tween Alex and her had been slowly rising, and she couldn't shake the impression that the walls

he entrance, a man with black, untidy hair in the most fashionable manner waited. His smile, confident and simple, caus

y and just charming enough to win her over.

ity of his face, she shook his hand tenta

quietly. "You are usually busy, right? I bel

de her uncomfortable. Notwithstanding herself, she was already interested. Her defen

Alex values you." You know, but you don't have to handle

ilence him, something about his offer and tenderness made her pause. Alex

his trickery just yet, her he

t refute the unanticipated draw she experienced for him. Every time they met, he gave her the s

when they talked, a warmth she lacked from Alex. When he was close, the strain in her chest was lighter, almost welcoming

ing Sebastian said. The sound was strange to her, a chuckle she hadn't heard in years. Unl

ound," he remarked, his eyes attentively observing her. "More of

I'm not miserable," she said, but

, you don't have to fake it w

want to acknowledge it, they were accurate. She had been pretending sh

an uneasy sense that she had ju

or, she told herself, "I shouldn't

worlds: one ruled by Alex's control, where every word seemed like an order, and another where Sebas

into his universe. Every conversation they had, every interaction was charged with power and control. She

ed to enjoy seeing her become her genuine self, unencumbered by the constraints Alex had bound about her

astian waiting for her propped against the wall. His gri

loser, "I can give you everything you

nd for a moment she felt the

im. She wished to reject it, to drive him away. Bu

want any longer." She wasn't sure if she was speaking to him,

breath grazing her skin, and his smile

Caught in the centre of the web of lies, power, and attrac

resence in her life became an almost irresistible force. Every word of his seems to be deliberately selected to undermine her defences and get

dercurrent of something more, "you don't have to fight this ba

ked at him. Though she had felt the draw of something warm and invit

aching for her cup, "Alex has a lot on hi

at, but I can tell how much he controls you. Melissa, you don't h

e buried cautions she had pushed aside. She looked into his eyes and for a little while felt a spark of uncertainty

ex's voice behind th

lind? he said icily, his voice sl

was stiff and his eyes narrowed. The unspoken tension between them was obvious,

n more encounters with Sebastian, his influence growing ever stronger. She felt herself being drawn in two opposing directions:

. This time, his look was focused and probing rather than friendly welcome. He moved closer;

ve to be his puppet." With me, you may be free. I can provide all

his before, but never with such conviction. The proposit

he said, almost unable to say the words as his clos

Melissa, I'll assist you in deciding," he whispered gently, his lips barely inches from her ear. You have to cho

had created with him, ignoring the draw she still experienced towards him? Though the top

ure whether she was prepared to enter. She looked into his e