Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 02

Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 02

I pushed open the suite door. Sebastian was lighting a cigarette like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Seraphina waved at me with a sugary smile, acting for all the world like the lady of the house.

“Elara! There you are.”

I took a deep breath and said the words I’d practiced a thousand times on the ride over.

“Sebastian, we’re done.”

He gave a tired smirk and pulled me onto his lap.

He nuzzled my neck and murmured against my ear.

“Baby, I told you. The Trials are just for show.”

“Seraphina’s ex won’t leave her alone. I’m just helping her out.”

I flinched away from his touch and hid the hollow ache behind my eyes.

Last year, my dad died in a construction site accident.

The union rep sent men to intimidate me and Mom. Told us if we sued, they’d make sure Dad couldn’t rest in peace.

The whole time we were together, Sebastian only did five-star dining. A single dinner could hit ten grand, easy.

I bled my savings dry just to cover my half. Every damn time.

I never wanted him to think I was after the Whitmore money.

The first time I ever went to him crying was to beg for justice for my dad.

He ruffled my hair gently and told me I needed to be independent.

Three months ago, I found out I was pregnant. Then I fell down the stairs.

I was losing the baby. All Sebastian had to do was make one call. Get me the good doctors. The ones who actually could’ve done something.

He didn’t.

He just held me while I bled out on the inside.

“We’ll have another one,” he said.

Protecting Seraphina was urgent. For me? I was optional.

Tears pricked my eyes. Seraphina stood up abruptly and shot me a smug look.

Then I heard a voice behind me. A voice that made my skin crawl.

Seraphina pulled the man over to face me. Her voice was syrup-sweet.

“Elara, this is my cousin Dawson. He just got back from laying low abroad.”

My nails snapped against my palm. I smiled, but I’m pretty sure it looked like a grimace.

“Laying low from what?”

Sebastian frowned, ready to change the subject.

Seraphina beat him to it. She clung to his arm like a lifeline.

“Oh, you know. I heard some girl threw herself at him and then cried assault.”

“Sebastian worked so hard to get him out of the precinct.”

Dawson Lowell stared at me with a greasy, knowing look.

My stomach heaved. I shoved Sebastian away and retched into the trash can.

Tears streamed down my face. It was so vile. It was all so vile.

Back then, I took a high-paying gig as a bottle girl to cover my mom’s medical bills. 　　Dawson saw an opportunity. He dragged me into the restroom. 　　He tore my clothes. His mouth was sloppy and rough.

If I hadn’t tased him while his pants were down, I don’t know what would’ve happened. 　　When Sebastian came to the precinct, he barely glanced at Dawson.

He told me to let him handle everything. 　　He swore he’d make sure Dawson rotted in prison. 　　He even arranged a doctor for my mom and covered the surgery costs. 　　He rushed me off to handle her admission paperwork.

Turns out, he just wanted me out of the room.

He’d recognized Dawson as Seraphina’s cousin. He was protecting her family.

I laughed until I cried. I pulled the warm debit card from my pocket and hurled it at Sebastian’s face.

“Guess anything with her last name gets a free pass.”

I turned and walked out fast. One more second in that room and I would’ve thrown up everything inside me.

But right outside the hotel, Sebastian’s security team caught up.

They blocked my path and firmly escorted me back upstairs.