Chapter 29

Sebastian effortlessly followed Daphne to the same floor and entered the code for the apartment across from hers. “Care to come in and sit for a bit?”

“No, no thanks,” Daphne said, eyeing him with suspicion. Could this really be a coincidence? She didn’t believe it, so she asked, “Sebastian, you didn’t move into the apartment across from mine just because you knew I lived here, did you?” She studied his reaction closely, making sure not to miss any tiny shift in his expression.

Sebastian chuckled and leaned against the doorframe, looking entirely at ease. “We’re getting along well, and I’ve agreed to marry you, but that doesn’t mean I’m following you around like some kind of stalker. Are you really that confident in yourself, Daph?”

“Really?” Daphne still doubted it. She had never trusted coincidences. After her failed marriage with Wilson, she learned an important life lesson: never trust anyone too much, no matter how well they might have treated you in the past.

“Why live in a small apartment when you have a villa?”

This apartment was the first Daphne bought after becoming financially independent. It was the first place that truly belonged to her. Although it held special meaning, she couldn’t deny it was in a fairly average, not-so-upscale neighborhood. Even the security system was a bit lacking. When she lived here before, she had dealt with a few stalker fans.

Sebastian shrugged, seemingly not understanding her sudden wariness. “I’ve had this place for years. You can ask the building’s security. I come by here all the time.”

“There’s a water outage at my villa today, and you just happened to need a ride here, so I figured I’d stop by and take a shower.”

It was the first time Daphne had heard of a villa having a water shortage. Luxury properties normally had top-tier facilities and backup plans for such occurrences. Plus, someone like Sebastian, a super-rich heir living in a luxurious mansion, wouldn’t likely be dealing with those kinds of issues.

But looking at Sebastian, he didn’t seem to be lying, so Daphne chose to believe him—for the moment.

“Alright then. Having a neighbor around isn’t a bad thing,” Daphne said. And with that, she went inside her apartment.

Sebastian didn’t bother her the entire evening. It was as if he didn’t care at all that she lived across the hall. This made Daphne wonder if she had been overthinking things. He was a Turner, after all—wealthy, with properties everywhere.

Daphne slapped her forehead. “Daphne, seriously. You were so rude! Anyone else would think you’re a narcissist! Look at how aggressive you were. Just because you can buy a house doesn’t mean no one else can.”

Her doubts vanished, and she felt embarrassed. To make up for it, she decided to invite Sebastian out for breakfast the next day.

She opened her door and ran into him, who was also stepping out. He held two fancy, limited-edition plates and smiled brightly. “I made breakfast. Do you want some?”

Completely confused, Daphne ended up sitting at Sebastian’s dining table. Looking at the spread of breakfast, she couldn’t hide her shock. “You can cook?”

She had always thought someone like Sebastian, so focused on his career, would be cold and distant—much like Wilson. He was serious, constantly busy, and never cracked a smile. But here was Sebastian, always smiling gently and acting casually around her. He knew medicine, could cook, made money, and was incredibly good-looking.

No wonder so many women were into him. A guy like him—good at everything—was hard to come by. And the best part was that Sebastian really knew her taste.