Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 09

Nine Years Of Auditions, Then I Walked Away Chapter 09

Mom shoved Sebastian out of Bloom & Brew 

without a shred of dignity. 

The girls from the shop crowded around me. The male customers stood guard at the door like bouncers. 

My chest seized up again. I couldn’t catch my 

breath. 

Ghost paced around my feet, pressing his soft head 

against my leg. 

I took a deep breath and ignored Sebastian’s 

silhouette. 

I had people who loved me now. I didn’t need him 

anymore. 

feet. 

Sebastian stood outside the window like a lost kid. 

The sun was brutal. He just stood there, baking. 

Sweat dripped down his face. He swayed on his 

There was a loud thud. He’d collapsed onto the hot pavement. 

He looked at me with those kicked–puppy eyes. 

I focused on pouring perfect latte art. 

Realizing nobody was coming to help, he struggled 

back up. 

His face was pale. He clenched his jaw and kept 

standing. 

Mom snipped viciously at a rose stem. She 

muttered under her breath. 

“Didn’t want her when she was right in front of him. Now he wants to crawl back?” 

“He could get down on his knees and beg. Wouldn’t change a thing. I’d still dump my drink on his head.” 

The customers laughed. I cracked a smile 

despite myself. 

Closing time came. Sebastian was still there. 

He shuffled closer, unsteady on his feet. 

I wiped down the counter and didn’t look at him. 

He pointed at the last bouquet of blue baby’s breath. His voice was hoarse. 

“Elara. Can I buy those?” 

Mom stepped between us and shoved the bouquet into my arms. 

“Sorry. Not for sale.” 

Chapter 

“They’re for my daughter.” 

Defeat flickered in his eyes. He tried again. 

“Elara, come home with me.” 

“I fixed everything.” 

After I left, Sebastian cut Seraphina off 

immediately. 

gift. 

He kicked her out of the estate. He took back every 

He even reopened Dawson’s assault case and got 

him sent to prison. 

That wasn’t enough. He worked 

with Colt to drain every cent Seraphina had hidden 

away. 

But it still didn’t cover the debts she’d left Colt 

with. So Sebastian made sure she ended up working 

in a seedy club in The Low District. 

Seraphina used to say I smelled like poverty. Like I 

could never scrub The Flats off my skin. 

Now he’d thrown her right into the gutter. 

Hearing it did nothing for me. I felt empty. 

Mom scowled and pushed past him. She locked up 

and pulled me toward home. 

Sebastian followed us. Quiet and persistent. 

He seemed to believe that if he just waited long enough, I’d forgive him. 

That we’d find our way back. 

Too bad for him. I didn’t love him anymore. 

Ghost trotted over with his rope toy and smacked 

my ankle with his tail. 

I rubbed his ears and played tug–of–war. 

Outside, the tall, stubborn figure watched us through the glass. 

Mom yanked the curtains shut and dumped a bucket of mop water off the balcony. 

I figured that would be the end of it. Who could take that kind of humiliation? 

But the next morning, there was a wedding arch set up in the parking lot. 

Sebastian was grinning and handing out candy to 

the neighbors. 

They were confused, but they came over to 

congratulate me anyway. 

I didn’t have it in me to laugh. I called the cops. 

Sebastian’s face lit up when he saw me. 

He popped the trunk and pulled out a gown dripping in diamonds. 

A neighbor whistled and gave Mom a thumbs–up. “Looks like your girl landed herself a real keeper!” 

Sirens wailed in the distance.