Reborn to My Engagement Night Chapter 208 Cared Too Much

A touch of melancholy crept into her heart. After all this time, all my efforts, it seems I’ve still failed to earn his trust…

Indeed, Sebastian’s suspicions were not completely unfounded. Madelyn herself recognized that she had drastically changed in a remarkably short period.

As the saying goes, “A leopard can’t change its spots.” Yet, she had changed, as drastically as if she had exchanged her soul for another’s.

It’s almost laughable. They say old habits die hard, yet here I am, transformed overnight. Surely, anyone would find that hard to believe?

Furthermore, for a long time in the past, Madelyn had behaved reprehensibly, almost as if she despised Sebastian, tormenting him daily, using Christopher to provoke him repeatedly.

No wonder Sebastian is wary of me now, isn’t it?

With these reflections, Madelyn felt a strange peace settle in her heart. And so, she responded, trying to clear the air, “Sebastian, there’s no need for you to question my identity. I am indeed Madelyn.”

“No, you’re not her,” Sebastian countered sharply. Then, unexpectedly, he let out a cryptic, cold laugh. “The Madelyn I knew was always a headstrong, pampered young heiress. Though unruly and willful, she was incredibly endearing. Despite sometimes failing to distinguish right from wrong, she had a heart of gold.”

His cold laughter filled the room again. “Such an innocent girl… She wouldn’t know the first thing about Oceanic Empire, Morgana, let alone Grimo, the arms tycoon of Rodunst’s Nocturn Creed. But you? You’re different. You carry so many secrets that I can’t even begin to guess.”

Hearing this, Madelyn could distinctly see the deep disappointment in his eyes. She had seen that look before, only previously when she had suggested they should end their engagement.

Seeing that look now made her heart sink further.

She knew all along, with Sebastian’s keen intelligence, how could he not suspect the truth? He had simply chosen not to confront it until now.

But at this moment, he seemed determined to strip away all her masks, leaving Madelyn feeling utterly exposed and at a loss for words.

“Sebastian, let me explain, I didn’t… I wasn’t… Ah, I…” She stumbled over her words, flustered and uncertain.

Watching her struggle between speaking and remaining silent, Sebastian felt a cold chill. In the end, he decided not to press further, his voice lighter, though no less cutting, “That’s enough. Everyone has their own secrets they prefer to keep hidden. I won’t force you if you’re unwilling to talk. Let’s leave it at that for tonight.”

With those words, he pulled Madelyn away from the door, opened it, and headed straight downstairs, leaving her standing alone, watching his lonely figure disappear into the distance. Her heart was heavy.

Madelyn paused, contemplating deeply, but ultimately deciding to let it go for now. The most pressing issue at hand was dealing with the people from the Oceanic Empire.

Regarding the matter of the two assistants of Morgana, she had merely made an educated guess based on vague memories from her past life. If she had guessed wrong, she knew that the bewitching man would not hesitate to end her life.

So, for now, she would let it go. If she was fortunate enough to survive this ordeal, perhaps she could find a way to explain everything to Sebastian later.

With this resolution, Madelyn felt a significant weight press upon her, and she sighed deeply.

Looking back, pretending to be Mandala had been a reckless decision. How could such a prominent figure just happen to pass through such a remote place at exactly the right moment?

Though she had resolved one pressing issue, it was clear that a larger problem loomed on the horizon.

Word of the incident had already begun to spread, and it wouldn’t be long before the Oceanic Empire would come knocking.

At that thought, Madelyn felt an overwhelming sense of dread.

After exiting the room, Sebastian settled into a couch in the living room, letting the coolness of the quiet space temper his heated emotions.

Reflecting on the altercation, he realized that much of what he had said to Madelyn might have been spurred by the heat of the moment, rather than his true feelings.

At the heart of his upset was his profound concern for Madelyn’s safety.

It was one thing if she had merely caused some external trouble; Sebastian would have readily taken any burden upon himself to protect her, no matter the significance. But what troubled him more deeply was the persistent realization that Madelyn had been concealing something from him all along.

Initially, Sebastian had seen Madelyn as somewhat difficult and certainly headstrong, but essentially transparent – her thoughts and feelings were always plainly visible in her expressions.

Yet, as time progressed, the veil of secrecy surrounding her had thickened, weaving a complex web that left Sebastian not only baffled but deeply worried.

What if one day she finds herself in trouble out there, beyond my reach, and I can’t get to her in time to save her?

This thought haunted him, for his worry was rooted in an overwhelming sense of care and protectiveness toward her.

He simply cared too much.

Just as these thoughts swirled through his mind, the sharp ring of his phone sliced through the silence, snapping Sebastian back to reality.

He retrieved his phone from his pocket and saw it was Malcolm calling. Without a second thought, he

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian responded, his voice a calm contrast to Malcolm’s distress.

“You had instructed me to monitor the mansion owned by Oceanic Empire. I rushed over as soon as possible, but by the time we arrived, the place was already deserted,” Malcolm explained, his voice tense as he surveyed the large, Epean–style mansion standing desolately in the expansive, open land.

Its dark windows and the absence of any vehicles gave it a profoundly eerie aura, and the cool evening breeze made Malcolm shiver as he finished his report.

“They got away?” Sebastian’s brow furrowed deeply at this news.

“Indeed, Mr. Lockhart, what should we do?” Malcolm’s voice was tinged with anxiety.

Sebastian’s mind raced, piecing together the situation. Considering the timing, those responsible for the abandonment couldn’t have gone far.

He quickly decided on a course of action. “Keep tracking their whereabouts. They couldn’t have gotten far in such a short time. They’ll definitely be staying at a nearby hotel tonight and won’t be leaving anytime soon.”

Malcolm affirmed with a resolute “Understood!”

Just then, a man suddenly approached him, speaking rapidly. “Mr. Schultz, I noticed a bunch of tire tracks over there. It looks like they were just made. Those people couldn’t have gone far.”

What?

Malcolm’s interest was piqued as he followed the man to the indicated area.

Indeed, the tire tracks were fresh, the earth beneath them still damp and visibly disturbed, a clear indication that the group had left not long ago.

Seizing the moment, Malcolm gestured decisively to his team, “Everyone, get in the car and follow these tire tracks!”