Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 04

Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 04

I stared at the confetti of paper on the floor. The current owner’s name was clearly printed. Sebastian Whitmore.

He looked at me with cold disappointment and dialed the demolition crew.

“You play by the rules tonight, finish what you started, this was yours.”

The call connected. I fought against the guards with everything I had.

“No! The bracelet… I’m sorry, okay? I’ll pay you back. Double. Triple. Whatever you want. Just name a number.”

“My dad’s buried there. Please. Let him rest.”

Something flickered in Sebastian’s eyes. Regret, maybe.

But Seraphina let out a soft sob and grabbed his hand like a martyr.

“Sebastian, blame me. I didn’t hold on tight enough.”

Dawson fanned the flames, glaring at me.

“You happy now? You’re pushing Seraphina to the edge.”

Sebastian threw off my hand like it was garbage.

I slammed into the table corner. A shard of sapphire sliced my palm open.

“You brought this on yourself. Someone’s gotta teach you that actions have consequences.”

His voice was flat as he ordered the crew.

“Bulldoze that dump. Don’t leave a single brick standing.”

The sound of crumbling walls screeched through the phone speaker.

My mind went white. I remembered just a few days ago, Sebastian holding me close. Teaching me how to restore the Homestead.

He’d spent three days helping me draft the blueprints. Every detail, down to where the furniture would go.

He even said he’d kneel at my dad’s grave and ask for his blessing.

Liar. Sebastian Whitmore was a goddamn liar.

The guards kept me kneeling on those bracelet shards for five hours.

My knees were shredded meat. Any slight movement was pure agony.

They wiped their hands off on their pants after touching me and left me there on the floor.

I lay crumpled and hollow, listening to them mock me on the way out.

“Nine years with Whitmore and she’s still just the help. Unbelievable.”

My phone buzzed like crazy. Seraphina.

Photos of the wedding dress I’d designed. The custom ring Sebastian had flown to Paris for.

[Thanks for doing all the heavy lifting. All I have to do is show up and look pretty.]

She was sprawled across the bed Sebastian and I had picked out together. Her neck was covered in hickeys.

A second later, a news alert popped up.

Sebastian Whitmore and Seraphina Lowell announce engagement.

The comments were a bloodbath.

They were laughing. Saying after nine years, I ranked somewhere below the family dog.

Some even claimed Sebastian never chose me at all. That I was a delusional liar who threw myself at him.

The hate flooded in from every direction. Everyone who’d ever envied me now called me pathetic.

My phone buzzed again. Sebastian.

[Her ex is back in town. The engagement thing, it’s just for optics. You know that.]

[Once this blows over, we’re done with all the games. I’m marrying you.]

I stared at those words and cried until I laughed, then laughed until I cried.

Why was I always the backup plan?

Sebastian, what made you think I’d still be waiting?

There was a frantic noise at the door. Mom burst in, her hair a mess.

Her hands shook violently. She couldn’t bring herself to touch my ruined knees.

I blinked back the burning tears and grabbed her hand.

“We’re square now.”

She held me and sobbed. Her tears fell hot and fast on my skin.

This was the last time. I’d never let her cry over me again.

I got patched up at the hospital. We went back to the Homestead and dug up Dad’s ashes.

Then I booked the first flight out.

Before boarding, I deleted every photo of Sebastian. I snapped my SIM card and tossed it.

Marry whoever you want, Sebastian Whitmore. I’m done loving you.