Morning came slowly to the mansion.
Sebastian woke with a dull ache pounding in his head.
For a moment he didn't move. His eyes remained closed as he tried to remember why he had fallen asleep on the couch.
Then the memories returned.
The whiskey.
The argument.
Lillian standing in the doorway with her suitcase.
"I'm leaving."
Sebastian opened his eyes.
The living room looked exactly the same as it had the night before.
The empty mansion felt unusually quiet.
The whiskey bottle still sat on the table, half empty. His tie was still loose around his neck, and his jacket lay on the floor where he had dropped it.
Sebastian slowly pushed himself upright.
The moment he moved, a sharp pain shot through his back.
He inhaled sharply.
Three weeks after surgery and he had spent the night on a couch while drinking whiskey like an idiot.
"Brilliant," he muttered under his breath.
He stood carefully, steadying himself against the back of the couch.
The house felt… different.
Empty.
For the past week Lillian had been everywhere.
Arguing with him about medication.
Reminding him to rest.
Following him around the house to make sure he didn't overwork himself.
Now the silence felt unnatural.
Sebastian walked into the kitchen.
The counters were spotless.
Too spotless.
Lillian had always been organizing something in here.
Medicine bottles.
Tea.
Food he usually forgot to eat.
Now everything sat perfectly still.
His jaw tightened slightly.
He opened one of the drawers to grab pain medication.
But something inside caught his attention.
A small notebook.
Sebastian frowned.
He didn't remember putting it there.
He picked it up.
The cover was simple, dark blue.
He opened it casually.
The first page made him freeze.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Lillian's.
Sebastian slowly sat down at the kitchen table and turned the page.
The notebook was filled with notes.
Not business notes.
Not work notes.
Notes about him.
Day 3 after discharge:
Sebastian refused pain medication again.
Claims he doesn't need it.
He does.
Sebastian stared at the words.
He turned the next page.
Day 6:
He slept three hours last night.
Pretended he wasn't tired.
He looked exhausted.
Another page.
Day 9:
Sebastian tried to work twelve hours today.
Had to threaten to call his doctor to make him rest.
Sebastian felt something tighten in his chest.
He kept turning pages.
Every single entry was about him.
His recovery.
His pain.
His sleep.
His stubborn refusal to listen to anyone.
She had written everything down.
Every detail.
He reached the final pages.
There was a title written at the top.
Things Sebastian Needs But Will Never Admit:
Below it was a list.
Sebastian read slowly.
Sleep.
Patience.
Someone who tells him no.
Someone who doesn't let him push everyone away.
Sebastian stared at the last line.
His grip on the notebook tightened slightly.
For several long seconds he didn't move.
Then he leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.
"You idiot," he muttered quietly to himself.
Across the city, Lillian sat at the small kitchen table in Chloe's apartment, staring down at her phone.
Chloe was standing at the counter making coffee when the device buzzed.
Lillian glanced at the screen.
Her expression immediately changed.
Chloe noticed.
"What?" she asked, turning around.
Lillian hesitated.
Then she sighed and turned the phone slightly so Chloe could see the name.
Ethan.
Chloe's eyes widened instantly.
"You're kidding."
Lillian locked the phone and set it on the table.
"He messaged me."
Chloe stared at her in disbelief.
"The same Ethan who cheated on you?"
"Yes."
"The same Ethan who cried and begged for forgiveness after you caught him?"
"Yes, Chloe."
"The same Ethan who then tried to blame you for being 'too busy with work'?"
Lillian rubbed her temple.
"Yes. That Ethan."
Chloe let out an incredulous laugh.
"The audacity of that man."
Another message appeared on Lillian's phone.
Chloe grabbed it before Lillian could stop her and read the screen.
Ethan:
I heard you left your job. Can we talk?
Chloe scoffed loudly.
"Oh now he wants to talk."
"Chloe—."
"No, absolutely not. That man does not get coffee with you."
"He just wants to talk."
"Men like Ethan never 'just talk.' They apologize dramatically and then try to slide back into your life like nothing happened."
Lillian leaned back in her chair.
"I'm not getting back together with him."
"Then why meet him?"
Lillian shrugged slightly.
"So I can end it properly."
Chloe crossed her arms.
"You already ended it. When you dumped him."
"Yes, but he clearly thinks there's still a chance."
Chloe leaned forward across the table.
"Lillian, listen to me very carefully."
Her tone was serious now.
"That man hurt you. Badly."
"I know."
"You cried for two weeks straight."
Lillian looked away slightly.
"I remember."
Chloe sighed.
"If you meet him, promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't let him manipulate you."
Lillian gave a small smile.
"He won't."
Chloe studied her carefully.
Then she nodded once.
"Fine."
Lillian picked up her phone.
Lillian:
One coffee. Nothing more.
Chloe shook her head as Lillian sent the message.
"I swear, if he tries anything—."
"What are you going to do?" Lillian asked.
Chloe smirked.
"I might accidentally ruin his life."
Lillian laughed quietly for the first time that morning.
But even as she stood to leave for the café…
Chloe still didn't like it.
Not one bit.