SEBASTIAN’S POV
I couldn’t stop pacing, my shoes making soft thuds against the hardwood floors of my room. My mind was a battlefield, torn between frustration and determination.
I needed to figure this out-I needed to get Sasha back. Every fiber of my being was screaming at me to act, to do something, but for once, I found myself at a loss.
I ran a hand through my hair, tugging slightly at the strands as if the pain would jolt my thoughts into order. But it didn’t work.
All I could think about was the way Sasha had looked at me the last time we spoke, her eyes distant, her words cold.
It was as though she’d built an invisible wall between us, and I couldn’t find a way to break through it.
How had we gotten here?
I paused by the window, staring out at the city lights below. The view was breathtaking, yet it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me.
I leaned against the glass, my forehead pressing against the cool surface, and exhaled heavily.
I’d made mistakes-I knew that. But this time, it felt different. Sasha wasn’t just angry; she was slipping away, and the thought of losing her was unbearable.
I needed to find a way to fix this.
The knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts, sharp and precise. For a moment, I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave me alone.
But the knock came again, more insistent this time. With a growl of irritation, I straightened and called out, “Come in.”
The door creaked open, revealing Maria, my cook. Her presence was a sharp reminder of how much I hadn’t eaten today or yesterday, for that matter.
I could see the concern etched into her face as she stepped inside, holding a towel in her hands.
“Sir,” she began hesitantly, “I wanted to let you know that dinner is ready.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “I’m not hungry.”
Maria frowned but didn’t leave. “You haven’t eaten anything all day. Perhaps a little soup”
“I said I’m not hungry,” I snapped, my tone harsher than I intended.
Immediately, guilt washed over me. Maria had always been kind and loyal, and she didn’t deserve my temper. Softening my voice, I added, “I’m sorry, Maria. I just… I can’t right now.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded, respecting my wishes. As she turned to leave, a thought struck me.
“Wait,” I said, stopping her in her tracks. “Can you find Roland for me? Tell him I need to see him. It’s urgent.”
Maria tilted her head slightly, confusion flickering across her features. “Roland? Of course, sir. I’ll let him know right away.”
“Thank you,” I said, turning away from her as she closed the door behind her.
Roland. He was one of the few people I trusted completely. If anyone could help me strategize a way to reach Sasha, it was him.
I didn’t know what I needed him to do yet, but I was desperate enough to figure it out as we went.
Minutes passed, each one stretching endlessly as I waited. I tried to distract myself by picking up my phone, scrolling aimlessly through my messages, but every notification seemed trivial compared to the weight pressing down on me.
Finally, the door opened again. I spun around, expecting to see Roland, but it was Maria who re-entered the room. Her expression was hesitant, almost nervous.
“Where is he?” I demanded, already feeling a sinking sensation in my gut.
Maria clasped her hands together, her voice quiet as she said, “Sir, I’ve searched everywhere, but Roland isn’t in the house. No one has seen him.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. “What do you mean he’s not here?”
“I checked his room, the kitchen, the study everywhere,” Maria explained. “He’s nowhere to be found.”
I stared at her, the weight of her words settling over me like a suffocating blanket. Roland was always here. Always. It wasn’t like him to just disappear without a word.
“Thank you, Maria,” I managed to say, my voice tight. She nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
The silence that followed was deafening. I sank into the nearest chair, running a hand over my face as I tried to make sense of this. Roland being gone wasn’t just inconvenient-it was unsettling.
Had he left of his own accord? Or was there something more to this?
My mind raced with possibilities, each one more troubling than the last. I thought of Sasha again, her absence a constant ache in my chest. If Roland wasn’t here to help, I’d have to figure this out on my own.
But where the hell was he?
I stood abruptly, unable to sit still any longer. Pacing the room once more, I tried to piece together a plan. I couldn’t let this setback stop me. Sasha was too important. I couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.
Determination hardened in my chest. If Roland wasn’t here, I’d find another way. I had to. Sasha was my world, and I wasn’t going to let her slip away without a fight.