Chapter 13
Her POV
Sebastian stood beside me, silently throwing glances. But I am so comfortable with him than anyone here. Maybe it's because he doesn't see me as an imposter
The noise from inside was still there, faint and distant, but the cool night air helped calm the restless feeling inside me. I rested my hands on the railing, staring out into the darkness, trying to ignore the tension that hadn't left me since we arrived.
He didn't say anything, didn't move much, but I was aware of him. Always. His presence was… heavy but not in a suffocating way, but impossible to ignore.
Before I could say anything, a man appeared near the balcony entrance.
"Sebastian, your father is asking for you."
I turned slightly, my heart skipping a little.
Sebastian didn't react immediately. He looked at the man, then at me for a brief second.
"I'll be back," he said.
....
I stayed there for a moment, staring at the empty space he had just left behind.
"Hello Elara."
I froze.
That voice wasn't Sebastian's.
Slowly, I turned around.
Alexander Devereux stood there, his posture straight, his expression calm but sharp. There was authority in the way he looked at me something that made me instinctively straighten.
"Yes," I said softly. "Elara Whitmore."
His eyes lingered on me for a moment, like he was studying me.
"A Whitmore," he repeated.
The way he said it made it clear he hadn't forgotten what my name meant.
"I hope you understand the weight of this marriage," he continued, his tone even but firm. "This isn't just a relationship. It's an agreement between families."
I swallowed slightly. "I understand."
"Do you?" he asked.
His way of speaking was making me very uncomfortable. But before I could say anything another voice cut in.
"That's enough."
I didn't need to turn to know it was Sebastian. He came back. And i felt so much relieved and safe
Alexander looked at him
"I was just speaking to your wife," he said calmly.
"I know," Sebastian replied. "And I'm telling you to stop like I told everyone. She is from a rival family I know but she is my wife."
His words were cold.
For a second, the silence between them felt heavier than anything that had happened so far.
Then Alexander gave a small nod, like he didn't care enough to push it further.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding.
.....
After he left again this time for real I found myself alone on the balcony once more.
I didn't know why I didn't go back inside immediately. Maybe I just needed a few more minutes. Maybe I wasn't ready to face everyone again.
"You seem to like quiet places."
I stiffened. This is also not his voice. Who must be this now??
I turned.
A man stood leaning casually against the wall, like he had been there for a while.
I had never seen him before.
"Who are you?" I asked, unable to hide the confusion in my voice.
He smiled slightly, pushing himself off the wall and walking closer.
"Dominic," he said. "Sebastian's stepbrother."
That made me pause.
I never knew this person. Never even heard of him. I didn't even know Vivienne had a son.
"Oh," I said, unsure how else to respond.
He stopped a few steps away from me, his gaze steady, almost too focused.
"So," he continued, tilting his head slightly, "how is Sebastian as a husband?"
The question caught me off guard. I didn't know what to say or if he is trustable or not
Dominic watched me closely, like he was waiting for something specific.
"You don't talk much, do you?" he said after a moment, a faint smile on his lips.
"I just don't see a reason to answer that," I replied, keeping my voice calm.
His smile widened slightly.
"Fair enough."
This guy seems good but still something is off about him.
Something that made me uncomfortable without any clear reason.
"He's not easy to live with," Dominic continued, his tone casual. "You must have realized that by now."
I didn't respond.
"You don't have to pretend," he added. "Everyone knows what kind of man he is."
My fingers tightened slightly around the railing.
"I'm not pretending," I said quietly.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Then he took another step closer.
Not enough to cross a line.
But enough to make me aware of the distance between us.
"You're different from what I expected," he said.