Chapter 354
Sebastian led Stephanie off the plane, gripping her hand tightly. A driver was already waiting. Elliot stepped forward, respectfully opening the car door for Sebastian. Stephanie hopped in first, followed closely by Sebastian, taking the seat next to her. Macro settled into the front seat. As the car started, he turned back and asked Sebastian, “Are we heading to the hotel first?”
Sebastian’s gaze flickered downwards. “Straight to the destination.”
“What?” Macro instinctively glanced at Stephanie, wondering if Sebastian really intended to bring her along. After all, Sebastian had always kept her away from these kinds of situations. What was different this time? “Are you sure she won’t be too scared?” he asked.
Stephanie, confused, looked at Sebastian. “Where are we going?”
When Sebastian met her starry eyes, a memory flashed through his mind: that one time he had scared her so badly she had gotten sick. He hesitated. Just then, Elliot’s phone buzzed. He answered through his Bluetooth. “Hello.” The serious tone in his voice made it clear that something was wrong. “Got it,” he said before hanging up.
“Richard arrived on Keris Isle too,” said Elliot.
Stephanie’s heart skipped a beat. “That cold-hearted jerk?”
Macro almost choked on his laughter at her choice of words for Richard. Sebastian frowned, unwilling to let Stephanie stay alone at the hotel now that he knew Richard was on Keris Isle too. Ignoring Macro’s presence, he gently tousled Stephanie’s hair, asking, “Stefi, are you scared?”
That question made Stephanie think back to the first time she had seen Sebastian’s brutal side, on a day when it rained heavily in Fiorenza. She had watched him shoot a man in the head, his gentle eyes suddenly filled with bloodlust. Terrified, she’d run away from home. Later, when Sebastian found her hiding between cars and reached out his hand, saying softly, “Come out,” she remembered feeling genuine fear. At that moment, Sebastian, who had always seemed so soft-hearted, turned fierce. It left her shaken. For a long while after that, she had been compliant, obeying every command, afraid of what he might do. Years had passed, yet now, facing his tender gaze again, she knew all too well what ferocity lay hidden beneath those seemingly gentle eyes.
Shaking her head, she replied, “I’m not scared.”
Those words chased away the hesitation in Sebastian’s eyes. He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her cheek. “Good girl.”
Stephanie nestled in his arms. “Why is that cold-hearted jerk here? Is it related to what you’re dealing with?”
She honestly didn’t want Sebastian to clash with Richard. Their stay in Paginara was brief, but she sensed Richard wasn’t as down on his luck as Macro had suggested.
Sebastian replied, “It’s unclear right now. Elliot will investigate.”
“I’m telling you, Richard must have power in Paginara. You saw it last night, right?”
“Yeah, I noticed.” Sebastian knew that Richard had been hiding in Paginara for the past two years. He could piece together what Richard had done in the past. It had been years since those events unfolded. Sebastian knew all too well what Richard was capable of.