- Chapter 15
- The slanting sunlight stretched the shadows of the three figures long across the mansion’s entrance. Sebastian Sinclair stared fixedly at the unfamiliar man beside Eleanor Knight, who was tenderly draping a coat over her shoulders. The intimate gesture stung his eyes like shards of glass.
- “Eleanor, who is—” His words died in his throat as her icy glare cut him off.
- “Mr. Sinclair, we’re divorced.” She adjusted the coat on her shoulders. “My personal life is none of your concern.”
- Sebastian’s throat worked, his voice trembling. “I was wrong… Just give me another chance, please. I swear, from now on, there’ll only be you in my heart.”
- Eleanor suddenly laughed—a bright, sharp sound like the edge of a blade.
- “Five years ago, you said the exact same thing.” She tilted her head, her gaze mocking. “Tell me, Sebastian, do you think I have a terrible memory? Or do you just believe I’m exceptionally stupid?”
- His face drained of color. He opened his mouth but found no defense. The evidence of his betrayal lay between them like a series of brutal slaps.
- “I’m curious,” Eleanor said, leisurely smoothing her cuffs, “what made you so confident that I’d give up my freedom to return to that living hell of a marriage?”
- With every word, Sebastian’s heart sank deeper.
- Just then, Isabella Whitlock stumbled toward them in a fluster.
- “Sebastian!” She grabbed his arm, but the moment her eyes met Eleanor’s, he wrenched himself free.
- Isabella fell to the ground, her carefully styled hair disheveled. When she looked up, Eleanor’s faintly amused gaze met hers.
- “M-Mrs. Sinclair…” Isabella’s eyes welled with tears. “Please don’t misunderstand. There’s really nothing between Mr. Sinclair and me—”
- “Isabella!” Sebastian snapped.
- But Eleanor crossed her arms, intrigued. “Let her finish. I’d love to hear how my ex-husband spoke of me behind my back.”
- Isabella bit her lip, hesitating before whispering, “He said you were temperamental… that you threw tantrums over the smallest things—”
- “Enough!” Sebastian’s temple throbbed with fury.
- Eleanor only laughed harder, clapping lightly. “Bravo. Sebastian, your two-faced act never fails to impress.”
- “Eleanor, it’s not like that—” His voice shook.
- “We’re divorced.” She enunciated each word. “Congratulations, Isabella. You can finally stand by his side—openly.”
- The words struck Sebastian like a hammer. He staggered back, his face ashen.
- But Isabella’s eyes lit up with sudden excitement. “You’re really divorced?”
- “Without a doubt.” Eleanor turned toward the mansion. “May you two live happily ever after.”
- Sebastian stood frozen, watching her disappear behind the door. The setting sun stretched his shadow long and solitary, as if the world had abandoned him.
Suddenly, breathing became difficult. The happiness he had destroyed with his own hands was gone—forever out of reach.
