Chapter 86
The moment the words left her mouth, he took a long stride forward. Something felt amiss. But before Stephanie could react, he pulled her into his embrace. The next second, the coolness of his lips, laced with a subtle taste of red wine, met hers.
Boom! Stephanie felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her entire body froze, her mind going completely blank. To Sebastian, her stillness implied no resistance. His kiss grew bolder, more demanding.
Five seconds passed before Stephanie finally snapped out of her daze. Instinctively, she placed her hands against his chest, attempting to push him away. But the next moment, Sebastian caught her wrists, pinning them behind her.
“Don’t…” she murmured softly.
Sebastian, now hovering over her, cracked his eyes open, his gaze clouded with intoxication. His deep, unfocused stare made her uncertain if he was even fully aware of his actions. Stephanie struggled free and cupped his face with both hands. “Tell me. Who am I?”
Her voice trembled with both hope and fear. For years, she had buried her feelings for him, never daring to let them surface. And now, here he was, responding in a way she had never imagined. But he was drunk.
She didn’t even know when she had begun to like him, want him, and love him. They weren’t related by blood, but that didn’t lessen her fears. Growing up, Sebastian had always treated her as family, introducing her as his sister when they were out. Stephanie had always considered their relationship sibling-like affection. He had cherished her and doted on her like a younger sister.
If she laid her heart bare and he didn’t reciprocate, it wouldn’t just be rejection; it would shatter the bond they had built over a lifetime. She couldn’t bear that.
When he didn’t answer, a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. “You don’t recognize me?” There was a hint of sadness in her voice. Still, he didn’t speak. Instead, he cradled her face in his hands, leaning in once more.
Stephanie turned her head away just in time. “Sebastian, please sober up.” If he had been sober, perhaps she would have let things unfold. But he wasn’t. Stephanie was afraid that when Sebastian woke up tomorrow and realized it was her, everything between them would be over. And she didn’t even know who he thought she was at that moment.
Stephanie had been away from the Giovanni family for years; things, and people, could have changed. The thought made her chest tighten with an unbearable ache.
With some effort, she managed to break free. She went straight to the kitchen and started brewing a cup of black coffee, something strong enough to help clear his head. She wasn’t skilled at cooking much else, but black coffee was her specialty.
Back in Fiorenza, their parents were often out at social events, and Sebastian was often drunk. The house staff would brew coffee for him, but they never liked how it tasted. So Stephanie had taken it upon herself to learn, experimenting and tweaking the recipe until she found just the right balance. It turned out Sebastian and the others preferred her version to anything the servants made.
Now, she carried the cup over to him. “Sebastian, have some coffee,” she said gently. But he had already dozed off on the couch in her room. Stephanie sighed, setting the cup aside. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him up to sit upright. He was heavy, but lifting him was easy for her. Stephanie had Sofia to thank for her great strength.
On the surface, the Giovanni family’s business appeared simple. But Sebastian, the heir to the Lucano family, was the most powerful arms dealer hidden within the shadows. Danger followed him like a ghost, always lurking. When Stephanie was thirteen, she had been kidnapped. Afterward, Sebastian never stopped worrying about her safety. Sofia, having seen enough, decided to intervene, taking Stephanie away for three months of intensive training.