Chapter 286
Cecilia’s pov
I barely had time to collect my thoughts after Sebastian’s burning kisses before the elevator dinged and opened to the penthouse.
As we stepped inside, my phone buzzed. A message from Yvonne lit up the screen:
[Don’t be mad at your bestie! Tell me how the meeting went p>
I stared at the text for a second before typing back:
[It went fine. By the way, Sebastian’s mom invited you to join us this weekend for a nature retreat. Sign up fast if you’re interested p>
Yvonne replied with a simple: [What? ]
I slipped my phone into my pocket and tried not to roll my eyes.
If she wanted to tag along for the “good karma,” fine.
I’d be Green, Yvonne could be Pink, and Harper could be Blue.
Boom. Magical girl squad. Adult version.
“Who was that?” Sebastian asked, glancing at my phone.
“Liar number two,” I said flatly.
My tone was dry, but I didn’t miss the way his jaw twitched ever so slightly.
Sebastian shot me a look, somewhere between amused and irritated.
But he didn’t say anything. Probably for the best.
I wasn’t in the mood to explain the tangled web of lies we were all currently sitting in. Let the silence speak for itself.
As the elevator doors opened and we stepped into the hallway, I came to an abrupt stop and immediately took two careful steps back.
There he was, Xavier, just sitting in the living room like he paid the damn rent.
He was planted on the couch, wearing a fitted charcoal gray shirt, his expression tight with that signature brand of cold fury he wore so well.
He looked like he’d just swallowed a live grenade.
And judging by the tension in his shoulders and the way his eyes locked on me like a predator spotting prey, I had a sinking feeling I was the blast radius.
Even Muffin wasn’t having it. The little guy had positioned himself halfway behind a chair, clearly picking up on the alpha energy radiating off Xavier like heat.
But the second Muffin spotted Sebastian and me, he scampered over and pawed at Sebastian’s pant leg like he was his long-lost savior.
Liam emerged from the kitchen carrying a tea tray.
“Some tea, Alpha Xavier,” he said, placing it down gently on the coffee table. Then he leaned toward Sebastian and whispered:
“I ran into Alpha Xavier downstairs when I was taking out the trash. He… insisted on coming up p>
Sebastian didn’t look mad.
If anything, his eyes narrowed with the kind of stillness that made my stomach tighten.
But me? I was seething.
My spine stiffened, and I felt my breath catch just behind my teeth.
My life was officially a three-ring circus. And Xavier? He was running the whole damn show.
He kept showing up uninvited, like the universe handed him a VIP pass to all my personal drama.
I half-expected him to toss popcorn in his mouth while watching my emotional life implode.
It was like he reset his brain every week and came back with a brand new way to test my sanity.
Was that his new thing now? Just show up out of nowhere and mess with my head?
“Xavier, you I started, my brow furrowed in irritation, already bracing myself for another round of his unsolicited opinions.
“I’m not here for you,” he said flatly, cutting me off like I wasn’t even part of the conversation.
I blinked. Okay, rude.
Xavier calmly picked up his teacup, took a slow sip like he had all the time in the world, then shifted his gaze to Sebastian.
“Alpha Sebastian, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” he said. His voice was level, but there was tension simmering underneath.
Sebastian gave a relaxed smile, completely unfazed.” Sure. Let’s head to my study p>
Without another word, Xavier set his cup down and stood.
His movements were slow, controlled. Almost too calm. Like he was trying not to let something slip through the cracks.
They walked down the hallway. Sebastian in front, Xavier right behind him.
Neither of them said a word. They didn’t even look at each other.The air between them felt like it could shatter.
Honestly, it felt like I was watching a mob movie.
Two serious-looking men heading into a private room for one of those no-witness conversations that usually ends with someone bleeding.
I stared after them, stunned.
A cold trickle of anxiety slid down my spine.
Tang appeared beside me, brows knitted.
He leaned in like he didn’t want to say it too loud.” What could Alpha Xavier possibly want to talk to our Alpha about p>
Then he turned to me, eyes suddenly widening, like something had just clicked in his brain.” Wait… you don’t think p>
My heart skipped a beat at his expression.”Don’t think what p>
Tang’s voice dropped to a dramatic whisper.
“That he’s here to challenge our Alpha to a duel over you!” he blurted out.
I gave him a flat, unimpressed look, my arms crossing on instinct.
“Really? This isn’t the Wild West p>
Tang shrugged, completely unbothered by my sarcasm.
“Hey, I’m just saying. This feels like some dramatic showdown over a girl,” he muttered, already creeping toward the hallway like a cat sneaking up on prey, clearly ready to press his ear to the door.
He actually crouched a little, like that would make him less suspicious, which was ridiculous.
“Come on, let’s eavesdrop,” he whispered, eyes lit with mischievous curiosity.
I didn’t move.
My feet felt rooted to the ground, like my body knew something I didn’t.
Instead, I picked up Muffin from the floor. He squirmed in my arms, sensing the tension, his little ears twitching toward the hallway.
I started pacing, each step sharp against the polished floor.
I couldn’t tell if Xavier was here to clear up the pregnancy misunderstanding, or if he was about to make this whole thing ten times worse.
Was he actually going to tell Sebastian?
Or… was he insane enough to lie and claim the imaginary baby as his?
No. No way. Not even he would go that far… right?
“BANG! “
A loud crash from the direction of the study made me jump.
My heart shot into my throat.
What the hell was going on in there?