Chapter 174
Cecilia’s pov
Sebastian stared at my face, his expression cooling slightly at my flippant response.
His eyes darkened for a long moment before softening again.
“If you ever change your mind,” he said gently, “make sure I’m the first to know p>
I didn’t commit either way.
The whole conversation was hypothetical anyway.
Instead, I grabbed his tie, yanked him down to my level, and kissed him like it was the only language we spoke fluently.
By the time we made it back to the office, the sun was basically clocking out for the day – and so was everyone else.
Sawyer looked like he wanted to murder us both.
“You might as well have not come back at all!” he muttered under his breath.
Sebastian, naturally, was completely unfazed.
Nobody could reprimand him anyway.
I, on the other hand, felt incredibly awkward and guilty.
“Sawyer, this afternoon I – ” I began.
“This afternoon you accompanied the Alpha to meet with clients, I know,” he interrupted flatly.” He didn’t specify which clients p>
His eyes conveyed the clear message: You two better coordinate your story.
My heart melted with gratitude. What a fantastic ally.
As soon as he walked off, I pulled out my phone and ordered a year’s supply of his favorite coffee – small-batch, single-origin Ethiopian beans to his apartment.
It was the least I could do for traumatizing him.
After three days of applying the medicine Dr. Han prescribed, my foot was almost completely healed. I could walk without any problem.
Sebastian accompanied me to the sports medicine clinic each evening to change the bandages. He was surprisingly charming and sociable there – he even played speed chess with Dr. Han after my treatments.
Within those three days, I swear Dr. Han had fallen half in love with Sebastian.
Every time we left, the doctor looked genuinely sad to see him go.
He’d stare at Sebastian with hopeful eyes, practically begging him to return for another chess match the next day.
He even suggested I needed to “consolidate my treatment” and keep applying the medicine for a full month.
During these visits, Sebastian casually extracted information from Dr. Han without seeming obvious.
The doctor ended up revealing everything about my father, including things I didn’t even know – like how Dad had secretly bought another ridiculously expensive orchid behind Mom’s back.
It was a laid-back Saturday afternoon when I made the drive out to DIA to pick up my parents after their weeks in Hawaii.
They emerged from baggage claim looking sun-kissed and overpacked, each lugging at least three bags like they’d tried to bring the island home with them.
“Mom! Dad!” I waved, jogging toward them.
As I reached for one of Mom’s bags, she smacked my hand away with practiced mom-reflexes.
“Don’t even think about it. These are way too heavy. Let your father throw out his back instead p>
Classic.
She looped her arm through mine as we headed toward the parking lot, her fingers wrapping tightly around mine like I was still five and prone to wandering into traffic.
Once we reached the car, I tossed the keys to Dad and slid into the back seat with Mom.
It’s just how we operated – Mom liked to supervise, and I liked not driving.
“Let’s swing by the grocery store before we go home,” she said, adjusting her seatbelt like she was prepping for liftoff. “I want to cook something special tonight p>
I leaned into her shoulder, suddenly feeling ten years old again. “If it’s not your garlic shrimp, I’m filing a formal complaint p>
She chuckled, patting my cheek in that affectionate-but-mildly-insulting way mothers are genetically programmed to master. “You little glutton. Haven’t you been eating at all p>
“I’ve been feeding myself, thank you very much,” I defended, sitting up straighter. “I’m thriving in my independence. Flourishing, even p>
She gave me a look that said she wasn’t buying a word of it.
And honestly? I didn’t blame her.
She still worried I might be curled up on the floor in post-divorce despair, living off crackers and denial. I smiled, probably too quickly.
There was a soft squeeze on my hand, and then she said nothing.
For all the chaos in my life, my parents were the one thing that didn’t require translation.
No performance, no pretending – just the kind of love that didn’t keep score.
By the time we hit the grocery store, the sun was low and casting golden streaks over everything.
Dad pulled into the parking lot, engine humming low as the car rolled to a stop.
We parked, popped the trunk, and stepped out into the cool, air-conditioned promise of fresh produce.
Author’s pov
Not far away in another parking spot, Zane Locke was unwrapping chocolate for his daughter Xenia.
“Bad lady! That lady bad!” the little girl suddenly exclaimed, pointing angrily out the window.
“Be good, Xenia,” Zane soothed while looking in the direction she was pointing.
When he spotted Cecilia, his eyes brightened with unexpected pleasure.
He’d been thinking about her these past few days.
He had planned to leave Denver today but had considered contacting Sebastian to arrange another meeting with her before departing.
He’d ultimately decided against it, worried about creating misunderstandings.
“Bad lady! Don’t like her! Bad lady!” Xenia continued, glaring at Cecilia.
Zane looked confused. “You’ve met her before p>
“Pretty brother, bad lady, no hug!” the child pouted.
“Ah Zane nodded in understanding.
It seemed his daughter had encountered Cecilia at Sebastian’s apartment building, and she hadn’t let her hug Sebastian – or perhaps Xenia tried to hug Cecilia herself.
Either way, the child was holding a grudge.
Cecilia and her parents had already walked past his car toward the supermarket entrance.
“Xenia, Daddy will buy you more chocolate. Stay in the car and be good. I’ll be right back,” he told his daughter, then instructed the driver, “Watch her and don’t let her run around p>
With that, he got out of the car, his movements swift and purposeful.
Inside the supermarket, Cecilia pushed the cart alongside her parents as they browsed the aisles. Her mom, Esther, headed to the fresh food section while directing her husband and daughter to pick up some soybean.
Cecilia and her dad turned down the organic section – only to find a tall man toward them.
“Well, hello again, Miss Moore,” Zane Locke said with a warm smile. “Fancy running into you here p>
Cecilia was surprised. “Hello, Mr. Locke p>
He shifted his attention to her father. ” And this gentleman is The question carried a weight that Cecilia couldn’t quite understand.
“My father,VanDyck Moore” she replied, though she found the question oddly unnecessary.
Still, since they’d bumped into each other, she introduced them. “Dad, this is Mr. Zane Locke p>
Her father responded politely, but his eyes held a certain wariness.
Meanwhile, Esther had finished selecting beef and shrimp and noticed them chatting with someone.
She approached, about to introduce herself with a smile – until she saw who it was.
The moment she recognized Zane Locke, all color drained from her face.
Her shopping basket slipped from her fingers, sending fresh produce scattering across the polished floor.
The sound of tomatoes hitting the ground was deafening in the sudden silence that fell between them.