Chapter 37

Stephanie froze, seeing his car. “You… you shipped your car here?” It was his Fiorenza car, the one he always drove. Seeing it in Long Harbor hit her hard; he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. A cold wave of dread washed over her.

Sebastian glanced down, his presence looming, making her feel smaller. She swallowed, unnerved by his gaze.

“Miss,” Elliot’s respectful voice cut through the tension.

Stephanie nodded stiffly. “Mr. Grant.”

Before she could speak, Sebastian grabbed her, pulling her into the car. He climbed in, his expression unreadable. Stephanie scooted to the far side of the seat, but it was futile; he loomed over her.

The car roared to life. His large hand closed firmly around her wrist, and before she could react, he effortlessly pulled her onto his lap.

Stephanie squirmed, her voice trembling. “Don’t… don’t do this…”

Sebastian hummed low. Her face flushed crimson. “I’ve grown up. This is…”

The situation felt wrong. His closeness, in such a public place, felt suffocating. Sebastian’s cold fingertip traced her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine before pausing at her chin. She couldn’t meet his eyes. She knew the man beneath his controlled exterior, and she instinctively feared him. Escape was impossible.

He leaned in, his voice teasing. “So, you’ve grown up, huh? Independent? Ready to spread your wings and fly away?”

Stephanie felt like a child, unsure how to respond. “I… I—”

Sebastian’s voice lingered, amused. “Did you have fun these last few years?”

The word “fun” hit her hard. She hadn’t felt regret until now. She’d been sharp and fierce with everyone else, but facing Sebastian, her carefully constructed bitterness crumbled. Tears welled in her eyes.

She sniffled, wiping her nose. “It hasn’t even been three years yet.” Her voice was small, vulnerable, like a wronged child.

Sebastian chuckled mockingly, making her flinch. “Two more months. Does it really matter?”

Two months shy of three years since she’d left Fiorenza. She turned her head, trying to avoid his gaze, but he wouldn’t let her. His grip tightened, forcing eye contact. “Anything you want to share with me?”

Stephanie sighed, her voice quiet and resigned. “I do… I have a lot to say…” What she’d endured couldn’t be explained in a few words. Every time she’d been bullied, every time she’d felt helpless, she’d wanted to call him, to make them pay.