Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Yasmine turned to see Sebastian. Tall and imposing in his crisp suit, he looked exactly as he had the first time she’d met him—sharp features, intenca gaze. But now they did nothing to stir her.
She just stared at him for a few seconds, then curled her lips into a mocking smile. “None of your business.”
With that, she turned and walked back into the villa. The servants shut the gates behind her and put up a sign in the courtyard.
The words “Sebastian Not Allowed Inside” hit him like a punch. Suddenly, everything clicked into place the signs at T&L, the one from the party night. They all had Yasmine’s fingerprints all over them.
Furious, Sebastian stormed toward the gate, demanding answers, only to be blocked by a towering bodyguard. “Can’t read, sir?” The bodyguard was huge, easily two meters tall, and his sheer size was enough to make even Sebastian feel dwarfed.
“Move,” Sebastian said coldly.
But the bodyguard didn’t flinch. Instead, he thumped his palm against the metal sign with a clang that rang out sharply, mirroring the abruptness of Yasmine’s exit just moments ago.
“Move!” Sebastian’s tone sharpened, but the bodyguard stood his ground, his muscles flexing as if daring him to try something.
“Sebastian!” Mandy’s voice cut through. Her limp was more pronounced as she hurried over and yanked him back. She’d learned her lesson about messing with Yasmine.
Sebastian pulled free, his eyes flashing. He’d been searching for Yasmine for what felt like an eternity. Maybe she came back because she heard about his engagement. Anyway, he needed to see her, to get some answers–especially about her relationship with Hayden.
“Sebastian, come home with me.” Mandy’s voice was strained as she called over the bodyguards. This time, it took three of them to physically drag Sebastian away. He fought every step of the way, but eventually, they managed to get him back to the house.
Yasmine stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows on the second floor, one arm crossed over her chest, the other idly swirling the wine in her glass. She watched Sebastian being dragged away with a cold, mocking smile. “I’m back, Sebastian.”
She’d made up her mind. She wasn’t going to be the one to swallow her pride and let herself be humiliated. She wasn’t some weak, forgiving heroine.
She’d always been proud and stubborn, and she wasn’t about to let the people who hurt her off the hook. She was done playing nice.
As Sebastian and Mandy disappeared into the house, Yasmine downed the rest of her wine and closed the curtains with a snap.
Back to her home, Mandy paused for a beat before saying, “Yasmine’s moved in across the street. Maybe she’s cozying up to the Guzman family just to get at us. Maybe she’s even gunning to wreck your engagement to Ashley.”
Sebastian’s head snapped up, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips. Right on cue–his plan was working. “Wreck my engagement?” he stood smoothly and said. “Mom, I’m heading upstairs to crash. Got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.”
Mandy exhaled slowly, feeling some of the tension ease. ‘Sebastian has one major upside–he always listens. Sometimes, though, he listens a little too well. If he hadn’t been so willing to go along, someone like Yasmine would never have even sniffed her way into the family.
