his statement, and sure enough, there were unfamiliar security personnel stationed around the building. “You didn’t have to do this,” I told him.
Sebastian’s voice crackled through the phone as he spoke with concern in his tone, “I want to fall asleep tonight knowing that my baby and baby’s mother are safe.”
“Thank you,” I replied, touched by his words. “Good, stay safe.” With that, Sebastian ended the call, leaving me with a sense of warmth and reassurance.
I turned to Bella, who had been listening in on our conversation. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she commented, “Waw, he really is in dad mode.”
As we settled back into our cozy living room, there was a sudden knock on the door. I glanced at my phone, and a message from Kieran popped up, saying he was outside with food. Bella, always quick to take action, headed to the door.
“I hope you didn’t come empty-handed,” Bella said as she opened the door to reveal Kieran standing there with a warm smile.
“I brought Chicken Alfredo Pasta,” Kieran announced, holding up a container of delicious-smelling food. The aroma wafted through the doorway, making our mouths water in anticipation. “Who are those people outside?”
“Guards. Sebastian assigned guards.” Bella said as she opened the container with food.
We took our plates and settled in the cozy living room, devouring the delicious Chicken Alfredo Pasta that Kieran had brought over. The creamy sauce and tender chicken melted in our mouths, eliciting satisfied groans of pleasure.
Between bites, Kieran couldn’t help but steer the conversation towards a topic that had been on his mind. “What does Sebastian’s family think about the whole situation?” he asked, his curiosity evident.
I paused, contemplating how to explain the complex dynamics of my relationship with Sebastian to Kieran. “They want us to get married,” I admitted, unsure of how he would react.
Kieran raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised by my response. “Oh really? That is good, right?” he inquired, looking for reassurance in his question.
I sighed, trying to find the right words. “No, it’s not,” I replied with a hint of frustration. How could my brother think it was a good idea for me to marry someone I barely knew? “I don’t even know him, Sebastian is a stranger to me,” I added, my unease evident.
Kieran leaned back, contemplating my words. “You two have a baby on the way,” he pointed out gently. “I don’t think he qualifies as a stranger anymore. We can call him a ‘friend with benefits,'” he teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at Kieran’s attempt to lighten the mood, and I playfully threw a napkin at him. “That’s not what I meant, Kieran,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s just… the idea of marriage right now, it feels rushed.”
Bella, who had been listening to our conversation, chimed in, grabbing the remote control and turning on the television. She zapped through the channels until a familiar face appeared on the screen. My heart began to beat loudly, and my hands grew sweaty.
On America’s biggest TV show, there was Gavin, the man I had known before Sebastian entered my life. The man who had once held a significant place in my heart. His handsome face filled the screen as he spoke confidently to the host.
I couldn’t help but tense up, my eyes locked on the television, watching his every move. Bella and Kieran exchanged knowing glances, sensing my inner turmoil.
Gavin’s voice filled the room as he said, “Mia Anderson and I are not together anymore, because she is pregnant of Sebastian Thornton. She ruined our marriage for a one night stand.”
Oh fuck!