Chapter 88

As a child, even a mosquito bite would prompt Sebastian to grill the household staff for hours. Now, faced with his questioning, she had no idea how to respond.

Seeing her frozen, Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “What? Do I have to carry you there?”

“I—I’m just not hungry,” Stephanie stammered.

The moment she spoke, Sebastian rose and strode toward her with long, determined steps. Before she could react, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the dining table.

“Hey!” Stephanie gasped, her face reddening beneath her mask. “Put me down! I can walk!”

Sebastian glanced down. “Now you remember how to listen? I thought after all these years, you’d become too rebellious to handle.”

Stephanie’s face burned. Rebellious? Perhaps leaving home had seemed like rebellion to Sebastian and her mother, she mused.

Sebastian carried her to the table and seated her. “Take off the mask.”

This time, Stephanie obeyed, quickly removing it. Sebastian, seated opposite, immediately noticed her swollen lips.

His brows furrowed. “What happened to your mouth?”

The question instantly triggered last night’s events for both of them. Sebastian’s gaze intensified; Stephanie’s lips twitched awkwardly. See? I knew he’d ask, she thought.

“I… I don’t know,” she lied, unable to admit his responsibility. What if he doesn’t remember? That would be mortifying, she worried.

“You don’t know?” His eyes darkened.

Stephanie smacked her lips and blurted, “I really don’t! Maybe a bug bit me.”

The dining room air thickened with tension. Stephanie avoided his gaze. Sebastian leaned forward, his voice laced with meaning. “And do you hate that bug?”

“Huh?” Stephanie blinked, confused. He’s not really asking about the bug, she thought. She looked up, but his expression remained unreadable.

“I… I do. I hate it,” she stammered, quickly lowering her head. She grabbed her oatmeal, desperate to escape the conversation.

Chapter 88 (continued)

Unbeknownst to her, her face had deepened in color. Sebastian watched, amusement and affection softening his gaze.

Stephanie barely finished breakfast before fleeing the dining room.

As she left, Marco entered, crossing paths with her. He saw her flushed face and turned to Sebastian. “What did you say to her? It’s early, and you’ve already made her blush so badly?”

Sebastian gave him a knowing look, his gaze deep and unreadable. “Do you really want to know?”

Marco felt a chill. He swallowed hard. “N—Nope. Not at all.”

Sebastian sipped his milk, unfazed. Marco sat in Stephanie’s vacated chair and gestured to a housekeeper. “Set another place for me. I haven’t eaten yet.”

Sebastian’s voice was calm but firm. “Get up. Sit somewhere else.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Marco asked, bewildered.

Sebastian glanced at him. “Unless you want to eat outside with the dogs, I suggest you move.”

Marco immediately jumped up. Sebastian wasn’t one to bluff.

Without hesitation, Marco chose another seat. “So what? That seat belongs to Stefi?”

“Yes,” Sebastian answered instantly.

Marco blinked in surprise. He spoils her rotten. All I did was sit there. Did he really have to be so serious? he thought.