Kneeling for a Second Chance (Sebastian and Valeria) novel Chapter 253

Valeria couldn't stay rational. Part of her wanted to give in because this was Sebastian—the man she had once loved.

Back in school, she had run into Sebastian so many times. However, to him, she was just another face in the crowd. Still, unlike most people, he never mocked her or called her those awful nicknames.

Maybe he thought it was beneath him—or that was just who he was.

Either way, she looked up to him, and the one time she actually got to sit beside him in class had felt like the best kind of miracle.

Valeria understood that even if it hadn't been her that night, if it had been any other woman in danger, Sebastian still would've stepped in to help.

"Do you ever dream? Have you ever seen him in your dreams?" she asked.

The look on his face was all the answer she needed.

His mouth moved, but nothing followed. He couldn't bring himself to lie and say he had. Her calm tone only made him feel more ashamed.

Valeria shut her eyes and added, "I dreamed about him. I saw him every night, especially in those first few days after Louis was gone. I couldn't sleep, my whole body felt sick, and I suddenly lost a lot of weight.

"In my dreams, he asked me why I didn't want him anymore. He said the freezer was so cold.

"On the day of the cremation, he cried that it was burning, that he was in pain, and that I should save him. He begged me to save him and even asked why I wouldn't do so. If Louis were alive today, he'd be about the same age as Leo."

"Stop." Sebastian doubled over as his fists pressed against the deck. The veins in his forehead stood out, his neck flushed red from lack of air, and his chest shook as he muttered through trembling lips. "Please stop. I'm begging you… Don't say another word."

"Yes, I threatened you just so I could be your girlfriend, and you got back at me for it. We dated in secret for three years. You, the mighty heir of the richest family in Slate City, sneaking around with a fat, ordinary young lady like me. Tell me, what could be more humiliating than that?"

"No. I never thought it was humiliating. I never once considered breaking up with you because I had to go abroad. That decision was made by my family long before.

"Back then… I didn't want to stay in Slate City. With changes in Grant Group's shares, I didn't want to get into conflict with Alexander.

"...Even when we were dating, we hardly called or texted each other. I thought things between us were the same as always…" Sebastian admitted.

He never realized that their last night in the hotel was Valeria ending things.

Valeria ran her hand across the velvet cloth inside the wooden box. When she unfolded it, all that was left of Louis was a small handful of ash.

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