SASHA’S POV
I stood outside the bedroom door, my hand hovering just inches away from the polished wood. It wasn’t often that I found myself hesitating like this.
But this wasn’t just another moment; it felt heavier, like the weight of what Sebastian had just learned from his father hung in the air between us, even with the door separating us.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. I couldn’t avoid this, and I didn’t want to.
Sebastian had been my rock so many times, and I’d promised him, promised myself, that I’d stand by him no matter what. Slowly, I knocked twice, the sound soft but deliberate.
“Sebastian,” I said quietly, pausing to see if he’d respond. When he didn’t, I gently turned the knob and stepped inside.
The room was dimly lit, the bedside lamp casting a warm glow against the walls. Sebastian stood by the window, his broad back turned to me, his hands resting on the windowsill.
His shoulders were stiff, his head slightly bowed, and I could see the tension in the way he held himself, like he was carrying the weight of the world on his back.
He didn’t look at me when I entered. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he said, his voice low and rough.
I closed the door softly behind me and took a tentative step closer. “I’m not here for an explanation,” I said, keeping my voice steady, even though my heart ached for him.
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
He let out a sharp breath, almost like a laugh, but it was devoid of any humour. “How am I doing?” he repeated, shaking his head. “I don’t even know how to answer that, Sasha.”
I didn’t move closer just yet, giving him the space he clearly needed. “You don’t have to answer,” I said. “But I need you to know I’m here. For you.”
Sebastian finally turned to face me, and my breath caught in my throat. His eyes, usually so piercing and full of determination, were clouded with pain.
I’d seen him angry, frustrated, and even vulnerable before, but this was different. This was raw.
“Sasha,” he said, his tone softer now but still heavy. “You heard what my father said. You know…” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair.
I nodded, stepping closer now, just a little. “I heard,” I said gently. “But I’m not here to judge or demand answers from you. That’s not why I came in.”
His brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. “Then why are you here?”
“To see you,” I said simply. “To make sure you’re okay. Because I promised I’d trust you, and I’m not going to let this-whatever it is-come between us. Not again.”
For a moment, he just stared at me, like he didn’t know what to say. The silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
It was thick with unspoken words, emotions. Neither of us had the strength to voice just yet.
Finally, Sebastian closed the distance between us in two long strides, pulling me into his arms. His hold was fierce, almost desperate, like he needed to feel me there to ground himself.
I wrapped my arms around him just as tightly, letting him lean on me, letting him know I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Thank you,” he whispered against my hair, his voice breaking slightly. “Thank you for staying.”
I held him tighter. “I’ll always stay,” I murmured.
We stood there like that for what felt like an eternity, neither of us speaking, just holding onto each other.
Slowly, I felt some of the tension in his body ease, though I knew it hadn’t disappeared completely. When he finally pulled back, his hands lingered on my arms, his gaze searching mine.
“I owe you an explanation,” he said, his tone firmer now, though the pain was still there.
“You don’t owe me anything,” I said softly.
He shook his head. “I do. You deserve to know everything.”
I hesitated, not wanting to push him, but I could see he needed to get this off his chest.
So I nodded, taking his hand and leading him to sit on the edge of the bed. I sat beside him, our knees brushing, and waited patiently for him to find the words.
Sebastian ran a hand over his face, letting out a heavy sigh. “What my father said…it wasn’t just about him. It was about me. About choices I’ve made-mistakes I’ve made.” He paused, his jaw tightening.
“I thought I could keep those parts of my life separate from us, but maybe I was wrong.”
I reached out, placing my hand over his. “You’re human, Sebastian. Everyone makes mistakes. That doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
He looked at me then, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to find some hidden doubt or hesitation. But there was none. I meant every word.
“It’s not just mistakes,” he said quietly. “It’s the kind of mistakes that have consequences. For me, for the people I care about.” He looked down at our joined hands. “For you.”
My heart ached at the pain in his voice, but I didn’t interrupt. I wanted him to say what he needed to, in his own time.
“I’ve spent so much of my life trying to protect the people I care about,” he continued, his voice growing stronger.
“But sometimes, I’ve made choices that did the opposite. And now…” He trailed off, shaking his head.
“Now it feels like everything is catching up to me.”
I squeezed his hand, urging him to look at me. “Sebastian, whatever it is, we’ll face it together. You don’t have to carry this alone.”
He finally met my gaze, and for the first time since I walked into the room, I saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, you do,” I said firmly. “And I’m not going anywhere. No matter what.”
Sebastian’s grip on my hand tightened, and he took a deep breath. “Then I need to tell you everything. No more secrets. No more half-truths. You deserve to know who I really am, Sasha.”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know what he was about to tell me, but I knew one thing for certain: I loved him, and nothing he said would change that.
As he began to speak, his voice steady but laced with emotion, I listened intently, ready to shoulder whatever burden he needed to share. Because this wasn’t just about him anymore,
It was about us.