Chapter 36

At 7:30 PM, the airport throbbed with activity. People hurried in every direction, absorbed in their own worlds. Stephanie stood by the exit, a bouquet of tulips clutched in her hand, her nerves fluttering. Dressed in a beige coat, her hair neatly bunned, she projected a sweet, innocent air—a vision from a Hallmark movie. A chill wind swept past, and she instinctively hugged her coat tighter, feeling the cold seep in. They had agreed to meet at 8:00. When the clock struck eight, she spotted him.

His tall figure cut through the crowd, and the sight of him instantly flooded Stephanie's mind with memories—a rapid montage of scenes. She recalled the way he held her, comforted her, how he could make her feel both safe and incredibly small. He wore a black mid-length coat and a gray scarf, exuding a polished, refined look that could grace a high-end magazine. But only she knew the cold, ruthless side he hid beneath that well-groomed exterior. Sebastian. The man who had taken her in, raised her…

Their eyes met, and immediately, she felt his chilling, authoritative gaze pierce her. Without thinking, she lowered her head. His presence was a suffocating shadow, heavy and oppressive. And that familiar scent… it enveloped her like a trap.

She extended the tulips towards him, her hand trembling. "You… you like these," she whispered. Guilt and fear twisted in her chest.

Sebastian didn't take the flowers. He simply stood there, his presence pressing down on her, making the air thick and suffocating. The airport's buzz faded, and for a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the world. Her hand, still holding the flowers, trembled. Hesitantly, she reached up to adjust his scarf. "It's been a long time," she murmured.

Her words hung in the air, soft yet weighty, subtly shifting the atmosphere. For a fleeting moment, the tension around him eased. But just as quickly, his large hand shot out, grasping her wrist. Before she could react, he pulled her against his chest.

"Feeling bold, huh?" His voice was low, dark, and laced with a dangerous undercurrent.

It had been almost three years since she left him, and in that time, she hadn't contacted him once. Sebastian wondered if her defiance was his fault—perhaps he had spoiled her, as others had suggested.

Stephanie's heart pounded, her voice caught in her throat. "I… I…"

He saw right through her, his eyes reading her like an open book. "Now, start thinking about what you're going to say to me." His tone was thick with menace.

The anxiety in Stephanie's chest tightened, and her voice shook as she fought back tears. Before she could speak, he released her wrist, taking her hand instead and pulling her towards the exit.

Outside, Elliot waited by a car. Seeing them approach, he opened the door with a polite nod.