SEBASTIAN’S POV
I leaned back in my chair, exhaustion pressing down on me like a heavy weight, but relief tempered the edges of it.
Across from me, Roland stood by the window, his hands tucked into his pockets as he stared out into the night.
The room was dimly lit, shadows flickering against the walls.
The air carried the faint scent of burnt coffee, but I barely noticed. My mind was still racing, though my body begged for rest.
“I owe you for this,”
I said, breaking the silence. My voice sounded rough, even to my own ears. “If you hadn’t found the person behind the messages, I’d still be chasing ghosts.”
Roland turned to me, His expression is calm but resolute. “Don’t mention it. We’ve been through worse together.”
He walked over, dropping into the chair opposite me. “I couldn’t let you deal with this alone, especially knowing what’s at stake. You’d have done the same for me.”
I nodded, grateful beyond words. He was right, we’d seen the worst of the world together, and in that chaos, we’d forged a bond that felt more like family than friendship.
But this? This was personal. Sasha was personal.
“Was it messy?” I asked.
Roland shrugged, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Messy enough, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
” You should’ve seen the look on their face when I cornered them. They never thought you’d figure it out so fast.” He leaned back in his chair, his tone turning more serious. “But I’m curious,
Did you finally talk to Sasha? Is she okay?”
The mention of her name made my chest tighten. I hadn’t seen her since the party, since the night everything unravelled.
She’d been distant, guarded, and though we’d found our way back to each other in the hours that followed, I knew the cracks were still there, barely mended.
“She’s… getting there,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair.
“The messages messed with her head more than I realised. Whoever was behind them knew exactly how to play her doubts.” My jaw clenched at the thought.
“I’ve been trying to make it right, but it’s not easy when she’s still unsure whether to trust me completely.”
Roland gave a low hum, studying me. “She’s got every right to feel that way, you know. Those messages were calculated, meant to plant seeds of doubt.
Hell, if I were in her shoes, I’d be looking at you sideways too.” He smirked faintly, but there was no malice in it. “Still, it sounds like you’re making progress.”
“Slow progress,” I said, shaking my head. “But yeah, we’re getting there. She agreed to stay. That’s a start, isn’t it?”
“More than a start.”
Roland’s gaze was steady. “She stayed because she wanted to, not because she had to. That says a lot. Don’t lose sight of that.”
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “I’m trying. I really am. But after everything, I can’t help wondering if it’ll ever feel normal again, like it used to.”
Roland’s smile softened. “It will, but not overnight. These things take time, Sebastian. You just have to stick it out, no matter how hard it gets.”
I let his words sink in, the weight of them settling in my chest. He was right, of course, but patience wasn’t exactly my strong suit.
I wanted to fix everything now, to erase the doubts and fears that lingered between Sasha and me. But that wasn’t how this worked.
“Listen,” Roland said, leaning forward.
“If you’re worried about her, go to her. She’s been through hell, same as you. She might not say it, but she needs you as much as you need her.”
I met his gaze, surprised by the bluntness of his words.
“I’ve got things to finish here,” I said, though the protest felt weak even to me.
“I can handle it,” Roland replied firmly. “We’ve got everything under control. You’ve done your part. Let me take it from here for a while.”
I hesitated, torn between the responsibilities still weighing on me and the pull to see Sasha, to make sure she was okay.
. Roland saw the conflict on my face and pushed further.
“Look,” he said, his tone dropping to something almost fatherly, “you need to prioritise. Right now, that means her. The rest? I’ve got it. But you have to promise me something first.”
I raised a brow. “What’s that?”
“If I call, you pick up on the first ring. No excuses.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
A faint smile tugged at my lips. “You’ve got my word. If you call, I’ll be there.”
Roland held out a hand, and I shook it, sealing the agreement.
“Good,” he said, standing. “Now get out of here before I change my mind.”
I stood as well, grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair. “Thanks, Roland. For everything.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said, already moving toward the stack of files on the desk.
“Just make sure you’re back before things get messy again. I’m not cleaning up all your messes.”
I chuckled softly, though the sound felt foreign after the past few days. “You’ll manage. You always do.”
As I stepped out of the room, the weight on my shoulders felt a little lighter.
I didn’t know what was waiting for me when I got home, but I knew one thing for sure……m wasn’t giving up on Sasha. Not now, not ever.
The night air hit me as I stepped outside, crisp and cool, carrying the faint hum of the city in the distance. Sliding into the car, I started the engine and let it roar to life.
My fingers tightened around the wheel as I pulled onto the road, my thoughts already racing ahead to Sasha, to the woman who’d turned my world upside down and made it worth living again.
I didn’t know how I’d fix all of this, but I’d keep trying until I did. She was worth it. Every doubt, every fight, every sleepless night-she was worth it all.